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Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccine

Vaccine Approved by FDA

Sep 19, 2009 Matthew Pizzolato

A recently developed vaccine for the Swine Flu epidemic that is sweeping the world has been approved by the FDA and will begin distribution in October.

The vaccine will be available in limited numbers the first week of October. It will be mid-month before it is available in large scale numbers. Although vaccinates will be limited at first, the government plans on having enough vaccine for everyone who wants to receive it.

“The H1N1 vaccines approved today undergo the same rigorous FDA manufacturing oversight, product quality testing and lot release procedures that apply to seasonal influenza vaccines,” Jesse Goodman , M.D., the FDA acting chief scientist was quoted as saying in a press release on the FDA’s website.

The reason there have been delays in getting the Swine Flu vaccine into production is that some labs are still forced to produce the regular winter flu vaccine. The Swine Flu vaccine will not inoculate people against the normal flu and vice versa, so many people will have to receive both.

Reasons to Receive the H1N1 Vaccine

The major difference in the two strains of flu virus, the H1N1 Swine Flu and the normal flu virus that makes the rounds every winter, are that they affect entirely different groups of people.

The seasonal flu mostly affects the elderly, those over 65 years of age, or people with weak immune systems. On the other hand, the H1N1 Swine flu seems able to affect anyone, regardless of that person’s age or health, but it mostly seems to target younger people, which is one of the biggest concerns that has arisen so far with the H1N1, as well as the fact that it has spread so fast. There have been cases reported in more than 190 countries around the world.

Another stark difference in the two viruses is that the normal flu season doesn’t begin until late in the fall, while the Swine Flu is already infecting people. However, most cases of the Swine Flu are not series and most people are able to recover on their own at home.

Candidates for the H1N1 Vaccine

The government wants certain people to be among the first to receive the Swine Flu Vaccine: women who are pregnant, young people from 6 months old to 24 years of age, or anyone who may have a weakened immune system, including cancer patients or organ-transplant recipients.

Adults over 50 should still receive the normal winter flu vaccination as well as children from 6 months old to 18 years of age.

Sources:

<Food and Drug Administration> Retrieved on September 19, 2009.

<The Washington Post> Retrieved on September 19, 2009.

The copyright of the article Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccine in Health Field is owned by Matthew Pizzolato. Permission to republish Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccine in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

H1N1 Virus