Same risk groups as hold true for (the yearly) seasonal flu vaccination (see guideline for indications for seasonal flu vaccination);
(Note: this includes :
- health care workers who may be in contact with patients pertaining to the medical risk groups
- home care givers of people with a very high risk for severe illness and mortality due to this flu.)
Added for A H1N1 vaccination:
All pregnant women who are in the last six months of pregnancy (in other words from their 4th month of pregnancy onwards).
Rationale:
From the available international data there is consistent evidence that pregnant women are at increased risk for complications as a consequence of this flu, even in the absence of known risk factors.
Vaccination in the first three months of pregnancy is discouraged because of the fact that on theoretical grounds a risk for the child cannot be ruled out.
Two vaccinations for H1N1
Following the lead of the Health Council (Gezondheidsraad) and the Royal Institute for Public Health & the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands, the advice is to maintain two vaccination moments when vaccinating against influenza A/H1N1 2009. The studies showing that one vaccination would be sufficient are not convincing enough (the research samples e.g. were too small and did not include people with a higher risk profile).
Besides vaccination against influenza A/H1N1 2009, vaccination against seasonal flu remains important. People, who would normally take their yearly seasonal flu shots, will now be offered a total of three shots: one against seasonal flu and two against influenza A/H1N1 2009.
Ideally there should be an interval of two weeks between the seasonal flu shot and the first shot against influenza A/H1N1 2009.
Between the first and second shot against influenza A/H1N1 2009 there should be a minimal interval of three weeks.
(Adapted from the recommendations of the Gezondheidsraad in the Netherlands)