Vacine Recommendations For A(H1N1)

When the vaccine for influenza A(H1N1) becomes available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that the following groups be vaccinated:

• pregnant women
• people who live with or care for children less than 6 months old
• health care and emergency services personnel
• people between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age
• people ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

In the event of a vaccine shortage, the ACIP recommends that the following groups receive the vaccine before others:

• pregnant women
• people who live with or care for children less than 6 months of age
• health care and emergency services personnel with direct patient contact
• children between 6 months and 4 years of age
• children ages 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions

To decrease the incidence of secondary pneumococcal pneumonia, the CDC is also recommending prophylactic administration of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) during the outbreak of novel influenza A(H1N1). The recommendations of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are as follows:

• Vaccination for all persons over 65 years of age
• Vaccination for persons 2 to 64 years with the following medical conditions:
  
  
  • Chronic cardiovascular disease (congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathies)
  • Chronic pulmonary disease, including COPD and emphysema
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Alcoholism
  • Chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis
  • Cerebrospinal fluid leaks
  • Functional or anatomical asplenia, including sickle cell disease and splenectomy
  • Immunocompromised conditions, including HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, generalized malignancy, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome; those receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy (including corticosteroids); and those who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant
  
  
  
  
• Vaccinations for persons 19 to 64 years who have asthma or smoke.

*Note: A single revaccination at least five years after initial vaccination is recommended for people 65 years and older who were first vaccinated before age 65 years as well as for people at highest risk, such as those who have no spleen, and those who have HIV infection, AIDS or malignancy.