Also, the first wave was what doctors believe to be a mild wave. They believe a stronger wave is coming/is here. My brother (who's 25) recently had it and my dad said he'd never seen my brother so sick in his life. My brother apparently wasn't able to lay down as he couldn't breathe. If he had an underlying health problem (like my husband, who has severe asthma), he may have had to be hospitalised or worse.

I don't think that the current strain of swine flu is any more dangerous or deadly than the average seasonal flu, except in the case of children. Considerably more children in the U.S. have already died from this swine flu outbreak than generally die from seasonal flu in an entire winter--and the main flu season is just beginning here. That's why children (along with pregnant women) are in the highest priority group to receive the swine flu vaccine here. With all types of flu, people over 65 are most at risk of dying if they contract any type of flu, but they also seem less at risk for contracting this particular strain of swine flu in the first place. So, those over 65 (like me) are at the absolute end of the priority line to receive the swine flu vaccine.

We have a shortage of both seasonal and swine flu vaccine here at the moment. I got my seasonal flu shot at the beginning of September when it was abundantly available at all of the local drug stores around here, but that supply was rapidly exhausted. Since I can't get the swine flu shot (or probably won't be able to get it until the flu season is over), I decided to get another shot of pneumonia vaccine since I hadn't had one of those in over 5 years. Since the main complication of flu is pneumonia, I figured it might offer me some protection if I did contract swine flu.

In addition to the shortage of the swine flu vaccine, the supplies which are available are erratically distributed. Around here, even pregnant women and children have had difficulty getting the shots because the vaccine wasn't distributed to pediatricians or OBGYN offices, or the supplies were too limited, although the brokerage firm Goldman Sachs in NYC was sent 200 doses for their employees (which presumably do not include children ). My brother and sister-in-law in Dallas, Texas got their shots at a local clinic which had received a much larger batch of vaccine than was allocated for their entire County Dept of Health. The federal government owns the entire supply of swine flu vaccine which is available, but it is each individual state which decides how the supply from the Feds will be distributed within it's borders. So far, that distribution seems rather haphazard and not well organized. Some shortages of Tamiflu have also occured.

This swine flu strain is still unpredictable because it is so new. Some mutations of the virus have already been found in Sweden during the past few weeks, and, in those cases, the changes made it more deadly and difficult to treat. But no one really knows what might happen with this virus over the next several months.

I do think that parents of young children should be concerned about this swine flu, and should want to make sure their children get vaccinated. I am surprised at the numbers of parents in NYC, where the shots are being given for free in the schools, who do not want their children to receive it because they fear side-effects of the shot. The risks of this swine flu, particularly for children, seem to outweigh any side-effects of the vaccine that have thus far been reported.

Thus far, there has not been any great increase in the number of swine flu cases in New York, where I live. Increases have occured mainly in the South and Southwest parts of the country. No one seems to really understand why that's been happening either. They no longer bother to report the number of local hospitalizations due to the flu, although I think they still do report the deaths (which have been very infrequent), and the general concern and hysteria which was seen here in the Spring (when NY was reporting a relatively high number of cases) seens to have generally died down.

Apart from getting a swine flu shot and a seasonal flu shot, if they are available, and if one is "eligible", I really believe that practicing some basic hygiene techniques offers the best protection against any type of flu. I have a large pump bottle of hand sanitizer in my car. As soon as I get in my car, after having been in a store or public building, I use it. I have a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my purse which I also use as often as necessary when I am out. Those are things I generally do, particularly in the winter, because I really don't want to get sick. They must help, because I can't even remember getting a bad cold in the past 10 years.

We have a population of less than 100,000 so it has been possible to order vaccine for the whole population, and indeed Tamiflu and similar drugs.

The vaccination programme started with medical staff and other staff working in healthcare jobs, then next in line came pregnant women followed by children and high risk people such as myself, to quote the letter I received "likely to be admitted to hospital due to underlying health problems"

By 20th November 26% of the population had been vaccinated.

Vaccinated so far:

* 78% of Health and Social Care staff
* 83% of nursery children
* 85% of primary school children
* 75% of secondary school pupils

Also the people with underlying health problems and pregnant women, they are not in those figures.

