Gotta clarify a few things on this forum here:
A) Some doctors may have reservations about the H1N1 shot from the small sample size and accelerated production of the vaccine, but that has in no means dissuaded them from getting the shot. I can speak on behalf of a significant number of doctors that since we come in contact with several questionable cases a day, to not get vaccinated would not be smart.
B) Even if you are not in a high risk group, if you are in close contact with high risk groups, the general consensus is to recommend vaccination. Sure you may be ok, but what if you pass it off to your kids.
C) If you in any way experience flu-like symptoms, if it is mild => STAY HOME and don't go around spreading it in the clinics, ER. But if there is a sudden worsening, do not hesitate to seek medical attention. The cases in the news are rare cases in which symptoms accelerate so people have to be cognizant of it.
D) If you contact a known H1N1, go to your doctor and be assessed for possible usage of Tamiflu. It may soften the blow of the illness.
However, don't do what one guy did today => show up, yell and cough at the receptionist and demand to be seen immediately.
E) Again, we have evidenced many previously well individuals become very sick with H1N1 despite being in "low risk groups", and I remind people that the risk of the vaccine (predominantly neurological related effects) is still smaller than your risk of contracting H1N1 and dying from it (which is already a fairly small risk).
F) The actual vaccine has a specific adjuvant in it, thereby causing a more intense localized reaction => ie. pain and soreness at injection site, mild fever, muscles aches, but this should only last for a couple of days. It CANNOT cause an actual flu. The only time you should absolutely stay away from the shot is if you have an allergy to eggs.
G) Yes, you can get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine at once. They do not have to be a certain time period apart to be administered.
Again, it is a very personal decision and if people do in the end choose not to get it, it is completely up to them as long as they make an informed choice. Seriously though, to all the people who ask their doctors whether or not they should get a shot, its kind of silly isn't it? Of course most of us would say yes and advise you of the small probability of risk involved, and then tell you to make your own choice.
Have fun getting or not getting your shots!
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