The first doses of the H1N1 vaccines are now available and more doses will be shipped in the upcoming weeks. As you are preparing yourself and your family for the 2009 flu season, you may have questions about the new H1N1 flu vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently posted the following information about the H1N1 flu vaccine.

1.   Are the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines safe?

The 2009 H1N1 vaccines have undergone all the safety testing and quality checks that are usually done for other vaccines. The CDC expects the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have a very good safety track record. Over the years, hundreds of millions of Americans have received seasonal flu vaccines. The most common side effects following flu vaccinations are mild, such as soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given.

CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be closely monitoring for any signs that the 2009 H1N1 vaccine is causing unexpected adverse events, and they will work with state and local health officials to investigate any unusual events.

2.  Is the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine safe for pregnant women?

Flu vaccines have not been shown to cause harm to pregnant women or their babies. The seasonal flu shot has been recommended for pregnant women for many years. The 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is being made the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine. Studies that test the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine in pregnant women were conducted in September. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/pregnancy/

3.  Can pregnant women receive the nasal spray vaccine?

The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Pregnant women should not receive the nasal spray vaccine for either seasonal flu or H1N1 flu. After delivery, women can receive the nasal spray vaccine, even if they are breastfeeding.

4.  What is thimerosal and does the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine contain thimerosal?

Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used for decades in the United States and internationally in multi-dose vials (vials containing more than one dose) of some vaccines to prevent the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, which may contaminate them.

The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines that FDA licensed are manufactured in several formulations. Some are produced in multi-dose vials and contain thimerosal as a preservative.  Some 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines are also produced in single-dose units and do not contain thimerosal. In addition, nasal spray is produced in single-dose units and does not contain thimerosal.

5.  What is a vaccine adjuvant and will the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines that are currently recommended contain adjuvants?

A vaccine adjuvant is a substance that is added to the vaccine to increase the body's immune response to the vaccine.  Vaccine adjuvants will not be used in the United States during the 2009-10 flu season. This includes all of the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines that will be available for children and adults in both the injectable and nasal spray formulations.

6.  Are there some people who should not receive 2009 H1N1 vaccine?

There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination in the past.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting a flu vaccine.
• Children less than 6 months of age (flu vaccine is not approved for this age group).
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated).

Significa Benefit Services holds complimentary webinars every other Thursday.  These hour-long sessions provide the latest information on the seasonal and H1N1 flu situations and live access to a flu expert who can answer your questions. Due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the next webinar is scheduled for Thursday, December 3 at 11 am Eastern Time.  You can register for the next webinar at this address:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/921513338 

Significa Benefit Services will continue to keep you updated on this situation at its website, http://www.significabenefits.com/.  As experts in pandemic flu preparedness, Significa Benefit Services can assist you with any questions you have about preparing your organization for a pandemic.