The aim is to get 50% of the population vaccinated by Christmas.

I was vaccinated yesterday.

My son-in-law is a paediatrician and he is concerned that the vaccine could have side effects in children, and perhaps others. I don't think he has been vaccinated, nor their son, my daughter said she would probably be vaccinated as she didn't fancy having flu when she is in labour.

Sue, so far there do not seem to be any serious side effects from the swine flu vaccine, either for children or for adults. And that's after millions of shots have been given.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gcx9bjqSn_mHLMw5rb3eoY32TZdQD9C6Q4U01

There are parents who don't want their children to get vaccinations of any type. Some fear that the vaccines themselves, or the additives, like the small amounts of mercury in H1N1 vaccines, which is up to 50% of the compound thimerosal, which is used as a preservative in the multi-dose formulas, might be harmful to children.

Obviously, it's a decision that each parent must make for his or her own children. But the risks to children, from this particular strain of swine flu, as reflected in death rates, does appear to be significant. The overwhelming majority of pediatricians around here are advising their patients to get the shots, if they can. They also advise that people caring for an infant under 4 months of age also get the shot, to protect the infant, since infants that age are too young to be vaccinated.

The problem here has been that the pharmaceutical companies the government contracted with to produce the vaccine haven't been able to make it fast enough. It took them much longer to grow the virus in eggs than they anticipated. There are faster, more high tech methods, of producing a vaccine, but these do not yet appear to be in widespread use. And one company ran into problems making the vaccine, and another company (I think in Australia) decided to keep it's supply of vaccine in it's home country rather than sell it to the U.S. So, the vaccine has been slow in arriving, much slower than was predicted, supplies have been limited, and we have a huge population to vaccinate. The demand is far exceeding the supply at this point. It's becoming more and more available, but it's slow.

Because the vaccine makers concentrated on the swine flu production, they stopped making the seasonal flu vaccine. More people this year wanted seasonal flu shots, because of general heightened flu concern, so that's how we wound up with the current seasonal flu vaccine shortage.

I hope they learn from all of this so that when the next epidemic/pandemic strikes they will be able to manufacture and distribute a vaccine more quickly.

Have you gotten a pneumonia shot in the past, Sue? It's important that people under 65, who have underlying medical problems, as you do, get at least one pneumonia vaccination. These shots give long lasting immunity, so you only need to get them once when you are still under 65.

I got my first (and last!) pneumonia shot this year. Less than 2 months later I was in the hospital with pneumonia. Never had it in my life before I got the shot. Worst move I've made, getting that shot. And yes, I'm in the high risk group.

I'm in that Dallas/Fort Worth area, and an H1N1 shot is nowhere to be seen by me. Would I get one if I were offered one? I'm not so sure, now. I've had the general flu shot this year and I'm thinking that's gonna be it for me. I'm a little leery of the H1N1 now, and before I got pneumonia, I would have jumped at the chance.

Yes, I had the pneumonia vaccination a few years ago.

You know, I know very few people who've managed to get it here in California. I'm in a high risk group with asthma but no longer am insured.
As I work with children who had the flu recently and I finally got flu symptoms with fever, I figure I've been immunized.

They say that if you've had flu, it was probably H1N1.

Today our health department has invited the remainder of the population to have the swine flu jab. Thirty percent of the population has already been vaccinated.

All vaccinations are free, the government are picking up the doctors' fees as well as the vaccine cost.

People in the U.S. seeking the swine flu (or seasonal flu) shot can find it in their location by entering the name of their city, or their zip code, in the flu vaccine locator on this page.

http://www.flu.gov/

In some places, like Dallas County, Texas

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/...n2.4bb0cef.html

and North Dakota

http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/apArticle/id/D9CEK7EG1/

they are now making the shots available to the general public, not just the high risk groups, as long as supplies permit.

The H1N1 vaccine is free. But providers, like private physicians, or pharmacies, can charge about $20 to administer the shot. If the shot is given through government agencies, like health departments, municipal hospitals, etc. there should be no charge for getting the shot.

