Healthy Living: Local News
Investigation: Everything You Need to Know About the H1N1 Vaccine
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Story Updated: Jul 27, 2011
Federal health officials are warning the H1N1 virus could kill up to 90,000 Americans this year.
H1N1 is a strain of flu health officials have never seen before. In mild form... Those infected might not even seek medical attention, but when it is severe it can kill.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention H1N1 is spread like regular flu is- through coughing, sneezing and touching objects or surfaces with the flu on it, then touching the nose, eyes, or mouth. People infected can spread it to others one day before feeling any symptoms, while they are sick, and up to a week after they feel better. "The number one way to prevent influenza infection is to get the vaccine," says Dr. Joe McLaughlin, Dept of Health & Social Services state Epidemiologist.
State of Alaska health officials are expecting H1N1 to hit Alaskans especially hard, which is why they are getting ready to vaccinate anyone who wants to be protected against it. "The H1N1 vaccine is still in process of being manufactured," says State Immunization program manager Laurel Wood. "We're doing lots to prepare for its arrival." Because this flu is something health experts have not seen before, you need three shots to be protected against it- one for the regular flu and two for H1N1.
"We've never been exposed to this virus before, and two chances to respond to it will provide better protection," explains Wood. The H1N1 vaccine is being made the way other vaccines are- it is incubated in chicken eggs. The problem is egg is the most common food allergy in infants and young children, who are also one of the populations most at risk for serious cases of the H1N1 flu strain.
State health officials are still recommending the vaccine for all Alaskans, but warn that anyone with an egg allergy, especially parents with small children, need to find out if the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk of allergic reaction.
"They should consult their health care provider about the risks and benefits of receiving the influenza vaccine," says Dr. McLaughlin, "A skin test is available to determine the severity of a potential reaction to influenza vaccine for the people who do have an egg allergy, which would be done in a clinical setting where emergency treatment such as epinephrine can be given."
As for older Alaskans- the H1N1 virus has not really had an effect on people older than 60, but the normal flu does. That is why state officials are urging Alaska's seniors to get the regular flu vaccine, but not necessarily H1N1 vaccine.
Those most at risk for serious cases of the H1N1 flu strain are pregnant women and small children and state health officials are recommending they get the first doses of the H1N1 vaccine.
"It will be important that we try to prioritize those, but ultimately, we are going to have enough H1N1 vaccine for anyone in Alaska who wants to receive it," says Wood. But fears about the safety of all vaccines for children may prevent some parents from allowing their kids to get the shot. While health officials say the concerns are unfounded, and they say there is no link between the ingredients in vaccines and Autism in children, special batches of the vaccine are being made without the ingredient some are concerned about.
"Those vaccines are individual syringes that don't contain thimerosal "We will also have some vaccines that are not thimerosal containing for pregnant women," says Wood, "Its not actually that we are very concerned that thimerosal is a problem, but we know there are people concerned that have read and are concerned about this issue and we want to be able to provide that type of vaccine for anyone who is concerned." But Alaska's health care system is not necessarily designed for all those flu vaccines.
Most pharmacies, and even the state only have enough physical to store the regular vaccines Now, many experts are urging Alaskans to get their regular flu vaccines early, so they can make room for the October shipment of H1N1 vaccines. "It's going to be confusing, but if all of us work together we'll be able to stop some of that confusion and make sure Alaskans are protected against seasonal and H1N1 influenza." Neither the state nor the federal government is forcing anyone to get the H1N1 vaccine, but they are recommending it. State officials will get our first shipments of the H1N1 vaccine in by mid October. They hope that first batch of approximately 140,000 doses will be enough to immunize the Alaskans at the highest risk of having a bad reaction to swine flu.
The H1N1 vaccines themselves will be free, but there may be a cost to administer the shots. Regular flu vaccines are available in many doctor's offices and pharmacies right now.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention H1N1 is spread like regular flu is- through coughing, sneezing and touching objects or surfaces with the flu on it, then touching the nose, eyes, or mouth. People infected can spread it to others one day before feeling any symptoms, while they are sick, and up to a week after they feel better. "The number one way to prevent influenza infection is to get the vaccine," says Dr. Joe McLaughlin, Dept of Health & Social Services state Epidemiologist.
State of Alaska health officials are expecting H1N1 to hit Alaskans especially hard, which is why they are getting ready to vaccinate anyone who wants to be protected against it. "The H1N1 vaccine is still in process of being manufactured," says State Immunization program manager Laurel Wood. "We're doing lots to prepare for its arrival." Because this flu is something health experts have not seen before, you need three shots to be protected against it- one for the regular flu and two for H1N1.
"We've never been exposed to this virus before, and two chances to respond to it will provide better protection," explains Wood. The H1N1 vaccine is being made the way other vaccines are- it is incubated in chicken eggs. The problem is egg is the most common food allergy in infants and young children, who are also one of the populations most at risk for serious cases of the H1N1 flu strain.
State health officials are still recommending the vaccine for all Alaskans, but warn that anyone with an egg allergy, especially parents with small children, need to find out if the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk of allergic reaction.
"They should consult their health care provider about the risks and benefits of receiving the influenza vaccine," says Dr. McLaughlin, "A skin test is available to determine the severity of a potential reaction to influenza vaccine for the people who do have an egg allergy, which would be done in a clinical setting where emergency treatment such as epinephrine can be given."
As for older Alaskans- the H1N1 virus has not really had an effect on people older than 60, but the normal flu does. That is why state officials are urging Alaska's seniors to get the regular flu vaccine, but not necessarily H1N1 vaccine.
Those most at risk for serious cases of the H1N1 flu strain are pregnant women and small children and state health officials are recommending they get the first doses of the H1N1 vaccine.
"It will be important that we try to prioritize those, but ultimately, we are going to have enough H1N1 vaccine for anyone in Alaska who wants to receive it," says Wood. But fears about the safety of all vaccines for children may prevent some parents from allowing their kids to get the shot. While health officials say the concerns are unfounded, and they say there is no link between the ingredients in vaccines and Autism in children, special batches of the vaccine are being made without the ingredient some are concerned about.
"Those vaccines are individual syringes that don't contain thimerosal "We will also have some vaccines that are not thimerosal containing for pregnant women," says Wood, "Its not actually that we are very concerned that thimerosal is a problem, but we know there are people concerned that have read and are concerned about this issue and we want to be able to provide that type of vaccine for anyone who is concerned." But Alaska's health care system is not necessarily designed for all those flu vaccines.
Most pharmacies, and even the state only have enough physical to store the regular vaccines Now, many experts are urging Alaskans to get their regular flu vaccines early, so they can make room for the October shipment of H1N1 vaccines. "It's going to be confusing, but if all of us work together we'll be able to stop some of that confusion and make sure Alaskans are protected against seasonal and H1N1 influenza." Neither the state nor the federal government is forcing anyone to get the H1N1 vaccine, but they are recommending it. State officials will get our first shipments of the H1N1 vaccine in by mid October. They hope that first batch of approximately 140,000 doses will be enough to immunize the Alaskans at the highest risk of having a bad reaction to swine flu.
The H1N1 vaccines themselves will be free, but there may be a cost to administer the shots. Regular flu vaccines are available in many doctor's offices and pharmacies right now.
