Flu vaccines are being shipped every week to healthcare providers and clinics and will continue to be produced as long as they are needed. Check with the following to find out who has H1N1 and/or seasonal flu vaccine in your area:
H1N1 and seasonal influenza are contagious respiratory illnesses caused by viruses. Flu viruses – H1N1 and seasonal flu – spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. People may also catch flu by touching something infected with the virus and then touching their mouth or nose. There are several things you can do to prevent catching or spreading H1N1 or seasonal flu. And, if you do get sick with flu, take antiviral medicines if your doctor prescribes them.
H1N1 symptoms are similar to seasonal flu but may also include diarrhea and vomiting:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Most people recover after about a week without lasting effects.
Seek emergency medical care if you or a family member has any of these symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
- In babies, bluish or gray skin color, lack of responsiveness or extreme irritation
Antiviral drugs may be prescribed by your doctor. These prescription medicines – pills, liquid or an inhaler – fight flu by keeping the flu viruses from reproducing in your body. They can make your illness milder, make you feel better faster and also prevent serious flu complications. Antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick, usually within two days of developing symptoms.
Reminder: Do not give aspirin or aspirin-containing products to children age 18 and younger who have flu-like symptoms, as aspirin can cause Reye’s syndrome.
