HHS HealthBeat (October 23, 2009)

First in line

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ted Pestorius with HHS HealthBeat.

Experts want some people at the head of the line for H1N1 influenza vaccines when they’re available. The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, or ACIP, gave its recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the CDC, Dr. Tony Fiore says these people are at higher risk, more likely to come into contact with the virus, or could infect infants.

Fiore lists the priority groups:

[Dr. Tony Fiore speaks] ``Pregnant women, people who live with or provide care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, people between 6 months and 24 years of age, and people from the ages of 25 through 64 who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders such as asthma, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.’’

People need to get seasonal flu vaccine, too.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ted Pestorius.

Last revised: May 7, 2011