Topock Elementary School

2009 H1N1

INFLUENZAVACCINE

2009 H1N1 infl uenza (also called Swine Flu) is caused

by a new strain of infl uenza virus. It has spread to many

countries.

Like other fl u viruses, 2009 H1N1 spreads from person

to person through coughing, sneezing, and sometimes

through touching objects contaminated with the virus.

Signs of 2009 H1N1 can include:

• Fatigue • Fever • Sore Throat • Muscle Aches

• Chills • Coughing • Sneezing

Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting.

Most people feel better within a week. But some people

get pneumonia or other serious illnesses. Some people

have to be hospitalized and some die.

Who should get 2009 H1N1

4 infl uenza vaccine and when?

Seasonal fl u viruses change from year to year, but they

are closely related to each other.

People who have had fl u infections in the past usually

have some immunity to seasonal fl u viruses (their bodies

have built up some ability to fi ght off the viruses).

The 2009 H1N1 fl u is a new fl u virus. It is very different

from seasonal fl u viruses.

Most people have little or no immunity to 2009 H1N1 fl u

(their bodies are not prepared to fi ght off the virus).

WHO

Groups recommended to receive 2009 H1N1 vaccine

fi rst are:

• Pregnant women

• People who live with or care for infants younger

than 6 months of age

• Health care and emergency medical personnel

• Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age

• Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with

certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened

immune system

As more vaccine becomes available, these groups

should also be vaccinated:

• Healthy 25 through 64 year olds

• Adults 65 years and older

The Federal government is providing this vaccine for

receipt on a voluntary basis. However, state law or

employers may require vaccination for certain persons.

WHEN

Get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available.

Children through 9 years of age should get two doses of

vaccine, about a month apart. Older children and adults

need only one dose.

Many Vaccine Information Statements are available in Spanish and other languages. See www.immunize.org/vis.

W H A T Y O U N E E D T O K N O W

3 2009 H1N1 infl uenza vaccine

1 What is 2009 H1N1 infl uenza?

How is 2009 H1N1 different

2 from regular (seasonal) fl u?

Vaccines are available to protect against 2009 H1N1

infl uenza.

• These vaccines are made just like seasonal fl u

vaccines.

• They are expected to be as safe and effective as

seasonal fl u vaccines.

• They will not prevent “infl uenza-like” illnesses

caused by other viruses.

• They will not prevent seasonal fl u. You should also

get seasonal infl uenza vaccine, if you want to be

protected against seasonal fl u.

Inactivated vaccine (vaccine that has killed virus in it)

is injected into the muscle, like the annual fl u shot. This

sheet describes the inactivated vaccine.

A live, intranasal vaccine (the nasal spray vaccine) is

also available. It is described in a separate sheet.

Some inactivated 2009 H1N1 vaccine contains a preservative

called thimerosal to keep it free from germs. Some

people have suggested that thimerosal might be related to

autism. In 2004 a group of experts at the Institute of Medicine

reviewed many studies looking into this theory, and found no

association between thimerosal and autism. Additional

studies since then reached the same conclusion.

INACTIVATED

(the “fl u shot”)

What if there is a severe

7 reaction?

What should I look for?

Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or

behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can

include diffi culty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing,

hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.

What should I do?

• Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.

• Tell the doctor what happened, the date and time it

happened, and when the vaccination was given.

• Ask your provider to report the reaction by fi ling a

Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)

form. Or you can fi le this report through the VAERS

website at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling

1-800-822-7967.

VAERS does not provide medical advice.

9 How can I learn more?

• Ask your provider. They can give you the vaccine

package insert or suggest other sources of information.

• C all your local or state health department.

• Contact the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC):

- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

- Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/h1n1fl u or

www.cdc.gov/fl u

• Visit the web at www.fl u.gov

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Vaccine Information Statement

2009 H1N1 Inactivated Infl uenza Vaccine 10/2/09

What are the risks from

6 2009 H1N1 infl uenza vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, could cause a serious

problem, such as a severe allergic reaction. But the risk

of any vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is

extremely small.

The virus in inactivated 2009 H1N1 vaccine has been

killed, so you cannot get infl uenza from the vaccine.

The risks from inactivated 2009 H1N1 vaccine are

similar to those from seasonal inactivated fl u vaccine:

Mild problems:

• soreness, redness, tenderness, or swelling where

the shot was given • fainting (mainly adolescents)

• headache, muscle aches • fever • nausea

If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after

the shot and last 1-2 days.

Severe problems:

• Life-threatening allergic reactions to vaccines are

very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few

minutes to a few hours after the shot.

• In 1976, an earlier type of swine fl u vaccine was

associated with cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

(GBS). Since then, fl u vaccines have not been

clearly linked to GBS.

8 Vaccine injury compensation

If you or your child has a reaction to the vaccine, your

ability to sue is limited by law.

However, a federal program has been created to help

pay for the medical care and other specifi c expenses

of certain persons who have a serious reaction to this

vaccine. For more information about this program, call

1-888-275-4772 or visit the program’s website at:

www.hrsa.gov/countermeasurescomp/default.htm.

You should not get 2009 H1N1 fl u vaccine if you have

a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs, or to any

other substance in the vaccine. Tell the person

giving you the vaccine if you have any severe allergies.

Also tell them if you have ever had:

• a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of

seasonal fl u vaccine,

• Guillain Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness

also called GBS).

These may not be reasons to avoid the vaccine, but the

medical staff can help you decide.

If you are moderately or severely ill, you might be

advised to wait until you recover before getting the

vaccine. If you have a mild cold or other illness, there

is usually no need to wait.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women can get inactivated

2009 H1N1 fl u vaccine.

Inactivated 2009 H1N1 vaccine may be given at the

same time as other vaccines, including seasonal

infl uenza vaccine.

Some people should not get

5 the vaccine or should wait

According to the Mohave County Department of Public Health, there is a good deal of respiratory illness within our county. In recent weeks, public schools have had many students out ill with swine flu (H1N1). As a parent, you play a very important role in the health of our child care center. To keep our center as healthy as possible please do the following:

1. Get your child vaccinated.

The is the best way to protect against the flue. It is recommended that children receive both the seasonal (regular) flu vaccine and the new H1N1 flue shot when it becomes available.

2. Keep your child home when sick.

If your child has a fever, keep them home from this child care center until they have been fever-free for 24 hours and are not taking fever-reducing medicines.

Please prepare now for the possibility that your child may need to stay home from our child care center for many days, should he or she become ill.

3. Teach good hygiene.

 To the extent possible, teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve and to wash hands often with soap and water.

4. Seek early treatment for children at high risk for complications.

If your child has a medical condition that makes them more likely to get very ill from influenza, take them to their doctor as soon as possible if they get ill.

We cannot stress enough that it will take a team effort to keep our center as healthy as possible. Thank you for your help.

SINCERELY

Mr. Warren

Copyright 2010 Topock Elementary School. All rights reserved.

Web Hosting by Yahoo!