We all walk with our hands. Despite gloves and hand sanitizer, we pick things up. Since being in a wheelchair, I am far more likely to pick up an illness going around. I try, try, try to stay healthy: eat well,exercise, sleep properly, hand sanitize, wear gloves but I still get sick more often than I used to. ...I am so aware of 'spitters' since being in a wheelchair, and I waggle my finger and lecture them on the necessity of ceasing such a horrific habit...as it is a disease-spreading habit. Some cultures are way worse than others, however, as they believe that swallowing saliva can give them a disease. WTF??? You would not believe how many elderly people from that culture I have lectured on Wheeltrans about 'spitting'. I'm sick right now. Came home from work early.

Notwithstanding. wondering how many people are going to get the innoculation for H1N1? It is most certainly controversial. I think I'm going to get the shot. I would be happy to hear from others on their stance, however.

Don't know what the routine is in the US, but over here the NHS mass inoculation programme has just started with those most at risk getting their shots first, then progressing to those at lower risk. I expect to get the call within a week or two. I am not aware of any controversy, but I don't read any newspapers.

I'm not gonna bother, it's just flu, it's not gonna kill me and if it does? Oh well. Plus I've heard/read too many worrying side effects and conspiracy theories!

im getting it the doc said i have 2. plus my gf wants around

Im pregnant and still not going to get it. the media is making such a big stink out of this and I think it boils down to money! Big Pharma will make billions off of this big hoopla! Obama declared a "medical emergency" But yet he didnt even get his children vaccinated- That boggles my mind alittle. My husband (t4) isnt getting it either- however he hardly ever goes out so I would think his chances of coming in contact of it are slim anyway. Since I will not be working for awhile and home with baby we are just going to be carefull by washing our hands, not touching our faces, and listening out for outbreaks in our area. Im going to let everyone else get the vaccine- The ones who dont listen to the news.
Preaching about spitting to people who do it is probably useless b/c I dont think they will listen- you just have to be an advocate for yourself. Seriously, take it from a nurse if you may- washing you hands and keeping them away from your face goes a long way- But I know how pointless washing your hands can be when you put them right back on your wheels. If you have diminished lung capacity or any other underlying health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure ( not just your disability) I would maybe consider it, but do your own research and form your own decision, and dont just listen to random people or doctors b/c most of them are just telling you what the world health organization and cdc is telling them. Anybody who tells you to just willy-nilly go and get it are fools. besides the swine flu is considered to be mild anyway.

I have decided not to get the shot - The no fault clause doesn't sit well with me. The way I see it, either way is a risk ( they are having side effects in Sweden from the shot not to mention other places). I will leave the shots to those around me and hope that them getting the shot will minimize transmission. I just wish people would think and stay HOME when they get sick instead of going out and infecting others.

I don't much care if folks consider me a fool for not following all the media scaremongering. I shall be getting the vaccine. I have COPD and know that getting swine flu would not do much to improve my health.

.............Yeah? It has only killed thousands around the world - with 20% of the total number of those deaths occurring in the past 7 days.

Good job it's not serious then.

It's killed less people than regular flu

Maybe, but being an old git, I get shots for that too.

The latest.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_10_23/en/print.html

I'm with GB here I've had both of mine already, with my lung disease its not worth taking the risk. Hubby will be getting his soon too because of my steroid treatment I am officially immunocompromised so I may not fully respond to the jab therefore Neil being immunised too gives me even more protection given he is the person I am most likely to catch it from. I think Neil will be in the 3rd wave of people being offered the jab.

Ok and you actually believe that bull shit. Apparently over 1000 people died- just in the US, but 5000 died world wide. Answer this: why would a country with the best health care system have more then a thousand people die in relation the the amount world wide? It sounds like you need to do more homework. You shouldn't believe everything you hear- being that your in your late 50's you should know that by now! Oh and by the way if you read my thread I advised her to consider getting the vaccine if she did have any underlying health condition- yes, that includes Copd. Some well informed advise dont listen to everything the mainstream media spits out there

Always do your own research on this type of thing and make your own informed decision

I got my shot this weekend, people over here in Iceland have been getting very sick and I'm going to the states in a month and I happen to get sick alot and the shot is free over here so I thought why not.

The side affects are that my arm hurts a bit and I got a massive migrane the day after but nothing serious.

Not me.

