Q. Should people be vaccinated this year for the seasonal flu? Who should get it?
A. In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting seasonal flu should receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Individuals at high risk for complications of seasonal flu should definitely receive this vaccine. Such individuals include: young people aged six months up to their 19th birthday, pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, people living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu.

Q. Is the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu the same thing this year?
A. They are not the same. They are different strains of the flu virus. Seasonal flu may cause similar symptoms as the H1N1 flu. Although this is not predicted, the seasonal virus could cause a more severe illness than the H1N1 strain of the virus. Having H1N1 flu or being vaccinated for H1N1 flu will not protect someone against seasonal flu. Individuals should consider vaccination against both strains of the virus (seasonal and H1N1).

Q. Will the seasonal flu vaccine protect against H1N1 flu?
A. The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect again H1N1 flu. Individuals should receive the two different vaccines against H1N1 flu and seasonal flu to decrease their risk of acquiring flu.

Q. How many times do we need to take the H1N1 flu vaccine?
A. The FDA has recently approved the H1N1 vaccine for preventing this type of flu. According to the FDA and the CDC, only one dose of H1N1 vaccine will be needed by adults (including Wake Forest students) to obtain protection against the H1N1 flu virus.

Q. When is the H1N1 vaccine expected to be available?
A. Both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines are available for students at the Student Health Service. Faculty and staff should receive these vaccines from their primary care physicians.

Q. Can the seasonal vaccine be given at the same time as the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine?
A. The seasonal vaccine can be given at the same time as the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine.

Q. Who should get the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine?
A. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that certain "at-risk groups" of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it first becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years of age, and people ages 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for H1N1 flu because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. If adequate supplies of the H1N1 flu vaccine are available as anticipated, any individuals who wish to minimize their risk of acquiring H1N1 flu should receive this vaccine.

Q. If a person has had H1N1 flu, should they get the vaccine?
A. Individuals who have had H1N1 flu probably have immunity against this virus. However, public health officials are recommending that all individuals who are in priority groups for the vaccine should receive the H1N1 flu vaccine regardless of their previous history of H1N1 flu. Persons diagnosed with flu since August 1, 2009, may wish to discuss this question in further detail with their healthcare providers.

Additional information from the CDC:
H1N1 flu vaccine information »
Seasonal flu vaccine information »