Yes, you will need to get vaccinated against the H1N1 flu strain to protect yourself during the 2010-2011 flu season. The good news is that the H1N1 flu strain will be included in the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine, and you will not need to get a separate vaccination against H1N1. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three strains of flu most likely to make people sick each year. A separate vaccine for the H1N1 flu strain was only developed in 2009 because this strain emerged after seasonal flu vaccine production had begun.
In Rhode Island, healthcare providers can expect to receive the seasonal flu vaccine in September or October. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from the flu. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get the seasonal flu vaccine, so be sure to get vaccinated in the fall.
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