The Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Unit at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center is one of eight locations in the country participating in early trials of the H1N1 influenza vaccine. The vaccine, intended to prevent infection from the flu virus, will hopefully be available to students and the public before flu season begins.

Kathryn Edwards, M.D., professor of pediatrics, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program and principal investigator for the Vanderbilt VTEU, is leading the vaccine trials at Vanderbilt.

The clinical trials began Aug. 11 and will continue until the end of the month. One hundred and thirty-seven adults in the Nashville community have already participated in the trials, receiving the vaccine and later being tested for immunity. Children between the ages of six months and 18 years are currently being enrolled in the trials. So far, the vaccine trials at Vanderbilt have been very successful.

“The vaccine has been safe and well-tolerated in all participants,” Edwards said.

This is not the first time there has been a H1N1 vaccine. According to the American Chronicle, during the swine flu scare of 1976, “46 million Americans took the vaccine and 4,000 ended up seeking damages that amounted to $3.5 billion due to neurological problems and death.” However, due to the extensive testing of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, there should not be as many adverse side effects.

Although the regular seasonal flu vaccine will be available to students in the next few weeks, the 2009 H1N1 vaccine will only be available once the trials are complete and the vaccine has been distributed.

“It appears that we will have the vaccine in late October or early November, but those dates are tentative,” said Louise Hanson, M.D., director of the Student Health Center. “As we learn more, we will update our website and e-mail students.”

As with the seasonal flu vaccine, the H1N1 vaccine will be free of charge. However, receiving the H1N1 vaccine will be a much lengthier process. Instead of one simple shot, people will need two shots, separated by a period of three to four weeks. It will then take an additional two weeks for the body to produce sufficient antibodies to protect against the virus.

Despite the complicated process, it is important that students are immunized against the virus. Along with pregnant women, healthcare workers and people with underlying medical conditions, students under the age of 24 will be a priority group to receive the vaccine.

“Student Health has pushed hard for all students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine,” Hanson said. “Assuming our supplies are adequate, we will do the same for the H1N1 vaccine.”

William Schaffner, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Preventative Medicine, also warns students to be vaccinated against both the H1N1 virus and the regular flu virus.

“It would be smart to get the regular, seasonal vaccine as soon as it is available. Seasonal vaccine will not protect against H1N1 infection and the H1N1 vaccine will not protect against seasonal influenza. Get protected against both,” Schaffner said.