H1N1 Vaccine - Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Is the H1N1vaccine safe?
2. What is adjuvanted vaccine?
3. Who should get the H1N1 vaccine?
4. Who should NOT get the H1N1 vaccine?
5. I’m pregnant. Should I get vaccinated now, or wait for the unadjuvanted vaccine?
6. How many doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine will I need?
7. I’ve already been sick. Do I still need the H1N1 vaccine?
8. Will I still need to get the seasonal flu vaccine?
9. When do I get the seasonal flu vaccine?
10. What should I do if I’m feeling sick?
11. Are we seeing more H1N1 cases locally?
12. Is H1N1 illness like seasonal flu illness?

• Canadians can be confident that all vaccines authorized for use by Health Canada undergo rigorous reviews and testing to ensure safety, quality and effectiveness.

• Risks from the H1N1 vaccine (also known as adjuvanted Arepanrix™) are similar to those of the seasonal flu vaccine. You may have redness, swelling and warmth, tenderness, a hard spot and bruising where the needle went in. Serious reactions to the vaccine are rare (e.g. hives, swelling of the mouth or throat or trouble breathing)

• An adjuvant is a substance added to a vaccine to boost your body’s immune response. In the case of H1N1 flu vaccine, the adjuvant includes naturally occurring oil, water and vitamin E.

• Adjuvants are not new – they have been used for several decades in many of Canada’s most commonly used vaccines.

• All evidence suggests that adjuvanted vaccines are just as safe as unadjuvanted vaccines; however they have not previously been approved for use with influenza (flu) vaccines in Canada.

• Everyone, 6 months or older

• While there will be enough H1N1 flu vaccine for everyone who needs and wants protection, some groups may develop more serious health problems from the H1N1 flu virus. For this reason, the Government of Ontario is providing vaccine in the following order:

1. People at risk for serious complications from the H1N1 virus:
   
   • Persons with chronic conditions under the age of 65
   • Pregnant women
   • Children 6 months to less than 5 years of age
   • Persons living in remote and isolated settings or communities
   • Health care workers (all health care system workers involved with the pandemic response or delivery of essential health services
   • Household contacts and care providers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or may not respond to vaccines.
2. Others Who Will Benefit From Immunization:
   
   • Children 5 to 18 (inclusive) years of age
   • First responders (police, firefighters)
   • Poultry and Swine Workers
   • Adults 19 to 64 (inclusive) years of age
   • Adults 65 years of age and over

• Children under 6 months of age

• People with a serious allergy to eggs. A serious allergic reaction means that the person develops hives, swelling of the mouth and throat or trouble breathing

• People who have had a bad reaction to a vaccine or an ingredient in the vaccine

• People who have had laboratory-confirmed pH1N1 infection

• People with a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (muscle pain and weakness, or loss of muscle function) within 8 weeks of a previous flu shot

• People who were hospitalized because of Oculorespiratory Syndrome (ORS) consisting of severe lower respiratory symptoms after getting the seasonal flu shot 

• Ontario is recommending that all pregnant women with pre-existing health conditions and healthy pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancy (more than 20 weeks) speak to their health care provider about receiving the adjuvanted vaccine. It is licensed and approved for all pregnant women.

• Healthy pregnant women in the first half of their pregnancy are at less risk of complication from the flu, and should wait to receive the unadjuvanted vaccine, when it is available.

• People age 10 and over will require one dose of the H1N1 vaccine for full immunity.

• For children under 10, the Ministry of Health currently recommends the following:

* The Ministry of Health recommends children with the following conditions receive a

   second dose of H1N1 vaccine:  

• Heart disease
•  Kidney disease
•  Asthma and chronic lung disease
•  Liver disease
•  Diabetes
•  Serious obesity
•  Diseases or treatments that affect the immune systems such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants
•  Blood disorders
•  Neurological disorders
•  Medical conditions where people have difficulty swallowing or are at risk of choking
•  Children and adolescents' medical conditions treated for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin®)

• Yes. Unless a lab report has concluded your previous illness was linked to H1N1 virus, you should still receive the H1N1 vaccine.

• Yes. This fall and winter there will be two strains of flu virus circulating, seasonal flu and the new H1N1 flu virus. We recommend getting both vaccinations for optimal protection.

• People over 65 years of age, and those who live in long-term care homes, should first receive the seasonal flu vaccine followed by the H1N1 vaccine in priority sequence.

• Anyone under 65 years of age should first receive the H1N1 vaccine (according to priority sequence) followed by the seasonal flu shot, which will be available to the general public following the H1N1 immunization program.

•  If you are not well, please do not go to a H1N1 flu immunization clinic. Call your doctor to describe your symptoms, or call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term care has also developed an online tool to help you determine if you have symptoms of the flu, and will help you decide what to do next.
  http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ccom/flu/h1n1/public/tools/assessment/default.aspx
  

• Like the rest of Ontario and most other provinces, influenza activity is higher compared to past weeks. The “second wave” has arrived and we are encouraging everyone to book their appt in the timeframe for their risk group. We have had new laboratory confirmed cases this week (wk of Oct 26th) and we do have several schools reporting an increased absenteeism rate. Telehealth is also receiving a higher level of calls.

• Yes, H1N1 flu looks similar to seasonal flu. However, it is affecting younger people more. The symptoms of both are very similar with the most common symptoms of H1N1 being fever, cough and sore throat. Both seasonal and H1N1 flu can lead to complications like pneumonia and even death.