Updated 12/14/09
Vaccines are the most powerful public health tool for
control of influenza.
There are two types of
influenza vaccines available this year, against “seasonal” influenza virus and
H1N1 “swine” influenza virus.
Santa Monica Bay
Physicians has ordered both types of influenza vaccine for our practice.
We have received shipments
of both Seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 flu vaccine. Listed at the bottom of this email is
information on our current vaccine supply status. PLEASE CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO RECEIVE
VACCINATION. Santa Monica Bay Physicians
follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in administering
the vaccines.
Seasonal Influenza virus vaccine
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
1. Children
aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
2. Pregnant
women
3. People 50
years of age and older
4. People of
any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who
live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who
live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
a.
Health care workers
b.
Household contacts of persons at high risk
for complications from
the flu
c.
Household contacts and out of home caregivers
of children less
than 6
months of age (these children are too young to be
vaccinated)
H1N1 Influenza virus vaccine
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended
that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it
first becomes available. These high risk groups include:
H1N1 vaccine is not recommended for any patients over age 64 years old due
to the high likelihood that these patients are immune to H1N1 due to prior
pandemic exposures.
Both Seasonal
and H1N1 flu vaccine is supplied in two different forms:
1. Intranasal (live) vaccine – can only be used for patients with a healthy
immune system and without respiratory problems.
Can only be used in patients aged 2-49 years old. Cannot be used in pregnant women or
immunocompromised patients or patients with asthma who actively require
inhalers.
2. Injectable (killed) vaccine – safe for all patients regardless of age,
pregnancy status or other health conditions.
Are
there other ways to prevent the spread of illness?
Take everyday actions to stay
healthy.
·
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when
you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
·
Wash your hands often with soap and water,
especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use
an alcohol-based hand rub.
·
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs spread that way.
·
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends
that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep
from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds
and other social distancing measures. These measures will continue to be
important after a 2009 H1N1 vaccine is available because they can prevent the
spread of other viruses that cause respiratory infections.
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SMBP Vaccine Supply Status |
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Available Currently |
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H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine – both injectable form and nasal form |
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Seasonal (regular) flu vaccine – injectable form |
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Updated 10/27/09
H1N1 (Swine) Influenza Vaccine
Who Should Get
Vaccinated
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel made up
of medical and public health experts, met July 29, 2009, to make
recommendations on who should receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it becomes
available. While the federal government has purchased enough vaccine so that
anyone who wants to get vaccinated can, ACIP’s
statement on the “Use of
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine” recommends that vaccination
efforts should focus first on people in five target groups who are at higher
risk for 2009 H1N1 influenza or related complications, are likely to come in
contact with influenza viruses as part of their occupation and could transmit
influenza viruses to others in medical care settings, or are close contacts of
infants younger than 6 months (who are too young to be vaccinated). These five
target groups make up an estimated 159 million people in the
At this time there is sufficient H1N1 nasal (live)
vaccine for any individuals aged 2-49 who desire the vaccine unless they have a
contraindication. The nasal
vaccine cannot be used for pregnant women, people with asthma on inhalers, or
immune compromised individuals. It can
also not be given to anyone over age 49 or younger than 2 years of age.
We do not, as of yet, have injectable vaccine that must be used for the following categories of
patients:
Current studies indicate that the
risk for infection among persons 65
and older is less than the risk for younger age groups. However, once
vaccine demand among younger age groups has been met, ACIP recommends that
programs and providers should offer vaccination to people 65 or
older. SMBP will vaccinate patients
65 and older once those in the younger group have been vaccinated.
NASAL (LIVE ATTENUATED) H1N1 VACCINE: In the initial target group, the following cannot receive the nasal vaccine: Pregnant women, children under age 2 years or over age 49 years, patients with asthma, HIV, or have a compromised immune system. These patients should only receive the injectable (killed) vaccine. People who live with pregnant women or children less than 6 months of age can still receive the live (nasal) vaccine. For more information from the CDC on Nasal H1N1 Vaccine, click on link below.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/nasalspray_qa.htm
This information sheet
does NOT replace the Vaccine Information Sheet (