Swine Flu Confusion

bluerose

Does anyone know what the heck is going on with this new flu shot? I heard that it really isn't that different from the reg flu shot in its componants but strange things keep coming up.

For instance. Yesterday I asked my GP about the reg vaccine for me and the piggy one and she said that some practises (including hers) arent going to give out the piggy vaccines because apparently the doctors/nurses have to be 'specially trained' to give them. HUH??????? There has to be time etc dedicated to learning how to give these shots and education about them I guess. Doesn't that sound weird to you? So I guess I will have to go to clinics or specially set up places for dispensing of the flu vaccine. We won't be getting our supplies til mid November actually, sure seems late to me. I know there are swine flu cases in the hospitals here now.

She also said that if you have the flu they can give you a Tami Flu vaccine to counteract it she said, whatever all that means, but the biggest sign of swine is a sudden onset of fever which I didn't have. I'm sure feeling cwappy though but even the reg flu vaccine isn't in yet til mid Oct here.

Just wondered what everyone else was hearing about this new vaccine? Maybe by the time it comes in my docs office will change their mind about administering it who knows. It all seems a huge mystery to me about this new vaccine. Blessings, Bluerose

beckyracn

Bluerose,
I am an RN and
Bluerose,
I am an RN and will be giving out numerous doses of both types of flu vaccines as soon as they become available. They are hoping to get the first doses of swine vaccine out the 1st part of October...and there is no special training that goes along with the innoculation. Even the OUCH will be the same:)They are not providing Tamiflu to counter act the swine flu as it has been found ineffective. The regular flu clinics are already up and running...just depends on your demographics.

bluerose

beckyracn said:

Bluerose,
I am an RN and
Bluerose,
I am an RN and will be giving out numerous doses of both types of flu vaccines as soon as they become available. They are hoping to get the first doses of swine vaccine out the 1st part of October...and there is no special training that goes along with the innoculation. Even the OUCH will be the same:)They are not providing Tamiflu to counter act the swine flu as it has been found ineffective. The regular flu clinics are already up and running...just depends on your demographics.

I am in Canada Beckyracn
Our reg flu vaccine wont be here til the middle of Oct in my province and the h1n1 not til the middle of Nov so far. My doc does give Tamiflu but I didn't get it because she didnt feel I had the flu because I have no fever which she said is key. I think they are deciding not to give out the swine flu in her office not only because there is some training she was talking about but also I think because her office is so busy I don't think they have time for all the extra paperwork and stuff. It's all pretty confusing to the patients here though I can tell you. I was also told by a pharmacist that we might not get the swine flu vaccines here til January and that here it is still being tested in control groups. Man depends who you talk to on what is what. See why I am so confused? Sheeesh.

Thanks for your input though. Bluerose

MichelleP

bluerose said:

I am in Canada Beckyracn
Our reg flu vaccine wont be here til the middle of Oct in my province and the h1n1 not til the middle of Nov so far. My doc does give Tamiflu but I didn't get it because she didnt feel I had the flu because I have no fever which she said is key. I think they are deciding not to give out the swine flu in her office not only because there is some training she was talking about but also I think because her office is so busy I don't think they have time for all the extra paperwork and stuff. It's all pretty confusing to the patients here though I can tell you. I was also told by a pharmacist that we might not get the swine flu vaccines here til January and that here it is still being tested in control groups. Man depends who you talk to on what is what. See why I am so confused? Sheeesh.

Thanks for your input though. Bluerose

Please correct me if I'm
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember hearing that this swine flu is only dangerous for children and young adults and that people over 30 are in no danger and therefore do not need the shot.

I'm concerned about the shot itself mainly because it was developed "Very Quickly" without much testing.

beckyracn

MichelleP said:

Please correct me if I'm
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember hearing that this swine flu is only dangerous for children and young adults and that people over 30 are in no danger and therefore do not need the shot.

I'm concerned about the shot itself mainly because it was developed "Very Quickly" without much testing.

Michelle,
The swine flu is
Michelle,
The swine flu is just what it's name implies. The flu. It's being treated as a pandemic by the CDC because of it's origination (swine) and the fact that humans have not built up any type of tolerance to it, thus...it is spreading like wildfire. Just like any flu, it hits anyone with lowered immunity, no immunity, etc. harder. The plan to immunize children and young adults first is not because it poses a danger, but because of the close proximity of this age group due to schooling/partying and the ability for this flu to spread. They are recommending everyone get the vaccine, but will be start with this age group.
Personally, I will be giving a lot of this vaccine, but do not plan to be innoculated myself as my blood work is within the normal range at this time and I am also concerned about how quickly it was developed. I recently read an article in a medical journal about how all the stops were pulled out so that this vaccine could be thrown together and gotten into the public quickly. They are coming out first with the nasal spray, which is the actual live virus. The shot will come out second and is not the live virus. I plan to just sit back and watch. This vaccine, just like any flu vaccine, does not stop you from getting the flu...it's supposed to just make the experience less intense. So...if I'm going to get the flu, I may as well get the full dose and then my immune system will be ready to fight it next time around!

bluerose

beckyracn said:

