We received word today that the "regular" flu shots will be available early this year, shortly after the first part of September.

It sounds like they are working on a "swine" flu vaccine that
they are hoping to be available "around" November. Apparently it
will not be given to people over 65 years of age as the "swine"
flu has not been hitting people in this age range, mostly younger
people. The theory is that the older people may have been exposed
to a strain of the "swine" flu when they were younger and built up
some antibodies to it.

We got this information in an e-mail today, just thought I would
share this with you. Take care.

I get the flu shot every year. September is early to be getting them.

I never get the shots...got the flu 2 years ago, don't remember the time before that.

whats the source of the email?

I work at a hospital and the e-mail was generated after the clinic managers and nurses had a meeting with the local Public Health nurse and others involved with the flu shots. They planned the flu shot clinics around the delivery date of the serum, etc.

the swine flu i think is a goverment conspiacy to kill off some of our over population or some jack *** terrorists let it loose.

i do not worry about the flu i havent had it for 4 or 5 years and ive been xposed to alot of bacteria.

gotcha

A normal healthy person doesn't necessarily catch the flu. If you have a healthy immune system, a lot of the time you won't get the flu. It is hit and miss.

With the "swine" flu, if will act like a regular flu to most people, the people who will be hit the hardest are the ones with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses, just like any regular flu.

Marie,

I think smokers have an increased chance of catching the flu.

Also...parents of children in school have an increased chance. I've lived that one.

That's one of the reasons that I get the shot. My child brings the germs home. I'm a single mom and life gets hard when you're a single mom and you're sick.

Also, I don't want to get my parents sick when I visit them. My Dad has severe COPD.

I agree, the "young uns" do bring the bugs home.

The main thing they have been stressing at work is "hand washing" - and covering your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze - and "hand washing" -- also using that antibacterial gel. It is all over the place at work. We even had a "mandatory" inservice on handwashing last fall when this "swine" flu thing started.

I've seen nose pickers at that school.

I've taught my child to cough and sneeze into their inner elbow. That leaves the hands clean. I've seen many children doing that.

The first school flyer of the year came home today. It talked about swine flu precautions - don't send sick kids to school and stay home 24 hours after a fever.

I was in Mexico when the first big outbreak of the swine flu hit.
I was fine but plan to get both the flu and swine flu shots this year.