I finally got my H1N1 shot today at my local Walgreens pharmacy. They just got the vaccine in yesterday and there was no line or wait at all. Much faster and easier than even going over to the doctor's office.

Starting this week, Walgreens, Wal-Mart and many CVS stores, as well as some supermarkets, will be giving the H1N1 shots. So, if anyone in the U.S. wants to get vaccinated, it should be fairly easy to find right now, while the supplies last. There are no longer any restrictions on who can get the shots.

My shot was free, because I have Medicare. Otherwise, I think Walgreens charges $18 to administer it.

I'm glad I was finally able to get it. Currently, there is widespread flu activity in my part of the country, practically all of it H1N1. The seasonal flu season hasn't even started yet.

I rewarded myself, on the way out of Walgreens, with a bag of Hershey's Dark Chocolate Kisses.

I am so glad that you have now had the jab, I know that I feel much happier being in contact with people now that my immunity has had a chance to build up.

Interesting information I heard on the news tonight. They said that if one was born before 1977, the H1N1 shot was probably not needed. It seems that the "swine flu" was around back then, and people who lived through that epidemic are now most probably immune. Huh! I'm glad I got the normal seasonal flu shot, and Walgreens charged me $25 for the regular flu shot! I do wish the medical community would come to a consensus and stop throwing out different advice every month.

I had Asian 'flu back in the pandemic of 1957, I can still remember how ill I felt. I have not had 'flu since, that was my one and only dose of it.

I haven't had a flu bug in years.

I should get the shot but heard alot of horror stories on how different people have reacted to it and I hate needles.

I am also suppose to go get a Pneumonia shot and a regular flu shot but I am hesitant to put all that stuff in my body.

I don't go out that often and I always wash my hands the minute I get in the house if I have been to the Library or grocery store.

Bonnie having had the flu jabs, both regular and swine flu, and the pneumonia jab all I can say is that I had no adverse reactions at all. I would urge you to get the shots especially as you have been ill recently, your immune system could be below par at present.

Washing your hands when you get home could be bolting the stable door once the horse has bolted.

I got the H1N1 shot since my husband, who has severe asthma, still hasn't gotten vaccinated for either. I figured the least I could do is, if he gets sick, not have me as the one who brought the illness into the house!

Jar, I think your info is a little scrambled. People born before 1957 may have been exposed to a virus similar to H1N1 and therefore may have some immunity to the current swine flu virus. That conclusion was based on the fact that more younger people seem to be contracting the H1N1 virus than people born before 1957. However, that doesn't mean that people born before 1957 aren't also getting this illness, they just get it in relatively fewer numbers. And the 1957 bug, I believe, was the Hong Kong flu, not a form of swine flu. The H1N1 virus, although a form of swine flu, is a new virus. In the 70's there was a swine flu outbreak, but the vaccine given for that one won't protect against this new virus.

The government, and the medical community, have not been giving out conflicting advice--they are urging everyone to get both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots.

They are definitely urging people in New York, where I live, to get the shots, and they are trying to make them as widely available as possible.

http://www.rdmag.com/News/FeedsAP/2010/01/life-sciences-health-officials-nyers-still-need-flu-shots/

Bonnie, I got the seasonal flu shot, the pneumonia shot, and the H1N1 shot all within the past three months and had absolutely no reaction to any of them--not even a sore arm. I get a seasonal flu shot every year and have never had anything more than a slightly sore arm at the injection site. That's a hell of a lot better than getting the flu or pneumonia.

Like Sue, I had the flu in the past (when the shot wasn't available) and I was sick as a dog. It was awful. I also was hospitalized with pneumonia (with a temp of 105) about 18 years ago. That just hit me out of the blue. I was left feeling wrung out and weakened for months afterward. I am not anxious to get pneumonia again if I can avoid it, and pneumonia is the most frequent, and most serious, complication of the flu. It's generally the pneumonia that winds up killing people.

