|
Thursday, 01 October 2009 09:02 |
H1N1 Vaccination
The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine are separate injections. A seasonal vaccine is distributed routinely every year, while the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is in development for the fall of 2009.
- The seasonal flu is still expected to cause illness this fall and winter. Individuals are encouraged to get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available.
- The seasonal vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 (Swine) flu and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Each is intended to be used along-side one another.
- It is anticipated that seasonal flu H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccines may be administered on the same day. However, it is likely that the seasonal vaccine will be available earlier than the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine.
- CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel made up of medical and public health experts, recommends the following groups be given priority for the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available:
- Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated.
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated.
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity.
- Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza. These conditions include asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart or kidney disease.
- All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because we have seen many cases of H1N1 (Swine) flu in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread.
Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because we have seen many cases of H1N1 (Swine) flu in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population.
- The CDC does not expect that there will be a shortage of H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine, but vaccine availability and demand can be unpredictable. It is likely that initially, the vaccine will be available in limited quantities.
- In addition to the priority groups outlined above, the CDC has the following recommendations for adults certain medical conditions such as cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung disease, diabetes and several others:
Pneumococcal Vaccination
Many people who have experienced serious and sometimes fatal complications from H1N1 (Swine) flu have also been infected with streptococcus pneumoniae (a major cause of pneumonia).
Pneumococcal vaccination and Children
Pneumococcal vaccination and Adults
|
Prevention
