H1N1 Update: First Vaccine Shipment to Include Live Attenuated Virus
The first batch of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, to be shipped the first week
of October, will likely be in the form of intranasal spray containing the live
attenuated virus, CDC officials said in a press briefing Friday. The CDC anticipates at least 3.4 million doses of the nasal spray vaccine
being shipped to states that first week. Children younger than 2 years, pregnant
women, and people with underlying conditions such as lung disease and diabetes —
although they are at high risk for H1N1 complications — should not receive
vaccines with the live attenuated virus. Instead, they should wait until
inactivated injectable vaccines become available. Officials said that there may
be some injectable vaccines in the first shipment, but it is not certain.
The U.S. has ordered a total of 195 million doses of vaccine. CDC news briefing transcript (Free) NEJM H1N1Influenza Center (Free)
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