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For health care providers: Information about distribution and supply of H1N1 vaccine including a Frequently Asked Questions page.
Why the Delay? |
H1N1 Vaccination Frequently Asked Questions Frequently updated information and resources about H1N1 vaccine and related topics. This page will be updated regularly, so check back often for the latest information. How much H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine is available? (updated) Vaccine supplies are limited because production has been slower than expected. Washington began receiving limited shipments of H1N1 vaccine in early October, and started distributing it immediately.
Currently, we are providing vaccine only to those who need it
most--those most likely to get and spread the disease, pregnant women and those with
medical conditions that put them at risk. The priority groups for
receiving vaccine are described below. If vaccine is not currently
available in your area, please be patient, and
check with your local health department
regularly to find out when it will be. More vaccine will arrive in the
weeks to come and there will be enough for everyone. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention distributes vaccine to the states based on state
population; it is then distributed to counties based on population.
Local health officials, who best know and understand the needs of their
communities, decide which distribution strategy is best for their area.
Some use school-based mass vaccination events; some use a mix of local
public health clinics and private health care providers; others rely
more heavily on private health care providers. You can find out more
about your county’s distribution plans for vaccine by
contacting your local health department. Who will get vaccinated first? (updated) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people most likely to become ill and those most threatened by H1N1 be the first to get vaccine. These priority groups include:
Note: If you are a
pregnant woman or belong to a high-risk group, you will not be able
to use the nasal spray vaccine. Check with your vaccine provider to
make sure injectable vaccine is available to you before getting
vaccinated.
Are there some people who should not receive the H1N1 vaccine?People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine should not be vaccinated. Let your doctor, pharmacist or vaccine clinic know if you have any severe allergies. If I got the 1976 swine fluvaccine, do I need to get an H1N1 vaccine?Yes. If you were vaccinated in 1976, you should still get the H1N1 vaccine. The 1976 swine flu virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus are different enough that the 1976 vaccine is unlikely to fully protect you from H1N1. Should I get the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine if I have had a flu-like illness since last spring?People who had a flu-like illness but did not have a lab-confirmed test for H1N1 flu should be vaccinated this fall or winter . This includes:
People whose test confirmed they had H1N1 flu should consult their health care provider about getting vaccinated. Someone who was infected with H1N1 will likely have some immunity. However, it is not harmful to vaccinate a person with some existing immunity or those that are unsure if they had the H1N1 flu. I'm not a U.S. citizen. Can I still get the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine? (updated)The Federal government does not have any residency restrictions for who can get H1N1 vaccine. However, local health departments may have restrictions. Vaccine supply may also be limited in some areas. High priority groups including health care workers, pregnant women, children, and people with medical conditions that put them at risk will be vaccinated first. It is important to check with your local health department for any special requirements or restrictions in your area. For example, some counties may be pre-registering for vaccination clinics. Will H1N1 (swine flu) vaccinations be mandatory?No. We encourage people to get the H1N1 vaccine when it is available, but you can decide what is best for you and your family. Will this year’s seasonal vaccine protect me from H1N1 (swine flu)?No. This year's seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you against H1N1. It will be important to get both vaccines for best protection against H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine. Should I get vaccinated against both seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine flu)?Yes. We encourage everyone who can get vaccinated to get seasonal flu vaccine every year and to get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. The Centers for Disease Control and prevention is monitoring the seasonal and H1N1 flus very closely and hasn’t seen any evidence that being vaccinated for seasonal flu makes a person any more likely to get H1N1. Seasonal flu vaccine has been in short supply in some areas. You may need to check regularly to find out when and where it is available and please be patient. Seasonal flu usually peaks in February and March, so you should have time to get vaccinated. Some people cannot get vaccinated due to a medical condition or because they are too young. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or clinic about these vaccines for you and your family. More information on seasonal flu is available on our Seasonal Flu News page. Will I be able to get the seasonal vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine at the same time?Yes. You can get most seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines on the same day, if both are available. However, there is one exception - you cannot get two nasal spray vaccines on the same day. A seasonal flu nasal spray vaccine and a H1N1 nasal spray vaccine need to be separated by at least four weeks. Seasonal vaccine is available in many areas now, and if it is available near you, – don’t wait until H1N1 vaccine becomes available to get immunized. Both influenza viruses can cause illness, hospitalizations and death this fall and winter.If you are at risk for severe influenza and are also in a group at risk for pneumococcal pneumonia, ask your health care provider about pneumococcal vaccine to prevent the complications of flu. Where can I get an H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination?Many settings will offer H1N1 vaccinations, including doctor’s offices, schools, workplaces, pharmacies, and public health agencies. Check these sources for information about vaccination sites near you, but be aware that supplies are limited at this time and you may need to check again in the coming weeks to find out when it is available:
