Single dose of H1N1 vaccine enough to protect infants, kids

Infants and children can be protected from H1N1 virus with just one dose of vaccine, a new study claims.

As part of the research, Terry Nolan, from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues examined the effectiveness of two doses of a 2009 influenza A(H1N1) vaccine in 370 healthy infants and children.

The kids were aged between sex-months to less than 9 years and were living in Australia.

They were divided into groups before they received a two-injection regimen in a gap of 21 days.

The vaccine dose was limited to either 15-micrograms or 30-micrograms.

In the end, the experts noted that every child had achieved an antibody level considered high enough to protect against the H1N1 virus.

The study stated: "Following the first dose of vaccine, antibody titers of 1:40 or greater were observed in 161 of 174 infants and children in the 15-microgram group (92.5 percent) and in 168 of 172 infants and children in the 30 microgram group (97.7 percent). All participants demonstrated antibody titers of 1:40 or greater after the second vaccine dose.

Children attending schools have been fragile to 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection in many countries.