H1N1: What You Need to Know, What You Need to Do
Host:
Produced by:
Subscribe to this Podcast:
Listen to/Watch entire show:
As the US government prepares to hand out more than 250 million free doses of vaccine for the H1N1 virus, health officials are confronting fear and misinformation. What is the H1N1, or swine flu, as it's commonly known? Who should take a vaccine against it? By taking early precautions to combat the flu, has the government caused more anxiety than necessary? Also, Also, Afghan terror suspect, Najibullah Zazi, enters a plea in federal court, and placebos, or sugar pills, are making people feel better. Pharmaceutical companies want to know why. Sara Terry guest hosts this rebroadcast of today's To the Point.
Banner image: A dose of flu vaccination is administered during an exercise at TC Williams High School September 11, 2009 in Alexandria, Virginia. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Making News
Terrorism Suspect Pleads Not Guilty ()
In New York today, a man suspected of plotting to set off a bomb near the anniversary of 9/11 has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy indictment. Afghan immigrant Najibullah Zazi was arrested last week in Denver on charges of lying to the FBI, before being transferred to New York. Tina Susman, national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, was in the courtroom.
Guests:
- Tina Susman: National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, @tinasusman
Main Topic
H1N1: What You Need to Know, What You Need to Do ()
By early next week, the first batch of some 250 million swine flu vaccine treatments will be available free, paid for by the American government. In an unprecedented preventive campaign, health officials are trying to blunt the impact of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, as it’s commonly called. But symptoms are described as a mild influenza. Is the public overreacting? Is the media getting the story right? What do you need to know? What do you need to do?
Guests:
- Jeffrey Kahn: Chief of Infectious Diseases, Children's Medical Center
- Amanda Ripley: Contributor, Time Magazine
- Georges Benjamin: Executive Director, American Public Health Association
- Serena Vinter: Senior Research Associate, Trust for America's Health
Links:
Reporter's Notebook
Big Pharma and the Placebo Effect ()
A funny thing keeps happening on the way to getting new drugs approved by the FDA. Placebos, or sugar pills, are beating out new blockbuster medicines in test trials, causing a series of setbacks for big pharmaceuticals. Steve Silberman is a senior writer at Wired magazine.
Guests:
- Steve Silberman: Senior Writer, Wired Magazine
Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.
Engage & Discuss
Further the conversation with your thoughts and comments. Agree, disagree, present a different perspective -- engage.
For information and guidelines click: Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Please note, comments are moderated. KCRW reserves the right to edit and or remove posts deemed off-topic, abusive or not in accordance with KCRW's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
