FDA recommends H1N1 vaccine is included with next year's inoculation

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on Monday recommended that protection against the 2009 H1N1 virus, which was first identified last April, be included in the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine starting this fall.

“That means that, barring some unforeseen circumstance, this fall, most Americans will be able to return to the traditional routine of having one flu vaccine to protect them against the major circulating flu viruses,” the FDA stated on its www.flu.gov site.  “As is always the case with seasonal vaccine, younger children who have never had a seasonal vaccine will still need two doses.”

The World Health Organization has made the same recommendation.