Post Vaccination Information
It generally takes about 10 days after
vaccination for your body to produce antibodies, or immunity. It
is very important that your child continues to follow good hygiene
practices including frequent handwashing. There are many strains
of influenza ("the flu"), including H1N1 (swine) and the seasonal flu.
While the flu vaccines help protect against certain strains of flu, children
are still susceptible to other strains of the flu. See below for
What are Symptoms of the Flu.
Why does My Child Need
a Second Shot?
Studies have shown that children under
10 years of age did not develop enough antibodies to provide them with
enough immunity against H1N1. After receiving the second dose, children
showed appropriate immunity levels. The two doses of the vaccine
should be separated by approximately four weeks. Again, children
should continue to take precautions for the remainder of the flu season.
What are the Doses
of the Flu Vaccine?
Several pharmeceutical companies developed
the H1N1 vaccine this year. They are the same companies that make
the seasonal flu vaccines every year. The H1N1 vaccine that children
received in school was from the pharmaceutical company called Sanofi
Pasteur. The dose that all children received was a 0.5ml dose.
The second dose for children under 10 will also be a
0.5 ml dose.
Do I Need to Bring
My Child's Vaccination Card to the Next Flu Clinic?
The card that you received at the November
10 flu clinic is for your information only. Record of the vaccination
will be made available to your pediatrician by the Department of Health.
You may bring the card to the next clinic and we will update it for you
but it is not required that you bring it and you do not have to provide
this information to your pediatrician.
Vaccine Related Forms and Links
Vaccine
Information Statement
General
Questions and Answers on Thimerosal
General
Questions and Answers on Guillan-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Flu
Clinic Layout
H1N1
Vaccine Consent Form
Other
Flu Related Information
Is the H1N1 Vaccine Safe?
The H1N1 vaccines will be produced
using the same manufacturing process as seasonal influenza vaccines. All
seasonal influenza vaccines licensed in the United States are produced
in eggs and they do not contain adjuvants. When seasonal influenza vaccines
are administered according to licensed indication and usage information
they are safe; however vaccines, like any medical product, carry some risks.
It is anticipated that the safety profile of licensed 2009 H1N1 monovalent
vaccines will be similar to seasonal influenza vaccines; serious adverse
events after vaccination are uncommon.
In 1976, a type of influenza vaccine
was associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Since then, influenza
vaccines have not been clearly linked to GBS. However, if there is a risk
of GBS from seasonal influenza vaccines, it would be no more than approximately
1 additional case per million persons vaccinated.
The H1N1 vaccine will be manufactured,
tested, and licensed using the same process and facilities as are used
for seasonal flu vaccines. This means that the H1N1 vaccine will be held
to the same safety standards as seasonal flu vaccines. There are manydifferent
strains of the flu, including H1N1. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against
thethree strains of the flu most likely to make people sick each year.
A separate vaccine for the H1N1 strain is only being produced this year
because H1N1 emerged after seasonal flu vaccine production had begun. The
manufacturing process for both vaccines is exactly the same. Next year,
the H1N1 strain will be included in the regular seasonal flu vaccine.
Other Frequently Asked Questions:
*Does the H1N1 vaccine have any side
effects?
Some people may experience mild side
effects after receiving the H1N1 vaccine, just like they do after receiving
the seasonal flu vaccine. Side effects may include soreness, redness, or
swelling where the shot was given, aches, or a low-grade fever. If these
problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and last about 1-2 days.
The likelihood of serious side effects to flu vaccines is very low, and
officials continually monitor new vaccines for safety and efficacy.
*Is it safe to receive the H1N1 vaccine
and the seasonal flu vaccine at the
same time?
It is expected that people will be
able to receive the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine at the same
time. However, the seasonal flu vaccine will be available sooner than the
H1N1 vaccine. For this reason, the Rhode Island Department of Health(HEALTH)
encourages people to get their seasonal flu vaccines as soon as possible
instead of waiting for the H1N1 vaccine to arrive.
*Does the H1N1 vaccine contain thimerosal?
TheThe majority of H1N1 vaccine
will be packaged in multi-dose vials and will contain thimerosal, a preservative
found in some vaccines. There is no evidence that thimerosal is harmful
to anyone, including pregnant women and their developing babies.
