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Questions about Vaccines?
Need to find a Provider in Houston?
Call 1-866-856-4411
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H1N1 (swine flu) has arrived and many areas have
seen rapid
spread. The seasonal flu vaccine is currently
available and individuals will need to receive both a seasonal flu
vaccine AND a vaccine against H1N1. Vaccines against the H1N1 flu have begun to arrive and will increase in availability as the flu season progresses. There should be adequate supply to immunize everyone
who wishes to receive the vaccine. In addition to the vaccine, there
are some important ways to prevent the spread of H1N1. The CDC has
identified priority groups of people who should get the vaccine as soon
as it is available.
Where can I get the H1N1 Flu Vaccine? The vaccine should be widely available from physicians, public health departments and commercial pharmacies. You can find a provider near you by linking to the American Lung Association’s Flu Clinic locator.
You may download here a .pdf list of addresses and phone numbers of Public Health Clinics that offer H1N1 vaccines.
Priority Groups for Immunization
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Pregnant women
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People who live with or take care of children under 6 months of age
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Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
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Persons between 6 months and 24 years of age
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Persons between 25 and 65 years of age
who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health
disorders or compromised immune systems
How
many doses do I need? Individuals over 10 years of age
will need only one dose of the H1N1 vaccine. Children from ages 6 months to 9 years will need two doses of the vaccine.
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Is
the vaccine safe? 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 they will work with
state and local health officials to investigate any unusual events.
More information about the safety of the vaccine can be found on the
CDC
website.
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