Panvax® H1N1 in Children
Can Panvax®H1N1 vaccine be used in children?Yes, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine for use in anyone over 6 months of age. In addition, the TGA has also approved Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine Junior (a single-dose 0.25mL pre-filled syringe) specifically for use in children aged from 6 months up to 3 years of age.
What is the dose for children?Children 6 months to 35 months: 0.25 mL dose (7.5 microgram)
Adults and children from 36 months: 0.5 mL dose (15 microgram)
Children from 6 months to less than 10 years should receive two doses of vaccine, with the second dose given after an interval of at least 4 weeks.
Adults, adolescents and children 10 years of age and older should receive a single dose.
Back to TopIs there a Panvax®H1N1 vaccine specifically for children?Yes, Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine Junior is available specifically for use in children aged from 6 months up to 3 years of age. Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine Junior is a single use 0.25mL pre-filled syringe and is designed for use in infants aged 6 months to less than 3 years. Children 3 years and over will be given Panvax
®H1N1 vaccine which comes in a multi-dose vial.
What presentations of Panvax® H1N1 vaccine are available in Australia?Panvax
®H1N1 vaccine is available in multi-dose vials and in 0.25 mL single-dose pre-filled syringes (Panvax
®H1N1 vaccine Junior).
Back to TopWhy does my child require a second dose of the vaccine?The Australian Government’s recommendation for a 2 dose regimen for children from 6 months to less than 10 years of age is consistent with the dosage recommendations for ordinary seasonal influenza vaccines. Two doses of seasonal influenza vaccines at least one month apart are recommended for children aged from 6 months to less than 10 years of age who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time.
Is Panvax® H1N1 vaccine safe to use in children?Results from a study in children showed that the vaccine was generally well tolerated with a safety and tolerability profile consistent with that seen with seasonal flu vaccines. The most commonly reported side effects were injection site tenderness or pain, and flu-like symptoms. The majority were mild to moderate in intensity.
My child has already received their seasonal influenza vaccine dose/s. Can they be given two flu vaccines in one season?The annual seasonal influenza vaccine is often given at the same time as other routine vaccines. There is no reason to expect that it would not be safe to receive both the seasonal influenza vaccine and Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine in one season.
Does Panvax®H1N1 vaccine contain thiomersal?Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine Junior is designed for use in children under 3 years of age. It comes as a 0.25 mL single-dose pre-filled syringe which does not contain thiomersal or any preservative.
Children 3 years and over will be given Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine which comes in a multi-dose vial and does contain a small amount of thiomersal. Thiomersal has been used as a preservative in vaccines for about 60 years and has a very long safety record.
Back to TopWhy has thiomersal been removed from the vaccine for those under the age of 3 years, but not for children aged 3 years and above?Thiomersal is not included in Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine Junior as it is a 0.25 mL single-dose pre-filled syringe which does not require any preservative.
Children 3 years and over will be given Panvax
® H1N1 vaccine which comes in a multi-dose vial and does contain a small amount of thiomersal. Thiomersal has been used as a preservative in vaccines for about 60 years and has a very long safety record.
ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) considers that influenza vaccines containing thiomersal are safe in infants, children, adolescents and adults (including pregnant women).
ATAGI Advice regarding the use of influenza vaccines containing thiomersal.
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