Vaccination
Prevention & Treatment
|
- Protection against the H1N1 flu will be included in the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine. More...
- Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu. Find H1N1 (Swine) flu and seasonal flu vaccines where you live. More...
- Summer Camp is just around the corner. In addition to getting the kids enrolled and preparing to pack up, plan a flu vaccination as well. To find a flu shot center near your home, go to the Flu.gov vaccination locator link.
- You need two vaccines to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine is different from the H1N1 flu vaccine. The CDC is encouraging people to get both vaccinations. More…
- H1N1 vaccine is widely available. Get the latest information on vaccine allocation and shipment.
- The CDC recommends that certain priority groups be the first to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. Vaccine supplies are plentiful and everyone is urged to get vaccinated. More…
- The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is expected to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have a very good safety track record. Over the years, hundreds of millions of Americans have received seasonal flu vaccines. More…
- None of the currently available H1N1 flu vaccines contain adjuvants. Single-dose injectable vaccines do not contain preservatives (thimerosal). Multi-dose bottles do contain preservatives. More…
- The H1N1 vaccine is provided at no cost by the government. Some, but not all, clinics may charge to administer the vaccine. More…
- In August, 2009 the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) began a series of clinical trials to evaluate new vaccines for H1N1 flu. More…
- People who are at high-risk for flu (children, seniors and people with certain health conditions) should also receive a pneumococcal vaccination More…
- Open Letter to the American People about the H1N1 Flu Vaccine. More...
- Glossary of vaccine-related words More…
The Seasonal Flu Vaccine
The 2009-2010 seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine are separate vaccinations. A seasonal vaccine is distributed routinely every year, the H1N1 flu vaccine has been developed and produced for the 2009 flu season.
- The seasonal vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 flu and the H1N1 flu vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Each protects against a different virus and is intended to be used along-side the other.
- It is anticipated that seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines may be administered on the same day.
- Individuals are encouraged to get both vaccines as soon as possible.
WHO Recommends Viruses for Flu Vaccines for the 2010-2011 Northern Hemisphere Flu Season.
For the 2010-2011 flu season, which begins in the fall of 2010, the seasonal flu vaccine will include protection against the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. That means that, barring some unforeseen circumstance, this fall, most Americans will be able to return to having one flu vaccine to protect them against the major circulating flu viruses. As is always the case with seasonal vaccine, younger children who have never had a seasonal vaccine will still need two doses.
The 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine
- CDC announces changes to the distribution of 2009 H1N1 vaccine and supplies, effective April 1, 2010.
- There has been a reduction of vaccine inventory and allocation at the McKesson 2009 H1N1 vaccine/ ancillary supply distribution depots
- Certain vaccine lots are being recalled because of potency. The vaccine is safe.
Non-Safety-Related Voluntary Recall of Unused Doses from Certain Lots of Sanofi Pasteur H1N1 Vaccine in Pre-Filled Syringes
Non-Safety-Related Voluntary Recall of Certain Lots of Sanofi Pasteur H1N1 Pediatric (0.25 mL, for 6-35 month olds) Vaccine in Pre-Filled Syringes Questions & Answers - Vaccine makers are shipping:
- Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) nasal spray for H1N1 flu, and
- 15 microgram pre-filled syringes licensed for use in children age 4 and older, and
- Multi-dose vials for persons 6 months of age and older
- H1N1 vaccine is widely available. See table of state-by-state shipments and totals of doses allocated, ordered and shipped.
Vaccine: Time Between Seasonal and H1N1 Doses
| Seasonal Nasal (LAIV) | Seasonal Flu Shot |
H1N1 Nasal (LAIV)
| Minimum two weeks between vaccinations | May be given in same visit. |
H1N1 Flu Shot
| May be given in same visit. | May be given in same visit. |
Vaccine: Flu Shot or Nasal Spray?
