hi i am a 25 year old mother of 2 my oldest is a 4 year old preschooler and my baby is 6 moths old, is the swine flu shot safe enought for a 6 month old? is there a chance that if i get the vaccine for us that something bad could happen to us.

I have a question about the process of getting the shot, not about the illness itself. I went to get the vaccine yesterday at Old Court Middle. My understanding was that this initial supply was only for people who had underlying medical conditions and children. I got there a half an hour before the start time, got ticket 276 (one ticket per family) and I was just about to be seen when they ran out of the shot and only had the mist. I couldn't take the mist because I was told because I have diabetes and the mist is a live virus. I don't think it was even an hour after the start time.

My question is, are they taking people's word that they are only able to take the shot? And are people able to take the shot because they lie and say they are only able to take the shot and not the mist? I didn't know that I am only able to take the shot. I was talking to a pregnant woman next to me and she said she needed the shot and couldn't have the mist. She raised the question that I am asking now. I asked three people working there about whether she should get prioriity since she can't have the mist. I was walking back to her after having no luck finding info when I overheard someone say they were out of the shot. I told the lady what I heard. My number (group of 25) had been called so I got in the line. They then announced that they were out of the shot and only had the mist. A very nice woman had to yell over the hubbub to tell the crowd when the next clinic would be.

I'm sorry to ramble. They said they had been given 600 shots. 600! How many people live in Baltimore County?

My question is did those shots really go to people who had to have the shot and not the mist? Or were people who just didn't want the mist able to manipulate the situation and get the shot that someone like me had to have?

Before I left this morning I wanted to know "how am I going to prove that I have diabetes?" as I had read that this clinic was only for those most succeptible to complications if they got swine flu. I tried calling the Baltimore County info line listed on the county swine flu website and it was busy. They website said nothing, though I wasn't surprised because I didn't know of a way to prove I had diabetes. So I brought my medicine.

Anyway, very frustrating, although I know that something like this is not going to be easy to do (duh). I don't want to complain about "inconveniences" during a situation like this. But I just wonder how airtight the system is in regard to who is getting the right delivery of the vaccine.

If you made it this far, I appreciate it. :-)

I know Tamiflu and Relenza supplies are short. Does Acyclovir have any effect on lessening the symptoms of either Seasonal Flu or Swine Flu?

Dr. Pekosz,

1. I'm pretty sure I caught H1N1 in Feb/March of 2009 before it was full blown in the media. Was sick for three weeks with the worst cough I've ever had.

From all accounts, H1N1 has already infected over 100 million people in the world. In addition, most accounts describe the main infective virus strain as having not mutated yet.

Assuming I had H1N1 7 months ago, despite the push to vaccinate everyone right now as the second "wave" arrives, my question is why should I or others vaccinate if we were infected 6-7 months ago. If I still have antibodies from the prior illness, and the virus hasn't mutated, shouldn't that be enough?

2. Also there has been a lot of press about adjuvants in vaccines. For awhile I was reading that the vaccine makers were contemplating adding adjuvant to increase the amount of H1N1 vaccine supply available. Now, there is a widespread media coverage saying there is no adjuvant. Further reading today in the pres states that in Europe there is adjuvant added, but none in the US vaccines.

I used to be a researcher and we added Freund's adjuvant etc to lab mice to increase their antibody production for our research prior to harvesting their spleen etc. I definitely would not want that concoction put in a patient. Doing some more internet research it seems that Novartis has a M59 squalene compound that may be used in the future. Two influenza vaccines with adjuvant are being tested and may be used in the future. Would you or others want to inject adjuvant in a human being and does the end justify the means in protecting against this seasonal flu variant. This is not smallpox or ebola. I disagree with such a nonspecific "ramp up" of the immune system in humans. What is your opinion?

Thank you.

Quick question doc: I have spoken with several friends who have had a similar encounter to me. They had a fever (not prohibitive from doing anything, just annoying), weak sore throat and a weak cough for about a week or so. None of us thought much of it, but then a coworker started saying many folks catching the flu caught a 'mild version.' What exactly is the 'mild version?' I mean would our semi-flu-like symptoms qualify? Just curious. Thanks!

The CDC says swine flu hits kids the hardest, but the statistics seem to show that 90% of fatalities occur in adults. can you explain the discrepancy? thanks.

Where in Baltimore can we go now to get the vaccination?

My name is Emily i am 17 and i was just visiting my dad for about 4 days and he got sick after about 2 of them and i went just about every where he did and he caught the swine flu and i was around him for about 2 days after he started coughing what are the chances of me getting it?