2009 -2010 Flu Season
Frequently Asked Questions - General
Vaccines
Is there a vaccine available for H1N1 flu?
Yes. We have only received enough H1N1 vaccine to vaccinate approximately 15 percent of Harvard Vanguard's total 400,000 patients at this time. Based on the H1N1 vaccine we have received to date, Harvard Vanguard has been able to complete initial outreach for a single dose of H1N1 to all our pediatric patients 18 years old and below; pregnant patients; and parents and siblings of pediatric patients under the age of 6 months old.
As of December 17, 2009, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced that it is lifting all restrictions on H1N1 in order to make it available to all residents of Massachusetts who may be interested in receiving the vaccine. Massachusetts now joins more than 24 states that have already lifted restrictions on H1N1 to ensure that as many people as possible can be vaccinated. we currently have a limited supply of various formulations of H1N1 and will be accommodating patients who wish to be vaccinated on a first come, first serve basis as vaccine supply and appointment slots are available. If you wish to schedule an appointment for an H1N1 vaccination, please call your Harvard Vanguard practice site.
Is the H1N1 influenza vaccine safe?
The H1N1 vaccine is being made exactly the same way seasonal flu vaccine is made every year, and with the same testing process required before distribution. It is as safe as seasonal influenza vaccine.
Who should get the seasonal flu vaccine this flu season?
Anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, because we are experiencing a moderate delay in seasonal flu vaccine shipments from vaccine manufacturers, CDC recommends that certain groups of the population receive the seasonal vaccine when it first becomes available. In accordance with those recommendations, Harvard Vanguard will be targeting the following groups to receive seasonal flu vaccine first:
- Pregnant women
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Health care workers
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Who should get the H1N1 vaccine this flu season?
As with seasonal flu, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, because the CDC is initially releasing a limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine, they have recommended that certain groups of the population receive the H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available. Per their recommendations, Harvard Vanguard will be targeting the following groups to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine first:
- Children under the age of 2
- Siblings of infants below 6 months of age to safeguard the under 6 month old who can't get vaccinated themselves
- Children 18 years of age and under with clinical criteria that places them at high risk of complications.
- Pregnant women
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
- People ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect against the H1N1 flu?
The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 flu. Similarly, the H1N1 flu vaccine will not protect against seasonal influenza.
Can the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 flu vaccine be given at the same time?
Seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines may be administered on the same day when given as injections, but given at different sites (e.g. one shot in the left arm and the other shot in the right arm). The vaccines may be available in a nasal spray formulation; the two different vaccines may not both be given as a nasal spray at the same time or within a month of each other. One may be given as a nasal spray at the same time as the other is given as an injection.
Can I get vaccinated if I am pregnant?
Yes, it is safe to give seasonal and H1N1 vaccinations to pregnant women anytime during pregnancy.
Should I get vaccinated against H1N1 if I had "the flu" between April and now, or was told I had H1N1?
There is no harm in being vaccinated if you already had H1N1 influenza. There is no test that can now show whether a person had the H1N1 influenza already. Many different infections, including influenza (in all of its different strains), can cause influenza-like symptoms such as cough, sore throat and fever. In addition, infection with one strain of influenza virus will not provide protection against other strains.
People for whom H1N1 vaccine is recommended should still receive it, even if they had an influenza-like illness previously. It is not possible to test a person who previously had an influenza-like illness except in a research setting. People for whom the H1N1 influenza vaccine is recommended should receive it unless they have been told by a health care provider that they had a positive laboratory test that can specifically detect the H1N1 virus. CDC recommends that persons who were tested for H1N1 influenza discuss this issue with a health care provider to see if the test they had was either an RT-PCR or a viral culture that definitely showed H1N1 influenza. No other test can prove that a person had H1N1 flu as opposed to other strains of flu.
Treatment & Prevention
What are the symptoms of the flu in people?
The most common symptoms are fever, cough, and sore throat and can include body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhea or vomiting. Symptoms for H1N1 flu and seasonal flu generally present the same.
What should I do if I get sick with the flu this season?
If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms this flu season, it could be seasonal or H1N1 flu. You should stay home and avoid contact with other people for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Staying at home means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings. Also, make sure you drink enough fluids, get plenty of rest, eat healthy foods, and wash your hands frequently. If you have severe illness or you are at a higher risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider. Medical conditions that can place you at higher risk of serious flu-related complications if you become ill include asthma or other lung problems, diabetes, weakened immune systems, kidney disease, heart disease, neurological and neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy.
What is the treatment if I am experiencing flu-like symptoms?
Presently it is expected that most people with either seasonal or H1N1 flu will experience only mild illness and recover at home without needing medical care. However, if you have severe symptoms or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider who can determine whether additional care is needed.
Are there warning signs I should watch for that might indicate I should call my doctor?
If you experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
If I am experiencing flu-like symptoms, how long am I contagious?
At the current time, the CDC believes that the H1N1 virus has the same properties in terms of spread as the seasonal flu viruses. With seasonal flu, studies have shown that people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up until symptoms and fever subside. If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for 24 hours after your symptoms subside and you are fever-free. If you are a healthcare worker, you should stay home for 5 days, and be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to work. In general you should avoid contact with others as much as possible while you’re ill to keep from spreading your illness.
Please be advised that The Boston Public Health Commission is advising parents of children who attend school within the Boston city limits and are diagnosed with influenza that their children need to refrain from all public activities including school and extracurricular activities for four days after the onset of symptoms OR for 24 hours after resolution of fever - whichever is longer.
What actions can I take to protect myself and my family against both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu this year?
There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
- Consider immunization.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand rub can be used.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs can spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
How do I take care of someone who is sick with the flu?
Flu: What You Can Do – Caring for People at Home is a booklet available in nine languages from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) that provides a lot of information to help people care for someone who has the flu in their home.
Additional Information
How can I learn more?
There are both state and federal web sites that have information on both seasonal and H1N1 flu:
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) web site – www.mass.gov/flu
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC) web site – www.cdc.gov/flu
- United States Department of Health & Human Services – www.flu.gov
Source: The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
Page last updated: 12/17/09