DC Metro Mommy Blog

H1N1 Insight- by Linda Micco Richmond

Swine Flu Vaccine Recall Underscores Importance of Children Under 10 Years Receiving Proscribed Two Doses of Vaccine.

Some 800,000 pediatric doses of swine flu vaccine have been recalled by manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis because they lost some of their potency over time.

The recalled doses were all pre-filled, injectible syringes given to children 6-months old through 35-months old. Many of the recalled doses had already been administered to children.

There was no safety or purity concern with any of the recalled doses, CDC wrote. And the potency of the recalled vaccine doses was only "slightly below the ‘specified' range," the CDC said. The vaccine in these lots is still expected to be effective in stimulating a protective response, so there is no need to re-vaccinate children who received a dose from one of the recalled lots.

In response, the CDC is re-emphasizing its existing recommendation that all children under 10 years old receive two doses of the  vaccine for swine flu, also known as H1N1 influenza. The two doses should be spaced about one month apart for the optimal immune response, CDC wrote.

"Parents of children who received vaccine from the recalled lots do not need to take any action, other than to complete the two dose immunization series if not already completed," according to the CDC.

Trials Show Young Children Do Need Booster Shot

In fact, clinical trials of the swine flu vaccine had already demonstrated that two doses are needed to protect children younger than 10 years old from getting swine flu.

Clinical trials of the injectible vaccine found that only one in four children under three years old were likely protected from contracting swine flu after just one dose, according to a study by a division of the National Institutes of Health issued Nov 2, 2009.  The children's immune response was measured three weeks after the children got their first shot.

However, just 8 to 10 days after getting their second dose of the H1N1 vaccine, also called a "booster," all the children in this age group (100 percent) were likely protected against contracting swine flu and had a "strong immune response," according to NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infections Disease (NIAID).

Among children ages 3 years to 9 years old, a little more than half (55 percent) were likely protected from contracting swine flu with just one dose of the vaccine. But, 94 percent were protected after just 8 days to 10 days after getting the booster.

Vaccine Now in Plentiful Supply

It should soon be much easier for all Americans to obtain the swine flu vaccine. Putting an end to the severe vaccine shortage suffered in the fall, the nation's supply has now reached 100 million doses, Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Health and Human Services Department Secretary, sad December 17, 2009. This paves the way for everyone, not just those at highest risk, to get protected by the vaccine.

"Take advantage of the increased supply and get vaccinated as soon as you can," Sebelius said at a briefing. "This is a serious flu that targets those who normally don't get seriously ill for the flu."

Even though swine flu cases are declining nationwide, there are still far more flu cases nationwide than are typical for late December. And experts stressed that it's too soon to say the pandemic is over. The 1957 flu pandemic ebbed in the fall only to return in January and February.

"We have a wonderful window of opportunity to prevent or lessen a third wave," Sebelius said at a briefing. The H1N1 vaccine was produced the same way as typical seasonal flu vaccine but has been subjected to greater scrutiny, she said. Studies of the H1N1 vaccine have shown it to be safe and effective.

Swine Flu Hits Children Hard

The latest data on swine flu show that it is hitting children and young adults especially hard. As many as 1,550 U.S. children have died so far from swine flu as of mid-November, the CDC reported December 10, 2009. In a typical flu season, only about 80 U.S. children die. And the flu season is not over.

With swine flu, about 90 percent of those infected, hospitalized, or who have died have been people under the age of 65 years old, according to an analysis of CDC's statistics issued December 10, 2009. This is one key difference between swine flu and typical seasonal flu, where the vast majority of those made seriously ill are senior citizens.

Of the 47 million Americans infected with swine flu between April and mid-November, 16 million have been children under the age of 17. Only 4 million have been senior citizens.

Still, most people-- and most children-who contract H1N1 flu recover without major complications and don't need care from a doctor. "Most people who get H1N1 flu will have mild illness, will not need medical care or antiviral drugs, and will recover in less than two weeks," the CDC wrote November 10, 2009.

"Some people, however, are more likely to get flu complications that result in being hospitalized and occasionally result in death," CDC wrote. Those in the high-risk group include pregnant women, children under the age of five but especially under the age of two, children with asthma or heart problems, and children with neurodevelopment conditions, CDC wrote November 10, 2009.

For information on obtaining a free H1N1 vaccine at one of Fairfax County's public

health clinics, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/flu on the Web.