Flu vaccine information
A vaccine for H1N1 influenza is expected to be available sometime this fall, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Following are recommendations from UCLA and the CDC on vaccinations:
Seasonal flu
While the seasonal influenza is different from the H1N1 influenza, and the seasonal flu vaccination is unlikely to provide protection against H1N1, UCLA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that individuals get vaccinated against seasonal flu. Seasonal flu vaccinations are currently available through the Ashe Center.
H1N1 flu
A vaccine against the H1N1 influenza is currently in production, and the first doses will likely be available in October. While UCLA and the CDC recommend that everyone gets the H1N1 vaccination, certain high-risk groups should receive it when it becomes available. These include:
- Caregivers of children younger than six months
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
- People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years
- Pregnant women
- People ages 25-64 years old with chronic health conditions (e.g. asthma, heart disease, diabetes) or compromised immune systems
For more information on the H1N1 vaccine, see the CDC H1N1 vaccine page, the CDC's Q&A on H1N1 vaccine availability and the CDC's Q&A on H1N1 vaccine safety.
