All About the Pandemic H1N1 Flu Vaccine
Updated February 06, 2013.
What Is the H1N1 Flu Vaccine:
The H1N1 flu vaccine is an immunization that was developed in 2009 to protect the public from H1N1 (swine flu), also called the novel H1N1 influenza virus.
When the H1N1 Flu Vaccine Will Be Available:
The first shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine were shipped at the beginning of October 2009. The seasonal flu vaccine for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons included protection from H1N1.
Who Should Get the H1N1 Flu Vaccine:
High-risk groups will receive the vaccine first. These groups are different than with seasonal flu and include in order of risk:
- Healthcare workers
- Pregnant women
- Those over 6 months with certain chronic medical issues
- Healthy people aged 15 to 49
- Healthy children
- Healthy adults aged 50 to 64
- Healthy adults aged 65 and up
How Many Doses Will Be Needed:
Adults and children over age 10 will only need one dose of the H1N1 flu vaccine. Children between 6 months and 10 years will need two doses separated by a minimum of 21 days.
H1N1 Flu Vaccine versus Seasonal Flu Vaccine:
Because most of the seasonal flu vaccines had already been developed and were being produced when H1N1 turned into a pandemic, there were be two separate vaccines in 2009 -- one to fight the seasonal flu and one to fight the pandemic H1N1 flu.
Where to Get H1N1 Flu Vaccine:
The H1N1 flu vaccine was available from doctors and other typical flu clinic locations, additional vaccine clinics were set up at places such as schools, grocery stores and shopping malls to make sure the vaccine was available to everyone who needed it.
Source:
"WHO Recommendation on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Vaccines." Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Briefing Note 2 13 Jul 09. Global Alert and Response. World Health Organization. 15 Jul 09.