H1N1 Pandemic 2009

About H1N1 Pandemic 2009

The H1N1 pandemic vaccine was developed in response to the 2009 swine flu pandemic. The virus was first identified in Mexico in April 2009. The WHO declared a pandemic in June 2009. Vaccine production began immediately using the standard egg based process. The pandemic vaccine was a monovalent H1N1 vaccine, separate from the seasonal flu vaccine. By the time vaccine was available in October 2009, the pandemic had peaked. The CDC estimated that roughly 12,000 Americans died of H1N1 during the first year of the pandemic. The pandemic revealed weaknesses in vaccine production speed. Adjuvanted vaccines were used in Europe but not the US, where no adjuvanted influenza vaccine was then licensed. The pandemic highlighted the need for faster, more flexible vaccine production technologies. The experience informed the rapid development of COVID 19 vaccines a decade later.