15:24 [Comment From Dr. Herbert L. DuPont ]
I am Herbert L. DuPont, MD, Chief of Internal Medicine at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. I am an infectious diseases specialist with interest in influenza and other infectious disease topics.

15:25 [Comment From Gina ]
Is the flue shot safe?

15:28 [Comment From Margaret Price, PhD, CIC ]
Hi, my name is Margaret and I am Director of Infection Control at St. Luke's Hospital and Health System. Our job is to help combat anything causing infections, including the H1N1 novel influenza virus.

15:29 [Comment From Dr. Herbert L. DuPont ]
There are two types of flu vaccines - one for seasonal flu now available and the one for swine flu soon to be available. Both are made the same way and are safe. I will take them both if offered.

15:29 [Comment From Jon from KSBJ ]
Hi Dr. Dupont. We just got a call from a listener wanting to know where she could get 'preservative-free' H1N1 vaccine? She's allergic to the preservative and can't find what she needs. CDC says it's on it's way, but she can't seem to get any more info. Can you help?

15:31 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: Check with your Doctor. Ask for the single dose version of the vaccine, as it is preservative free form.

15:31 [Comment From Guest ]
Both of my children have been diagnosed with the flu. The dr.s have given us all Tamiflu. Will this prevent those of us who are not infected yet from getting it?

15:32 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: Tamiflu will decrease the chance of getting flu while you are taking it. This is not 100% sure, but likely to prevent disease.

15:33 [Comment From Tara ]
Is LYSOL sufficient in killing those flu germs?

15:34 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: Yes, it is effective, but the contact time is important so leave the surface damp and allow to air dry if possible.

15:35 [Comment From Dawn ]
I'm scheduled to get the regular flu shot this week - is it necessary to get the "swine flu" shot as well? If so, do I need to wait any specific length of time to get that shot?

15:36 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: If you fall within the risk categories for swine flu and are offered the vaccine, take it! You can take two killed vaccines together with no problem. You could even take them at the same time if available.

15:37 [Comment From Laura ]
Is it safe for a 6 1/2 pregnant woman to take the shot?

15:38 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: It is safe for a pregnant woman at any stage of pregnancy to take the vaccine (by injection). It is a killed vaccine.

15:38 [Comment From Britt Nikole ]
What is the difference between Swine Flu and the regular flu?

15:40 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: Seasonal flu is most important for elderly and infirm persons and causes death in a number of these persons. The swine flu is more contageous than most viruses but concentrates on children and young adults. Persons above the age of 60 years have some immunity to swine flu since a similar virus circulated in the U.S. during the 1950s.

15:40 [Comment From sherry ]
what is the difference in the shot and the nasal spray?and which one is best for children under 6

15:42 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The nasal spray is a living weakened strain of flu. It can be given to older children (2 years of age and older) but not to pregnant women. The shot is a killed vaccine and is safe for all including pregnant women. Also, it can be given down to 6 months of age.

15:42 [Comment From Tammy ]
The first question is what are difference between the symptoms of the swine flu and regular flu, and would the Dr. recommend the H1N1 flu shot since there are possible problems from the side affects?

15:43 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The swine flu infects young persons more importantly and can cause deaths. The seasonal flu is more serious in the elderly and infirm. Swine flu has a higher frequency of vomiting and diarrhea than the regular seasonal flu.

15:44 [Comment From jeanne ]
Is it true that older adult who were born in the 50's may have an immunity to the Swine Flu? Also, can one be a carrier without having the illness themselves?

15:48 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: According to the CDC ,a virus that is a little like the novel H1N1caused flu back in the 50s. It was not identical, but enough alike that individuals alive then are thought to have some degree of immunity. The carrier state is not considered likely with influenza infections.

15:48 [Comment From Brandy ]
I have noticed that the majority of those that are getting the H1N1 are only having mild cases. Will this continue to be the case?

15:48 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: While most of the cases of Swine flu are mild, a percent of young persons including pregnant women experience fatility..

15:48 [Comment From Jose ]
Who falls in the risk category?

15:51 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The high risk categories in order of importance are: pregnant women, caregivers for infants less than 6 months, healthcare workers, persons from 6 months of age to 24 years of age, persons from 25 to 50 years of age, particularly with an underlying medical disorder.

15:51 [Comment From Ann ]
What is the risk of getting Guillen-Barre Syndrome from either shot?

