News release: “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it has approved vaccines for the 2010-2011 influenza season in the United States. Seasonal influenza vaccine protects against three strains of influenza, including the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, which caused the 2009 pandemic. Last year because the 2009 H1N1 virus emerged after production began on the seasonal vaccine, two separate vaccines were needed to protect against seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic flu virus, but this year, only one vaccine is necessary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 5 percent and 20 percent of the U.S. population develops influenza each year, leading to more than 200,000 hospitalizations from related complications and about 36,000 deaths.” For more information:

• FDA Web Page on Influenza Vaccine Safety & Availability
• FDA List of Strains Included in the 2010-2011 Influenza Vaccine
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web Page on Seasonal Influenza