Chapel Hill Pediatrics has agreed to provide the H1N1 Vaccine to our patients but it will be given to us by the local health departments.  We will not know how much we will receive and when it will arrive.  Our goal is to vaccinate those of our patients who are at highest risk first and follow the CDC guidelines for adminstering the H1N1 Vaccine.

Is the H1N1 vaccine safe?  Isn't it a new vaccine?
     The flu vaccine is new every year!  The manufacturers have to guess which strains of flu will be in our community several months in advance and then formulate the vaccine.  The process has NOT been changed for H1N1.  And, the H1N1 vaccine has been tested on humans for effectiveness. 

Should I give my child injections or mist forms of the flu vaccine?
     Either one will provide protection against influenza.  The mist cannot be given to those under 2 years of age or anyone with a recent history of wheezing or asthma or to those with immune deficiencies.  (or if there will be contact with someone with an immune deficiency).

Can my child receive all mist (no shots)?
     Yes and no.  The two forms of mist flu cannot be given at the same time.  You would have to return in 2 to 4 weeks for the other mist immunization if you only wanted the mist versions.

Does one dose of vaccine provide protection?
     Anyone under the age of 10 should receive 2 doses of H1N1 Vaccine, about 4 weeks apart.  

     If this is your child's first year getting the Seasonal Flu Vaccine and they are under the age of 9 they should receive 2 doses of Seasonal Flu Vaccine (only one dose is needed if they received Seasonal Flu Vaccine in prior years).

How many days apart do the Seasonal Flu Vaccine and the H1N1 Vaccine need to be?

     -The H1N1 vaccine injection (shot) and the Seasonal Flu Vaccine injection (shot) can be given at the same time and do not have to be spaced apart.

     -If your child receives H1N1 Mist or Seasonal Flu Mist the mist vaccines must be spaced 2-4 weeks apart.

     -There is no minimum spacing needed between a Seasonal Flu Shot and the H1N1 Mist and there is no minimum spacing needed between an H1N1 Shot and the Seasonal Flu Mist.

* Remember children under 10 years of age will need 2 (two) doses of the 2009 H1N1 Vaccine to complete their vaccination.*

For more information on the H1N1 Mist Vaccine please see: