Vaccination

Prevention & Treatment

"People need to understand that this vaccine is safe," President Obama said. "Michelle and I just got the shots ourselves... we wanted to make sure nationwide that children were getting it before adults did. And now there's enough vaccine so that adults should get it as well."

Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu. Find H1N1 (Swine) flu and seasonal flu vaccines where you live. More...
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…
Nationwide distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine is underway to all states. Vaccine production is now at or near full capacity. 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.
Glossary of vaccine-related words More…

The Seasonal Flu Vaccine

The seasonal flu vaccine and the 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.

The H1N1 Flu Vaccine

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
Vaccine production is now at or near full capacity. 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.

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.	Yes, unless the child has certain conditions. Check below for conditions information.
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:

http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/Flu/H1N1/Research/children.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/nasalspray_qa.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5306a1.htm

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.
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."

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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.

Ongoing Clinical Studies

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

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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

CDC recommends that children under 5 receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7)

Children greater than two years old who are at high risk of pneumococcal disease may also receive the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).

All individuals over 65 should receive the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) should also be administered to all persons 2-64 years with high risk conditions.

Questions & Answers: 2009 H1N1 and Pneumococcal Disease in the News
Questions & Answers: Prevention of Pneumococcal Infections Secondary to Seasonal and H1N1 Flu
Letter to Providers Promoting PPSV for Adults

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