H1N1 influenza (swine flu) and seasonal flu

To protect patients and health care team members, we have clinic and hospital visitor limitations due to H1N1 influenza.

• Clinic visiting guidelines have temporarily changed, they include the need to be seated in a designated waiting area if the patient is being seen for flu-like symptoms. These guidelines took effect on December 3, 2009 and remain in effect.
• Hospital-wide visitor limitations and hours returned to to each hospital's standard on December 14, 2009. Visitor limitations to hospital birth centers and pediatric units remain in effect.

H1N1 (swine) influenza symptoms are similar to seasonal flu symptoms:

• fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• cough
• sore throat
• stuffy nose

In some cases, people have also experienced diarrhea and vomiting, body aches and headaches.

If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you have chronic disease conditions that increase your risk for complications of the flu, call your clinic to determine if you need to be seen.

Contact your health care provider about being seen if you have flu-like symptoms and are at high risk for health problems.

People at risk for medical complications related to H1N1 or other flu viruses include:

• children younger than 5 years old (children under 2 years old are at higher risk for complications than older children)
• adults 65 years and older
• pregnant women
• people with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions
• people younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

People with certain symptoms also should be seen by their health care provider:

• Symptoms to watch for in adults include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen; sudden dizziness; feels like heart is racing (tachycardia); severe nausea or vomiting that continues; sick, then better, then worse.
• Symptoms to watch for in children include fast breathing or difficulty breathing; bluish or gray skin color; not drinking enough fluid; severe vomiting or vomiting that persists; not waking up or not interacting (listless); irritable - does not want to be held; sick, then better, then worse.

Allina clinics have a limited quantity of H1N1 influenza vaccine available for current patients who meet Centers for Disease Control and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines for vaccination.

Though H1N1 vaccine is beginning to be available to everyone who wants it, vaccinating people in high risk groups is still the first priority. You are in a priority group for H1N1 vaccine if you are:

• age 6 months through 24 years, whether or not you have a medical condition
• age 25 through 64 years, if you have a chronic medical condition that would put you at risk for complications (See list.)
• pregnant
• a parent, sibling or primary care provider of an infant age 6 months or younger
• a health care provider or emergency medical services personnel.

Now that H1N1 flu vaccine is becoming more available, lower risk people can get vaccinated including:

• ages 25 to 64, without a medical condition
• people over age 65

Read more about the guidelines and making vaccination appointments.

Seasonal flu vaccine is currently available at most Allina clinics.

• If you have a visit to your clinic scheduled, please ask if the seasonal flu vaccine is available at your visit.
• If you are an Allina Medical Clinic, Aspen Medical Group or Quello Clinic patient, please contact your clinic to ask about seasonal flu vaccine availability.

Yes. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and the H1N1 vaccine does not cover other influenza viruses.

To be fully protected, you need to get both types of vaccine.

The vaccines may be available in injectable and mist forms. You can get seasonal flu and H1N1 injection (or shot) at the same time. An injectable form of one vaccine and mist form of another also may be given at the same time. But you cannot get the mist version of both at the same time.

Pregnant women, people older than 50 and people with breathing problems or weakened immune systems should not get the mist version of either vaccine. Taking the mist version involves inhaling a live version of either virus. While the live form cannot cause the flu, it can cause more medical problems in people with conditions conditions like asthma, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart disease.

An annual flu shot is an important step in protecting against seasonal flu. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common.

Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications. They include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.

Young children need two doses of both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines for best results.

• For seasonal flu, children under 9 years old should receive two doses.
• For H1N1 vaccine, children under 10 years old should receive two doses.

The two vaccine doses should be spaced apart by about four weeks. The H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine can be given together, unless both are being given as a nasal spray.

When you check in with the clinic receptionist and indicate you're there to be seen for flu-like symptoms, you may be asked to wear a mask. Wearing a mask will minimize the risk of passing the flu on to other patients and staff in the clinic.

People with flu-like illness should remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.