Who will be recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
How many doses of H1N1 vaccine are required?
Availability of Swine Flu Vaccine
Contraindication to receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine
Will the seasonal flu vaccine protect me against the 2009 H1N1 flu?
Can the seasonal vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine be given at the same time?
Should I get vaccinated against H1N1 if I have had flu-like illness since the Spring of 2009?
Swine flu refers to a respiratory infection caused by influenza A viruses that ordinarily cause illness in pigs. Humans can catch swine flu from infected pigs, but pig-to-human transmission is unusual. Human-to-human transmission of true swine flu is also possible but infrequent.
The recent outbreak of what is being called swine flu involves a new H1N1 type A influenza strain that's a genetic combination of swine, avian and human influenza viruses. It's capable of spreading from human to human.
In June 2009, based on its wide spread to many nations, the World Health Organization declared the swine flu outbreak a global pandemic.
This new swine flu strain is being called by a number of names, including: swine-origin influenza A, swine influenza A (H1N1), influenza A/California/H1N1, swine origin influenza virus, North American flu and influenza A (H1N1).
The best approach you can take is to try to avoid infection. If you do develop symptoms of swine flu, seek prompt medical attention so that you have the best chance of antiviral drugs providing you with successful treatment.
The symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to those of infection with other flu strains.
Symptoms develop three to five days after you're exposed to the virus and continue for about another week. You can pass the virus to other people for about eight days, starting one day before you get sick and continuing until you've recovered.
Influenza viruses infect the cells lining your nose, throat and lungs. You can be exposed to swine flu virus if you have contact with infected pigs. The virus enters your body when you inhale contaminated droplets or transfer live virus from a contaminated surface to your eyes, nose or mouth on your hand.
Swine farmers and veterinarians have the highest swine flu risk because of their exposure to pigs.
If you've traveled to an affected area, you may have been exposed to human swine influenza A H1N1, particularly if you spent time in large crowds.
Influenza complications include:
Severe complications of human swine flu H1N1 seem to develop and progress rapidly.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor immediately if you develop flu symptoms, such as
fever, cough and body aches, and you have recently traveled to an area where
H1N1 swine flu has been reported. Be sure to let your doctor know when and where
you traveled.
Also see your doctor if you develop respiratory symptoms after you've been in close contact with someone who may have been exposed to H1N1 swine flu.
Doctors have rapid tests to identify the flu virus, but there is no rapid test to differentiate swine influenza A H1N1 from other influenza A subtypes.
Who will be recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
The CDC has recommended that certain group of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
How many doses of H1N1 vaccine are required?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for person 10 years of age and older. Children under the age of 9 should receive 2 doses of H1N1 if they have never received flu vaccine before. The CDC recommends that the two doses be separated by 4 weeks, or 21 days of the second dose is separated from the first dose by at least 21 days.
Availability of Swine Flu Vaccine
Now, H1N1 vaccine is available with limited supplies to hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, health departments, and other providers that have been designated as vaccine-receiving sites. Only the high risk groups are eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine (see above 'Who will be recommended to receive the H1N1 vaccine?').
Contraindication to receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine.
People who are allergic to eggs might be at risk for allergic reactions from receiving influenza vaccines, including the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. If you have any of the following symptoms or experiences, you should consult with your doctor or nurse before receiving the vaccine:
Will the seasonal flu vaccine protect me against the 2009 H1N1 flu?
The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu. Each vaccine is made of different strain.
Can the seasonal vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine be given at the same time?
Inactivated H1N1 vaccine and inactivated seasonal flu vaccine can be administered as the same time, However, live H1N1 vaccine can not be administered at the same time with the seasonal live attenuated influenza vaccine.
Should I get vaccinated against H1N1 if I have had flu-like illness since the Spring of 2009?
If you were ill but do not know if you had 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated if your doctor recommends it. Most people recommended for 2009 H1N1 vaccination should be vaccinated with H1N1 vaccine regardless of whether they had a flu-like illness earlier in the year.
Most cases of flu, including human swine flu, need no treatment other than symptom relief. If you have a chronic respiratory disease, your doctor may prescribe additional medication to decrease inflammation, open your airways and help clear lung secretions.
Antiviral drugs can reduce the severity of symptoms. There are two classes of antiviral medication used to reduce symptoms and duration of the flu — adamantane antivirals and neuraminidase inhibitors — but flu viruses can develop resistance to them.
Human swine flu H1N1 is sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), both of which are neuraminidase inhibitors. It's important to start treatment as soon as possible after you become ill. These antiviral medications are most effective if treatment begins within 48 hours of developing symptoms.
If you come down with any type of flu, these measures may help ease your symptoms:
· Consider pain relievers. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) cautiously, as needed.
Remember, pain relievers may make you more comfortable, but they won't make your symptoms go away any faster and may have side effects. Ibuprofen may cause stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers. If taken for a long period or in higher than recommended doses, acetaminophen can be toxic to your liver.
Talk to your doctor before giving acetaminophen to children. And don't give aspirin to children or teens because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
These measures may help prevent flu:
To learn more about immunization prices, please contact our office at 301-460-6372.
At the meantime, if you need more information about the H1N1 flu, please go to the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. As always, customer’s safety is our mission.