Obama Declares Swine Flu A "National Emergency"

President Obama officially declared swine flu a national emergency. He signed a proclamation which, according to a White House announcement, "enhances the ability of our nation's medical treatment facilities to handle a surge in H1N1 patients by allowing, as needed, the waiver of certain standard federal requirements on a case-by-case basis."

Obama wrote in the proclamation, "As a nation, we have prepared at all levels of government, and as individuals and communities, taking unprecedented steps to counter the emerging pandemic." However, the swine flu vaccine production has been delayed. The AP reports, "The government has backed off initial, optimistic estimates that as many as 120 million doses would be available by mid-October. As of Wednesday, only 11 million doses had been shipped to health departments, doctor's offices and other providers," according to the CDC. The government's current projections are to have "about 50 million doses of swine flu vaccine out by mid-November and 150 million in December."

Centers for Disease Control says that swine flu is "widespread" in 46 states and "accounts for 411 confirmed deaths since Aug. 30 and more than 8,200 hospitalizations." CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden—the former NYC health commissioner who was at the frontlines of dealing with the Big Apple's swine flu outbreak back in April— told reporters yesterday that "many millions" of American have already had swine flu, but since not everyone is tested to confirm it, there's no exact count. For information about getting the H1N1 vaccine—as well as the seasonal flu vaccine—go to flu.gov.