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2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

Return to Main 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine Page

"Is the H1N1 Vaccine Safe? It seems like they rushed to make it - how do I know it's ok to get my kids vaccinated?" 

The "H1N1 Vaccine" is manufactured by the same companies in the same manner as the regular Seasonal Flu Vaccine and has gone through the same stringent oversight and testing. The procedures used in development, production and distribution have been in place for decades. Over the years, hundreds of millions of Americans have received seasonal flu vaccines. The most common side effects following flu vaccinations are mild, like soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration will be closely following the vaccine for any signs that it is causing unexpected side effects and will work with state and local health officials to investigate any unusual events. For more information on vaccine safety, visit the CDC website.

 

 

"Who can get the H1N1 Vaccine? Why aren't seniors in the priority groups?"

Because production of the H1N1 Vaccine is just getting started, initial supplies are limited. The CDC has designated priority groups based on the available data showing who has been most severely affected by the virus. The priority groups include pregnant women, healthy children ages 0-4, and children 5-18 with high risk health conditions like asthma. When the virus first appeared in the spring, these groups were disproportionately affected. This is the opposite of what we typically see with the Seasonal Flu, which seems to affect seniors more than young people.

 

EMS and healthcare workers are also considered a priority group, to help protect the patients they may come in contact with in the course of their regular job duties. Finally, people who are in close, daily contact with infants under 6 months of age should get vaccinated as soon as possible. Infants this young cannot receive the vaccine themselves, so it is important that the people who are around them everyday (like daycare providers and people who live with them) get vaccinated to prevent the infants from exposure to the virus.

 

As more vaccine becomes available, it will be available to more target groups including healthy people between the ages of 5 and 24 and people 25-64 with chronic health conditions. Eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone to get vaccinated and people outside the target groups should get vaccinated.

 

 

"How much does the vaccine cost?"

There is no cost for the vaccine itself – it’s being provided free-of-charge by the federal government; however, private health care providers may charge an administrative fee to give you the vaccine, which is covered by most medical insurance plans. Ledge Light Health District will not be charging an administrative fee at our public clinics.

 

 

"Are there some people who should not get the novel H1N1 vaccine?"

Yes, people who have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to chicken eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine should not be vaccinated.

 

 

"Why does CDC recommend that pregnant women get the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine?"
It is important for a pregnant woman to get the novel 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. Many pregnant women who are otherwise healthy have become very sick by the novel H1N1 influenza virus. Compared to other people, more pregnant women who get the novel H1N1 influenza virus have been hospitalized and very sick. While hand washing, staying away from sick people, and other steps can help to protect pregnant women from the flu, getting the vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu.

 

 

"Is there a certain kind of flu vaccine that pregnant women should get? Are there flu vaccines that pregnant women should not get?"
There are two types of flu vaccine. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"— a vaccine 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—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.

 

 

"Can the family members of a pregnant woman receive the nasal spray vaccine?"
Pregnant women should not receive the live nasal spray influenza vaccine but family and household members and other close contacts of pregnant women (including healthcare personnel) who are 2 through 49 years old, healthy and not pregnant may receive live nasal spray vaccine.

 

 

"Will the H1N1 vaccines that are now being recommended contain adjuvants?"
No. Some vaccines contain “adjuvants,” which are added to the vaccine to make it work better. The current recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for novel H1N1 influenza vaccines are for vaccines without adjuvants. This includes all of the novel H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines that will be available for children and adults in both the injectable (shot) and nasal spray formulations. None of these influenza vaccines will contain adjuvants.

 

 

"Will the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine contain thimerosal?"

The novel H1N1 influenza vaccines that the federal Food and Drug Administration is approving will come in different forms. Some will come in multi-dose vials and will contain thimerosal as a preservative (makes the vaccine last longer in the vial). Multi-dose vials of seasonal influenza vaccine also contain thimerosal to prevent the vial from becoming contaminated after it is opened. Some novel H1N1 influenza vaccines will be available in single-dose units, which will not need to use thimerosal as a preservative. Also, the live-attenuated nasal spray version of the vaccine is made in single-units and will not contain thimerosal. You can learn more about thimerosal online from the CDC.

 

 

"If I had H1N1 influenza in the spring, will I need to be vaccinated?"
Only those people with laboratory-confirmed novel H1N1 influenza, meaning that a sample was tested at a laboratory and found to be positive for novel H1N1 influenza, are believed to be protected from novel H1N1 influenza and do not need to get the vaccine. You may still need a seasonal influenza vaccine, so check with your health care provider who did the novel H1N1 influenza test.

 

 

"Do those that have been previously vaccinated against the 1976 swine influenza need to get vaccinated against the novel H1N1 influenza?"

The 1976 swine flu virus and the novel H1N1 virus are different enough that it is unlikely a person vaccinated in 1976 will have full protection from the novel H1N1 flu. People vaccinated in 1976 should still be given the novel H1N1 vaccine.

 

 

"I am a health care provider, how can I get the novel H1N1 vaccine for my patients?"
Health care providers who are interested in getting the novel H1N1 vaccine for their patients should pre-register with the Department of Public Health as soon as possible. Providers can get information and forms for pre-registration online or by calling 860-509-7929.