Age and Conditions | One dose each of Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Vaccines | Two doses each of Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Vaccines | OK to Get Nasal Spray? |
0 – 6 months | No | No | No |
6 months – 9 years | One dose of seasonal flu vaccine if the child has had seasonal flu vaccination in the past. Two doses of H1N1 Flu vaccine are needed. | Two doses of seasonal flu vaccine are needed if this is the first time the child is receiving flu vaccination. Two doses of H1N1 Flu vaccine are needed. | No for children younger than two years. |
10 – 49 years | Yes | No | Can receive nasal spray if healthy and no underlying health conditions |
50 years and older | Flu Shot Only | No | No |
Pregnant women | Flu Shot Only | No | No |
Arthritis | Flu Shot Only | No | No |
Asthma | Flu Shot Only | Two doses of only Flu Shot if 6 months – 9 years (if first time flu vaccination) | No |
HIV/AIDS | Flu Shot Only | Two doses of only Flu Shot if 6 months – 9 years (if first time flu vaccination) | No |
5 years and younger, with a history of recurrent wheezing | Flu Shot Only | Two doses of only Flu Shot if 6 months – 5 years (if first time flu vaccination) | No |
Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy | Flu Shot Only | Two doses of only Flu Shot if 6 months – 9 years (if first time flu vaccination) | No |
People who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting a flu vaccine | No | No | No |
People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components. | No | No | No |
Sources: |
- Materials for distribution:
“What You Need to Know” PDF (2009 H1N1 “Flu Shot” Vaccine Information Sheet)
“What You Need to Know” PDF (2009 H1N1 LAIV “Nasal Spray Vaccine” Vaccine Information Sheet)
- H1N1 flu vaccine development and dosage:
- Working together with scientists in the public and private sector, CDC isolated and modified the new H1N1 flu virus so that it can be used to make hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine. Vaccine manufacturers are now producing and shipping the vaccine.
- On September 15, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved four manufacturers to produce vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. On November 16, 2009, a fifth manufacturer's vaccine was approved for the H1N1 flu virus.
- On September 21, 2009, the National Institutes of Health announced that the H1N1 flu vaccine will require just one 15-microgram dose for children 10 to 17 years of age. Children nine years old and younger will need two doses. More information on H1N1 flu vaccine trial testing.
- For decades, vaccines have been produced in chicken eggs. This process is time-consuming and for some flu seasons has resulted in flu vaccine shortages early in the flu season. Cell-based vaccine production takes less time, and has the added benefit of allowing persons who are allergic to eggs to receive the vaccine. Cell-based vaccine is not expected to become available until 2011. More information about cell-based vaccine productions.
- On October 26, 2009, CDC released a chart outlining the recommended dosages based on manufacturer and age. More information on H1N1 dosage.
- Working together with scientists in the public and private sector, CDC isolated and modified the new H1N1 flu virus so that it can be used to make hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine. Vaccine manufacturers are now producing and shipping the vaccine.
- Questions & Answers: 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Questions cover vaccine recommendations, supply and distribution, seasonal and H1N1 vaccine, prior illness, prevention, and the Canadian study.
- When a critical portion of a community is immunized against a contagious disease, most members of the community are protected against that disease because there is little opportunity for an outbreak. Even those who are not eligible for certain vaccines get some protection because the spread of contagious disease is contained. This is known as
"community immunity."
H1N1 Vaccine Clinical Trials
In August, 2009 the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) began a series of clinical trials to evaluate new vaccines to prevent and decrease the severity of H1N1 influenza virus infection. Several trials are determining how many doses of H1N1 vaccine are needed to induce a potentially protective immune response in a variety of populations, including healthy adults, the elderly, children, pregnant woman, people with asthma, and people with HIV. Other trials seek to determine whether seasonal flu vaccine can be given concurrent with—either before, after or during—the H1N1 vaccine. Initial Results Show Pregnant Women Mount Strong Immune Response To One Dose of 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine, November 2, 2009 Updated Results: In Youngest Children, a Second Dose of 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Elicits Robust Immune Response, November 2, 2009 Early Results: In Children, 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Works Like Seasonal Flu Vaccine, September 21, 2009 |
Pneumococcal Vaccination
Many people who have experienced serious and sometimes fatal complications from H1N1 flu have also been infected with streptococcus pneumoniae (a major cause of pneumonia).
Pneumococcal vaccination and Children | Pneumococcal vaccination and Adults |
|
|
Questions & Answers: 2009 H1N1 and Pneumococcal Disease in the News
Questions & Answers: Prevention of Pneumococcal Infections Secondary to Seasonal and H1N1 Flu