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H1N1 Update: One Vaccine Dose May Suffice for Older Children
Children aged 10 to 17 may need to receive only one dose of the vaccine against 2009 H1N1 influenza, preliminary results from the NIH indicate. Younger children do not show as strong an immune response with a single dose.
In blood samples taken 8 to 10 days after vaccination with a single 15-µg dose, the following percentages of children showed a robust immune response, which is generally predictive of protection:
- 76% of those aged 10 to 17 years
- 36% of those aged 3 to 9 years
- 25% of those aged 6 to 36 months
Children 6 months to 9 years of age may need two doses of the vaccine, NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci told Physician's First Watch.
Dr. Fauci said: "These results are not unexpected and are ... similar to what is seen with seasonal influenza vaccines."
LINK(S):
NIH news release (Free)
Audio link to news conference (Free)
NEJM/Journal Watch H1N1 Influenza Center (Free)
Published in Physician's First Watch September 22, 2009
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