An interview with Dr. Anne Schuchat from the CDC on the H1N1 vaccine.

Questions about the H1N1 flu vaccine?

Chief Science Officer Dr. Anne Schuchat answers parents’ questions about the 2009 H1N1 flu and the vaccine to protect against it. Children aged six months through 24 years are recommended to receive H1N1 flu vaccine. Learn more about it, and how you can protect your family with this vaccine.


 
The swine flu, or H1N1 epidemic has created a great deal of concern for many parents.

Now that the vaccine against this type of influenza is becoming available, is is important to know just who should receive the vaccine and who should be at the top of the list to do so. Here are guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics designed to help parents know what to do.

• All health care workers who are providing direct patient care, are among the first to be vaccinated.
• Pregnant women and those who have just delivered a baby are among those who should receive the vaccine as a priority.
• Children under age ten should be immunized with two doses of the injectable form of the vaccine.
• Children with the following health problems are at risk of infection and should be given the vaccine as soon as it is available:

                           -Children who have asthma or other lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
                           -Endocrine disorders such as diabetes.
                           -Kidney and liver disease.
                           - A weakened immune system such as a child being treated for cancer.
                           -Those who have a blood disorder such as sickle cell disease.

I hope these suggestions will prompt parents who have children who fit into any of these categories to obtain the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it is available.

As always, thank you for caring for the health and comfort of your child or children!

Dr. Olson Huff for the Sixty Second Parent

For more information about the H1N1 flu vaccine click here

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