Idaho 2009 H1N1 Influenza Information
Influenza-like illnesses are widespread throughout Idaho and most of the nation. The predominant strain currently circulating is the 2009 H1N1 pandemic flu virus. Like all influenza viruses, the H1N1 flu is unpredictable so state and local public health officials are preparing for continued illness throughout the coming months.
Vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family. H1N1 vaccine supply is limited, but improving daily. People can contact their Idaho Local Public Health District for vaccine availability in their communities.
People who suspect they have had H1N1 flu, or had a rapid flu test in the doctor’s office but did not receive a confirmatory laboratory test for the H1N1 virus, are encouraged to get the vaccine when it is available to them.
How many doses of vaccine are needed?
Children nine years old and younger need two doses of H1N1 vaccine for full protection. The second vaccination should be given approximately four weeks after the first. People 10 years and older only require one vaccination.
Your child can receive either the nasal spray vaccine or the shot for the second vaccination; it does not matter if the first vaccination was different. You should make plans now to take your child back in for his second vaccine. Try to schedule the second vaccine approximately four weeks after the first, but a minimum of 21 days between the two vaccinations.Parents with children less than 10 years old who received the vaccine are reminded that their child needs a second dose to be fully protected. People 10 years of age and older only require a single dose of H1N1 vaccine.
Symptoms and When to Get Medical Help
Symptoms are similar to seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, with some reports of diarrhea and vomiting. Most children and adults with the flu who are generally in good health will recover without needing to visit a health care provider or doctor. Children and adults who are ill and at high risk for flu complications, and people with more severe flu symptoms, should call their regular health care provider. Whenever possible, call your health care provider to get advice on whether you need to be seen.
Staying Healthy
To help protect yourself and the people you are in contact with from getting the flu, follow these flu prevention tips:
- Cover your cough
- Wash your hands frequently
- If you have a fever, stay home for at least 24 hours after that fever has ended
- If you fit in a CDC recommended group, get a vaccine when it becomes available
⇒ Taking Care of Sick Person in Your Home
⇒ Watch flu prevention video with Elmo and Secretary Sebelius
2009 H1N1 Vaccine
Federal, state, and local public health professionals are concerned that the new 2009 H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe flu season this year. Because the seasonal influenza vaccine does not provide protection against 2009 H1N1 influenza, a 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine has been developed by four manufacturers. Persons recommended to receive 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine are different than those recommended to receive seasonal vaccine. 2009H1N1 influenza vaccine is recommended for:
- Pregnant women,
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age,
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel,
- All people from 6 months through 24 years of age,
- Persons aged 25 through 64 who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
I already had the flu, do I still need to be vaccinated?
Unless you had confirmed laboratory test outside of your doctor’s office, you should get the vaccine when it is available to you. Other viruses are circulating in Idaho communities besides 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, and you may have had another virus that caused similar symptoms. Public Health officials believe the H1N1 virus may be around for the months to come, and if you were not infected with it there is a good chance you could become sick during the next wave of illnesses. Vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful. We recommend you play it safe and get vaccinated, for both your health and for others in your family or community.
If you have had 2009 H1N1 flu, as confirmed by a laboratory test completed outside of your doctor's office, you should have some immunity against 2009 H1N1 flu and can choose not to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
There are two types of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine:
- Inactivated (killed) influenza virus vaccine, or the “flu shot,” that is given by injection into the muscle.
- Live, attenuated (weakened) influenza virus vaccine that is sprayed into the nostrils.
The initial shipments of vaccine are in limited quantities and are being distributed to hospitals, community health centers, and local public health districts. More information on where to get a 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine can be found on our Where to get Vaccinated page. The 2009 H1N1 flu shot and increased supply of nasal spray are expected to be available soon.
⇒ 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine recommendations and licensing information
⇒ 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine supply allocation and shipping status by CDC
You can get both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shots at the same time, or one shot and one nasal spray, but not both nasal sprays. The seasonal flu nasal spray and the 2009 H1N1 flu nasal spray should be taken four weeks apart.
Is the 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Safe?
Yes, the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines are licensed by the FDA, and manufactured and tested using the same processes used for seasonal flu vaccine. Millions of doses of seasonal flu vaccine have been distributed every year for many years. Seasonal flu vaccines have a well-established safety profile. As for seasonal flu vaccines, safety will also be monitored as part of the vaccination program.
⇒ General Q&A on 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Safety
Thimerosal
Some 2009 H1N1 inactivated influenza vaccine contains a preservative called thimerosal. Some people have suggested that thimerosal may be related to developmental problems in children. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine reviewed many studies looking into this theory and concluded that there is no evidence of such a relationship. Thimerosal-free 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is available.
⇒ General Q&A on Thimerosal
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disease in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system. No one knows why GBS—which is not contagious—strikes some people and not others. Nor does anyone know exactly what sets the disease in motion.
About two-thirds of people who develop GBS symptoms do so several days or weeks after they have been sick with a diarrheal or respiratory illness. Infection with the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common risk factors for GBS. People can also develop GBS after having the flu or other infections (such as cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus).
Scientists first reported a suspected link between GBS and vaccinations during a 1976 national campaign to vaccinate people against a swine flu virus that is different from the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The investigation found that vaccine recipients had a higher risk for GBS than those who were not vaccinated (about 1 additional case occurred per 100,000 people vaccinated). Given this association, and the fact that the swine flu disease was limited, the vaccination program was stopped.
Since then, numerous studies have been done to evaluate if other flu vaccines were associated with GBS. In most studies, no association was found, but two studies suggested that approximately 1 additional person out of 1 million vaccinated people might be at risk for GBS associated with the seasonal influenza vaccine specific to two influenza seasons.
⇒ General Q&A on Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Vaccine Safety Monitoring
National detection and evaluation systems are in place to continually assess the safety and efficacy of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines throughout the 2009–2010 influenza season and beyond.
Antiviral Medication
If you do get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. Antiviral also may prevent serious influenza complications. In treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started as soon as possible after symptoms begin, and might not work if started more than 48 hours after illness starts.
Influenza antiviral drugs also can be used to prevent influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with influenza. When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective. When used for prevention, the number of days that they should be used will vary depending on a person's particular situation.
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the U.S. for the treatment of influenza. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu ®) or zanamivir (brand name Relenza ®) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with novel H1N1 influenza viruses. The other two antivirals, amantadine and rimantadine, are ineffective for treating the most recent 2009 H1N1 flu virus in humans.
⇒ More information on 2009 H1N1 influenza and Antiviral Drugs
⇒ Antiviral Safety Information
Be Ready
Resources about how Idahoans can protect themselves and their communities from the spread of 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza can be found in the Be Ready section of this Web site. Helpful information is available for individuals, families, schools, businesses, health care workers, and others.
⇒ How to prepare for any emergency