Immunizations & Medicine for Treatment - FAQs:

• Where can I find a seasonal flu shot?
• What information did the FDA use to support the approval of the H1N1 2009 Monovalent flu vaccines?
• What is the flu vaccine made of?
• Is the flu vaccine ok for babies?
• Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect against the novel H1N1 flu?
• Will the new H1N1 vaccine be safe, even for children? Are you testing it?
• Will health insurance plans reimburse medical personnel for administering the H1N1 vaccine?
• Does the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine contain thimerosal?
• What is Tamiflu and what is it approved for?
• What do I use to give liquid Tamiflu (oral suspension)?
• What are the most common side effects of Tamiflu?
• What is known about the safety of influenza vaccines in pregnant women?
• What is Peramivir IV?
• Are there people who should not take Relenza?
• How are flu antivirals used?  
• Will the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines be safe?
• How will the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines be monitored for safety?
• Do I need to make the Tamiflu liquid (oral suspension)?
• I am allergic to eggs. Can I receive a flu shot even though I am allergic to eggs?
• How will you treat pregnant women if they have the flu?
• What are preservatives and why are they used in vaccines?
• Who is at risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
• Will there be a possibility of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) cases following the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
• Why did some people develop Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after they received the 1976 swine flu vaccine?
• What antiviral drugs are available for treatment of seasonal and H1N1 influenza?
• Are there targeted groups for treating the flu with an antiviral drug?
• How long should patients receive treatment with antiviral drugs?
• When should health care providers start treatment with antiviral drugs?
• Will the benefits of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines outweigh the risks? Is this something I should talk to my healthcare provider about?
• What happened in 1976 with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and the swine flu vaccine?
• What liquids can I use with Tamiflu capsules to help my child take his/her medicine?
• What chronic health conditions would be considered priority for the 2009 H1N1 vaccination? Heart Murmur? Hypothyroidism?
• What generally makes up the H1N1 2009 Monovalent vaccines?
• What are the specific ingredients in each of the 2009 H1N1 vaccines?
• How do public health authorities investigate cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
• If I was vaccinated for swine flu in the 1970's, do I need to get a 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) shot?
• When should health care providers start treatment with antiviral drugs?
• How many shots of the new vaccine would someone need? Will it be one or two doses, or something else?
• Will there be enough flu vaccine for all those in our country who want to have the shot?
• Can I get both flu vaccines and the pneumonia vaccine at the same time?
• Will the 2009 H1N1 vaccine be recommended for patients who had flu-like illness since spring 2009?
• Will there be a separate allocation of the flu vaccines for active duty DoD personnel?
• Can Vaccine Projects request less than their full allocation?  
• What ancillary supplies will be provided  to vaccine providers by the federal government? 
• Where can I find information about the dosage, contraindications, warnings, reactions, and drug interactions for the different available flu vaccines?
• I am allergic to thimerosal, which will be in the H1N1 vaccine. What can I take to prevent the swine flu and the seasonal flu?
• What can health care providers do to reduce delays in antiviral treatment?
• Can the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 2009 vaccine be taken at the same time?
• Can the nasal-spray flu vaccine be given to patients when they are ill?
• Should antivirals be use to prevent flu in healthy people who have been exposed to the flu?
• What is the preferred antiviral treatment for pregnant women?
• How effective are antiviral drugs at preventing the flu?
• What actions should health care providers take when waiting for influenza test results?
• What are the treatment benefits of influenza antiviral drugs?
• What if there is not enough liquid antiviral and my child can not take pills?
• What should I do if I am pregnant and have a fever?
• Should doctors give the H1N1 vaccine to persons who have an allergy to eggs?
• What is invasive pneumococcal disease?
• If the increase in invasive pneumococcal disease is related to 2009 H1N1 flu, is this expected?
• How is vaccine shipped to vaccine receiving sites?  
• How do vaccine providers know how much vaccine is available for them to order?
• What is the minimum dose order for shipments of 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
• Where can my office or facility order the H1N1 vaccine to give to patients?
• Who should get the seasonal flu shot?
• What side effects can occur with influenza antiviral drugs?
• What kind of antiviral drugs are available for children?
• What are the recommendations for the use of antiviral drugs in young children?
• What if there is no liquid antiviral or pediatric doses of the antiviral drugs?
• What are the side effects of antiviral drugs in children?
• What are the types of seasonal flu vaccines?
• What if there is a severe reaction from the seasonal live, attenuated nasal spray flu vaccine?
• What are the risks of the seasonal flu shot?
