Do some people have immunity and do not require the H1N1 vaccine?

Answer 1

During the pandemic in 2009, the number of people age 65 and over who were catching the flu was much lower than the usual infection rates for that group with other types of the flu prior to that. The elderly usually make up the largest demographic group that get, have complications with, and die from influenza. There are approximately 36,000 deaths in the US from seasonal influenza each year. This group was less likely than younger people to get and have complications with the 2009 pandemic Swine Flu. It was not clear why, but speculations of epidemiologists were that those in that age group perhaps had some "carry over" immunity from having had a similar strain of flu in their past medical history and it gave them protection from the 2009 pandemic swine flu H1N1/09.

The elderly have a lower response by the immune system to new viral invasions and to new vaccines than those in other age groups, due to their age affecting the system's functioning and due to their having other systemic underlying disorders that add to the inability to cope with the infections as well as they had in the past.

The majority of gerontologists and immunologists still recommend that, of all demographic groups, the elderly are most in need of annual flu vaccinations and, therefore, should be vaccinated annually. Boosters of flu vaccines are proving to be helpful to many (and especially the elderly) to keep the immune system "primed" and ready to jump at a moments notice if viral invaders are discovered attempting to "break into" your cells to cause infection.

Infectious disease specialists, pediatricians, primary care physicians and even obstetricians recommend that all of their patients who can, should get the annual influenza vaccinations.