Sniffle Solutions

Ask the Pharmacist

Next winter, will we need to get two flu shots again? Regular flu shots and H1N1 shots? Or will they be combined into one?

That’s a great question. In April (2010), the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control will decide which strains should be included in the regular influenza vaccine for later this year. It is likely that they will also make a decision about the H1N1 vaccine at that time.

That said, a combined vaccine is unlikely for the upcoming flu season. It would require extra testing for the resulting immunity and safety, and there just isn’t enough time. So you can expect that two separate vaccinations will probably still be necessary. But if H1N1 continues to be an issue in the coming years, a single shot could be available in the future.