Will the 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Influenza Vaccines be Safe?

We have received this question many times, mostly from people assuming that the vaccine is a brand new vaccine that is being catapulted through the testing and approval process. It is important to note that the 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine is not a “new” or experimental vaccine; it’s simply a new strain of the influenza virus, which is turned into a vaccine using the same process that seasonal flu vaccine goes through each year in production. The response to the 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine should be similar to seasonal flu vaccine. Here is the CDC’s response to this question:

“We expect the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have a very good safety track record. Over the years, hundreds of millions of Americans have received seasonal flu vaccines. The most common side effects following flu vaccinations are mild, such as soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be closely monitoring for any signs that the vaccine is causing unexpected adverse events and we will work with state and local health officials to investigate any unusual events.”

If you experience abnormal side effects after receiving the novel H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine, always report your symptoms to the doctor or health care professional that administered the vaccine. This will enable a report to be submitted to a nationwide database that allows tracking of trends for side effects.

For more information on 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine safety, please visit the CDC safety website.

Written by: Holly Brown, Office Manager for Passport Health Colorado

Seasonal Flu Vaccines By Appoinment Only

There is now a limited supply of seasonal flu vaccine. Call Passport Health Colorado to be put on our waiting list and we will be providing seasonal flu vaccine based on the waiting list as we receive vaccine.

Prices for Seasonal Flu Vaccine fr September 2009 – May 2010 are as follows:

• Adult Flu Shot (Adult 18+ years) = $25
• Pediatric Thimerasol-free Flu Shot = $40
• FluMist – Thimerasol-free (ages 2-49 only, intra-nasal spray) = $40

Receipt provided upon request. Passport Health IS NOT a Medicare/Medicaid provider and WILL NOT submit claims.

Policy for Vaccinating Children: Minimum of 6 months of age. For the first year of immunization the child will require 2 doses, 30 days apart. Children under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. Administration of vaccine is first come, first served.

All flu vaccines are by appointment only, please call 303-442-8728; 719-387-5528 or 970-484-2148 to be put on a waiting list.

How can I get the H1N1 vaccine?

Here’s the latest new as of September 9, 2009. In the state of Colorado, H1N1 “Swine Flu” vaccine will only be available through county health departments in October-December to high-risk groups. Private providers, like Passport Health Colorado, will be able to provide H1N1 vaccine to the general public as of January 1, 2010.

On a national level, Passport Health is working closely with the CDC to be a provider for the H1N1 vaccine nation-wide. Here at Passport Health Colorado, we are working closely with our colleagues at the health departments to get doses for our clients. Last week, I attended a meeting with all of the Denver metro county health departments to get an update on what they are planning for H1N1 vaccine delivery.

The first doses of H1N1 vaccine are expected to ship sometime in October. For all of November and December, the health departments will be running community clinics and focusing on high priority clients only (pregnant women, school children and young adults up to age 24, caregivers of infants, healthcare workers, adults with chronic medical conditions ONLY). The general message from all counties is that H1N1 doses for all non-priority clients will not be made available to community vaccinators (such as Passport Health Colorado) until after January 1, 2010.

Once doses are available, we will be scheduling walk-in clinics in our offices as well as corporate H1N1 clinics. Prior to January, our clients in the priority risk groups should receive the vaccine through community channels. Please continue to check our website and this blog for more updates. We will post community clinic dates as information becomes available.

Written by: Rebecca Sundhagen, RN, BSN; Nurse Manager for Passport Health Colorado