Latest MOH recommendations on Influenza Vaccinations (October 2009)
1. Persons who are vaccinated with the Northern Hemisphere (NH) 2009 seasonal vaccine should also be vaccinated with the Pandemic H1N1-2009 vaccine when it becomes available in November/December 2009.
Translation to English: 2 vaccines (1 for ‘normal’ flu and 1 for H1N1) are needed for full protection against Influenza from end 2009 to early 2010.
2. Persons who have been vaccinated with the NH 2009 and the H1N1-2009 vaccines in 2009 should also be vaccinated with the Southern Hemisphere (SH) 2010 seasonal Influenza vaccine when it is becomes available in February/March 2010.
Translation to English: when the new flu vaccine becomes available in Feb or Mar 2010, please get that shot as well for full protection against Influenza from middle to end 2010.
For those who are so inclined, the rationale for the 2 recommendations by MOH are over here.
Southern Hemisphere? Northern Hemisphere? An explanation of these possibly confusing terms used in connection with the influenza vaccines.