| H1N1 |
| How does 2009 H1N1 flu affect a pregnant woman? |
| Pregnant women have signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu similar to those in other people. Flu signs and symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and chills. Some people with this virus also have had diarrhea or vomiting. People may only have some of these symptoms and still have flu. Some people have not had a fever but still have had 2009 H1N1 flu. For most pregnant women, 2009 H1N1 flu has been a mild illness. However, some pregnant women have become very sick. These women needed to be admitted to the hospital. Some pregnant women have died. For this reason, a pregnant woman who thinks she might have the flu needs to call her doctor right away. |
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| Are there any side effects to the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine? |
CDC expects that any side effects following vaccination with the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine would be rare. If side effects occur, they will likely be similar to those experienced following seasonal influenza vaccine. Mild problems that may be experienced include soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, fainting (mainly adolescents), headache, muscle aches, fever, and nausea. If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days. Life-threatening allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot is given.
After vaccination you should look for any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, swelling around the eyes or lips, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness. If any unusual condition occurs following vaccination, seek medical attention right away. Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given. |
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| Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect against the novel H1N1 flu? |
| No, because the FDA indicates that, although the currently licensed seasonal flu vaccines contain an H1N1 subtype, their subtype differs from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus, which is a new virus strain that has never before circulated among humans. The 2009 H1N1 flu virus is not the same as previous or current human seasonal influenza viruses and seasonal influenza vaccine does not provide protection against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. |
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| Who will be recommended as target groups to receive the H1N1 flu shot (vaccine)? |
The CDC recommends that the H1N1 flu vaccine be made available first to the following groups which are most likely to get the flu:
- Pregnant women
- Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (e.g. parents, siblings, and child care providers)
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel
- Persons from 6 months to 24 years of age
- People aged 25 to 64 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications (e.g. asthma, diabetes)
Current studies indicate that the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Once providers meet the demand for vaccine among persons in these initial target groups, vaccination is recommended for all persons 25 through 64 years of age. |
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| If I’ve already had the flu, can I get it again? |
The H1N1 virus is new and research is being conducted to better understand its characteristics. In addition, although data on H1N1 are scarce and this illness is still being studied, it is also important to know that flu viruses undergo frequent changes during an outbreak.
In general, exposure to a particular strain of flu virus will protect you against that strain in the future. However, it will not protect you from infection by other flu virus strains. Please also note that it is possible for a person to be infected with the seasonal influenza (flu) virus more than one time in a season, because several strains of flu virus circulate each year. |
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| Are there some people who should not receive the H1N1 vaccine? |
| People who have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to chicken eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine should not be vaccinated. |
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| I am allergic to eggs. Can I receive a flu shot even though I am allergic to eggs? |
Talk to your doctor before getting a flu shot if you:
- Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs;
- Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu shot; or
- Have a history of Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS).
If you are sick with a fever when you go to get your flu shot, talk to your doctor or nurse about getting your shot at a later date. However, you can get a flu shot if you have a respiratory (breathing) illness without a fever; or if you have another mild illness. |
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| Should doctors give the H1N1 vaccine to persons who have an allergy to eggs? |
Asking persons if they can eat eggs without adverse effects is a reasonable way to determine who might be at risk for allergic reactions from receiving influenza vaccines. Persons who have had symptoms such as hives or swelling of the lips or tongue, or who have experienced acute respiratory distress after eating eggs, should consult a physician for appropriate evaluation to help determine if influenza vaccine should be administered.
Persons who have documented (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to eggs, including those who have had occupational asthma related to egg exposure or other allergic responses to egg protein, also might be at increased risk for allergic reactions to influenza vaccine, and consultation with a physician before vaccination should be considered. |
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| Is it safe to eat pork and pork products? |
| Yes. Influenza A(H1N1) has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The influenza A(H1N1) virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C, corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat. |
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| What is CDC’s recommendation regarding"swine flu parties"? |
"Swine flu parties" are gatherings during which people have close contact with a person who has 2009 H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus. The intent of these parties is for a person to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity 2009 H1N1 flu virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease.
CDC does not recommend "swine flu parties" as a way to protect against 2009 H1N1 flu in the future. While the disease seen in the current 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others. There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus. |
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| Additional Resources |
| Oregon Department of Human Services - Pandemic H1N1 flu PDF |
