SILVER SPRING, Md., July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has approved
vaccines for the 2010-2011 influenza season in the United States.
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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 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.
“The best way to protect yourself and your family against
influenza is to get vaccinated every year,” said Karen Midthun, M.D., acting director of
FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “The
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