Bonnie, you are being a fool not to get vaccinated--and I say that to you as your friend. The potentional consequences of getting the flu or pneumonia are far, far worse than any likely reactions to the vaccines. The needle jab discomfort lasts for a few seconds, and it's hardly intense pain. And I'm no dummy, if I didn't think these vaccines were safe, or beneficial, I wouldn't get them. I've really researched this area--I'm not basing my thinking on rumor, speculation, or anecdotal comments. Millions and millions and millions of people get these shots with no serious or adverse effects--so where are you getting your information from?

The H1N1 virus may be a new strain of virus, but the way they develop the flu vaccines, and the way they insure their safety, is not new at all. The H1N1 vaccine isn't very different than the normal seasonal flu vaccine, and, in fact, it will probably be included in next years seasonal flu vaccine. These flu vaccinations (and the pneumonia vaccine as well) have rather impressive safety records. Nothing is 100% safe--even taking some Aspirin can cause internal bleeding--but the vaccinations are considerably safer than actually contracting the diseases.

Handwashing is great, Bonnie, but it's really not enough to adequately protect you from these illnesses. And you have been dealing with other serious medical problems lately, and that sort of stress can weaken your immune system and make you more likely to get ill with other things.

Thank goodness we have vaccines to help protect us from serious illnesses. And, when we protect ourselves, we help to protect those around us from becoming ill as well. Preventing something is much better, and far easier, than trying to cure or treat it after the fact.

Jar, I was not intending to insult Bonnie, or to be rude to her, in any way, and I think, and hope, she knows me well enough to understand that. I care very much about her well being and I want her to take good care of herself.

But, all things considered, I do think she's being foolish or, more accurately, foolhardy about this matter, and the risks to herself of getting the flu. And I'm not just singling Bonnie out, I think a lot of people are being foolish, and not using good sense, in fearing the flu and pneumonia shots, without adequate reason. In fact, only 45% of the people in Canada have gotten the H1N1 shot, so maybe it has something to do with how the public has been informed or educated about it.

web page

And the situation isn't much different in the U.S.

web page

People should be much more in fear of the flu than the vaccine. About 36,000 people in the U.S. die from the flu every year, and older people make up a large percentage of that group. Influenza is serious, and some outbreaks and strains are worse than others. Apart from possibly serious and life threatening complications, people miss work, miss school, spread the illness to others, etc, and just feel plain miserable. The more we can keep it in check, the better, and vaccinations are one way to do that, even though they're not 100% effective in preventing flu either.

Most people who are afraid of the shots don't seem to know exactly what they are afraid of and a lot of misinformation seems to be floating around, particularly on the internet. I know people who won't get a flu vaccination because they think it will give them the flu--even though that's not possible because the injectable vaccines do not use a live virus.

To make informed decisions, and consider the risks vs the benefits, people really have to take a look at the facts, those facts we do know.

This article might be helpful in answering some people's questions about the flu shots

http://www.examiner.com/x-1800-Detroit-C...-other-flu-news

And this one too

http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2009/dec/24/how_safe_novel_h1n1_vaccine/

and the government has lots of other info on their Web sites.

web page

We've been lucky thus far. The H1N1 outbreak has not been as extensive, or as generally serious, as was first feared, and predicted, last Spring. And it does appear to be on the wane now, at least in North America. But we still don't know whether another wave will return in the Spring, or whether the virus will mutate. So no one should get too complacent about it. And the seasonal flu is just getting underway and that will be around for the next few months. H1N1 has been getting all the hype because of it's novelty and pandemic status, but seasonal flu is nothing to take lightly.

People swallow all kinds of prescription drugs, for all kinds of things, without really paying attention to the possible side effects of those drugs. They are constantly running TV commercials, in my area, for at least 3 or 4 prescription meds that can have very serious side-effects, including fatal infections, coma, and death. And these are widely used and prescribed medications--with some chilling potential effects--that they are encouraging you to ask your doctor about and take. And loads of folks, who may or may not even need this stuff, are probably going to do just that, without even trying some safer alternatives first.

So it really baffles me that so many people become so fearful about a flu shot that, so far at least, is not producing side effects anywhere near as dangerous as the medications many of them now have in their medicine cabinets and take on a regular basis.

