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H1N1 vaccine: who should get it?
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photo courtesy of CDC
H1N1 vaccine should be arriving shortly and many people are wondering if they should get it. So far, the groups that are felt to be at highest risk for complications of H1N1 (and therefore should get the vaccine first) are:
Pregnant women
This group has had higher than expected complications from H1N1
People who live with babies less than 6 months old
These babies cannot have the vaccine yet they are at high risk for complications so vaccinating their household contacts decreases the chance that the babies will get infected
Daycare workers who care for babies less than 6 months old
You don't want your baby to get H1N1 at daycare either
Healthcare workers
If a healthcare worker gets sick they may infect their other patients and they won't be available to care for others with H1N1 who will need medical care
People ages 6 months to 24 years
The H1N1 virus seems to be affecting younger people disproportionally. The reason for this isn't entirely clear but may be related to a lack of partial immunity. Older people may have encountered a similar virus in the past and developed a subtotal, but nonetheless helpful, immunity.
People 25-64 with chronic medical conditions
These are people who are at risk of getting especially sick if they catch the H1N1 virus. This includes people with diabetes and asthma -- even if they are well controlled.
It isn't clear yet if, initially, there will be plenty of vaccine or not quite enough to go around. If there is an initial shortage the CDC recommends that the following groups get priority: pregnant women, people who live with or care for babies less than 6 months of age, medical personnel, children ages 6 months to 4 years and kids 5-18 years with chronic medical problems such as asthma.
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