Flu shots - yea or nea?

[Bill Glasheen]

This from our state health commissioner, sent just a few minutes ago.

Surveillance data continue to almost exclusively show novel H1N1 circulating.

Sorry I don't have a place to post the jpeg file plot. But it shows that virtually 100% of the cases are either 2009 H1N1, or Type A unknown. The latter means the physician did a straight Type A test w/o trying to figure out if it was A H1N1. (Again, treatment is the same.)

Percent of ER visits due to H1N1 here in Virginia is now up to 15% and climbing.

Seasonal flu isn't here just yet.

Bill

[mhosea]

Please read carefully. For the first time in a while, Fred did NOT get the shot, and subsequently got sick.

On the bright side, err... sort of, unless Fred knows he has seasonal flu and not H1N1, it probably doesn't make any difference, as most of us here in the commonwealth of MA are still waiting on the H1N1 shots/flumist, even folks who are in the highest risk categories of the high risk groups. They're saying it'll be December probably until it opens up a bit.

[harlan]

That kinda depends on your doctor, if they are participating and their client base. I'm not high risk, and called my doctor to enquire on Wed., and got the mist the same day. On the other hand, my child's pediatrician is the most popular one in 3 towns, and has been giving the H1N1 shot/mist for the past week to high risk patients only. She goes in next week.

[f.Channell]

Haven't been on because I've been feeling lousy. 101 fever, tired, coughing up lots of flem. More than I've ever seen. Just trying to get some rest to get on top of it. I don't know what it is, unless it lingers I probably won't get tested. All I can tell you is I've had the flu shot the last several years and I've been fine. But maybe I would have gotten this anyway. No telling. Of course I'm around lots of children and as my wife the nurse says, "they're the carriers."

F.

[mhosea]

This might help (or not).

https://h1n1.cloudapp.net/fluquiz.aspx