Sep 22, 2009 5:28 pm US/Eastern
Some Children May Need More Doses Of H1N1 Vaccine
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
One dose of the H1N1 vaccine will affect most children, but not all.
Healthwatch reporter Kellye Lynn shows us why some children will need more of the vaccine.
The latest information from federal health officials is that very young children will need more than one shot.
At La Petite Childcare in Baltimore, little ones are lathering up more than usual.
"You could spread germs if you don't do it," said Emily Kellogg.
"We're being extra cautious this year, just wiping things down with sanitizer and making sure we watch them when they wash their hands," said lead teacher Shirley Fox.
And while handwashing is being pushed at childcare centers and local hospitals like Sinai, federal health officials are also urging parents to get children vaccinated against the seasonal flu and H1N1.
"We only need to give one dose to children between the ages of 10-17, and that gives a good enough immune system response to protect them," said Dr. John Cmar, an infectious diseases specialist at Sinai.
It's the newest development in the fight against H1N1. Older children will only need one shot of the vaccine. Younger children who have never been vaccinated against the flu will need two swine flu shots.
"Between six months and nine, you will probably need two doses, which is good news all around, because that's exactly what we see with the seasonal flu vaccine," said Anthony Fauci, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
Children can get the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines on the same day, but will have to wait 21 days for the second shots, which means another trip back to the doctor.
Of course, the H1N1 vaccine won't be available until early October. Experts say the first three million doses that arrive will be in nasal spray form and the injectable versions will follow.
It takes about 10 days for the flu shot to take effect.
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