Who will be the first to get the swine flu vaccine once it becomes available this fall? About 159 million people.
The swine flu also referred to as the H1N1 pandemic continues at low levels in the United States. But, medical experts note that it is expected to pick up in intensity this fall, once schools restart.
The H1N1 virus is a new strain of flu that is the result of a mutation of the genetic material of several flu viruses. Since the first cases were discovered in Mexico just a few months ago, it has spread rapidly worldwide.
The Centers for Disease Control and vaccine manufacturers are working diligently on a vaccine, and the CDC reports that it should be available by this fall.
The logistics of distribution of the H1N1 vaccine are still unclear but medical experts advise it is important for consumers to be watchful for news about availability. The H1N1 vaccine will be a separate vaccine from the standard flu vaccine that is given every year, so most people will need at least two shots this fall.
It is likely that the H1N1 vaccine will not be ready by the time the yearly flu vaccine is available, and it is not yet clear if they could safely be given together. It is also not clear if the swine flu vaccine will require two shots or just one to achieve immunity.
Because younger people are at highest risk of dying from the swine flu the vaccine will likely be first given to those who are at highest risk and those who are most likely to spread the disease if they get infected. This includes:
Pregnant women
People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
Health care and emergency services personnel
Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age
People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
The groups listed above total approximately 159 million people or nearly half the population of United States. Experts note that once high-risk patients have been vaccinated, the vaccine distribution will be expanded to everyone, including adults over 65.
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