Back in the early 1990s (pre-accident) I decided to do an experiment. For 5 straight years, I took the shot. And in each of those years I had such a horrible case of the flu that I decided I'd take my chances and do without it. I've had lesser cases of the flu with the exception of a couple of years.

I did take the pneumonia shot and I do recommend that.

Carolyn

At this point in time I don't think I will be getting it as I hardly ever get sick and when I do it is over pretty fast. The thing that might prompt me to get one is that my wife runs a daycare out of the house and if all the kids get really sick then i will be high tailing it out to get a shoot. Not to say in the past that the daycare kids never get sick, sure they do. But we all know children. They love to run around and gross us all out with their snooty noses, and wipe it where ever they feel they should. There has been an email that has been circulating the internet and I will share it with you as it is a good preventative to this problem.


Prevent

Prevent
H1N1 Flu - Good Advice

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB > (Intensives and Thyroid > specialist) having clinical experience of over > 20 years. He has > worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital ,Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is
heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at > Riddhivinayak
Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced,(instead of focusing on how to sto ck N95 or Tami flu): 1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show
characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tami flu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water . *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with
cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.* Neti pots and sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and relatively inexpensive. under > $15.

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C,(Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I suggest you pass this on to your entire e-list. You never know who might pay attention to it-- and STAY ALIVE because of it.

Oh yeah! Sorry, I forgot. It's all a commie plot to take over the free world, right?

I suppose you are going to apply the same logic to your expected child, and refuse to protect it from measles. mumps and rubella when the time comes.

I sincerely hope that if this pandemic really takes off, or the virus mutates, you survive to tell me I was wrong. Good luck.

I have a great distrust of meds - any meds.
So I only take meds - when there is no other option
Therefor to take a med - just on the offchance - to me is rediculous.
Do not misunderstand me
Imunisation against Polio, Smallpox, and the like are finite and OK
Next year there will be another flu strain, then another etc
All this scaremongering is grate for multinational drug companies - they get richer
Wish they would spend that much money on finding a way to rejoin severed nerves.

We all die - so

Live to love and Love to live

Could be! You should never disregard that idea. There is a conspiracy to lower the population by the "new world order". These rich power machines who basically control everything in the nation dont think in basic human morals as we do. Money is desensitizing and the regular folks will suffer because of it. Why do you think our economy is in the dump right now? The recession just like all the other recessions are man made. let me guess your one of those liberal's who are for universal health care too- right?- Trust me anyone who can read a basic economics book would be able to tell you that it (socialism) will destroy our country and leave us famined. I probably will get my child all her vaccinations only b/c aquiring the disease's themselves are much more virulent then the side effects of the vaccins... Or are they? Why are 1 in 150 kids getting autism? why is infertility on the rise? And why have misscarriages and preterm deliveries gone up 20% in the past 20 years- Oh, and then theres no f*@kin answer for it right? No body can figure it out- the best scientist's and system in the world and we cant figure it out! Its b/c everything is being minipulated. Go ahead just put your head in the sand about these issues- someone else will take care of it right?

Some people buy life insurance,,, some don't,,,,

Any flu vaccine that is made will reduce the total number of illnesses and reduce the total severity of those who do get it. Will an individual get foolproof protection??? Hell no,,, but you go with the averages. If you have a 7% chance of getting any strain of flu,, then any flu vaccine will reduce it to a 5.5% chance,,, how's that?

You can get the same chance reduction by using the handwashing, no face touching thing,,,, but who does that?

According to the CDC,, our countries watchdog on contagous diseases,,, the average number of deaths from influenza each year worldwide, is 37000. By June we'll have figures for this year, and it won't be much different. This is nothing new,,,Flu viruses mutate every year,,, that's why they need a new vaccine each year, to be effective.

Eventually one will mutate into something like the black plague,,,, now that will be one people will fight to get the vaccine for.

If your health,,, particularly your lungs, is compromised already,, getting the shot is a no-brainer,,, if not, you'll just have a week of feeling lousy and infecting others.

H1N1 is no worse than the one they had already prepared serums for,,, so get one,, get two,,, get none,,, still a free country.
ed

The NHS is certainly taking the threat of flu very seriously with each Trust having a pandemic action plan including redeployment of staff and cancelling leave if the
The plans don't just include the immediate Trust but also neighbouring Trusts and tertiary hospitals to ensure that people can get the appropriate treatment. We are being offered the flu vaccine as NHS workers and although it's not compulsory I am seriously considering having it (although not straight away, I want to just double check on the side effects first!). We have also all been for face mask fitting (I'm talking serious face masks, not the surgical mask jobs!) and the revised policy that has been drawn up is 74 pages long!!

