Getting your flu vaccination this fall may be more complicated than usual because of the appearance of the pandemic H1N1 flu (also known as the "swine flu") in April 2009. We are confident that our partnership with our patients over many flu seasons will serve us well as we face this challenge.

PAMF plans to offer two different flu vaccines to our patients this season as they become available. The first vaccine is the regular flu vaccine that protects you against the seasonal flu viruses that have been circulating in one form or another for the last 30 years. We expect to have sufficient supply to provide flu shots to all patients who want one. The second vaccine will be the pandemic H1N1 flu vaccine being developed to fight the H1N1 flu. The production processes for the two vaccines are essentially identical except for the use of different seed viruses (seasonal vs. pandemic). There are several important differences, however, in how these vaccines will be given. We hope the following information will clarify these differences.

• Q: Who should get the seasonal vaccine, and who should get the pandemic vaccine?
• Q: When and where can I get vaccinated?
• Q: How many vaccinations will I need?
• Q: Will the pandemic flu vaccine be safe?
• Q: Will either the seasonal or pandemic flu vaccine contain thimerosal?
• Q: Will the seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines be effective?

Q: Who should get the seasonal vaccine, and who should get the pandemic vaccine?

A: Persons aged 6 months to 18 years or older than 50, pregnant women, those with chronic medical conditions or their contacts such as household members or health care workers, household contacts of infants less than 6 months of age, and household contacts of children 6 months to 59 months of age - as well as anyone who wants to be protected against seasonal flu - should get the seasonal flu vaccine.

Some of the priority groups for the pandemic H1N1 vaccine overlap with the priority groups for the seasonal flu vaccine, but they are also different, as the H1N1 vaccine will be in limited supply and will be distributed according to highest risk. The following groups will be prioritized for H1N1 flu vaccination:

• Pregnant women
  
• Persons 6 months to 24 years of age
  
• Household contacts of infants less than 6 months of age
  
• Persons from 25 to 64 years of age with high risk medical conditions (see below)
  
• Health care workers and first responders with direct patient contact

Please note that a major difference is that persons over 64 years of age will not be prioritized for H1N1 flu vaccination. This is partially because this age group already has some immunity to the virus.
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Q: When and where can I get vaccinated?

A: Please visit our Web pages for seasonal flu and H1N1 flu for more information about where and how to receive the vaccines as they become available.
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Q: How many vaccinations will I need?

A: The seasonal vaccine will require only one vaccination for most persons (except children under age 9 who are getting the vaccine for the first time — these children will need two vaccinations one month apart as is the usual practice). For the H1N1 pandemic vaccine, persons 10 years of age and older will need only one vaccination; those who are younger will need two vaccinations.
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Q: Will the pandemic flu vaccine be safe?

A: Since the production process for the pandemic vaccine is essentially the same as for the seasonal vaccine, there is every reason to believe the pandemic vaccine will be just as safe. Remember, the seasonal vaccine has an excellent safety record after being given to hundreds of millions of people over the last 30 years. The federal government will closely monitor the safety of the pandemic vaccine.
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Q: Will either the seasonal or pandemic flu vaccine contain thimerosal?

A: Thimerosal is a compound that contains a tiny amount of mercury. It has been used for many years as a preservative in a variety of vaccines and has been deemed safe by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thimerosal-free flu vaccine will be available at some PAMF locations. Most of the pandemic vaccine will contain thimerosal, although the federal government has said thimerosal-free pandemic vaccine will be available for pregnant women and young children.
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Q: Will the seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines be effective?

A: On average, the seasonal flu vaccine has shown a good level of effectiveness over the years in preventing flu-like illness in young persons and serious complications from the flu such as hospitalization and death in at-risk persons such as the elderly. We expect the pandemic vaccine to be effective as well, particularly for the risk groups listed in the question "Who should get the seasonal vaccine, and who should get the pandemic vaccine?" Again, the federal government will be monitoring the pandemic vaccine's effectiveness closely.
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