Graehm Gray-Should You Get the Novel Influenza A H1N1 Vaccine?
The vaccine against the infection with novel influenza A H1N1 will be available in October 2009. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current seasonal influenza vaccines are not likely to provide protection against novel influenza H1N1.
Here are the five main targeted groups that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization (ACIP) recommends get the vaccine:
- Pregnant Women-they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated
- Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g. parents, siblings, and daycare providers)- younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;
- Health-care and emergency medical services personnel-infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
- Persons aged 6 months-24 years-
- Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because there have been many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
- Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because there have been many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and
- Persons aged 25-64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
Please contact your medical/health care provider regarding specific and personal recommendations and information about whether you or members of your family should take the novel influenza A H1N1 vaccine.
For more information about the novel Influenza H1N1 virus and or vaccine, please visit the CDC.gov/h1n1flu.
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