The New H1N1 Vaccine is Here!
The January 2010 CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) reports show increases in Flu.
All cases reported so far in Tennessee are H1N1.
Questions? Call the office at 901-276-0249.

FLU SEASON 2009-10

2009 H1N1 “Swine” Flu is the predominant A-type flu this year, but is not the only flu-type. The number of 2009 H1N1 cases indicate this will be a pandemic year. CDC recommends vaccination with the usual “Seasonal Flu Shot”. In addition, there is a 2009 H1N1 vaccine for high risk groups first, then eventually everyone.

Because of this load on the flu shot manufacturing, all shots have been delayed. This has been very frustrating for us and everyone.

IS THE 2009 H1N1 FLU SHOT SAFE?

Every year the CDC picks 3 strains to be in the seasonal shot based on the past year’s major strains. This 2009 H1N1 strain would be in the seasonal shot if it had been identified early enough. This second flu shot is no different from the seasonal. It is made on the same equipment with the same tested and controlled process.

INITIAL HIGHEST PRIORITY GROUP
For 2009 H1N1 Vaccine

  • Pregnant women
  • Household contacts and caregivers of infants under 6 months
  • Healthcare or Emergency service workers
  • Children ages 6 months through 4 years
  • Children 5-18 years with chronic medical conditions that increase their risk of serious health problems as a result of influenza. These include children with asthma, heart disease, lung disease, neuromuscular disease, morbid obesity, and weakened immune systems.
PRIORITY GROUP
For 2009 H1N1 Vaccine
  • Young adults with chronic medical conditions that increase their risk of serious health problems as a result of influenza.

ELDERLY OVER 65

“Fewer novel influenza illnesses have been reported in people 65 or older, indicating that this age group may have some immunity to this virus. Therefore, the elderly should receive this new monovalent vaccine only after all other groups have been vaccinated.”

OUR POLICY

Since we received our shots late, we are currently vaccinating all kids, and all adults with immunocompromise (transplants, HIV, on chemotherapy), asthma, or chronic lung disease. We hope we can vaccinate everyone eventually.

FLU INFO

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/
http://www.flu.gov/

CHILDREN AND 2009 H1N1 SHOT

Children under 10 years old will need 2 doses, one month apart. This is because this is the first time for getting this vaccine. The following year, only one dose will be required.

CHILDREN AND THE SEASONAL FLU SHOT

Children under 9 years old need 2 doses if it is the first time getting a seasonal flu shot.

FLUMIST

Flumist nasal spray can be given to folks age 2-49, as long as they don’t have asthma or lung disease. A person cannot have 2 nasal vaccines on the same day. If given a nasal vaccine, the patient cannot have another live virus vaccine for a month (like MMR, Varicella/Chickenpox).

WHAT DOES PANDEMIC MEAN?

In a usual flu season, 36,000 people die from complications of the flu. Most are over age 65. This year that number will be much higher and kids are more affected. Usually the flu totally dies out in the winter. It takes hold in the cold weather and becomes rampant when kids are together spreading Flu at school. This year the flu never died out so the entry level is significantly higher. This below graph showed the change this year in the week-by-week summary going into the usual flu season compared to prior seasons. This graph is as of 11/10/09.

flu_pediatric_deaths_06-09