Swine Flu Vaccine?? Whos gettin it?

I'll be asking my Dr. because I'm going to mexico for vacation in Sept.

Erm... I thought it hadn't even been finished or tested yet, let alone released...

Yeah, they're saying October for Australia too, but it sounds as if they're (rightly) going to be giving doctors and nurses the first injections.

How's the pandemic going there? They're sounding pretty worried here, as the virus is starting to kill young people with no underlying medical conditions (unless you count being a tad overweight).

I live in the San Diego (California) area. We have had about 5 die in the past month or so, but all had underlying conditions I believe, except for one who was a young healthy young girl. What I am hearing in the news they are looking to give it to school children first (after medical caregivers) as they are usually the ones who are passing it around the most and coming in contact withother the most. Also, they said the people that are at high risk who usually get the regular flu shot early will be first in line too.

I wish they would say what the underlying conditions were!

In my town 5-6 square miles, about a lot people have had it, no one got very ill at all, just light flu symptoms, fever, 5 days of feeling punky. In my area (say 20 square miles) 2 people died. but the majority of folks, including my god daughter and some of my neighbors just felt crappy and then were fine. I live in a university town about 90 kids at the university had it and about 100 kids at the local school system got it. Not all were tested for swine flu of course, but enough were to make it pretty definitive, though there was also mention of a second flu around as well.

I do not plan on getting it. I really don't see it as much of a threat as the media makes it out to be.

I'm not sure. it's something I'll talk with my doctor about. Last year he finally had the flu vaccine at his office, around here you normally have to stand for hours in line to get it. To me that just increases your odds of getting sick! But if he gets it in his office I probably will get it.

It's available here in October also. I think I will get it as I have lung issues, however most people I know who get flu jabs seem to get the flu shortly afterwards! If the pros outweigh the cons, I will certainly get the vaccine. I too wish they would disclose the underlying health problems in which all the victims had.

However I am sure I read today that the vaccine is not actually ready yet and WHO are saying it is not ready until August maybe but then it needs to be tested and passed etc. I hope it doesn't take too long!

FYI - The flu shot is NOT a live virus~

Thank you Nanners for reminding everyone that the flu vaccine is not a live virus.  You DON'T get the flu from the flu vaccine.  What typically happens is you get the vaccine which temporarily compromises your immune system and then you catch a good old fashioned viral bug.  The doc's I work for can explain it alot better but that's it in a nutshell.  We, as in all of us with Crohns or Colitis or any other autoimmune disease, are in the group that should get the vaccine first and/or if the vaccine is rationed as it was a couple of years ago.  It's not a vaccine to fear.  Every year that you get it, you become that much more immune to getting the flu.  One other tid-bit of info - when you get the vaccine and you do happen to get the flu, your symptoms will be a lot less than a person who didn't get the vaccine and you will recover quicker.

Yes HabsHockeyFan, I do believe they will make the "Swine" flu part of the immunization for this years batch. I hope you have lots of fun on your cruise. My husband and I never got a honeymoon so last year we celebrated our 2-yr anniversay, my birthday and our honeymoon on a week long cruise with Royal Caribbean. It as a lot of fun. Have you cruised before?