Will the 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Influenza Vaccines be Safe?
September 28, 2009We 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
