2010-11 Influenza Vaccine Will Include H1N1 Virus

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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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