H1N1 Vaccine Arriving Soon

The vaccine for 2009 H1N1 Influenza (“swine flu”) may be arriving this week. Folks have a lot of questions. Fortunately, I have answers.

The first doses of H1N1 vaccine to be delivered will be in a special formulation called Live Attenuated Influenza Virus or LAIV. This vaccine has a form of H1N1 virus that has been weakened so that after it is delivered it causes a sub-clinical form of the flu. It is given in a nasal spray and helps build immunity to the flu in the upper respiratory passages; the same place natural flu viruses gain entry. LAIV has been used for seasonal flu vaccine for several years and is marketed under the trade name FluMist.

LAIV is approved by the FDA for use in healthy, non-pregnant individuals between the ages of 2 and 49. This limits its usefulness in protecting people who are high risk for complications from the flu. However, it is an excellent vaccine to use in healthy children, young adults, and especially in health care workers who could accidentally spread H1N1 influenza to the patients they care for.

Initial shipments of vaccine to Whitman County will be very limited. We are scheduled to receive only 500 doses the first week the vaccine begins shipping. Most public health departments in Washington have decided to use the first allotment of vaccine in health care workers and emergency medical personnel. We have elected to do the same. Vaccine left over after health care workers are inoculated will be distributed to clinics in our area as quickly as possible.

An injectable form of H1N1 vaccine will be available later in October. This vaccine is made from a killed, purified H1N1 virus. It will come in several formulations for both children and adults. We do not know at this time how many doses Whitman County will receive. Much of the injectable vaccine will be sent directly to clinics and physicians offices. Our website will have a list of where and when the vaccine is available.

All H1N1 vaccine is paid for by the federal government. Clinics may charge an administrative fee, which insurance plans will cover, but they cannot charge for the vaccine. Folks without insurance can obtain the vaccine for no cost through the public health department. Although early supplies of vaccine will be limited, there should eventually be enough for anyone who wants it.

Target groups for H1N1 vaccination are pregnant women, parents and caregivers of children under six months old, health care workers, all persons age 6 months to 24 years of age, and persons age 25 to 64 with chronic health problems. People 65 and over are not in the initial target group because H1N1 flu rarely affects this age group. Once the vaccine supply is adequate, H1N1 vaccine will be available to everyone.

Some of the vaccine will be delivered in multi-dose vials and will contain a preservative made from mercury called Thimerosal. Multiple scientific studies have shown no worrisome effects due to thimerosal. Nevertheless, some H1N1 vaccine will be available in single-dose vials without thimerosal. The LAIV form of vaccine (nasal spray) is single-dose only, and does not contain any mercury or preservatives.

H1N1 vaccine is being made in the same manner and by the same companies that make seasonal flu vaccine, and it is expected to have a similar safety profile. The only difference between H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine is a change in the strain of the flu virus from which the vaccine is made. Also, just like seasonal flu vaccine, H1N1 vaccine will be free of any immune boosting chemicals or adjuvants.

Finally, check the Whitman County website for details of when H1N1 vaccine will be available. Also call the Flu Line at 509-397 -6FLU.

I welcome your questions and comments.