The Swine Flu: Information For Our Patients, Especially Those On Immunosuppressive Treatments

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Michael D. Lockshin, MD

Attending Rheumatologist, Hospital for Special Surgery
Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
Director, Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Disease

Theodore R. Fields, MD, FACP

Associate Attending Rheumatologist, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College

Stephen A. Paget, MD, FACP, FACR

Physician-in-Chief and Chairman of the Division of Rheumatology, Hospital for Special Surgery
The Joseph P. Routh Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College

Barry D. Brause, MD
Attending Physician, Hospital for Special Surgery
Clinical Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College

  • There is, at this time, no vaccine available at HSS against H1N1 ("swine") flu. Keep in touch with your rheumatologist as to when this becomes available at our Hospital, and whether it is appropriate for you. Patients on immunosuppressive therapy should use only the killed vaccine (injected) and not the live, attenuated (inhaled) version.
  • The seasonal influenza vaccine you may have received in 2008 or in 2009 is not protective against this swine flu infection.
  • We will be following the Department of Health recommendations.
  • Keep up to date on the swine flu at the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm.
  • Another useful source is the New York State Department of Health website: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal/swine_flu/swine_flu_questions_and_answers.htm.
  • For those in the New York City area, the NYC Department of Health also has a helpful website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml.
  • If you are taking immune suppressing medications, you may be wondering what to do until we know more about what will happen with the H1N1 ("swine") flu. That decision needs to be made on an individual basis after discussion with your rheumatologist. We also advise that you regularly check www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
  • Another useful website is: http://www.flu.gov.

Posted: 4/27/2009
Reviewed: 10/28/2009




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