Who will be recommended as target groups to receive the H1N1 flu shot (vaccine)? 

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that the H1N1 flu vaccine be made available first to the following groups which are most likely to get the flu:

• Pregnant women
• Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (e.g. parents, siblings, and child care providers)
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel
• Persons from 6 months to 24 years of age
• People aged 25 to 64 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

We do not expect that there will be a shortage of 2009 H1N1 vaccine, but availability and demand can be unpredictable. There is some possibility that initially the vaccine will be available in limited quantities. In this setting, the committee recommended that the following groups receive the vaccine before others:

• pregnant women,
• people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,
• health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact,
• children 6 months through 4 years of age, and
• children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.

The committee recognized the need to assess supply and demand issues at the local level. The committee further recommended that once the demand for vaccine for these target groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from ages 25 through 64 years.

Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people over the age of 65.

Please Contact our office for availability and appropriate immunization times.  For mor information, please go to www.flu.gov.