15:53 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: There is a small risk of Guillain Barre Syndrome from vaccine but it is in the same order of risk as is seen following flu itself. We had an excessive number after the swine flu vaccine in 1976. There is no reason to think the new H1N1 vaccine will be worse in this regard than regular seasonal flu vaccine that many of us take.

15:53 [Comment From Kathy ]
I am a 54 year diabetic woman. Should I get the Swine flu shot? I have already taken the regular flu shot. What complications does the flu cause for diabetic people?

15:54 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: You are in a borderline classification but with the diabetes history I say, "take it if it is made available to you". You won't be in the first categories of risk but will have a chance to take the vaccine in second wave.

15:54 [Comment From MC ]
Do you recommend someone with clotting issues to take the shot? My husband has had a heart-attack and two strokes in the last three years.

15:55 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: There is no reason for someone with clotting issues to avoid taking the flu vaccine.

15:55 [Comment From Dianna ]
is the vacine safe your someone who suffers with Crohn's disease and is on remicade

15:56 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The H1N1 vaccine given by injection is a killed vaccine. It will safe for all persons regardless of immunosuppression.

15:56 [Comment From Rosa ]
What are the side effects from getting either shot?

15:58 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: The shot (injection) is a dead virus so cannot cause flu. The most likely side effect is redness or soreness at the site. Remember that anyone with a severe egg allergy should not take either flu shot.

15:58 [Comment From Brandy ]
Is the current percentage of deaths per time period the same or more/less for the swine flue vs. the regular flu?

15:58 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The risk of death for the swine flu is lower than for the seasonal flu. However, almost all the deaths with seasonal fu are in the elderly and infirm. Sadly, the deaths from swine flu are seen in young preveiously healthy persons including pregnant women.

15:58 [Comment From Lisa McDonald ]
What is it about H1N1 that makes it so serious potentially? What actually kills you?

15:59 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: Two things: 1) it is highly communicable spreading like fire in susceptible populations; and, 2) it causes deaths in young otherwise healthy persons including pregnant women while the seasonal flu causes death almost exclusively in the elderly and infirm.

15:59 [Comment From Julie Y. ]
What are the very first signs that you are coming down with the swine flu and what is the correct course of action if you do have the swine flu?

16:00 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The first signs of swine flue are headache, cough and muscle pains with or without vomiting and diarrhea.

16:00 [Comment From Michele ]
My son and I have both had the H1N1, can we get it again?

16:02 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: If you have been diagnosed with H1N1 influenza, it is extremely unlikely that you will get it again, unless the virus mutates to a new form. Three is no evidence that this has happened.

16:02 [Comment From Marie ]
I've heard one of the side effects of the H1N1 shot is infertility or sterilization. Please comment on that.

16:04 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: Anything can happen extremely rarely. However, there is no reason to worry about infertility after receipt of a flu vaccines since it is a killed virus preparation. I believe that this would occur with lower frequency from vaccine than following full blown influenza.

16:04 [Comment From Marie ]
You had mentioned on the radio that if you were alive in the 50's that you probably have a natural immunity to the swine flu. I am just making sure that I heard your correctly. Also, is there enough mercury in the vaccinations to do any harm?

16:08 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: No, if you were alive in the 50s you do not have a natural immunity to this virus. What I said was that you may have some (little) protection...you may get ill but not as seriously as if you were born later. If you are offered the H1N1 vaccine please do not refuse it because of your age, There is only a miniscule amount of mercury in the vaccine and it is extremely unlikely to be harmful.

16:08 [Comment From Brandy ]
Was the spanish flu of the 1918 close to H1N1?

16:08 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The current swine flue epidemic has one striking similarity with the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic - both started in the spring of the year and came back with a vengence in the fall. The big difference (which is so important), the Spanish flu was a major killer of up to 50 million persons worldwide, the current swine strain (H1N1) fortunately isn't so serious except for a small number of young persons.

16:08 [Comment From Rosa ]
Is there a certain percentage of effectiveness for either shot or is it just that maybe it will help and maybe it won't?

16:10 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The percentage effectiveness appears to be about 70% for both seasonal flu and swine flu (based on preliminary studies) meaning that 70% of influenza that would occur without the vaccine is prevented, It isn't 100% protective but very good.

16:10 [Comment From brenda ]
what about babies around the age of 1 and 2 should thaey take the shot?

16:11 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The vaccine shot can be given down to 6 months of age. The nasal vaccine can be given down to 2 years of age. For infants under 6 months we don't give vaccine because they don't respond to it due to an immature immune system.

