The CDC recommends that you get he seasonal flu vaccine now, and the H1N1 vaccine when it is available. I plan on following those recommendations.

I plan on getting both for my daughter and myself. I've never gotten the flu shot before but I've always said I was going to. I certainly don't want to go through what I did when my daughter had the flu last year...that was awful.

Now that's she's in school I feel like she might be more likely of picking stuff up. I personally just feel like it's safer. Although I don't believe in panicking and wearing a mask and gloves, I do think getting the vaccines are a small part that my daughter and I can do to keep from spreading anything around.

I absolutely plan on getting both vaccinations for myself and my daughter.

I was raised to always get any and all vaccinations possible. My mother led by example after a delayed vaccination as a child caused her to be vulnerable to a Polio virus that she became infected with when she was 18 months old. She's never walked a day in her life and is now confined to a wheelchair with multiple arm surgeries to repair her worn out arm joints.

So yes, I always vaccinate. One tiny little microscopic germ can change a person's life permanently.

I don't live in paranoia or fear but I believe in embracing science and medical technology.

Now although I can get my flu shot pretty much any time, I'm not so sure my adamant desire to have a Swine Flu shot is going to help anything. It sounds like locally they won't have the first round of shots available until mid-November at best, and then in only limited quantities. The second round will be even later. Ugh. So much for avoiding Swine Flu this season.

To all of you, I really hope you'll seriously consider vaccines for you and your children...wherever available. Don't listen to the fear mongers. Vaccines really do save lives.

Healthy wishes to all!

I plan on getting the seasonal flu shot. I get it every year, and it is offered free from my employer. I will probably not get the H1N1 vaccine, as I understand it is going to be harder to get, you have to get 2 separate injections and I am honestly not that worried about H1N1 - if I do get it, it is said to be milder than the seasonal flu.

Is it reckless to say that I actually have not made plans up to this point to get either one? Perhaps I should consider changing my mind, but it's never been a problem for me before. I spend most of my time in "capsules" I control, for lack of a better term. I always travel in private vehicles (never public transport) and very few people go in and out of my home. Even when I used to frequent hockey games, we'd get a private box. It's funny to say, but the most dangerous place I go from a health perspective is probably church.

I will probably not get either shot. I will just make sure I am well hydrated, practice basic hygiene and eat viral fighting foods.

I won't be getting the regular flu shot, as I am currently getting over it. I have been pretty much sleeping the past 2 days. I will get the H1N1 shot when it comes out.

Our family has decided to get both the seasonal influenza vaccine as well as the new H1N1 immunization, once it becomes available in October. The reason for this is while the regular influenza vaccine provides protection against flu viruses that have been present in some form for a number of years and have potentially mutated, it is not believed that this vaccine will provide adequate protection against a possible pandemic resulting from an H1N1 outbreak. The new H1N1 vaccine, on the other hand, has been developed to specifically protect against this particular flu virus and unlike the seasonal vaccine, targets a somewhat different population. The seasonal flu vaccine has been found to be most helpful for young children, elderly individuals, and those with chronic medical conditions, who due to lowered immune response may be most susceptible to the seasonal flu virus. The H1N1 flu vaccine offers protection for very young and elderly individuals, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses as well, but it further includes young adults up to age 24 who have been found to be affected somewhat differently by the H1N1 virus than older individuals who may have more immunity to the virus due to possible previous exposure to a similar viral strain.
Since the members of our family fall within the age ranges of the groups most at risk for this virus, we believe the safest route to take is to receive both vaccines. While side effects of a novel and never-used-before vaccine are certainly a possibilty, I think it is best to take preventive measures rather than being skeptical and fearful. Besides, preliminary research and tests of the new H1N1 vaccine on some adults have not demonstrated any side effects and the vaccine is therefore believed to be safe for use for the upcoming flu season.