Pandemic (H1N1) 2009

Why are WHO and health authorities promoting the use of pandemic H1N1 vaccine?

• The world is seeing a new virus which can cause severe infection from influenza or even death in a number
  of people who are considered at risk of severe infection (such as pregnant women, people over 65, children
  under 5 and those with chronic medical conditions). We now have a vaccine which has been developed
  specifically against this infectious disease. The vaccine can produce a good protective immune response
  against this disease. Therefore, and according to the information available to date, WHO along with other
  public health authorities believe that the vaccine is very useful and safe against this pandemic influenza and
  do support its use.

• The vaccine has been used in a significant number of countries over the past several weeks, and millions of
  people have now received the vaccine. Based on this experience, WHO can see that the vaccine is very
  safe. The levels of local side-effects such as soreness, redness and swelling in the arm are very similar to
  what has been seen with seasonal influenza vaccine, or possibly lower.
   

What are WHO’s recommendations on the pandemic vaccine dose and its effect on some specific groups?
 

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization, a group that WHO relies upon for advice on
immunization policy, recommends that:

• One dose of vaccine should be adequate for people 10 years of age and over.

• Pregnant women are at increased risk for serious infection from influenza including pandemic (H1N1) 2009
  infection. Immunizing pregnant women protects them against severe outcomes of the disease, and also
  provides protection for the newborn. No specific risks have been identified so far with use of seasonal
  influenza vaccines during any of the pregnancy trimesters, and influenza vaccination is considered safe for
  use in pregnant women.

WHO reiterates that as more information becomes available over the next few weeks when results of some of the
studies come out, it is possible that some of the recommendations may change.