16:12 [Comment From Lisa McDonald ]
Is H1N1 species specific, or can we pass it to other animals, especially other primates?

16:13 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The H1N1 can go to different hosts (people and pigs for sure) and probably to non-human primates. There is a high degree of species specificity though and we are not likely to spread H1N1 from us to domestic dogs or cats.

16:13 [Comment From Jon from KSBJ ]
What's the correlation between egg-alergy and the flu shots?

16:13 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: The flu vaccine is prepared by growing the virus up in eggs. When the virus is killed and the vaccine is prepared for administration there may be trace amounts of egg left in the preparation, but enough to trigger an alergic response.

16:14 [Comment From Shannon ]
How can you recognize the swine flu in say a two year old who can't verbalize what actually hurts? Will you have fever with the swine flu?

16:14 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: Swine flu will often be associated with fever, but vomiting and diarrhea may also be present, which is unusual with seasonal flu.

16:14 [Comment From Lea ]
One of the ingredients listed online in the flu shot is formaldehyde. Isn't that harmful to the body?

16:16 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The amount of preservatives in the vaccine is very low and below that expected to have medical complications. We don't want the vaccine to be contaminated with microbes which would be more serious if the preservatives were not used.

16:16 [Comment From Genie ]
in talking about the nasal mist versus the injection, what is the difference between "live" and "dead"? What does that really mean?

16:17 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: The live virus vaccine is what we call attenuated…it has been weakened so that it cannot make us sick. The dead virus is already dead but the pieces that help us mount an immune response are still present.

16:17 [Comment From Suzie K. ]
My daughter and I had, what the doctor suspects, was the H1N1 virus; headache, sore throat, stomach ache, fever, body aches. We had a mild case, but it has now been a week since it ended. The problem is, our stomachs are still cramping and we are still experiencing minor nausea. In addition, our temperature is still raise off and on. Is this normal? Or should we return to the doctor? Thank you.

16:18 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The swine flu often does persist longer than the seasonal flu. What you are experiencing is consistent with what is being seen. On the other hand, if it doesn't continually get better you may want to return to your doctor to be sure it isn't something else.

16:18 [Comment From Mayra ]
Dr. DuPont - when will the H1N1 vaccine be available here in Houston?

16:20 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: We don't know yet exactly when the H1N1 vaccine will be available here in Houston. We know however that once we start to receive the vaccine it will continue to be supplied until everyone who needs it has received it.

16:20 [Comment From Rosa ]
What is it that the vaccines do to help you prevent the flu(s)?

16:20 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The influenza vaccine in the vaccine shot is a killed virus and the one in the nasal spray is a live but weakened virus. Both produce antibodies in your body (your body thinks a virus is attacking it) and the antibodies inhibit or kill the real virus later when it tries to enter your body.

16:20 [Comment From Guest ]
Should young 20 yr olds get vacine?

16:21 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: A healthy 20 year old is in one of the priority groups. You should take the vaccine.

16:21 [Comment From Amanda ]
More than one person around me claim they get sick with flu like symptoms after they have recieved the flu vaccine. Is this possible and if so how commom?

16:23 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The flu vaccine can cause a sore arm and a little fever. A real flu illness which is prolonged is not from the flu vaccine. Remember, it takes two weeks after the vaccine to be fully protected. If you are exposed to flu and take the vaccine, you can get the flu right after the vaccine since it is too early to be protected.

16:23 [Comment From Brandy ]
Will there be enough H1N! vaccines for everyone in the Houston area and/or for those mentioned in the high risk group above?

16:24 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The first and probably second shipments of H1N1 vaccine will probably not be sufficient for all. However, we think there will be plenty of vaccine as production is maintained so that all who want it will be immunized. It is a race between the virus and our ability to produce vaccine. Eventually we will win the race!

16:25 [Comment From Lauren ]
Is the flu season this year that much worse than in past years? Or is the media just trying to get us all panicked when there really is no alarm? I am all for washing hands, staying home if you are sick but this seems to be getting way out of proportion.

16:26 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: This flu season is worst than any flu season since

1968 in one way - the amount of people becoming infected and likely to become infected. This flu season is better than most flu seasons, however, in the low number of deaths!

16:26 [Comment From Isela ]
I'm 29 and I don't exactly have any health problems or illnesses, but I tend to catch anything that is going around! Does this in a way, make me a priority?

16:28 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: You don't fall in the highest priority categories based on your age but do fall within a second level category for the vaccine. I am sure you will be offered H1N1 vaccine and I recommend you take it.

