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swine flu 101

How much vaccine will be available?
Texas' initial 1.7 million doses expected by mid-October. A total of 15 million doses expected statewide by late January.
Who will go first?
The priority is pregnant women and 2- and 3-year-old children. Then:
• Household contacts and caregivers for children under 6 months
• Health care workers and emergency medical responders
• Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years old
• Non-seniors with underlying medical conditions.
Do people born before 1957 need the vaccine?
These people are more likely to have immunity because of previous exposure to H1N1, and are a low priority, but the vaccine is still recommended.
Who shouldn't get the vaccine?
• Infants under 6 months old.
• People allergic to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.
• People with a fever.
When should you see a doctor?
If you're in one of the high-risk groups and either develop swine flu or are exposed to it. Otherwise, only if you're having severe symptoms.
How can I be sure the vaccine is safe?
FDA clears batches of vaccine before they're released. The H1N1 vaccine is made in the same way as the regular winter flu vaccine that is used with very few, minor side effects. The H1N1 vaccine should act the same way, and has so far in studies of several thousand people.
Can I get the regular flu and H1N1 vaccines at the same time?
Yes, unless you want the FluMist nasal versions for both. Then, you'll need to wait three or four weeks before doses.
Source: Q and As by the Chronicle's Todd Ackerman and Cindy George, and the Associated Press.

Replay an Oct. 6 live chat where Texas Children's Hospital experts answered your questions
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useful links
CDC
Advice and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
HEALTH CARE FORMS
Print out advance directives, medical power of attorney documents and do-not-resuscitate orders. From the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.
TEXAS MED CENTER
Links to more than 40 hospitals and schools in the Texas Medical Center in Houston.
CITY OF HOUSTON
Food inspection reports, animal regulations, mold and pollen counts, birth and death records and more.
HARRIS COUNTY
Advisories from the Harris County Health Department, updates on West Nile Virus and more.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Recommended shots for kids and frequently asked questions. From the Texas Department of Health Services.
ARE YOU FAT?
Calculate your Body Mass Index.

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