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Commentary: The disease is serious and the CDC and the FDA say the benefits of the vaccine will far outweigh any risks.

JULIE ALFRED SULLIVAN October 13, 2009

PORTLAND — In a recent poll of parents conducted by the University of Michigan, many parents reported that they were not concerned about their child getting H1N1, did not believe H1N1 flu was a serious disease, and that they believe the severity of H1N1 and seasonal flu would be about the same.

Data are telling us otherwise. According to the World Health Organization, as of July 24, the median age for cases of H1N1 flu was between 12 and 17 years of age. As of Sept. 24, 64 percent of Maine residents with confirmed H1N1 flu have been under 25 years of age.

Compare this to seasonal flu, in which more than two-thirds of cases occur among people 65 and older. Additionally, visits to the doctor for flu-like symptoms, and hospitalizations for flu, are higher than expected for this time of year, and are increasing.

In short, data tell us that H1N1 flu is causing serious health outcomes for healthy people from birth through age 24, pregnant women, and people ages 25 to 64 with certain medical conditions.

Priority groups have been identified for the H1N1 vaccine, which include those at higher risk of complications from H1N1 infection or those who are more likely to pass the flu on to others who may be at higher risk of complications.

These priority groups are pregnant women, household members and caregivers for children under 6 months old, health care and emergency medical services personnel, all people ages 6 months to 24 years of age, and people ages 25 to 64 with certain medical conditions.

Vaccine for these priority groups will be arriving soon. Many schools will be offering the vaccine to students at school.

Other high-priority groups are encouraged to contact their health care providers. The first doses of H1N1 vaccine will be made available to priority groups, but it is expected that everyone will eventually be able to get the vaccine.

While there are groups at higher risk of complications from seasonal flu – particularly people 65 years and older, young children, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions – everyone is encouraged to get the seasonal flu vaccine.

In addition to providing protection from the seasonal flu, this vaccine has a critical role in the prevention of H1N1 flu. If a person's immune system is busy fighting the seasonal flu, it may be less able to fight off a H1N1 flu infection.

However, if the person is protected against seasonal flu from the vaccine, the body could be better able to fight the H1N1 virus.

There is some concern among parents regarding flu vaccine safety. The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is made the same way as seasonal flu vaccine, and it is licensed by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) using the same standards as for seasonal flu vaccine.

This is important because the seasonal flu vaccine has a very good safety 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, along with the Food and Drug Administration, have stated that they believe the benefits of vaccination with the H1N1 vaccine will far outweigh any risks.

Additional concerns regarding the vaccine include the fear of getting the flu from the vaccine and worries that the vaccine contains adjuvants. However, the H1N1 vaccine shot does not use a live form of the virus.

The H1N1 nasal vaccine will use a small amount of the live virus, but it has been changed so it cannot give a person the flu. The H1N1 flu vaccine does not contain adjuvants. It does not contain aluminum or squalene.

The 2009-2010 flu season is under way and local, state and federal public health officials are urging people to join in the prevention of seasonal and H1N1 flu.

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