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What is the correct classification for a licensed vaccine that contains a non-infectious form of the H1N1 flu virus?
LAIV - Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine for Type A H1N1/09 influenza. In the US, you could add that it is FDA Approved (Food and Drug Administration, the US licensing agent for prescription drugs.)
How many doses of H1N1 flu vaccine does each state in the US have?
In the US and Northern Hemisphere in the 2011-2012 flu season, the H1N1/09 (swine flu) vaccine is included in the "regular" seasonal flu vaccination. There is currently (fall 2011) no shortage of this vaccine and no shortage is expected this year. The states are no longer holding and distributing swine flu vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccinations are back to being provided by various private pharmacies and other locations, such as a doctor's office. States are no longer storing H1N1 vaccines.
Is the H1N1 vaccination FDA approved?
Yes, there were several manufacturers' vaccines approved for the 2009 Pandemic Swine flu virus H1N1/09 by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) for use in the US. For the 2010-2011 Flu season, the trivalent (contains three types of flu viruses) vaccine that was approved by the FDA contains the vaccine for H1N1 as well as the two other most likely to be circulating flu viruses.
Does the US 2012-2013 flu vaccine contain swine flu vaccine?
This year's vaccine does contain Type A, H1N1/09 vaccine made from the specific type (i.e., mutation) of the H1N1/09 virus that is expected to circulate in the US in flu season this year. That specific strain is called: A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus The vaccines made from the other two selected influenza strains that are in the 2012-2013 flu vaccines in the US contain: A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus (from the B/Yamagata lineage of viruses)
When will there be an H1N1 vaccine?
For H1N1/09, Novel Swine Flu: they began developing the vaccine in the US as soon as the virus was isolated and the epidemics were spreading in April and May 2009. The vaccines were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 15, 2009. Other H1N1 vaccines: these have been developed in the past. One that is well known is the 1976 vaccine that was associated with an increase in Guillain-Barre Syndrome after the administration of the vaccine. It was made an entirely different way than these flu vaccines are made today. There are also some H1N1 vaccines developed for use by pig farmers for the prevention of the type of H1N1 that is a disease of pigs that people only rarely get when they are in regular close contact with the pigs.
Do you need h1n1vaccine to travel?
No you don't, but even if you are not going to travel soon, you should take such vaccine as there are many more H1N1 cases in the US than in Mexico.
Can anyone share some of the information about H1N1 vaccine?
The H1N1/09 vaccine can be given to children over the age of 6 months. It will usually take two doses of vaccine approximately a month apart for children 10 and under to build up their immunity. Adults and children over 10 usually only need one vaccination. There are formulas of the vaccine available in nasal spray and for injection, see related questions below about which is better for whom. In the US, the seasonal flu shot for the upcoming flu season (2010 -2011) will include the vaccine for the pandemic H1N1/09 virus, so there will not be a need for two vaccinations like there was last season. See more information about the vaccine in the related questions section below. You can also browse the H1N1 category where there many more answers about the vaccinations (many are also included in the category for vaccinations).
Local retailers are offering flu shots right now that they claim include the H1N1 strain while the CDC states that an H1N1 vaccine will not be available until mid October - what gives?
The seasonal flu shots for the 2009-2010 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere do not contain the vaccine for Pandemic A-H1N1/09 Swine Flu.To be fully protected from influenza this season, you will need to take the regular seasonal flu shot and then also another shot of the Pandemic A-H1N1/09 Swine Flu vaccine. Children will need two shots of the swine flu vaccine a month apart if they are under ten.As of today, September 16, 2009, the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is just finishing approvals for use of the new A-H1N1/09 Pandemic flu vaccine. It is not yet on the market, so if you are being told it is in the flu shot already out, then they are mistaken.There are different strains of the H1N1 virus and one of them is a typical and frequently seen seasonal flu strain. The 2009 - 2010 seasonal flu vaccine does contain a strain of H1N1 flu that is not the same as the A-H1N1/09 Pandemic swine flu. So it is likely that which has caused the confusion in this case.The seasonal flu vaccine for the 2009-2010 flu season contains the following strains of virus :A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus;A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens.
Why is the influenza vaccine not free?
In the US the vaccine for the H1N1/09 pandemic swine flu was provided free from the US government. However, if you had a private provider (doctor, hospital, pharmacy, etc.) administer your vaccination instead of a public health professional from the local or state government, then you may have been charged for their administration of the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine is usually either paid by insurance with preventive and wellness coverage, or charged to the individual directly.