16:28 [Comment From LM ]
I got the regular flu shot and got sick with a respiratory infection within a few days. I have asthma and work on a college campus, but I am afraid to take the swine flu shot because I do not want to get sick again. Should I get it? Thanks.

16:29 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: The upper respiratory infection you describe was not related to your flu shot, but probably was already starting when you received that vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine will not cause an upper respiratory infection and if you are in a high risk group you should take it.

16:29 [Comment From jw ]
what is the incubation periods for both flues?

16:29 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The incubation period (time from exposure to illness onset) for both viruses is from 1 to 5 days.

16:29 [Comment From Julie Y. ]
Why are so many young kids dying from the swine flu so soon after being diagnosed with it and how else can I protect my kids from it besides getting them the vaccine?

16:32 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The H1N1 virus is killing fewer deaths than we see from seasonal flu but unfortunately it is the young who are experiencing fatal disease. What I suggest is to keep more than 6 feet from persons coughing and sneezing and washing hands carefully after contact with anyone. The key way to prevent this is to take the vaccine whenever it is available!

16:32 [Comment From Isela ]
When is the best time to take the vaccinations and when is it too late? When exactly is flu season?

16:33 Margaret Price, PhD, CIC: The best time to take the flu vaccine is early in flu season or before you get sick, so that you have a chance to develop antibodies…an immune response, which can take 10 days or so. Once you have flu symptoms it is too late to take the vaccine, you should talk to your Doctor about taking an antiviral like Tamiflu. Normally flu season is from October through March, however with this pandemic situation it may be a little different from usual.

16:33 [Comment From Guest ]
I am 20 and have a bad immune system. Am I at higher risk?

16:33 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: You are at higher risk for influenza and should take both seasonal flu (now available) and the swine flu when it is available (probably late October or November).

16:34 [Comment From Guest ]
I am 58 years old with RA. Should I make getting the H1N1 vaccine a priority?

16:34 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: You should take the seasonal flu vaccine now and while you are not in the highest risk group for H1N1 you are in a risk category and I recommend taking that vaccine when it is available to you (probably November).

16:35 [Comment From Amanda ]
If having body aches,fever or other flu like symptoms how soon should you see a doctor ?

16:36 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: Ideally you have a doctor and can call the office to check with them. They may ask you to come in to be checked to see if you should be treated with Tamiflu. We don't want a lot of sick people sitting for long periods in emergency rooms but an efficient appointment with your doctor may be important.

16:37 [Comment From Isela ]
Is it a good idea to take extra vitamin C or take some Echinacea treatments? Do they really help?

16:38 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: There is no medical evidence that vitamin C or Echinacea prevent influenza.

16:38 [Comment From Jenny ]
should we expect the flu season to be this bad again next year or will H1N1 go away?

16:39 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: This will depend upon how much of the population becomes infected by the virus and how much vaccine we use. My guess is that the current H1N1 strain of flu will not be a major problem in 2010.

16:39 [Comment From Krystal ]
I have Lupus/Arthritis...I have been told that the H1N1 VACCINE is not yet safe for someone with an autoimmune disorder...is this TRUE?

16:40 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: The infection form of the vaccine is killed and is perfectly safe. Don't take the nasal vaccine, however. It is live.

16:40 [Comment From Margaret ]
You said vitamin C & Echinacea don't work. What about oregano and thyme which are known virus killers? Would an increase in those herbs be beneficial?

16:42 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: Again, there is no evidence these herbs prevent influenza even though they have some antiviral activities. More research is needed to better understand the value of natural products in prevention of infectious diseases. Not having evidence doesn't mean they don't work. The National Institutes of Health wants to more fully develop this potentially important area of medicine.

16:42 [Comment From Tom]
At 17 I've never had a flu shot before and don't really want to take either of these. Since I am healthy and take care of my health rigorously, why should I take either of these flu shots? I just don't get it why the big push.

16:44 Dr. Herbert L. DuPont: You will probably be ok. However, we have young folks your age who were previously well in the hospital right now on respirators who worry me enough that I want all young persons to take the vaccine.

16:48 [Comment From Dr. Herbert L. DuPont ]
We apologize for starting late and cutting it a bit short, but we had technical difficulties. Thank you all for participating in this live web Q&A with KSBJ. The question were great and we tried to answer as many as we could.

16:49 [Comment From Dr. Herbert L. DuPont ]
A transcript will be available on www.stlukestexas.com or on www.ksbj.org. Thanks and stay healthy!