We have a patient who was diagnosed earlier this year with the H1N1 Flu. What would the protocol be for giving him the vaccine?
All persons in a recommended vaccination target group who had a flu-like illness that was not confirmed as 2009 H1N1 virus infection by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) should get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. RT-PCR is the only test that can confirm infection specifically with the 2009 H1N1 virus. Most people ill with a flu-like illness since this spring have not been tested with RT-PCR. Tests such as rapid antigen detection assays and diagnoses based on symptoms alone without RT-PCR testing cannot specifically determine if a person has 2009 H1N1 flu. Persons who were not tested, but who became ill after being exposed to a person with lab-confirmed 2009 H1N1 flu, should not assume that they also had 2009 H1N1 as many pathogens can cause a flu-like illness. These people should get the vaccine if they are in a recommended vaccination target group.
A patient who had 2009 H1N1 infection diagnosed by RT-PCR may also want to get vaccinated. If the person is not severely immune compromised, he or she will likely have some immunity to subsequent infection with 2009 H1N1 virus. But, vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful.
The following resources are available:
H1N1 Flu Vaccination Resources: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/
Novel H1N1 Influenza: Resources for Clinicians http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/
Last Reviewed: 09/30/2009
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