H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Vaccination Overview

Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent influenza, both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu (swine flu).  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) hopes that people will get vaccinated against seasonal influenza as soon as vaccines become available at their doctor’s offices and in their communities, however the seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against novel H1N1 influenza (swine flu). An H1N1 flu (swine flu) vaccine is currently in production and is being distributed across the country as quickly as possible.

Please note: The H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine – it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine. 

Who should get vaccinated?

Vaccination efforts are designed to help reduce the impact and spread of novel H1N1. Because H1N1 vaccine is currently in short supply, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that H1N1 vaccination efforts focus on five key populations (see list below).  The key populations include those who are at higher risk of disease or complications, those who are likely to come in contact with novel H1N1, and those who could infect young infants. Until H1N1 vaccine becomes more readily available, the CDC has recommended that programs and providers try to vaccinate:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel
• Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age
• People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

The groups listed above total approximately 159 million people in the United States.

If there are shortages of H1N1 vaccine, who will get vaccinated first?

The CDC does not expect that there will be a shortage of novel H1N1 vaccine in the long-term, but availability and demand can be unpredictable. Due to production schedules and shipping times, the vaccine is initially available in limited quantities. In this setting, the CDC recommends that the following groups receive the vaccine before others:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact
• Children 6 months through 4 years of age
• Children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions  

Resources:

• Centers for Disease Control H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Vaccination Recommendations
• H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Vaccine Questions and Answers (from the CDC)
• Vaccination Locations