Harvard University Health Services has received a new shipment of H1N1 vaccine, and HUHS staff members are communicating directly with HUHS members who according to public health guidelines should receive priority for vaccination against the new strain of Influenza A.
HUHS has already begun administering the initial doses that it received to those who are pregnant or children 6 months to 18 years of age. In accordance with updated public health guidelines, HUHS will now begin offering vaccinations to parents of infants under the age of 6 months, healthcare workers, and emergency responders.
Production of the vaccine has been slow, and while HUHS expects to receive additional shipments it seems unlikely that HUHS will get all of the approximately 15,000 doses that it requested.
Because supplies are limited, HUHS is following strict guidelines established by the public health authorities as it prioritizes the distribution of the H1N1 vaccine and it is not at this time able to offer the vaccine to the wider Harvard community, as it did with the seasonal flu vaccine. Therefore, if you do not receive your care at HUHS, please contact your primary care physician to learn more about whether you are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Currently, the following groups are considered high risk and will be offered the vaccine first:
- Children 6 months though 18 years of age
- Pregnant women
- Persons who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
Following vaccination efforts targeted at these groups, the following will be offered vaccine next:
- Persons between 18 and 24 years of age with and then without medical conditions
- Persons 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
HUHS will make the vaccine available to other populations as supplies become available.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- HUHS is only distributing injectable, inactivated vaccine. This vaccine is produced in a similar fashion to the seasonal flu vaccine. There is another vaccine available, which contains live, attenuated virus administered as a nasal spray that can be given to healthy people between 2 and 49 years of age. HUHS did not acquire this vaccine. Two types of H1N1 vaccine are available. One is a “live” vaccine that is a nasal spray, and the other is made similar to the seasonal flu vaccine. Live vaccine is for use only in healthy people ages 2 – 49 who are not pregnant or have no other medical conditions. The injectible vaccine is made similarly to the seasonal flu vaccine and has very few minor side effects. HUHS is only distributing the inactivated vaccine.
- The injectible vaccine is a one-dose vaccine that can be given at the same time as the seasonal flu vaccine in different sites except in young children. Those under the age of 9 will require two doses of vaccine 4 weeks apart. The seasonal flu vaccine should be given in one arm and the H1N1 vaccine in the other.
- A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu is at higher risk for serious health problems. Compared with people in general who get novel H1N1 flu, pregnant women are more likely to be admitted to hospitals and have more serious illness. Pregnant women should not, however, receive the nasal spray H1N1 vaccine because it is a “live” vaccine.
- Most common side effects from the vaccine include soreness and tenderness at the injection site. A small number of people will experience mild headache, muscle aches, fever, and nausea or feel tired. These side effects usually begin soon after the injection and may last 1 to 2 days.
- Breastfeeding women are also encouraged to receive both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccine.
As stated above, if you are not a HUHS patient, but are interested in obtaining an H1N1 vaccination, please consult your primary care physician.
For more information about H1N1 flu, please visit www.harvard.edu/h1n1.