CDC: School children may need four immunizations this fall

NEW YORK School children may need as many as four immunizations against both seasonal flu and the novel H1N1 virus this year, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials told clinicians Wednesday, according to published reports.

That regimen includes an initial shot and booster of both vaccines for children. Most everyone else will only need to get their regular seasonal shot and two shots for the novel H1N1 vaccine, when one is available.

Five manufacturers are currently producing vaccines against the pandemic H1N1 swine flu virus — CSL Biotherapies, GlaxoSmithKline, Medimmune, Novartis and Sanofi Pasteur.

The five manufacturers are expected to deliver between 40 million and 160 million doses of vaccine by October. The regular seasonal flu vaccine supply will be ready much earlier than usual, possibly as soon as late August.

According to CDC officials, pandemic flu shots will be allocated among states based on their population.