Questions & Answers
2008-09 Influenza Vaccine Updates
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Vaccine Availability
Is vaccine still available?
There is ample supply this season and vaccine is available in many locations. Vaccine manufacturers ship their vaccine in lots as it comes off the production lines. Manufacturers of U.S. influenza vaccine began shipping vaccine for the 2008-09 influenza season in August. Most of the vaccine was distributed by the end of November.
Where can I find flu vaccine?
See your health care provider to get the flu vaccine, or seek out other locations where vaccine is being offered. The following flu clinic locators are a useful tool for finding vaccine in your area and are open to the public.
- ALA Flu Clinic Locator
- CDC spreadsheet of public health department clinics (updated 12/4/08)
Vaccine Supply
How much flu vaccine is available in the United States for the 2008-09 influenza season?
Vaccine manufacturer’s are projecting that as many as 143 million to 146 million doses of influenza vaccine will be produced for use in the United States during the 2008-09 influenza season. This is an all-time high supply of vaccine making it possible for more people than ever to seek protection from the flu.
Vaccination Protection
Is it too late to get vaccinated this season?
No. While getting the flu vaccine soon after it becomes available each year is always a good idea, flu activity can occur as late as May so getting a vaccine later in the season, including in February or even later, and even if flu activity has already started in your area, can still offer protection in most years.
Will this year's vaccine protect me against the flu?
The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This year’s influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains.
They are:
- A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus;
- A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
- B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.
The 2008-09 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.
For more information about the effectiveness of flu vaccine, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm
For more information about how the viruses in the vaccine are selected, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/virusqa.htm
Who should get vaccinated this season?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that certain people should get vaccinated each year. Most of these people are recommended for vaccination because they are at high risk of having serious flu complications or they live with or care for people at high risk for serious complications.
People recommended for vaccination during the 2008-09 flu season are:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Health care workers
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
- Page last updated February 3, 2009
- Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
