H1N1 Vaccinations Follow Up

In my previous post about the H1N1 Swine flu vaccinations I was wondering what gives with the approval dates. I decided to do a little research.

So here is a bit of influenza history.
The Influenza A subtype H1N1 caused the pandemic of 1918-1919. This subtype continued to circulate but was never again as virulent as in the Pandemic. In 1957 when the Asian Flu H2N2 appeared H1N1 disappeared. In 1968 when the Hong Kong Flu Virus H3N2 appeared the Asian Flu virus H2N2 disappeared. H1N1 re-surfaced in 1977 and has since co-circulated with the H3N2 virus. Both strains were in the 1998 and later vaccines.

So these past vaccines for H1N1 are for past strains that were circulating. The Vaccines now being approved are for the current variations going around and identified in 2007.

It appears the biggest part of the confusion is when the Swine Flu was renamed to H1N1 it sounded like H1N1 was an entirely brand new subtype like the Asian or Hong Kong flu were when in reality H1N1 has been around since the 1918 Pandemic though not as severe. The CDC and the Media seems to have left this part out.

H1N1 Vaccines

I really would like to know what this all says about the vaccines. These are taken from the Vaccine Data sheets. What is being approved? The delivery system or the Vaccine itself. But if it is the vaccine does that say they knew about the H1N1 back in 1980 not 2007? Makes you wonder doesn't it.

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine
Manufactured by CSL Limited
Suspension for Intramuscular Injection
Initial U.S. Approval: 2007

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine
Manufactured by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Ltd.
Suspension for Intramuscular Injection
Safety data were collected in a total of 2768 adult and geriatric subjects (18 years of age and older) who have received FLUVIRIN in 29 clinical studies since 1982.

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine
Manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Inc.
Suspension for Intramuscular Injection
Initial US Approval: 1980

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine Live, Intranasal
Manufactured by MedImmune, LLC
Intranasal Spray
Initial U.S. Approval: 2003

A listing of Vaccine Data Sheets Package Inserts can be found here.