What antigens will be in the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This year's influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains. They are: * A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus (the same strain as was used for 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccines); * A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus; * B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens. The 2010-11 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain. The strain of H1N1 influenza included in the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine in the US is the same that caused the H1N1 Pandemic "Swine" Flu in 2009. A separate vaccination for that will not be required this year.
Was the flu shot for 2010-2011 flu season also for the H1N1 virus?
Yes , one strain of H1N1 influenza is included in the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine in the US, but not all of them are. The H1N1 Pandemic "Swine" Flu from 2009 is the strain that will be included.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This year's influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains.They are:A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus (the same strain as was used for 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccines);A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens.The 2010-11 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.See the related links below for more information about the effectiveness of flu vaccine.
What side effect does the H1N1 vaccine have on an unborn child?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the inactivated ("dead") virus vaccines for pregnant women. The nasal mists containing live weakened virus is not approved for pregnant women. The risk to the unborn fetus was considered in the trials and approval process. The guidance from the CDC is very clear that the risk of not getting vaccinated against A-H1N1/09 to pregnant women and their unborn fetus is much greater than the risk of using the vaccines. Obstetricians are recommending H1N1/09 vaccinations to their patients. The vaccine is made exactly like the seasonal flu shots have been made for decades with a proven safety record, so there is no reason to think the same vaccine made with inert particles from a different virus strain would prove any less safe.The following are excerpts from a September 3, 2009guidance document from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine and Pregnant Women:Influenza vaccines have not been shown to cause harm to a pregnant woman or her baby. The seasonal flu shot (injection) is proven as safe and already recommended for pregnant women. The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine will be made using the same processes and facilities that are used to make seasonal influenza vaccines.It is important for a pregnant woman to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine as well as a seasonal influenza vaccine. A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu is at risk for serious complications and hospitalization. Pregnant women who are otherwise healthy have been severely impacted by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (formerly called "novel H1N1 flu" or "swine flu"). In comparison to the general population, a greater proportion of pregnant women infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have been hospitalized. In addition, severe illness and death has occurred in pregnant women. Six percent of confirmed fatal 2009 H1N1 flu cases thus far have been in pregnant women while only about 1% of the general population is pregnant. While hand washing, staying away from ill people, and other steps can help to protect pregnant women from influenza, vaccination is the single best way to protect against the flu.There are two types of flu vaccine. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"- an inactivated vaccine (containing fragments of killed influenza virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in pregnant women. The other type of flu vaccine - nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine)-is not currently approved for use in pregnant women. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. In addition to protecting her from infection, infants less than 6 months old will not be able to be vaccinated so it is recommended that everyone who lives with or provides care for infants less than 6 months of age receive both the seasonal influenza vaccine and 2009 H1N1 influenza monovalent vaccine to provide protection for the infant.One recent study conducted in Bangladesh, assessed the effectiveness of influenza immunization for mothers and their young infants. Inactivated influenza vaccine reduced proven influenza illness by 63% in infants up to 6 months of age. This study confirmed that maternal influenza immunization is a strategy with substantial benefits for both mothers and infants. There is no evidence that thimerosal (used as a preservative in vaccine packaged in multi-dose vials) is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. However, because some women are concerned about exposure to preservatives during pregnancy, manufacturers will produce preservative-free seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines in single dose syringes for pregnant women and small children. CDC recommends that pregnant women may receive influenza vaccine with or without thimerosal. People for whom the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is recommended should receive it, even if they have had an influenza-like illness previously, unless they can be certain they had 2009 H1N1 influenza based on a laboratory test that can specifically detect 2009 H1N1 viruses. CDC recommends that persons who were tested for 2009 H1N1 influenza discuss this issue with a healthcare provider to see if the test they had was either an RT-PCR or a viral culture that showed 2009 H1N1 influenza. There is no harm in being vaccinated if you had 2009 H1N1 influenza in the past.Pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu. As always, when pregnant, check with your obstetrician before taking any medication.You should not get the vaccine if you are allergic to eggs** or sulfa drugs. Inform your health care professional if you have ever had a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs or to any other substance in a vaccine (some vaccines contain traces of neoporin, gentamicin and polymixin).**New studies show that an allergy to eggs, or other chicken proteins, may not prohibit some people from getting a flu vaccination. See the related questions for more information.See the related links section below for a link to the full CDC guidance document.