If the threat wasn't real then I couldn't see the NHS going to all this trouble

Thread has been split to keep it on topic, please use this thread to continue discussing healthcare systems

Hi Trin
Glad ours isn't the only trust doing the facemask training, we all had ours the other day, plus read some of the new policy!! My team all moaned about the mask training etc but placated them slightly by saying that it does count as CPD points for them.

Since we're on topic here, I'm not getting a shot. I don't get out enough right now to have to worry about it.

The only real worry I have down the line is, if I'm not getting immunity shots for years, is that going to affect me, say 10 years down the road due to my bodies inability to have built up on previous flues or flue shots?

I haven't been sick for quite awhile, but when I eventully do, is it going to knock me on my ass because I haven't beefed up my immune system?

Just to put your mind at rest qbounce no you won't do yourself any harm further down the line, the flu vaccine is re-designed (for want of a better word) each year because the manufacturers work out which strains are doing the rounds that year. So each years flu vaccine is specifically designed for that year. There is no cumulative affect of the flu vaccine.

I would say not getting out would make you more suceptible for the very reasons you suggest. Somone comes in from the outside world and infect yiu where would you be?

Tin

Just to put your mind at rest qbounce no you won't do yourself any harm further down the line, the flu vaccine is re-designed (for want of a better word) each year because the manufacturers work out which strains are doing the rounds that year. So each years flu vaccine is specifically designed for that year. There is no cumulative affect of the flu vaccine

They don't work out anything ... they quess

It's just what it is, a money making venture from multi nationals
As its the same thing year out year in, it doesn't cost much to develop
Like a motorcar, once the model has been developed .. you reskin it whenever you like at a fraction of the cost.
As for a cumulative affect .. a vaccine works by inducing the body to make it's own anti biotics. The body doesn't have a off switch.

Sorry Dangerousdave I don't work for a multinational drug company but they do not guess for the vaccine, it's worked out statiscally every year because the strains follow the same patterns of spread around the world every year so it is possible to predict reasonably effectively which strains will be doing the rounds each year. One of the problems with Flu is that it also mutates very easily so the vaccine also takes this into account, plus the vaccine will contain more than one strain of the virus.

The vaccine works by allowing the body to produce antibodies ( a specific white blood cell response) which will be able to give protection against the virus. Normally once you are infected with flu (or any other infection) your body first produces a general response (non-specific) which is fever etc to try and kill off the virus, this is its first line of attack. Your body's secondary response is specific to the infection which will actually attack and kill infected cells so by having the vaccine you already have a store of these specific cells ready to kill the virus.

Hope this helps

Jules

Never had the flu, Never had a flu shot........

Hummm........

Jim

Why is everyone saying "shot"? I thought the H1N1 was delivered by a nasal swab. Is it via injection in other countries?

Hi

My husband is having his next week , the DN is coming to our home to give it. I am going to the surgery for mine on the 12th.

Our current P.A has been told that documentation from the P.C.T will be sent out to them within the next few days which they then take to the client's surgery and they will be getting the shot.

We are having it put on our profile with the spinal agency that we won't accept a P.A if they have'nt had the vacination for swine flue.

I agree with one of the previous posters.. I do not see ethe N.H.S doing this if they don't think it's seriouse.

Just one question..is it a course of 2 shots or have I got that wrong.

Just my opinion...

Hi Jules
Sorry Dangerousdave I don't work for a multinational drug company but they do not guess for the vaccine, it's worked out statiscally every year because the strains follow the same patterns of spread around the world every year so it is possible to predict reasonably effectively which strains will be doing the rounds each year. One of the problems with Flu is that it also mutates very easily so the vaccine also takes this into account, plus the vaccine will contain more than one strain of the virus.

A statistic is a mathamatical quess. Or theres statistics and bloody statistics.
As the flu virus freely mutates at any time any where, more quess work.
Truly it's a educated quess, but a quess never the less.
The laws of probability = a quess

This is the info from the NHS website:-
What dosage will be given for each vaccine?

