Should people with HIV get the H1N1 swine flu vaccine?

Answer 1

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued guidelines for this situation and they do recommend this preventive measure in some demographic groups. It is often the secondary pneumonia that ultimately causes the most severe responses to this viral infection in certain segments of the population and can be the complication that proves fatal in some. The following guidelines were published by CDC on June 9, 2009:

There are two types of pneumonia vaccine recommended for use in two demographic groups: the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and the a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). These guidelines apply to the use of the PPSV23 vaccine.

# It is recommended by the CDC that all adults aged 65 and older receive the PPSV23 Pneumonia vaccination.

# In the following age groups the CDC recommend the PPSV23 Pneumonia vaccination only if certain medical conditions exist--

Ages 2 through 64 only if one or more of these medical conditions exist:

* Chronic cardiovascular disease (congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathies) * Chronic pulmonary disease including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema * Diabetes mellitus * Alcoholism * Chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis * Cerebrospinal fluid leaks * Functional or anatomic asplenia including sickle cell disease and splenectomy * Immunocompromising conditions including HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, generalized malignancy, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome; those receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy (including corticosteroids); and those who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant

3. Adults ages 19 through 64 who:

* Smoke cigarettes * Have Asthma

CDC recommendations regarding use of PCV7 Pneumonia vaccine:

"PCV7 is recommended for all children aged less than 5 years; national coverage among 19-35 month olds with 3 or more PCV7 doses is currently > 90% (National Immunization Survey, July 2007-June 2008)."

"While maintaining this high coverage is important, expanding the use of PCV7 to people aged ≥ 5 years is not indicated because circulation of the 7 serotypes included in the vaccine has declined substantially and disease caused by these serotypes is now uncommon."

Answer 2

Yes, but only the injectible type of vaccine unless health care professionals advise against it for an individual under their care. Be sure to ask first.

According to the CDC, the nasal spray form of the vaccine is not for use by those with impaired immune systems. From the Product Information about the Intranasal spray vaccine for A-H1N1/09, those who should not use the live attenuated vaccine that is in a nasal spray are the immunocompromised (including those with HIV/AIDS).

In addition, immunocompromised persons may have a reduced immune response to any vaccination, including the Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Vaccine (which is included in the regular seasonal flu vaccine in the 2010-2011 flu season). So there may not be full immunity acquired in some people (such as those on chemotherapy, transplant anti-rejection drugs, persons with Lupus erythematosus or other auto immune diseases, HIV/AIDS, etc.)

It is suggested that those people who may have a suppressed immune response continue to observe all safety precautions for avoiding infection by the H1N1/09 virus even after receipt of the vaccination (such as hand washing and other preventive measures), since they may not have a proper response to the vaccine to become fully immune.

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