I’ll skip to the bottom line: I’m planning to get the swine flu vaccination and not the seasonal flu vaccination.

Why?
1) 99% of the influenza A viruses circulating now are the novel H1N1 (swine) flu.
2) There is a controversial study suggesting that Canadians who got seasonal flu vaccine have a higher risk for H1N1 infection.

Who should plan on getting the swine flu vaccination?
Pregnant women, people in close contact with infants under 6 months, health workers, people 6 months to 24 years, and those 25 to 64 with chronic conditions.

Who is at lower risk?
Everyone else ages 25 to 64. People 65 and up have an advantage. They were likely exposed to a somewhat similar virus that circulated when they were young and seem to have a lower risk of getting this year’s H1N1.

When will the Swine Flu Vaccine be Available?
The Swine Flu vaccine should be available mid-October. One dose to patients age 10 and up, two doses 3 to 4 weeks apart for younger kids. The H1N1 vaccine is manufactured the same way as seasonal flu vaccine. So expect any reactions to the vaccine to be similar.

What about antivirals when you get the flu?
The CDC is recommending no antiviral therapy this year with Tamiflu except for severe illness, children under 2, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with asthma or other chronic conditions to slow resistance.

So what I do take if I get the flu?
Aleve 2 pills twice a day for fever & muscle aches, Atrovent nasal spray for runny nose, cough medicine and possibly an antibiotic.

Do Rapid flu tests work this year?
No, they aren’t sensitive enough to rule out the new H1N1 strain.

for more info, cdc.gov/flu