When will there be an H1N1 vaccine?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

A vaccine was developed for the pandemic H1N1/09 flu virus and distributed in the US in the fall of 2009, just in time for the 2009-2010 flu season. Although at that time, you had to take it as a separate vaccine from the "regular" seasonal flu shot.

In the 2010-2011 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, the vaccine for the pandemic H1N1/09 flu is included as one of the three vaccines in the seasonal flu vaccinations, so only one vaccination for H1N1/09 and the other two expected flu viruses is needed this time.

Answer 3

Nobody knows, but it is best to get a flu shot. You'll be protected. You should probably get it if you are in the high risk group.