about the H1N1 vaccine. Options

[Guest_Guest_*]

my friend just got a virus, and the doctor she went to cant tell if its h1n1 or not, but i hang around her everyday! if its contagious, then whatever shes got, i may have too! right now i heard theres a shortage of supplies. how can i put my name on the first priority list? and is it possible/nessesary to get more than two shots? because i need to make sure nothing happens to me. and what is this talk about kids and old people being first priority? and something about only healthy people? why? it should be first come first serve policy! i wish i knew were they were being kept. anyway, if someone can answer my questions above, i would gladly appreciate it.

[Ranger]

my friend just got a virus, and the doctor she went to cant tell if its h1n1 or not, but i hang around her everyday! if its contagious, then whatever shes got, i may have too! right now i heard theres a shortage of supplies. how can i put my name on the first priority list? and is it possible/nessesary to get more than two shots? because i need to make sure nothing happens to me. and what is this talk about kids and old people being first priority? and something about only healthy people? why? it should be first come first serve policy! i wish i knew were they were being kept. anyway, if someone can answer my questions above, i would gladly appreciate it.

which country are you in? i think every country will have its own policy...

first of all, the h1n1 virus is no more contagious or deadly than the ordinary influenza viruses... but the old and the young get first priority because they are more likely than you to get very sick from it... and there's no point getting 2 shots, because you'd just be wasting the second shot... there's no additional protection from multiple shots...

and lastly, its too late to worry about it now if you have already been exposed to it... if you havent got it now, you probably wont... and if you do in the next few days, getting a vaccine now wouldnt help prevent it... vaccination is not anti-viral

[Krim FX]

Vaccines don't help you if you already infected with the virus. Vaccines work by exposing you to a weekend form of the virus to allow your immune system to prepare against the virus the next time you are exposed to the real thing. Taking the vaccine now would just be a waste of the vaccine.

There is no "priority list" for individuals. Children, elderly, and those who are often around sick people usually gets the shot first because they need it. Children and elderly for the obvious reason that their immune system is not as developed or weakened.

Honestly, I have no idea why people panic like this at all. I mean it's not like H1N1 is any more deadly then the seasonal flu. In fact, the seasonal flu is shaping up to be more deadly then H1N1.

edit: Ranger already beat me to it.

This post has been edited by Krim FX: Nov 4 2009 2 43 AM

[brilliance]

trust me if you've been infected, it would happen fast. and if you're fine now, you likely don't have it. but get a vaccine anyway.

[Anime_UK]

In the UK they have identified that most people who contract H1N1 Swine Flu virus are people who are either elderly or have underlying health issues, so it makes sense to give them the vaccination first before everybody else due to a limited supply of vaccines. Countries all over the world are getting as many vaccines as they can but cannot obtain enough for everyone in one go, so they all have limited supplies and makes sense to vaccinate the people who are more at risk of cacthing H1N1. The people who are less at risk can wait for a later date for their vaccinations.