The H1N1 vaccine has arrived in most cities, and yesterday young children began to receive the nasal spray. Children were chosen to receive the vaccine first because they are the major carries of bacteria. The swine flu vaccine will be available soon. People with a compromised immune system (young children and pregnant women) will receive the vaccine first. 75 million doses will be available by the end of the year, and there will be enough for everyone that wants the vaccine. Check with your doctor about where and when you can get it.
Microsoft and Emory University have developed an H1N1 Swine Flu Response Center and if you begin to feel sick, you can answer a few questions and it will help you decide if you have the flu and what to do next. The questions are about body temperature, how long they are feeling sick, if they have a sore throat, etc.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) claims that they have not seen any serious side effects in studies, and that it has generated a good response. The CDC recommends a flu shot for those who may experience problems if they got the swine flu these groups include: pregnant women, caregivers and household contacts of children younger than 6 months, everyone between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, and people ages 25 to 64 with existing health problems.
As with any flu shot, you are being given a small dosage of the actual flu, and some people get flu like symptoms for a few days after getting the shot. Some people feel like they have the full blown flu after they get the shot. The decision to take the shot is up to you. If you have specific questions about what is best for you, your doctor can help you decide.
The Department of Health and Human Services will post availability listings for the vaccine on Flu.gov. Certain groups will be required to take the vaccine including military and specific state government health care workers, but there are no penalties if someone doesn’t get it.
The CDC has reported that some H1N1 shots will contain the preservative thimerosal, and others won't. Your doctor will know what your shot contains. Some people have expressed concern about thimerosal for children because it's mercury-based, but the CDC states there is no scientific evidence the preservative is harmful.
The big question today is that now it is almost here…do you want it?
Click here for an article from the Holistic Health examiner about why you shouldn’t get the flu vaccine.
The following links contain information about the CDC map showing what states have been greatly effected so far with H1N1:
CDC tracks daily updates of swine flu H1N1 influenza
CDC reports widespread H1N1 influenza in half the nation
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