• Is the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine “experimental,” “untested,” “rushed through”?
• What if my health care provider is out of vaccine?
• Should I receive vaccinations for both seasonal and Novel H1N1 influenza?
• Does the Novel H1N1 vaccine really protect children?
• What else can I do to be healthy this flu season?
  

Is the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine experimental, untested, or rushed through?

No! Many have this misunderstanding of the 2009 H1N1vaccine. The perception that the 2009 H1N1 vaccine is an “experimental,” “untested,” and “rushed through” vaccine is simply not true.

Here are the facts about the 2009 H1N1 vaccine:

• There is a “new” seasonal flu vaccine every fall.
• This year we have two vaccines – the seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine.
• The H1N1 influenza vaccine is made by the same processes, same manufacturers, and same facilities that make our seasonal flu vaccines every year.
• The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine has been licensed by FDA to be used here in the United States.
• The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), of the National Institutes of Health, sponsored the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine study trials across the country to examine both safety and efficacy.
• Bottom line: preliminary results from these trial studies show that the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine.
• Both vaccines were made the same process, by the same manufacturers and both are approved by FDA.

What if my health care provider is out of vaccine?

Iowans are encouraged to be persistent in getting seasonal flu shots. While some providers have plenty of vaccine, others await supplies. Iowans seeking seasonal flu shots who find their health care provider is temporarily out of vaccine should not be discouraged, but should keep checking with their provider to see when more will be available. Adequate supplies of seasonal flu vaccine are expected in the state, but some providers have already used up their initial orders while others have not yet received theirs.

Should I receive vaccinations for both seasonal and Novel H1N1 influenza?

Vaccination for seasonal influenza is as important as ever this year, because both the regular flu viruses and the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus are expected to be circulating at the same time. Full protection from influenza this year may require at least two vaccinations for most people: one for seasonal (regular) flu and one for the 2009 H1N1influenza virus, so it’s not too early to start thinking about when and where you will get your seasonal flu shot.

Does the Novel H1N1 vaccine really protect children?

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), early results from a trial testing of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in children look promising. NIAID stated that preliminary analysis of blood samples from a small group of trial participants shows that a single 15-microgram dose of a non-adjuvanted 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, the same dose that is in the seasonal flu vaccine, generates an immune response that is expected to be protective against 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

NIAID says these results are similar to those recently reported in clinical trials of healthy adults. Younger children generally had a less robust early response to the vaccine. Like inactivated seasonal influenza vaccines, the vaccine contains a purified part of a killed virus and cannot cause flu.

What else can I do to be healthy this flu season?

Take these three basic steps to protect the health of yourself and others!

• Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
• Contain the germ – Stay home when sick.