• What should I do if I am pregnant and come in close contact with someone who has the flu?
• What is the difference between antiviral flu medicines and antibiotics?
• Is it safe for me to take an antiviral medicine for flu while I am pregnant?
• Who can get the seasonal flu vaccine in a spray?
• Who is lower priority for treatment with influenza antiviral drugs?
• Can I get the seasonal flu even if I got a flu vaccine this year?
• What should I do if I am pregnant and think I have the flu?
• Can the 2009 H1N1 vaccine be administered at the same visit as other vaccines?
• What are the side effects of the seasonal live, attenuated nasal spray flu vaccine?
• Who should talk with a doctor before getting a seasonal flu shot?
• Does the flu vaccine work right away? How long before the vaccine takes effect after  it is given?
• Is the vaccine distributed equitably across medical providers?
• There have been reports of several cases of Tamiflu resistance to the novel H1N1 virus. Does this mean that our Tamiflu stockpiles are now ineffective against this virus?
• Do the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for Tamiflu and Relenza cover regular pharmacy prescriptions?
• Under the FDA's Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for Tamiflu and Relenza, what does it mean to make available medication information through appropriate means?
• Does a physician need a confirmed diagnosis before prescribing Tamiflu?
• Does Tamiflu come in a liquid as well as capsules?
• Are there medicines to treat H1N1 (swine) flu?
• Are people over 64 who have chronic ailments eligible for the H1N1 flu vaccine? Someone said there might not be enough vaccine for the elderly.
• What about the use of antivirals to treat novel H1N1 infection?
• Do the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for the antiviral drug products Relenza and Tamiflu cover only products in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) or do they cover the state and local stockpiles and private sector stockpiles?
• Under the FDA Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for Tamiflu and Relenza, what information should be given to a patient?
• Is thimerosal safe when used as a preservative in vaccines?
• Why does the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Tamiflu state that it covers Strategic National Stockpile assets and those authorized under SLEP, but the EUA for Relenza does not make the same statement?
• How would antivirals be used?
• Should I begin taking antiviral medications such as Tamiflu® if I'm planning a visit to another country known to have any type of flu?
• Are there some people who should not receive the H1N1 vaccine?
• What is the 2009 H1N1 nasal spray flu vaccine?
• Can health care providers get the live attenuated influenza vaccine?
• Do the FDA's Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for antiviral drugs (Tamiflu and Relenza) cover their use for both prevention and treatment?
• Do the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for antivirals allow hospitals without outpatient pharmacies to dispense Tamiflu and Relenza?
• In the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for Tamiflu and Relenza, what kind of additional information, which is consistent with the fact sheets, can be provided by the CDC and state or local authorities?
• Who should get two doses of the H1N1 vaccine?
• What is thimerosal?
• Is there a possibility that countries with flu vaccine manufacturing plants might break US contracts and keep the vaccines for themselves and their people?
• Will the U.S. give some of its novel H1N1 flu vaccine to the WHO or developing nations? If so, how much? Under what conditions?
• Do the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) override state guidelines regarding dispensing and storage of Tamiflu and Relenza in a public health emergency?
• What is the difference between a vaccine and an antiviral?
• I have concerns about the use of thimerosal. Is thimerosal still being used?
• My daughter will be breast feeding this fall. Should she take the HINI flu vaccine?
• When should I get my seasonal flu shot?
• What is Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
• How common is Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and how common is it after people are vaccinated for seasonal flu?
• What are the after effects of the swine flu? How long will they last?
• I have a serious lung disease. Will the pneumonia vaccine protect me from the flu?
• What percentage of people hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 flu have developed invasive pneumococcal disease?
• Are there any side effects to the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine?
• Do you expect that the 2009 H1N1 vaccine will be associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
• How many manufacturers are producing the H1N1 vaccine?
• Will the 2009 H1N1 vaccines that are currently recommended contain adjuvants?
• Should the 2009 H1N1 flu shot be given to a pregnant woman who has had flu between April 2009 and now? Do I need a test to know if I need the shot or not?
• Why are some of the doses of H1N1 vaccine manufactured in pre-filled syringes being recalled from the market?
• What are the current and new expiration date of the Sanofi Pasteur pre-filled H1N1 vaccine syringes?
• What are the lot numbers affected by the Sanofi Pasteur Pre-filled Syringes recall in February 2010?
• Why is Sanofi Pasteur changing the expiration dates of 2009 H1N1 vaccine in pre-filled syringes?
• Should some people not get the live, attenuated nasal spray vaccine?
