(Updated: December 2009)

Influenza, including H1N1 (swine flu), is a vaccine-preventable illness. Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect you and your family from flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects more H1N1 vaccine to be available each week. If you haven’t been able to get the vaccine yet, it’s important that you keep trying. H1N1 (swine flu) is widespread throughout most of the country now and could continue until spring.

Who should get vaccinated?

Because vaccine supply is limited now, people at highest risk of serious illness from the flu should have priority to receive the vaccine. The first people who should receive the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine include:

Children ages 6 months through 4 years (up to their 5th birthday)
Parents and caretakers of infants younger than 6 months
Pregnant women
Health care workers and emergency services personnel
Children ages 6 months and older with chronic health conditions
As more vaccine supply is available, all children ages 6 months through 24 years of age, and adults ages 25 through 64 with chronic medical conditions, should also be vaccinated.

How many doses do children need?

Children ages 9 and younger (up to their 10th birthday) will need two doses of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine to receive the most protection against the virus. Ideally, they should get the second dose four weeks after the first dose.

For the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine given by injection, the 2nd dose may be given as early as 21 days after the first dose. For the nasal spray vaccine, it is best to wait at least 28 days between doses.

People ages 10 and older need one dose of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine.

What are the kinds of flu vaccine?

Both the nasal spray flu vaccine and the flu shot are safe and effective. Parents can choose whichever form is available in their area, depending on the health and age of their child:

Children ages 6 months through 2 years, pregnant women, and anyone with a chronic medical condition, must get the flu shot. These groups cannot get the nasal spray vaccine.
Healthy people ages 2 through 49 years may receive the nasal spray vaccine.
It’s also important to get seasonal flu vaccine, which is a separate vaccine from the H1N1 flu vaccine. The AAP recommends all children ages 6 months through 18 years receive seasonal flu vaccine every year.

Tips on how to prevent the spread of germs

The flu (influenza) is spread by coughing, sneezing and unclean hands. The CDC encourages everyone to prevent the spread of germs by doing the following:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands
Put used tissues in the trash right away.
Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Wash with soap and water, or with alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
If you get sick, stay home from work or school, and limit your contact with others to keep from infecting them. People should stay home at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100°F), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, In special circumstances your doctor might recommend a longer time.

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/swineflu.htm