• Are there places I can get more information about H1N1?
• Could I have H1N1 flu (swine flu)?
• How does the H1N1 virus spread?
• How many doses of the vaccine will be required?
• How serious is H1N1?
• If you are a relatively healthy individual and you experience flu like symptoms you should:
• Is the new H1N1 vaccine safe?
• My child is under 10, and received the first dose at one of the public clinics. What about the second dose?
• What should I do if I get sick?
• Where will the vaccine be available?
• Who should get vaccinated?
• Who’s most at risk?
• Will there be enough H1N1 flu vaccine for everyone who wants it?

Are there places I can get more information about H1N1?

Yes, you can find more information on the following websites:

Could I have H1N1 flu (swine flu)?

Use the Flu Self-Assessment, based on material from Emory University, to:

How does the H1N1 virus spread?
 
The spread of H1N1 virus occurs in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

How many doses of the vaccine will be required?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of H1N1 flu vaccine for persons 10 years of age and older. Children under the age of 10 will require a booster vaccination after a period of at least 21 days. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.

How serious is H1N1?

As of September 3, 2009, the CDC reported that in the United States about 9,000 people have been hospitalized for H1N1 flu and about 600 people have died.

If you are a relatively healthy individual and you experience flu like symptoms you should:

Is the new H1N1 vaccine safe?

We expect the H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a safety profile similar to that of seasonal flu vaccines, which have very good safety records.

My child is under 10, and received the first dose at one of the public clinics. What about the second dose?

Currently H1N1 vaccine supplies are very limited. Solano County Public Health has conducted seven community based clinics and vaccinated over 7000 people. Children less than 10 years old require a second dose of H1N1 vaccine. The second H1N1 vaccine dose should be given 21 days or more after the first vaccination. The first vaccine dose offers protection to some children but the second dose significantly improves the level of protection.

To obtain the second vaccine dose for children, parents should check with their child’s health care provider to see if they have received H1N1 vaccine. Although the supplies of vaccine are very limited, additional public clinics will be scheduled as vaccine becomes available. Parents unable to obtain H1N1 vaccination for their children from their health care provider are encouraged to attend the public clinics. For information regarding times and locations for these clinics, check the Solano County website or call 211.

What should I do if I get sick?

If the illness is severe, or if you have one of the following risk factors (you are pregnant, a new mom, or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma or emphysema), you should contact your doctor or seek professional medical advice as soon as possible.

Where will the vaccine be available?

Who should get vaccinated?

Everyone 6 months of age and older without contraindications to vaccination.

Who’s most at risk?

• Pregnant women 
• Children under 6 months old (caregivers should be vaccinated as early as possible.) 
• Health care and emergency services workers 
• Children and young adults (6 months – 24 years) 
• Adults 25 – 64 years with chronic health conditions

Will there be enough H1N1 flu vaccine for everyone who wants it?

Yes. It is expected that there will be enough H1N1 flu vaccine for anyone who chooses to get vaccinated. The federal government has ordered 250 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine. Very limited amounts of H1N1 vaccine became available in early October; more will become available as the vaccine is produced and delivered over the coming weeks and months.