H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
Current Vaccine Priority Populations
Updated November 16, 2009
Due to the limited supply of H1N1 flu vaccine, at this time the following vaccine formulations are restricted for the following priority populations:
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent LAIV vaccine (nasal spray) should only be used for healthy individuals 2–49 years of age who are not pregnant AND who are in the following priority populations:
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Healthy children aged 24 months (2 years) through 24 years
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Healthy household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age
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Healthy healthcare workers and Emergency Medical Services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material. The supply of vaccine is not yet sufficient to offer vaccine to all health care workers who have direct patient care contact. Priority will be given to health care workers who have direct patient care contact with children.
Inactivated, injectable Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine ("shot") should only be use for the following priority populations:
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Pregnant women
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Household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age
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All children aged 6 months through 83 months (age 6 months through 6 years)
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All persons age 7 through 24 years with high risk medical conditions
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Healthcare workers and Emergency Medical Services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material. The supply of vaccine is not yet sufficient to offer vaccine to all health care workers who have direct patient care contact. Priority will be given to health care workers who have direct patient care contact with children.
Beginning November 19th, we are expanding the targeted sub-groups to include all persons aged 25-64 years who have underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications. Not all providers will have the flexibility to expand their vaccination efforts on November 19th. If a provider’s vaccine supply is adequate to begin vaccinating this expanded priority group, they may do so.
The injectable form of H1N1 vaccine is in short supply and should not be used in healthy persons aged 2 years through 24 years if LAIV is available. |
As more vaccine becomes available, the target groups will also include all persons between the ages of 5 and 24 years old and people aged 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
Eventually, vaccine will become available to those people who are not in the target groups. Current studies show that people who are over the age of 65 are less likely to get the 2009 H1N1 virus than younger people. Once there is more vaccine available, people over the age of 65 should get the vaccine as well.
To view the entire statement from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), please go to http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr58e0821a1.htm.
For updated information on the national supply of H1N1 vaccine, please go to http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/supply.html.
