GET VACCINATED EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU HAD H1N1

[Anonymous]

There seems to be a lot of confusion on this. This is from the CDC

Prior Illness
Should I get vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 if I have had flu-like illness since the Spring of 2009?
The symptoms of influenza (flu-like illnesses) are similar to those caused by many other viruses. Even when influenza viruses are causing large numbers of people to get sick, other viruses are also causing illnesses. Specific testing, called “RT-PCR test,” is needed in order to tell if an illness is caused by a specific influenza strain or by some other virus. This test is different from rapid flu tests that doctors can do in their offices. Since most people with flu-like illnesses will not be tested with RT-PCR this season, the majority will not know whether they have been infected with 2009 H1N1 flu or a different virus.

Therefore, if you were ill but do not know if you had 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated, if your doctor recommends it. So, most people recommended for 2009 H1N1 vaccination should be vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 vaccine regardless of whether they had a flu-like illness earlier in the year. If you have had 2009 H1N1 flu, as confirmed by an RT-PCR test, you should have some immunity against 2009 H1N1 flu and can choose not to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. However, vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful. For more information on flu tests, see Influenza Diagnostic Testing During the 2009-2010 Flu Season.

Any immunity from 2009 H1N1 influenza infection or vaccination will not provide protection against seasonal influenza. All people who want protection from seasonal flu should still get their seasonal influenza vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Geez, nice of the CDC to be saying that, however, THERE AIN'T NO VAX FOR ME!!!

Maybe when there is one, I'll care.

[Anonymous]

I understand. I likely had it, as did my whole family and we can't get the vaccine yet. It will come and I do think there may be a second round of this. I keep up with this for work purposes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of confusion on this. This is from the CDC

Prior Illness
Should I get vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 if I have had flu-like illness since the Spring of 2009?
The symptoms of influenza (flu-like illnesses) are similar to those caused by many other viruses. Even when influenza viruses are causing large numbers of people to get sick, other viruses are also causing illnesses. Specific testing, called “RT-PCR test,” is needed in order to tell if an illness is caused by a specific influenza strain or by some other virus. This test is different from rapid flu tests that doctors can do in their offices. Since most people with flu-like illnesses will not be tested with RT-PCR this season, the majority will not know whether they have been infected with 2009 H1N1 flu or a different virus.

Therefore, if you were ill but do not know if you had 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated, if your doctor recommends it. So, most people recommended for 2009 H1N1 vaccination should be vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 vaccine regardless of whether they had a flu-like illness earlier in the year. If you have had 2009 H1N1 flu, as confirmed by an RT-PCR test, you should have some immunity against 2009 H1N1 flu and can choose not to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. However, vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful. For more information on flu tests, see Influenza Diagnostic Testing During the 2009-2010 Flu Season.

Any immunity from 2009 H1N1 influenza infection or vaccination will not provide protection against seasonal influenza. All people who want protection from seasonal flu should still get their seasonal influenza vaccine.

This obviously does not apply to people who were diagnosed by their doctors. Again, why would the doctor recommend vaccinating someone they have already diagnosed as having the illness????

[Anonymous]

You have an odd view of diagnosed. Doctors make educated guesses. That is what they did for you. Even if it was RT-PCR tested, which is incredibly unlikely to be the exact H1N1 strain of the flu, you are still advised to get the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Here is how is usually goes:

Patient: I have fever, chills, a cough and am tired and achey.

Doctor: Sounds like the flu.
Doctor Take I: Rest and push fluids. Tylenol for Advil for temp
Doctor Take II: let's swab your nose and see

Nose swab is positive for flu. It does not differentiate whether it was H1N1 but given where we are in the season, Dr. makes educated guess that it is.

OR no nose swab, doctor still makes educated guess that you have H1N1 flu.

OR swab is negative but you likely still may have H1N1 as the false negative rate is so high

No one knows for sure, which is the case for over 95% of even those that test postively for flu

You rest, drink fluids, perhaps get tamiflu. And when the vaccine is available YOU GET THE VACCINE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is how is usually goes:

Patient: I have fever, chills, a cough and am tired and achey.

Doctor: Sounds like the flu.
Doctor Take I: Rest and push fluids. Tylenol for Advil for temp
Doctor Take II: let's swab your nose and see

Nose swab is positive for flu. It does not differentiate whether it was H1N1 but given where we are in the season, Dr. makes educated guess that it is.

OR no nose swab, doctor still makes educated guess that you have H1N1 flu.

OR swab is negative but you likely still may have H1N1 as the false negative rate is so high

No one knows for sure, which is the case for over 95% of even those that test postively for flu

You rest, drink fluids, perhaps get tamiflu. And when the vaccine is available YOU GET THE VACCINE.

Our pediatrician diagnosed us as having H1N1 per CDC guidelines -- we had all the symptoms, the H1N1 tests are showing an incredibly high false negative (our pediatrician said up to 70 percent are false negatives, so fairly useless test) and almost all the flu in our area now is H1N1. I am comfortable with his diagnosis. He did not say he was guessing. I would not waste any time wondering if by some weird fluke we really had something totally different than what all the symptom point to, which is circulating in our area and my DC's school right now, and which our doctor diagnosed us as having-- H1N1.

[Anonymous]

I guess the point is what difference does it make? Even if you had it the rec is to get vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the point is what difference does it make? Even if you had it the rec is to get vaccinated.

The point is, do you think it's realistic that the very doctor who diagnosed us is going to turn around and give us a vaccination against what he said we already had? That's illogical. Plus, there are plenty of people who could actually use the shot who are having a hard time getting it; vaccinating those who've already had the disease is stupid.

[Anonymous]

Doctor may be very "educated" howwver, they are not magicians. Without the proper test to see if you have H1N1, telling you that you have it, is guessing. How could he know that it's not another kind of flu there are hundreds of varieties, but suddently, it's all H1N1.