How long will the H1N1 vaccine provide protection?
Influenza viruses are notoriously adaptable and strains change constantly. While we haven’t seen any evidence yet that H1N1 virus has mutated, it is likely to do so by next year. It almost certainly will also still be a dominant flu strain. So by next fall, we will likely need a new vaccine to protect us against any drifted form of H1N1. By then, though, the seasonal flu vaccine will almost certainly incorporate protection against H1N1 swine flu. By that point, we will also have a much clearer idea of the seriousness of H1N1, the safety of the vaccine, and the need for ongoing annual, large-scale vaccination.
