H1N1 Inclusion in Next Season’s Flu Vaccine is a Good Strategy
The FDA voted to follow the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and include the H1N1 flu vaccine into the seasonal influenza vaccine for the coming season. That means, barring any major surprises, there should be just one flu vaccine next fall instead of two; seasonal and pandemic will be folded into a single vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration-chosen strains incorporated in the vaccine include an H1N1 pandemic strain, an A/Perth/16/2009-like virus, and a Brisbane/60/2008-like strain, which is the same type B strain as last year. Vaccine companies are saying that they have seen no major production issues as of yet, although yields of the three influenza strains have not been exceptional.
The publicly based fear of H1N1 is that the virus could mutate, creating an acutely lethal strain that could cause a pandemic. Mt. Sinai hospital’s Chair of Microbiology Dr. Peter Palese has noted that the H1N1 viral group is the same one as the 1918 Spanish flu—a flu that killed millions worldwide. However, Dr. Palese also noted that H1N1 is lacking important signature molecular components, which it would require to become highly pathogenic.
Limiting infection and transmission is a great strategy against H1N1. The fewer people who get sick, the lighter the burden will be on health care providers. If fewer high-risk individuals get sick, there will be a lower likelihood of serious health complications or death. Whether or not you plan to get the seasonal flu vaccine, you should follow appropriate preventive measures:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
- Avoid touching your face
- Avoid people who are sick, coughing or sneezing
- Cough/sneeze into your sleeve
- Stay home if you feel sick
- Seek medical attention when necessary
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