10 Day Tune Up for H1N1 – Day 9: Latest CDC Guidelines

With less than a month to go before the United States launches a large-scale vaccination effort that aims to inoculate the population from H1N1 influenza, let’s review the latest information and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control.

photo credit: rocknroll_guitar

Vaccines Receive FDA Approval

Earlier this week, the U.S Food and Drug Administration cleared vaccines from Sanofi-Aventis SA [NYSE: SNY], CSL Ltd. [ASX: CSL], Medimmune [NYSE: AZN] and Novartis AG [NYSE: NVS] for the H1N1 strain of influenza.

So far, preliminary data show most healthy adults have a good immune response eight to 10 days after receiving a single shot, the FDA said. Other studies are underway for children, and trials for pregnant women just began, [U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen] Sebelius said.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc [NYSE: GSK] has yet to win FDA approval for its H1N1 vaccine as of September 16, 2009, but is working to win approval. The Obama Administration plans to spend $4.5-billion to purchase the approved vaccines for distribution to the public later this year.

Who Should Receive the 2009 H1N1 Vaccine?

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

The CDC does not expect that there will be a shortage of 2009 H1N1 vaccine, but availability and demand can be unpredictable. There is some possibility that initially the vaccine will be available in limited quantities. In this setting, the committee recommended that the following groups receive the vaccine before others: pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact, children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.

The committee recognized the need to assess supply and demand issues at the local level. The committee further recommended that once the demand for vaccine for these target groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from ages 25 through 64 years. Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people over the age of 65.

Today’s To-Do: Understand Guidelines for Your Group

The CDC has published information designed to help specific groups ranging from local health departments to child care providers to people in contact with pigs. Today’s To-Do is to review their guidelines for your specific need, even if you are a private citizen planning travel this fall.

Link: Information for Specific Groups

Here are other articles I have written on this topic:

• 10 Day Tune Up for H1N1 – Day 7: Social Media Checklist
• 10 Day Tune Up for H1N1 – Day 4: Notify Stakeholders
• 10 Day Tune Up for H1N1 – Day 1: Influenza Update