These target groups included pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, anyone 6 months through 24 years of age, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 influenza because of certain chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems. The WHO is not recommending travel restrictions or border closures. So based on this, "we have no doubt that making a successful vaccine is possible within a relatively short period of time.". The WHO said today it has no immediate plans to increase the pandemic alert level to phase 6. Marie-Paule Kieny, PhD, WHO director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research, spoke at a press briefing today about the development of a new vaccine for the influenza A (H1N1) strain. Emma Hitt is a freelance editor and writer for Medscape. Project areas are responsible for registering vaccine providers in their jurisdiction. If the second dose is administered beyond 4 weeks, the bodyâs immune system still remembers the first dose and develops antibodies or protection against 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. With respect to the development of a new vaccine, Dr. Kieny noted that the vaccine industry has "tremendous experience in making seasonal vaccines and also vaccines to the H5N1 avian influenza virus." Right now there is enough vaccine for everyone who hasnât been vaccinated and wants to be. The killed vaccine was injected, while the live vaccine was given as a nasal spray. Below is a timeline of major events that took place during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. ", Medscape Medical News © 2009 Medscape, LLC. Itâs still important to get vaccinated against the flu and be as prepared as possible if activity increases again this season. Content on this page was developed during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic and has not been updated. Studies that looked at blood samples taken from children before the pandemic indicate that very few children had any measurable immunity against 2009 H1N1 prior to the outbreak Therefore, all children younger than 10 should get 2 doses regardless of whether they ever have been given seasonal influenza vaccine. Public health officials assumed the worst was over, and stopped encouraging people to get vaccinated. As recently as January 15, 7 states were still reporting regional flu activity, so flu is still out there.
The vaccine first became available in early October, and more doses are becoming available every week. The English language content on this website is being archived for, For current, updated information on seasonal flu, including information about H1N1, see the, hives or swelling of the lips or tongue after eating eggs, acute respiratory distress (trouble breathing) after eating eggs, documented hypersensitivity to eggs, including those who have had asthma related to egg exposure at their workplace or other allergic responses to egg protein. The US has reported 141 laboratory confirmed human cases, including 1 death. Dr. Kieny also pointed out that the WHO does not yet have a satisfactory explanation about why the severity of cases seems to be so much greater in Mexico than in the rest of the world, but "the different samples that have been characterized have more than 99% identity and appear very similar," she said. The LAIV (nasal spray vaccine) against the 2009 H1N1 virus can be administered at the same visit as any other live or inactivated vaccine EXCEPT seasonal live attenuated influenza vaccine. With 2009 H1N1, approximately 90% of estimated hospitalizations and 87% of estimated deaths from April through January 16, 2010 occurred in people younger than 65 years old. In contrast, with seasonal influenza, about 60% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations and 90% of flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years and older.
Both these types of vaccine were produced by growing the virus in chicken eggs. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Separate recommendations are available for seasonal influenza, (Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Seasonal Influenza?). These measures are still important, even with the availability of the vaccine against 2009 H1N1 virus, because they can prevent the spread of other viruses that cause respiratory infections. The symptoms of influenza (flu-like illnesses) are similar to those caused by many other viruses. Inactivated vaccine against the 2009 H1N1 flu virus (the flu shot) can be given at the same visit as any other vaccine, including pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Therefore, if you were ill but do not know if you had 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated if your doctor recommends it.