How To Get the H1N1 Vaccine

The U.S. government has ordered 250 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine.  For those who have decided to vaccinate, you may be surprised to learn that it is not always easy to locate the vaccine.  The main reason relates to the pace of production.  As of October 21st only about 11 million doses have been shipped.  These initial doses are reserved for the “high-risk” patients.  The exact criteria vary from state to state, but generally include: Read more

Tamiflu for H1N1

I am surprised by how many people are are scared to get the H1N1 vaccine but they are happy to choke down a few Tamiflu® tablets at the first sign of the Flu.  The irony is that the vaccine has been clearly established to prevent H1N1 in most people with a very low rate of adverse events.  The evidence for Tamiflu® on the other hand is not so bright.  There is scant evidence that it is in any way helpful for most people and a wealth of evidence suggests that it can be harmful.   Lets take a little closer look at Tamiflu® by asking two simple questions: Read more

H1N1 Testing

There is a great deal of confusion surrounding the need for H1N1 testing. In MOST cases you should not go see your doctor just to be tested for H1N1. Rarely, if you or your child falls into a “high-risk” category, or there are signs and symptoms of severe disease, testing may be indicated. This post is meant to help you understand when, and in who, H1N1 testing may be helpful. Read more

H1N1 Update

So just how bad is it? Today I read a headline…“28 Pregnant Women Dead from H1N1.” Sounds like the sky is falling and you had better get your vaccine (which is not yet available) or put yourself in a bubble before you get the 2009 plague. As is so often the case, it is hard to know what to make of the garbage that the media feeds us. Should I be worried? Should I stay at home? Should I keep my kids out of school?  My prescription … A healthy dose of caution mixed with some common sense. Read more