A single dose of H1N1 flu vaccine is likely to produce a protective immune response in most healthy children over age 9, while younger children may require two doses of the vaccine, the National Institutes of Health announced Sept. 21. About 600 children are participating in the ongoing clinical trial of a vaccine made by Sanofi Pasteur, which produced a strong immune response in 76% of children ages 10 to 17 who received one 15-microgram dose of vaccine, compared with 36% of children ages 3 to 9 and 25% of children ages 6 months to 35 months.
“As we had hoped, responses to the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine are very similar to what we see with routinely used seasonal influenza vaccines made in the same way,” said Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will consider the data and make vaccination recommendations to the CDC, which will issue guidance to providers who administer the vaccine.
[ via AHA News Now ]
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