• Can people receiving the nasal-spray flu vaccine made with the live weakened virus pass the virus to others?
• How many doses of nasal spray vaccine are needed?
• Can the nasal-spray flu vaccine be used together with flu antiviral medications?
• Are there any concerns about the safety of 2009 H1N1 vaccines being recalled?
• What is being done to notify health care providers of changing the expiration dates of 2009 H1N1 vaccine in Sanofi Pasteur pre-filled syringes?
• The Flu season seems to be dying down—Why do people still need a vaccination against 2009 H1N1?
• If a pregnant woman delivers her baby before receiving her seasonal flu shot or her 2009 H1N1 flu shot, should she still receive them?
• Will people age 65 years and older be able to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine this season?
• What personal protective equipment is recommended for health care workers who are giving the 2009 H1N1 nasal spray vaccine?
• Who makes the nasal spray vaccine?
• Why are people 65 and older prioritized for antiviral treatment if they get sick with the flu, but they are not in one of the early groups prioritized to get 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
• How are the viruses selected to make flu vaccine?
• When and where will the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers for Reference and Research on Influenza meet to determine the vaccine composition for the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine?
• How many flu viruses will be included in the seasonal vaccine for 2010-2011?
• Now that we are seeing a slowdown in Flu infections, is there anyone who should take priority over others in receiving the H1N1 vaccine?
• What lots are affected by the change in expiration dates of 2009 H1N1 vaccine in pre-filled syringes?
• How many provider sites can a State or other agency designate to receive vaccine?
• What is the frequency of vaccine shipments that Vaccine Projects should expect?
• Is the H1N1 vaccine  manufactured differently than the seasonal flu vaccine?
• Are natural remedies (also referred to as “complementary” or “alternative” medicine) recommended to prevent the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?  
• Will there be a separate vaccine allocation for Indian Health Service (IHS)-served populations and other tribal communities?  
• How is pneumococcal disease spread?
• Who is at most serious risk for pneumococcal infection?
• Does the FDA support the CDC flu vaccination recommendations for pregnant women?
• What uses of Peramivir IV are authorized under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)?
• Under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), who is authorized to hold and distribute Peramivir IV?
• What are the specific conditions of authorization for health care providers in the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Peramivir IV?
• How do health care providers request Peramivir IV under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)?
• Do the terms and conditions of the Peramivir IV Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) apply to health care providers who already have Peramivir IV because they are a clinical site investigator for a Peramivir IV clinical trial or they obtain Peramivir IV under E-IND?
• How is Peramivir IV supplied?
• Who can health care providers contact if they have more questions or have problems requesting Peramivir IV through CDC’s Peramivir IV Electronic Request System?
• Who should not receive Peramivir IV?
•  Where can I find a seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine clinic near where I live? Do you have maps to the clinics?
• What is the recommended duration for preventative antiviral treatment if used following exposure to someone with flu?
• When should the 2009 H1N1 nasal-spray flu vaccine be given?
• Who should receive antiviral drugs for prevention of influenza?
• Does the liquid Tamiflu need to be refrigerated?
• Is Tamiflu a substitute for the flu vaccine?
• Do I take Tamiflu the same way for treatment and prevention (prophylaxis) of the flu?
• What are the serious side effects of Tamiflu?
• When will the vaccine viruses selected for the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine be announced?
• Does the 2009 H1N1 flu shot have mercury in it?
• Can a pregnant health care provider give the live nasal spray flu vaccine?
• How is pneumococcal disease treated in adults during flu season?
• Should women who are pregnant or nursing take Relenza?
• What are the instructions for using a Relenza inhaler?
• What can be done to protect children from flu complications and death?
• Are the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations mandatory?
• Why aren't people 65 and older recommended to get early doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
• Who will be recommended as target groups to receive the H1N1 flu shot (vaccine)?
• Who is included in the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers that will make the vaccine virus selections?
• What will be the recommended time between the first and second vaccine dose for children 9 years of age and under?  
• Why is prevention of pneumococcal disease important during flu season?
• What kind of providers can be designated as vaccine provider project sites?
• When and how much of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine will be available?
• Will there be a separate vaccines allocation for DoD dependents, retirees, and civilian employees?
• How can I find the H1N1 Swine flu vaccine?
• How does invasive pneumococcal disease affect people who get 2009 H1N1 or seasonal influenza?
• What vaccines are available to help prevent invasive pneumococcal disease and flu infections?
• Do I take Relenza the same way for treatment and prevention (prophylaxis) of the flu?