You may also be able to find information in your local newspaper or through television or radio. How much will it cost to get vaccinated for H1N1?There is no charge to the public for the vaccine. However, providers can charge a small administration fee – for example, you may still have to pay your regular co-pay at the doctor’s office or pay a small fee at a flu clinic. In many areas, public health clinics will provide the vaccine free of charge for people who have no insurance or who are unable to pay. Will two doses of H1N1 vaccine be needed?Yes, but only for people under age 10. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of one dose of H1N1 flu vaccine for those 10 years old or older. The less mature immune systems of younger children means that two doses create better protection. For that reason, the FDA approved two doses for children 9 years of age and younger. The FDA continu es to test to be sure that the number of doses it recommends for all age groups are effective.If two doses are needed, how long after the first dose must children wait to receive the second dose?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that the two doses of H1N1 vaccine be separated by at least 4 weeks. However, the second dose is valid if separated from the first dose by at least 21 days. How long does it take for the vaccine to protect people from H1N1?Early studies show that like seasonal flu vaccine, the H1N1 vaccine creates a strong immune response in most healthy adults 8 to 10 days after a single dose. Is the H1N1 vaccine available in nasal spray form?Yes. You can get H1N1 vaccine either as a shot (injection) or as a nasal spray (mist). The nasal spray is safe for healthy people 2 to 49 years of age , but not safe for pregnant women. Talk to your doctor, or nurse or clinic about which vaccines are best for you and your family.The nasal spray is more widely available now, although it will make up only 20 to 25 percent of the final total supply. Whoshould not get nasal spray vaccine?The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for the following:
Ask your doctor, nurse or clinic if nasal spray vaccine is a safe choice for you and your family. Can I get H1N1 nasal spray vaccine at the same time as seasonal nasal spray vaccine?No, you should not get the
seasonal nasal spray vaccine and the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine at the
same time. This is because the nasal spray vaccines might not be as
effective if given together. You need to separate all nasal spray
vaccines or doses by at least 28 days. Note: Before getting the H1N1 or seasonal flu nasal spray vaccine, check with your doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have received another live virus vaccine (such as MMR, chickenpox (varicella), or yellow fever vaccines) in the last month. How many doses of nasal spray vaccine are required for children?All children under 10
will need two doses of H1N1 vaccine (either nasal spray or flu shot).
Vaccine SafetyIs the H1N1 vaccine safe?The H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine is made by the exact same process, and in the same facilities that are used to make seasonal flu vaccine, which has a very good safety record. Like any medication, vaccines may have side effects. People who get vaccinated against H1N1 will be screened for any reason that they shouldn’t be vaccinated, such as egg allergy.People who get vaccinated against H1N1 will get fact sheets describing the vaccine’s risks and benefits, signs of side effects to look for after vaccination and how to report side effects (or adverse events). Are there side effects to theH1N1 (swine flu) vaccine?Side effects from the H1N1 vaccine will be similar to side effects from seasonal flu, which are mild, localized reactions. The most common side effects are:
Is it safe to take the H1N1 vaccine if I am pregnant?Yes. The H1N1 shot is safe for pregnant women and does not cause miscarriages. Pregnant women are six times more likely to have serious complications when infected with H1N1, making it more important for them to get vaccinated and to get treated quickly. Pregnant women should not get H1N1 nasal spray vaccine. Will mercury-freeH1N1 (swine flu) vaccines be available?Yes. Some mercury-free or thimerosal-free vaccine will be available in Washington. H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine is being manufactured in several formulations:
As a precaution, Washington law limits the amount of mercury allowed in vaccines for pregnant women and children under three, but it allows the Secretary of Health to temporarily suspend the law when there is a shortage of vaccine or during a disease outbreak. Because mercury-free H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine may not always be available, the Secretary recently suspended the law to make sure that those who need and want H1N1 vaccine can get it. For more information about the suspension of the law, see our press release. Will the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines be monitored for safety?Yes. The CDC and FDA (along with state and local health departments, health care providers, and other partners) will watch closely for any signs that the H1N1 vaccine causes unexpected problems and will investigate unusual events quickly. Side effects (also called adverse events) may not be related to vaccination, but instead may just happen around the same time. Through tracking and investigation we can figure out which side effects are truly caused by vaccination and which are not. What can I do if I have a side effect from a vaccine?If you think you or your child may have a side effect from a vaccine, be sure to discuss this with your health care provider and either:
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