Swine flu questions and answers

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Updated 10:51 AM Thursday, October 8, 2009

Q. What can I do to prevent the spread seasonal and/or H1N1 flu?

Wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or cough or sneeze into your elbow, stay home if you are sick.

Q. Who should get seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines?

Everyone. The H1N1 vaccine will go first to high-risk groups including pregnant women, households with babies, health care and emergency medical workers, children and young adults up to age 24, and adults between age 25 and 64 who have chronic health issues.

Q. When and where can I get a seasonal flu vaccine?

The seasonal flu vaccine is available in shot or nasal spray form immediately. Check with your doctor or local health department.

Q. Where and when can I get the H1N1 flu vaccine?

The H1N1 flu vaccine is just now arriving in Ohio. Check with your local health department or the state Department of Health website, www.odh.ohio.gov, or (866)800-1404.

Q. How much does the flu vaccine cost?

The H1N1 flu vaccine is free, but your health care provider may charge an administrative fee. The seasonal flu shot may not be free. Local health departments give both vaccines at no charge.

Q. Can I get both vaccines at once?

Yes and no. You can get both at once in shot form or a combination of shot and spray. But you cannot get both at once in nasal spray form.

Q. What’s the difference between the nasal spray and the shot?

The nasal spray uses a live virus while the shot uses a dead virus. The shot is recommended for pregnant women.

Q. How effective are flu vaccines at preventing infection?

Officials expect the H1N1 vaccine to be as effective as seasonal flu vaccines. Between 70 percent and 90 percent of healthy adults who get seasonal flu vaccine will be protected. Among older adults the rate drops to between 30 percent and 40 percent. But the vaccine may lessen the severity of the flu among those who still end up getting it.

Source: Ohio Department of Health

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