October 29, 2009(McClatchy-Tribune Information Services) -- H1N1 vaccinations are being offered at clinics throughout Sacramento County. Neighboring counties haven't released their schedules, which The Bee will publish as they become available.
Health officials have set priorities for who should get the vaccine: pregnant women; people who take care of infants under 6 months old; health care workers; people ages 6 months through 24 years; and people of any age with underlying conditions that make them susceptible to flu-related complications. However, anyone may get the vaccine. Here are answers to basic questions about the vaccine:
How much does it cost?
It's free. However, your doctor or a pharmacy may charge an administrative fee.
Do you have to be healthy to get the vaccine?
Reschedule if you are moderately or severely ill. If you are mildly ill, it should be OK.
Are there groups that should not get the vaccine?
Do not get the vaccine if you have a severe egg allergy. Tell the provider if you have other severe allergies, if you have had an allergic reaction to the seasonal flu vaccine or have had Guillain-Barre syndrome.
What's the difference between the nasal spray and the shot?
The nasal spray contains a weakened virus while the shot contains a dead virus. Anybody can get the shot form of the vaccine. Only healthy people ages 2 to 49 who are not pregnant should get the nasal spray.
How many doses will I need?
Children through age 9 should get two doses of the vaccine. Everybody else needs only one dose.
What symptoms could I develop from the vaccine?
You cannot get the flu from the shot version of the vaccine. There may be soreness at the site of the injection for a short time, and with the nasal spray some people may have a runny nose, headache or other symptoms for a short time.
Is there a problem getting both the H1N1 and the seasonal flu vaccine?
There's no problem getting vaccinated for more than one strain of flu at a time. However, health officials say, if you are getting both vaccinations, at least one should be in shot form. Getting two nasal spray vaccines could reduce their effectiveness.
Copyright (C) 2009, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.
