The Truth About The H1N1 Vaccine

With the approval in Canada of H1N1 vaccine and the imminent launch of mass vaccination efforts in the provinces and territories, Canadians may have questions. Here are some answers:

Q: How many shots of H1N1 vaccine will I need?

A: Anyone 10 and older needs only one shot.

Q: How many will my children need?

A: Children six months to nine years need two half-dose shots, given at least 21 days apart. Infants under six months of age cannot be vaccinated.

Q: I don't like needles and I see in the U.S. that people are getting a vaccine that is sprayed up their nostrils. Can I get the nasal spray vaccine in Canada?

A: No. The company that makes that vaccine, MedImmune, only recently applied for a licence to sell their seasonal flu vaccine in Canada. That application is still in the licensure process, so they cannot sell any flu vaccine in this country yet. In any case, Canada is only buying H1N1 vaccine from one supplier, GlaxoSmithKline. GSK's vaccine is injectable.

Q: Will there be enough vaccine for everyone?

A: Canada ordered 50.4 million doses of vaccine, enough to give 75 per cent of the country two doses. The order was placed when it wasn't yet known that one dose would suffice. That order should be more than enough to protect everyone in Canada who wants to be vaccinated.

Q: Can I get the shot right away or do I need to get in line behind people who are at higher risk?

A: In the early days of the rollout, supplies may be limited and authorities will ask in big centres that people identified as "at high risk" come to the front of the line. The federal government expects about four million doses to be in the possession of the provinces and territories by the end of this week, and two to 3.5 million more each week after that.

Q: Who is at high risk?

A: The World Health Organization has recommended health-care workers have priority access to the vaccine. Canada drew up a priority list that includes health-care workers, pregnant women, young children, people living in remote communities and adults with chronic conditions.

Q: I'm hearing a Canadian study says getting a seasonal flu shot could increase my risk of catching swine flu. Is that true?

A: At this point, no one knows. The study hasn't been published and researchers in several other countries haven't seen the same thing when they look at their data. To be on the safe side, most provinces and territories aren't offering seasonal flu shots until after they give pandemic vaccine. Some are making an exception for people 65 and older, who are at high risk from seasonal flu but lower risk of H1N1 infection.

Q: Can I get a seasonal flu shot this year? Can I get it at the same time as I get the H1N1 shot?

A: The timing of seasonal flu shot programs varies by province and territory. But the Public Health Agency of Canada says it's OK to get both at the same time, if they are given in different arms.

Q: I am allergic to eggs. Can I get a flu shot?

A: The vaccine Canada is buying is produced in eggs. People with egg allergies are generally told not to take flu shots. But Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, says the egg residue left in the vaccine after purification is small and that people with egg allergies who want to get an H1N1 shot can do so. He says, though, they should do it in a setting where they'll be cared for if they develop a reaction to the vaccine.

Q: Will I have to pay for an H1N1 shot?

A: No, your tax dollars already have. The federal, provincial and territorial governments are footing the bill for this program.