Your weekly update. H1N1

[petmoosie]

The southern half of the US has widespread flu. Washington state, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland and Pennsylvania, to pick out a few that my readers might be interested in, have widespread flu. About 5% of visits to doctors are for flu-like illnesses.

Comments

H1N1 vaccine

[mark7blue.livejournal.com]

I rarely get vaccinated for common bugs, because those administering the vaccines usually don't know if there's anything in them -- like egg proteins -- that I might have an allergic reaction to; and/or they'll respond that I shouldn't risk it. (Egg-based vaccines have been common in the past, from what I understand.)

While I'm curious whether I'm a candidate for the injected H1N1 vaccine or it's contraindicated in my case, I understand that they'll also have another version available: one I might be able to take up the nose.

Yeah. Doesn't that sound like fun.

Re: H1N1 vaccine

[petmoosie.livejournal.com]

You definitely can not get either the shot or the nasal inhaled vaccine. They are both made from eggs (although with different strains of the virus).

All flu vaccines are egg-based.

All the kids at school (who aren't contraindicated) are getting the nasal version. It's got a lot less fear associated with it.

As for you and this coming flu season, wash hands and try to avoid touching your face. You may well get sick. You aren't especially at risk for complications, not being pregnant, obese or asthmatic. Read the list of symptoms that mean going to a hospital and if you have those go to a hospital. Otherwise stay home, take your fever-reliever of choice, drink plenty of fluids.

Re: H1N1 vaccine

[mark7blue.livejournal.com]

Alas, as I suspected.

The question remains whether the nasal vaccine would cause my nose to run off my face, or my sinuses to erupt in hives.

Mmm... Hives up the nose.