While the single dose works in adults, testing is still under way to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine in children and pregnant women, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
He said the tested vaccines were made by Sanofi Pasteur and CSL Ltd. and both produced “robust” immune responses.
In people aged 18 to 64, 96 percent had a strong response to the Sanofi version and the response was 80 percent for CSL. Fauci played down the difference, noting the tests were done after only eight to 10 days and immune response could be the same in both groups as it increases after that point.
In addition, there were no significant side effects, Fauci said.
People over 65 did not respond as strongly, but still got enough of an immune reaction that they should seek out the shots when their turn comes, officials said.
First on the list for the swine flu shots, however, are children and young adults, pregnant women and others with health problems, since the H1N1 flu seems to strike them more often.
Older people are more at risk from the regular seasonal flu and — along with other people — should get those shots now, Sebelius said.
She noted she got her own seasonal flu shot Friday at a school in nearby Alexandria, Va.
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