Children Ages 9 and Younger Need Two Doses of H1N1 Flu Vaccine

Children Ages 9 and Younger Need Two Doses of H1N1 Flu Vaccine
January 25, 2010

On Thursday, January 7, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and the Surgeon General of the United States Regina Benjamin visited a school-based vaccination clinic in Arlington, Virginia. The officials were there to visit with students nine years of age and younger who were receiving their second dose of H1N1 vaccine.

Research indicates that children 6 months of age through 9 years require two doses of the H1N1 vaccine.

Secretary Sebelius talks about her visit to Carlin Springs Elementary:

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Children Ages 9 and Younger Need Two Doses of H1N1 Flu Vaccine


Who should get two doses of the H1N1 vaccine?

The FDA announced approval of the H1N1 vaccine on September 15, 2009 with dosage recommendations for children and adults.

Children Age 9 and Under

Currently available data suggest that children 6 months to 9 years of age have little or no evidence of protective antibodies to the H1N1 2009 virus (MMWR 2009; 58(19) 521-524, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5819a1.htm). Based on these data, children 9 years of age and younger should be administered 2 doses of the monovalent pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus vaccine. They must be given a month apart or a minimum of 21 days between the vaccinations. If a second vaccine is given with a shorter time period, then the vaccine must be repeated 21-28 days from when the invalid second dose was given.

Adults and Children 10 Years of Age and Older

Adults should be administered 1 dose, as should children and adolescents 10 years of age and older, as we expect that they will respond similarly to adults. Clinical studies are underway and will provide additional information about the optimal number of doses.


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Last Updated: 09/14/2009

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Related Categories:
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Immunizations (Vaccines)

OPEN HERE:
http://answers.flu.gov/questions/4145