Who should not get a Swine Flu vaccination?

Answer 1

Most everyone should get an H1N1/09 vaccination with few exceptions. Infants under six months old cannot be immunized for the flu because their immune systems are not mature enough to have vaccinations.

From the Product Information about the Intranasal spray vaccine for A-H1N1/09, the following information explains who should not use the live attenuated vaccine that is in a nasal spray (see below about the injections).

• children younger than 2 and adults 50 years and older

• pregnant women,

• anyone with a weakened immune system,

• anyone with a long-term health problem such as

- Heart disease - kidney or liver disease

- lung disease - metabolic disease such as Diabetes

- asthma - anemia and other blood disorders

• children younger than 5 years with asthma or one or more

episodes of wheezing during the past year,

• anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders (such as

cerebral palsy) that can lead to breathing or swallowing

problems,

• anyone in close contact with a person with a severely

weakened immune system (requiring care in a protected

environment, such as a bone marrow transplant unit),

• children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment.

If you are moderately or severely ill, you might be advised to

wait until you recover before getting the vaccine. If you have

a mild cold or other illness, there is usually no need to wait.

Tell your doctor if you ever had:

• a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of seasonal

flu vaccine,

• Guillain-Barré syndrome (a severe paralytic illness also

called GBS).

Some children and adolescents 2-17 years of age have

reported mild reactions, including:

• runny nose, nasal congestion or cough • fever

• headache and muscle aches • wheezing

• abdominal pain or occasional vomiting or diarrhea

Some adults 18-49 years of age have reported: • runny nose or nasal congestion • sore throat • cough, chills, tiredness/weakness • headache

• 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 vaccination.

• In 1976, an earlier type of inactivated Swine Flu vaccine was associated with cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). LAIV has not been linked to GBS.

Those who can not use the nasal spray will probably be able to use the H1N1/09 injections for vaccination, but see also below for information on the contraindications for use of the flu shots.

Those who should not take the flu shots according to the package information are:

• Anyone with an allergy to eggs or chicken protein. [See more in related question-you may still be able to be vaccinated.]
• Anyone with an allergy to the ingredients in the vaccines. [See related question below for more information on the ingredients].

• Those who have had GBS [Guillain-Barré Syndrome] within 6 weeks of taking a flu vaccine in the past.

Note:

Immunocompromised persons may have a reduced immune response to the Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine used in the flu shots, so there may not be full immunity acquired in some people (such as those on chemotherapy, transplant anti-rejection drugs, persons with Lupus erythematosus or other auto immune diseases, HIV/AIDS, etc.) It is suggested that those people who may have a suppressed immune response continue to observe all safety precautions for avoiding infection by the H1N1/09 virus even after receipt of the vaccination, such as hand washing and other preventive measures, since they may not have a proper response to become fully immune.