The FDA has licensed 4 new monovalent vaccines for prevention of respiratory illness caused by a new influenza A H1N1 virus that appears to be derived from a swine strain. The 5th vaccine should be licensed soon. All of these vaccines are expected to become available in October. An intranasal formulation is expected in the first week of October.

THE DISEASE — The signs and symptoms of this H1N1 infection have been similar to those of the usual seasonal disease, except that diarrhea and vomiting have been more common and most hospitalizations have been in persons <65 years old.1

SUSCEPTIBILITY — Serologic evidence suggests that the majority of the population less than 60 years old is susceptible to infection with this H1N1 strain.2 Trivalent seasonal vaccination is unlikely to provide protection.3

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