The following vaccination schedule is recommended in the UK:

Pandemrix:

* For all children aged from six months to nine years:
- two half doses (0.25ml each) given with a
minimum of three weeks between doses.
* For individuals aged 10-59:
- one dose (0.5ml) given.
* For individuals aged 60 years and over:
- one dose given (this advice will be reviewed
when more data become available).
* For individuals aged 10 years and over with weakened immune systems:
- two doses (0.5ml each) given with a
minimum of three weeks between doses.

Celvapan:

* For children aged from six months and adults:
- two doses (0.5ml each) given with a
minimum of three weeks between doses.

This dosage schedule is based on advice given by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, following consideration of clinical data available on the vaccines. The dosage and recommendations will be kept under review as more clinical data become available.

Hi Trin

Thanks for the information..

Knock on wood but since my SCI other then 2 UTI's I have yet to become sick at all. I am staying as far from that med as possible. Its not a far thought in my head that such different "flu's" (could) easily be man made and a med made for pure proffit. Lets face it we live in a world where people can and will do ANYTHING for money even if it is wrong. But this is just my insight on it.....

Hello Everyone,
It's been a while, but I always enjoy visiting. Crazy times with two little ones. Free time is limited! I wanted to put forth a bit of information on the H1N1 subject. Please understand that I in no way hold anyone's personal beliefs against them. It is and individual's right to decide on their medical care. I just thought I would toss out some information. You may have heard of the "less than one percent" that H1N1 really hits hard. I work with mechanical circulatory support devices that attempt to support that less than 1% in the hopes that they can recover from acute respiratory distress syndrome, be placed on a long term support device, or receive a lung and/or heart transplant instead of...well...die. Quite a few have been saved, but these individuals become tremendously ill, and both the support and the recovery are difficult. However, given the population this effects, the saves have been tremendous stories.

According to research, those born before 1950 have already been exposed to a similar type of virus of swine origin. Therefore it i believed that this population is not in need of the shot. The major concern over H1N1 is that while the "normal" flu typically causes fatalities within elderly, infant, and immunocompromised populations, H1N1 seems to be honing on relatively healthy young adults and children as well as pregnant women and the immunocompromised.

The injectable form of the H1N1 vaccine contains a "dead" or inert form of the virus. It is therefore typically recommended for those under 2 years old, those who are immunosuppressed (transplant patients), and those working around immunosuppressed or immunocompromised individuals.

The "mist" or nasal form contains a live form of the virus and is typically recommended for those who have normal immune system function.

Please understand from someone who is working in this environment, while the population of those who have succumbed to H1N1 is low, it is only October, and real flu season has not begun. Because it seems to effect the largest part of the population, it could become widespread quickly. It will likely become more difficult for clinicians to discern between H1N1 and the normal flu. So if you do get sick, please monitor your symptoms and if they are not getting better contact your health care provider.

I've been practicing critical care cardiac nursing, transplant, and mechanical support for 10 years, and H1N1 makes me a bit uneasy. I would definitely recommend that you speak with a health care provider you trust and at least get some information. I am as skeptical of government programs and big Pharma as they come. Please do not forget that there are some very intelligent scientists and researchers behind all the media and politics that are working tirelessly to prevent the potential ramifications of H1N1 and other health risks like it.

I hope the information is helpful. Please do not take it as gospel as this is an ever evolving situation. Anything you decide should absolutely be discussed with your healthcare provider first. PLEASE READ: I Don't wish to be sued. Just trying to provide some info

Good post CL. Thank you.

I probably would if I were working. Being on disability limits how much I leave the house, and how much I spend. So, I'm going on faith. Even if I do get sick I've got no place to be, so...

Well, I had both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines at work yesterday and so far so good!

My only word of advice to anyone having the H1N1 shot is have it in a muscle that you don't use and don't have sensation in! The whole muscle of my swine flu arm aches this morning. If I didn't have it at work with a room full of people I would, in hindsight, definitely of had it in my leg. The soreness seems to be a common complaint

My seasonal flu arm is fine.

The version of the swine flu vaccine we had was Pandemrix, which I can't help calling Pandermix!

I had Pandamix Trin. The only side effect I have are 2 black eyes and I keep eating Bamboo...... Should I see a Dr?.....

Looking at the state of you in your recent videos I doubt there is a doctor alive who could help. Frankenstein might have helped, but sadly I've lost the key to his coffin. Sorry.

I had mine this morning and I now have a bad fever! plus the sore arm..

Being thought to be in an at risk group because of COPD, I had it three days ago. It stung a bit at the time but haven't felt it or had any ill effects since.