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American Morning

Interview with CDC Director

Aired December 08, 2003 - 07:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about the flu. Health officials, of course, have been encouraging Americans to get flu shots to battle severe outbreaks in parts of the country. But now the two companies that make the nations flu vaccine say they've run out of it.
Joining us this morning from Washington to talk about this harsh and deadly flu season is Dr. Julie Gerberding.

She is the director of the Centers for Disease Control.

Dr. Gerberding, nice to see you.

Good morning.

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Is it fair to say, with 6,300 people infected and six deaths so far, is it fair to call this an epidemic?

GERBERDING: Well, we are experiencing a flu epidemic. But I think the important thing is that we still do have vaccine out there and for those people who are at highest risk for the complications of influenza, you need to get persistent about finding it. And we're doing everything we can to help redistribute the vaccine that is available to protect those people.

O'BRIEN: And, in fact, the two manufacturers -- and there are only two who make this flu vaccine -- say they’ve run out. So that doesn't mean that that's it, if you haven't gotten a flu shot, you're out of luck.

GERBERDING: No, the vaccine manufacturers may have sold all of their vaccine, but there still is vaccine available in many communities.

O'BRIEN: There's something called flu mist.

What exactly is that? I understand it's like a nasal spray. But is it as good as a flu shot?

GERBERDING: Well, the flu mist is a good vaccine and it is especially good for people between the ages of five and 49. So healthy people who aren't at risk for the serious complications of flu but still want to protect themselves can get the flu mist and we do have supplies of that.

The vaccine shot is something that is indicated for those who are at high risk for the complication. That would be people over 65, people with any kind of chronic medical condition, and especially children between the ages of six months and 23 months, who are at risk for hospitalization or serious flu complications.

O'BRIEN: Now, the flu shot, if you're able to get one, and the flu mist, neither of these actually protect against the specific strain of flu that we're seeing this season.

Do they go any distance all in helping protect people?

GERBERDING: Absolutely. The strain of flu that's most common right now at this point in the season is the H3N2 Fujian strain. And that's not in the vaccine. But it's very close to one of the strains that is in the vaccine. And our experience in the past, where we've had this kind of situation, is that the vaccine will still provide protection. It might not be perfect, but it will protect people.

O'BRIEN: So the severity that we are seeing now, the epidemic proportions, as you call it, is this because of this new strain?

GERBERDING: Well, flu is a very unpredictable illness. And with other strains we've seen patterns like this in the past. But the H3N2 strains in general can cause more severe flu. And that's one of the reasons why we worked hard to get so many people vaccinated early in the season.

If there is any good news in all of this, it is that we have probably immunized a lot more people than we normally would at this time of year.

O'BRIEN: You and I have spoken a lot over the years and I know you're always the calm voice of reason.

What is your biggest concern right now? Are you worried, are you fearful that people will panic when they hear there's no flu vaccine?

GERBERDING: Well, I hope people don't panic because there are still things that we can do to help those who need the vaccine the most get it. But in addition, there are things that people can do to help protect themselves. In particular, if you have a fever and a flu like illness, you probably should stay home or keep your children home so that you don't serve as a source of infection to others.

But in addition, cover your nose when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands and just practice good respiratory hygiene. Those measures really can help against flu and against many of the other respiratory illnesses that we see this time of year.

O'BRIEN: Dr. Julie Gerberding is the director of the CDC.

It's nice to see you, Dr. Gerberding.

Thanks for joining us this morning.

GERBERDING: Thank you.

Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 8, 2003 - 07:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about the flu. Health officials, of course, have been encouraging Americans to get flu shots to battle severe outbreaks in parts of the country. But now the two companies that make the nations flu vaccine say they've run out of it.
Joining us this morning from Washington to talk about this harsh and deadly flu season is Dr. Julie Gerberding.

She is the director of the Centers for Disease Control.

Dr. Gerberding, nice to see you.

Good morning.

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Is it fair to say, with 6,300 people infected and six deaths so far, is it fair to call this an epidemic?

GERBERDING: Well, we are experiencing a flu epidemic. But I think the important thing is that we still do have vaccine out there and for those people who are at highest risk for the complications of influenza, you need to get persistent about finding it. And we're doing everything we can to help redistribute the vaccine that is available to protect those people.

O'BRIEN: And, in fact, the two manufacturers -- and there are only two who make this flu vaccine -- say they’ve run out. So that doesn't mean that that's it, if you haven't gotten a flu shot, you're out of luck.

GERBERDING: No, the vaccine manufacturers may have sold all of their vaccine, but there still is vaccine available in many communities.

O'BRIEN: There's something called flu mist.

What exactly is that? I understand it's like a nasal spray. But is it as good as a flu shot?

GERBERDING: Well, the flu mist is a good vaccine and it is especially good for people between the ages of five and 49. So healthy people who aren't at risk for the serious complications of flu but still want to protect themselves can get the flu mist and we do have supplies of that.

The vaccine shot is something that is indicated for those who are at high risk for the complication. That would be people over 65, people with any kind of chronic medical condition, and especially children between the ages of six months and 23 months, who are at risk for hospitalization or serious flu complications.

O'BRIEN: Now, the flu shot, if you're able to get one, and the flu mist, neither of these actually protect against the specific strain of flu that we're seeing this season.

Do they go any distance all in helping protect people?

GERBERDING: Absolutely. The strain of flu that's most common right now at this point in the season is the H3N2 Fujian strain. And that's not in the vaccine. But it's very close to one of the strains that is in the vaccine. And our experience in the past, where we've had this kind of situation, is that the vaccine will still provide protection. It might not be perfect, but it will protect people.

O'BRIEN: So the severity that we are seeing now, the epidemic proportions, as you call it, is this because of this new strain?

GERBERDING: Well, flu is a very unpredictable illness. And with other strains we've seen patterns like this in the past. But the H3N2 strains in general can cause more severe flu. And that's one of the reasons why we worked hard to get so many people vaccinated early in the season.

If there is any good news in all of this, it is that we have probably immunized a lot more people than we normally would at this time of year.

O'BRIEN: You and I have spoken a lot over the years and I know you're always the calm voice of reason.

What is your biggest concern right now? Are you worried, are you fearful that people will panic when they hear there's no flu vaccine?

GERBERDING: Well, I hope people don't panic because there are still things that we can do to help those who need the vaccine the most get it. But in addition, there are things that people can do to help protect themselves. In particular, if you have a fever and a flu like illness, you probably should stay home or keep your children home so that you don't serve as a source of infection to others.

But in addition, cover your nose when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands and just practice good respiratory hygiene. Those measures really can help against flu and against many of the other respiratory illnesses that we see this time of year.

O'BRIEN: Dr. Julie Gerberding is the director of the CDC.

It's nice to see you, Dr. Gerberding.

Thanks for joining us this morning.

GERBERDING: Thank you.

Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com