Michelle,
The swine flu is
Michelle,
The swine flu is just what it's name implies. The flu. It's being treated as a pandemic by the CDC because of it's origination (swine) and the fact that humans have not built up any type of tolerance to it, thus...it is spreading like wildfire. Just like any flu, it hits anyone with lowered immunity, no immunity, etc. harder. The plan to immunize children and young adults first is not because it poses a danger, but because of the close proximity of this age group due to schooling/partying and the ability for this flu to spread. They are recommending everyone get the vaccine, but will be start with this age group.
Personally, I will be giving a lot of this vaccine, but do not plan to be innoculated myself as my blood work is within the normal range at this time and I am also concerned about how quickly it was developed. I recently read an article in a medical journal about how all the stops were pulled out so that this vaccine could be thrown together and gotten into the public quickly. They are coming out first with the nasal spray, which is the actual live virus. The shot will come out second and is not the live virus. I plan to just sit back and watch. This vaccine, just like any flu vaccine, does not stop you from getting the flu...it's supposed to just make the experience less intense. So...if I'm going to get the flu, I may as well get the full dose and then my immune system will be ready to fight it next time around!

Me too
I am doing the same, sitting back and watching how this thing evolves with the swine flu vaccine. Here in Canada I have been told by my pharmacist that they are still doing test groups and I just saw an ad for participants in a city not far from me so if they are still using test groups , they aren't ready is my take on it. They are now still saying they aren't sure whether kids need one or two shots, no one seems to have a clear answer up here.

I am in a high risk group with many health issues but I have heard that it's better for me, at this point, to get the pneumonia shot and at least help me with that possible issue. Unfortunately I have contracted something in the meantime, at the very least a throat infection so am on antibiotics for that but on top of that I just am feeling horrible. No sudden fever though which I am told is the key sumptom for diagnosing flu. I sure feel sick for just having a throat infection but who knows. Anywho they won't give me the pneumonia shot either til I get better, sigh. Man it's a viscious circle.

Something though definitely keeps telling me to wait and see. The swine flu shots arent here yet anyways so lots of time for more confusing info to surface. lol.

Blueroses

SonSon

MichelleP said:

Please correct me if I'm
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember hearing that this swine flu is only dangerous for children and young adults and that people over 30 are in no danger and therefore do not need the shot.

I'm concerned about the shot itself mainly because it was developed "Very Quickly" without much testing.

People at risk...
It is important for people at risk to get flu shots... young children, elderly... but it is also important for the caregivers to get flu shots, too. If we get the flu we will compromise those at risk - especially people with cancer whose immune system is compromised by the disease and its treatment.
It is a personal choice.
I am debating whether or not to take the flu shot(s) myself since I don't expect my mother-in-law to last long... but then again if I get the flu and then pass it to her I'd feel really bad about the additional misery for her. It's a real catch-22.
Fatima

bluerose

beckyracn said:

Michelle,
The swine flu is
Michelle,
The swine flu is just what it's name implies. The flu. It's being treated as a pandemic by the CDC because of it's origination (swine) and the fact that humans have not built up any type of tolerance to it, thus...it is spreading like wildfire. Just like any flu, it hits anyone with lowered immunity, no immunity, etc. harder. The plan to immunize children and young adults first is not because it poses a danger, but because of the close proximity of this age group due to schooling/partying and the ability for this flu to spread. They are recommending everyone get the vaccine, but will be start with this age group.
Personally, I will be giving a lot of this vaccine, but do not plan to be innoculated myself as my blood work is within the normal range at this time and I am also concerned about how quickly it was developed. I recently read an article in a medical journal about how all the stops were pulled out so that this vaccine could be thrown together and gotten into the public quickly. They are coming out first with the nasal spray, which is the actual live virus. The shot will come out second and is not the live virus. I plan to just sit back and watch. This vaccine, just like any flu vaccine, does not stop you from getting the flu...it's supposed to just make the experience less intense. So...if I'm going to get the flu, I may as well get the full dose and then my immune system will be ready to fight it next time around!

In the ER in Canada for 7 hours yesterday - no clear answer
Went to the ER yesterday and spent 7 hours in there before I was done and they didnt know FOR SURE if it was flu or not. What chance do I have of being diagnosed for complex medical conditions if they can't figure out if I have a flu or not? I know there are factors and symptoms that overlap with complex medical conditions but after so many blood tests and xrays and a host of flulike symptoms I know are flu when I asked 'well what do I have? Could it be the flu', I got 'could be'. SIGH.

I overheard the nurses talking and in the middle of my visit there were 107 in the ER. Well, if I didn't have the flu when I went in I sure did before I left. I wore a good ventilator mask I purchased a box of months ago knowing flu was coming, but the hacking in that ER was unreal. They gave out those little tiny masks at the door to anyone showing fluelike symptoms right before the ER but you could see the gaps on the faces that the masks produced as they werent tight fitting enough. GET GOOD MASKS you guys before you go into any doctors office or hospital, ones that fit well to your face making as tight a seal as possible. Masks aren't a total protection but the better ones are certainly better than the ones they give you in Canadian hospitals anywho. Just a suggestion.

I'm confused and still sweating and have all the symptoms and am none the wiser. Sigh. I do know now though from contacting a health line here and talking to a nurse that extreme sweating in the absense of a fever can be very serious so now I have done more research on my own and have some idea of where to go next. Educate yourself people, it could make all the difference. Blessings, Bluerose