2010-11 Influenza Vaccine Will Include H1N1 Virus

The Health Organization Committee that determines the composition of the yearly influenza vaccine met last week, and has decided to include H1N1 in the 2010-11 vaccine.

It is recommended that the following viruses be used for influenza vaccines in the 2010-
2011 influenza season (northern hemisphere):
– an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
– an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;#
– a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

For the full report, please go to: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/201002_Recommendation.pdf

This was anticipated, but there was a chance that the H1N1 would still be separated into an additional injection, so I am pleased that my patients will only need a single dose of vaccine to get coverage for both seasonal and H1N1 influenza this coming year. Interestingly, the strain of H1N1 is the same as in the 2009-10 H1N1 vaccine- so it may actually serve as a booster dose for patients who received the vaccine this past season.

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