I think people should be cautious about all the vaccinations, and medications, that they put into their bodies. No one should use or take anything they don't really need, particularly if the potential benefits don't clearly outweigh any possible risks or side effects--and they should learn, or try to find out, what those risks and side effects might be.

So far, I can't find strong evidence that the flu shots, and the pneumonia shot, pose a clear danger to anyone except possibly those who are allergic to eggs, or several other things, or whose immune systems are severely compromised, or those who have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome, and a few other conditions, and people in those groups should not get the shots without having a long talk with their doctor first. But, other than that, I can't find clear data to indicate that people are being harmed by seasonal flu shots--or even the current H1N1 shot--despite the large numbers of people who have aleady received vaccinations.

And, even if the government exaggerates the dangers of the flu, including seasonal flu, and even if these shots are only 40-70% effective in preventing the illnesses, I still think they'd be worth getting, just to reduce the chances of getting sick. And pregnant women, people over 50, and those with chronic medical problems (asthma, diabetes, etc), should get a seasonal flu shot every year and probably an H1N1 shot this year. They seem to have much more to lose if they don't get the shot and they wind up getting the flu.

My apologies.

After reading everyones posts and especially CB's I will call my Doctor on Monday to book a appointment for the shots.

I wasn't offened by what CB said. We have been friends for over 10 yrs and I know she cares about me or she wouldn't have said what she did.

I too have had pneumonia but I had what they call Silent Walking Pneumonia or Old Peoples Pneumonia.Wasn't fun as I was confined to the hospital for 16 days.

And your right CB.about my being ill lately and my immune system could be low.


I will let you know how the jabs went.

I shall have a couple of stiff drinks B4 I go. LOL LOL

I thought you would understand my comments, PurpleFan. You know that, not only would I never insult you, I'd flatten anyone else who tried to do that to you. And, if you'll think back, I think that's how we first met and became friends.

Try not to be too nervous about getting the shots. Remember, your doctor is a trained professional:

web page


That cartoon reminds me of an oral surgeon I went to when I had to have two impacted wisdom teeth removed. People had been telling me all sorts of horror stories about their experiences with that sort of thing and this guy knew I was very nervous. So, right after I sat down in the dental chair, he picked up a large, heavy textbook and opened it on my chest. He began flipping through the pages, all the while telling me that he thought it all would go well if he simply followed the instructions because he had never done this procedure before. He kept up that sort of thing, and various jokes, all through the surgery. And it worked--I did manage to relax because, bless him, he kept me laughing.

After that, I tried to use the same basic approach to help other people.

In the early 80's I worked for the City of New York and they decided that everyone had to get vaccinated for Rubella (German Measles), and, if you refused the shot, you'd lose your job. Well, one of my colleagues, a very sweet young women, went into a total panic. She said that whenever she had to get an injection she became so anxious that she fainted, so now she was fearful of both the shot and the possibility of fainting. She made me promise I'd go with her and hold her hand, which I gladly did. When the day came, I stood on the line with her, holding her hand, talking to her constantly about the most distracting things I could think of, including a lot of funny, silly, made-up gossip about our co-workers, just to help her relax. When it was her turn in the chair, just before the needle went in, I said something to her that was really outrageous and she just cracked up laughing, and really didn't pay attention to the jab in her arm. And, afterward, she was so relieved that the experience hadn't been awful that she said she'd never be that nervous about it again.

So, my advice, PF, is to take someone along with you who'll stay with you and provide some comic relief so you won't be so focused on getting jabbed. I wish I could get you Robin Williams, he'd be just perfect.

I will change the date of my appointment to give you enough time to get packed and book a flight.

Just let me know when your arrival time is.

Oh yes I remember those day all too well.LOL LOL!

Peter Cottontail!Hahaahahahahahahahahah

Seems to me I do remember you getting into a good donny brook. And you won. lol lol

I'll take Billy Connoly for laughter.

Reading things like this story make me feel glad I got my H1N1 shot, and the pneumonia shot as well.

http://www.kptv.com/health/22115049/detail.html

It's wonderful how his neighbors and community rallied to support him and his family.