• How do you measure potency of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
• What are the benefits of antiviral treatment in children?
• Should we set aside doses of the 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccine to administer as second doses to children 6 months through 9 years of age?
• What is Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs)?
• Is 2009 H1N1 flu associated with an increase in invasive pneumococcal disease?
• Is there a shortage of oral suspension (liquid) Tamiflu®, and, if so, what is being done?
• How is invasive pneumococcal disease diagnosed in adults?
• Do home and community-based service providers in day and residential programs for people with disabilities have priority for receiving the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccines?
• Is there enough Tamiflu liquid?
• Why does the CDC advise pregnant women to get the 2009 H1N1 and the seasonal flu shots?
• What studies have been done on the 2009 H1N1 flu shots and have any been done in pregnant women?
• Can the 2009 H1N1 flu shot be given at any time during pregnancy?
• Should women who are pregnant or nursing take Tamiflu?
• What should people do if they continue to have or start to develop flu symptoms while taking Tamiflu?
• What are the most common and most serious side effects of Relenza?
• What form does Relenza come in?
• What should I do if I continue to have or start to develop flu symptoms while taking Relenza?
• How will the Federal government determine whether people who receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine have an increased risk for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
• Can family members of a pregnant woman receive the nasal spray vaccine?
• Can a breastfeeding mother receive a flu shot?
• Should people age 65 and older get the regular flu vaccine this year?
• Where can I find a 2009 H1N1 vaccine clinic?
• How is Peramivir IV stored?
• How is Peramivir IV injection prepared?
• How is the 2009 H1N1 nasal spray vaccine different from the seasonal nasal spray vaccine?
• How effective is the nasal-spray seasonal flu vaccine?
• What clinical trial information exists for Peramivir IV?
• How many patients have received Peramivir IV?
• What adverse events associated with Peramivir IV were reported in clinical trials?
• Where are the H1N1 vaccines made?
• What causes Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
• Do vaccines cause Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
• Are antiviral drugs being used more often to treat severe flu illness during this pandemic than they have been for seasonal flu?
• Can children take antiviral drugs?
• What are the types of symptoms of pneumococcal disease?
• Is the pneumococcal vaccine safe?
• Are there other vaccinations that will help those who are at high risk for flu complications?
• How can high-risk individuals protect themselves from pneumococcal disease?
• How serious is pneumococcal disease in children?
• Which children are most likely to get pneumococcal disease?
• What is the best protection against the flu?
• What action is FDA taking regarding Peramivir IV?
• Does the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authorize the use of Peramivir IV for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza or prevention of influenza?
• Why is this Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) different than the EUAs for Tamiflu and Relenza?
• Which antiviral drugs should health care providers prescribe for chemophrophylaxis of 2009 H1N1?
• What are influenza antiviral drugs?
• Are FDA Institutional Review Board (IRB)-review and IRB-notification requirements applicable to the emergency use of Peramivir IV (an unapproved, investigational drug) under the Emergency Use Authorization (EAU)?
• Can health care providers request Peramivir IV for more than one patient?
• Is there any other way health care providers can obtain Peramivir IV for patients other than through the CDC under the Emergency Use Authorization?
• How long is Peramivir IV (the unopened/unused intact vials) good since there is no expiration date on the label?
• Does Medicare pay for seniors to get the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine?
• Will the new Swine Flu Vaccine contain adjuvants such as Squalene?
• We have a patient who was diagnosed earlier this year with the H1N1 Flu. What would the protocol be for giving him the vaccine?
• What does the H1N1 vaccine cost?
• Should the nasal-spray flu vaccine be given to patients with chronic disease?
• Should contacts of people with weakened immune systems get the nasal-spray flu vaccine?
• Can the nasal-spray flu vaccine be given at the same time as other vaccines?
• If a child under the age of 9 years is getting seasonal influenza vaccine for the first time and requires 2 doses, does the same type of vaccine have to be used for both doses?
• Does the nasal spray flu vaccine contain thimerosal?
• What have been the results of the clinical trials of the 2009 H1N1 vaccines?
• Where can I find more technical information about the different flu vaccines that are available this year?
• Are there flu vaccines that pregnant women should not get?
• How many 2009 H1N1 flu shots will a pregnant woman need to get?
• Has the H1N1 vaccines shipping begun?
• Can the 2009 H1N1 nasal spray vaccine and the seasonal nasal spray vaccine be given at the same time to the same person?
• How is the nasal-spray flu vaccine stored?
• Can the nasal spray flu vaccine give you the flu?