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H1N1 Flu Information

Key Influenza Prevention Messages
All individuals should take these everyday steps to protect themselves from flu:
  • 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. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine) except to get medical care or for other necessities. Keep away from others to keep from making others sick.
  • Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
  • Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home. A supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.
General Seasonal Influenza Updates
  • Individuals should be encouraged to seek seasonal flu vaccine.
  • There are many millions of doses yet to be distributed this season. As distribution continues, however, some individuals may have to obtain the vaccine from a source other than their preferred provider.
  • As of October 16, 85 million doses, or 74 percent of the total seasonal influenza vaccine doses expected this season have been distributed in the private and public sectors.
  • It is estimated that the total number of doses that will be manufactured this year is approximately the same as the number of doses that were actually administered last season. Manufacturers now estimate that a total of 114 million doses will be brought to the market.
  • People can find seasonal vaccine by checking the American Lung Association web site that identifies clinics that have influenza vaccine available: http://www.flucliniclocator.org/
  • We are still early in flu season; there is still time for people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from becoming ill.
  • Many more individuals have been vaccinated against seasonal influenza this season than at the same time last year. This is most likely due to the early availability of vaccine.

2009 H1N1 Vaccination Information 

Vaccine Production and Distribution
 
All states and the District of Columbia have placed orders for vaccine. As of October 21, 14,070,900 doses have been allocated and 11,282,200 doses have been shipped.
 
Since September 30, when the 2009 H1N1 vaccine was first made available to states to order, the number of doses that has been produced, distributed, and administered has grown steadily, and states are executing their plans for providing vaccine to high-priority populations.  While modest amounts of vaccine have been made available ahead of schedule, a series of manufacturing delays has caused significant reductions in the manufacturers’ projected vaccine output and the number of doses delivered so far.  Most reasons for these delays have now been overcome, and production of the vaccine components is proceeding as expected but on a revised schedule.  HHS is working closely with the vaccine manufacturers to get the vaccine supplies flowing to the public as vaccine becomes available.  Although we had hoped to have more vaccine distributed by this point, ultimately everyone who wants to receive the vaccine will be able to get vaccinated.  These current delays will not alter the per capita allotment basis for states, nor will it affect the method through which states are able to order and receive their allocated doses.   CDC is working closely with states to ensure that vaccine gets to the public as soon as we receive it, and CDC has worked with its distributors to ensure round-the-clock shipping capabilities and 24 hour turn-around time on distribution.  CDC continues to offer technical assistance to, and meets regularly with, states and other partners to improve the effectiveness of the vaccination program. Weekly updates on 2009 H1N1 vaccine allocated, ordered, and shipped are available here.
 
See questions and answers about 2009 H1N1 Influenza vaccine distribution here.
 
To find out where 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine is available near you, access the flu.gov vaccine locator here.
 
Vaccine Recommendations
  • Inactivated vaccines against both the seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza viruses can be received on the same day. Live 2009 H1N1 vaccine can be administered at the same visit as any other live or inactivated vaccine except seasonal live attenuated influenza vaccine. The seasonal vaccine is already available in many locations, however, and individuals are encouraged to get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible.
  • For individuals needing more than one dose of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, CDC recommends that the two doses be separated by approximately four weeks. If the second dose is separated from the first dose by at least 21 days, however, the second dose can be considered valid.
  • Vaccine will become increasingly available in a combination of settings such as vaccination clinics organized by local health departments, healthcare provider offices, schools, and other private settings, such as pharmacies and workplaces.

Vaccine Safety
  • Neither the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine nor the 2009-2010 seasonal influenza vaccine have been associated with any unexpected adverse events.
  • The CDC and FDA closely monitor the safety of seasonal influenza and other vaccines licensed for use in the in cooperation with state and local health departments, healthcare providers, and other partners.
  • Clinical trials on 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine began in July and are ongoing.  Information from the trials indicates the vaccines are safe, and that one dose of vaccine provides protection to most healthy adults and children 10-17 years old. Children younger than 10 years should receive two doses of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. The trials are also seeking information on pregnant women and on immune-compromised individuals.
  • CDC and its partners are using several systems to monitor the safety of 2009 H1N1 monovalent influenza vaccine.  Two primary systems are the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is jointly operated with FDA, and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) Project.

Read more about the clinical trials here and 2009 H1N1 Influenza vaccine safety here.

Vaccine Financing and Reimbursement
  • Novel H1N1 vaccine is being procured and purchased by the federal government and made available for vaccinators at no cost.
  • Vaccination providers can not charge or bill for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, though some may charge for administration of the vaccine.
  • Vaccine will be administered free of charge in public clinics and settings, and patients will not be charged for administration of 2009 H1N1 vaccine in such settings.  Most private health insurers are expected to reimburse providers for the cost of administration.