Abraham Tekola MD gives information about the 2010 The Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Oct. 11, 2010 - PRLog -- Influenza season typically runs from December to April, however, it can begin earlier and has been known to continue into May.

   * Unlike last flu season, when you needed to get two vaccines, the 2009 H1N1 and the seasonal vaccine, this flu season you only need the seasonal vaccine.
   * The 2010-2011 flu vaccine protects against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season.
   * Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu as soon as the 2010-2011 seasonal vaccine is available in your area.
   * Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
   * Vaccination is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
   * Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated.

What flu viruses are included in the Northern Hemisphere seasonal vaccine for 2010-2011?

WHO recommended that the Northern Hemisphere's 2010–2011 seasonal influenza vaccine contain the following three vaccine viruses:

   * an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)–like virus;
   * an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)–like virus;
   * and a B/Brisbane/60/2008–like virus.

The H1N1 virus recommended for inclusion in the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine is a pandemic 2009 H1N1 virus and is the same vaccine virus as was used in the 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccine.

This recommended composition of the seasonal vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States, is the same composition that was recommended for the Southern Hemisphere’s 2010 influenza vaccines.

For more info:
http://www.abrahamtekolanews.org/