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Flu 2010 As this year’s flu season approaches, H1N1 gains post-pandemic status, and inclusion in the latest rounds of vaccines 
As of August 10, 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the H1N1 virus, better known as the swine flu pandemic, that spread across the world in the 2008-2009 had reached the post-pandemic period. Although the virus is expected to appear as a seasonal virus for the coming years, concern for global public safety has greatly diminished. Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO says, “This pandemic has turned out to be much more fortunate than what we feared a little over a year ago.” The fact that this flu virus did not mutate into a more lethal strain, she says, was the result of “pure luck.” What this means for countries like Canada and parts of the US, with stockpiled H1N1 vaccines, is that they will continue to be useful. The WHO continues to strongly recommend vaccination for high-risk groups, particularly young children, pregnant women or those with chronic illness such as asthma or diabetes or their caretakers. Despite being accused of hyping the H1N1 virus in 2009, the WHO remains firm in its message. Dr. Chan insists that although many recovered from the illness with little or no treatment, “the special predisposition of this virus to cause severe disease in young adults, especially in young adults with no underlying or previous medical condition” is still a concern to the global community. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, will address this concern through their newly enacted recommendations. Taking effect in the 2010-2011 influenza season, more influenza vaccine doses will be required for all adults, including all people aged 19 to 49, who had not previously been focused in recommendations. According to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, data collected over the course of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic suggests that people outside of specific recommendation groups may also be of higher risk, including those who are obese, people in certain racial groups and post-partum women. In conjunction with these added recommendations, this year’s seasonal influenza vaccine will protect against an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the 2010 influenza virus that led to the hospitalization and deaths of many across the world. The H1N1 virus to be included in the new vaccine is the same virus that was used in the 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccine. This year’s doses have begun shipping as of August, with the CDC recommendation that everyone over the age of six months receive vaccination as it becomes available. |
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