Some Will Need 2 Doses Of H1N1 Vaccine
Reported September 21, 2009
WASHINGTON — Clinical trials on the new H1N1 flu vaccine show some children will only need one shot, but others will need two. The first 45 million doses of the vaccine are on track for mid-October delivery.
The main message to parents right now from the CDC is to go ahead with seasonal flu vaccinations before the new H1N1 vaccine arrives.
The CDC said it’s going to be a complicated flu season, with two different strains of flu, two different vaccines and different dosages depending on age. The good news is that children are expected to respond well to the new H1N1 vaccine.
“We’re on course. It looks good. It appears to be acting in a way we were hoping it would act, namely just the same way that seasonal flu vaccine works,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, with the National Institutes of Health.
In clinical trials on the new H1N1 vaccine, most older children who received one dose of the vaccine developed a strong immunity to the virus within eight to 10 days. For younger children, only a third showed a strong response.
The National Institutes of Health said 10- to 17-year-olds will need one shot, while those 6 months to 9 years old will likely need two. And just like the regular seasonal flu vaccine, those two doses should be 21 days apart.
“For planning purposes, I would suggest parents begin getting their kids vaccinated now if they’re in that category where they need two doses this year of the seasonal,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, with the CDC.
The CDC said it’s OK to get the seasonal flu shot and the new H1N1 vaccine at the same time, but flu mist formulations of both vaccines should not be given on the same day. Patients should check with their pediatrician first.
The federal government ordered another 56 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine Monday, bringing the total that will eventually be available in the U.S. to more than 250 million doses.
The findings released Monday involved shots of the vaccine, not the FluMist version. The CDC said FluMist should only be used by healthy people ages 2 to 49.
Clinical trials involving pregnant women are still ongoing and researchers said they should have vaccine dosage recommendations in October.
Source : Internet Broadcasting Systems