With flu season closing in, many are getting their children and families ready by signing up for the flu vaccine. Here are answers that will help you avoid misinformation, making it easier for you to take the best course of action for you and your family.

1. Does the Shot cover the H1N1 Virus? No it does not. There is a vaccine for the swine flu in production as this is being written, but it is not available to the general public as yet. Initially, the swine flu vaccines will go to military personnel, emergency medical personnel as well as health departments, and health care officials. Most pharmacies are estimating that the earliest it would become available to the general public is November of 2009.

2. Should you take the swine flu vaccine if you have already taken the regular flu shot or mist? Yes both vaccines are recommended. You can choose to take them both on the same day at the same time. Or you need to wait several weeks if you have to take them separately.

3. Does a physician’s office have to give the shot to small children? No, there are pharmacies within drug stores who will vaccinate children as young as 2 years of age. Check with local pharmacies as their guidelines and age restrictions vary greatly.

4. Is there a difference in the effectiveness between the shot and mist? Yes, health care professional agree that both are good for the duration of one flu season. Given that the worse months for flu are December, January and February both should provide protection through those months.

However, if the flu season extends later than usual into March and April, it is thought that those who have received the Flu Mist will have greater coverage. In other words the flu shot tends to show a diminished capacity after 4 months, and the flu mist tends to last 5 to 6 months.

5. What is the difference between the shot and the mist? The shot is given by injection and contains dead viruses. The mist is given by spraying the vaccine up each nostril, and contains live but weakened viruses.

6. Who should avoid the mist? Those who have asthma or who use an inhaler for wheezing are not good candidates for the mist.

7. How long does it take for the vaccine to become effective? It takes several weeks for the body to react by making antibodies which then help protect it from getting the flu at all or at least lessen the seriousness of the case.

8. Can you catch the flu from being vaccinated? The answer is no for the both injection and the mist. Even though the mist contains live viruses, they are not potent enough to cause a case of the flu.

9. When is the best time to be vaccinated? As soon as the vaccine is available is the best time to receive it. Because it takes several weeks for the vaccine to offer protection, the sooner you receive the shot the sooner you’re covered. Getting it early means you avoid having supplies run low and having to wait until more is available.

10. Where can I get the most up to date information on the flu? Your physician and local media are good resources. Also, The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides up to the minute information with a website and an 800 number.

The most recent global health crisis nowadays is the dreaded swine flu, which is a respiratory disease that supposedly originated from pigs. Some people do not see how serious it really is, or how fast the illness gets around. Some even think that a simple fever, treated with a few flu tablets, is a good enough treatment to get rid of the swine flu. These people are wrong and may also be in a position to further make the problem worse by not taking extra precaution in dangerous times like these.

While locking yourself up at home might be a good way to protect yourself from swine flu, there are other ways to get around without the risk of being infected. What people are doing now to still continue with their everyday work and life is to arm themselves with vitamins, especially zinc tablets, and to invest in respirators designed to keep swine flu at bay.

With this, they can still go to work without fear of being infected while riding the bus. It might make you look a little bit silly (as some people refuse to wear it because they think it is an exaggerated reaction to the swine flu), but when everyone around you is getting sick and you are still in the pink of health, you will be very much thankful for it.

Donning a Mask

To protect yourself from swine flu, you may want to invest in a specially designed swine flu respirator mask. The N95 model seems to be the ideal kind, as its particular design was also proven to be a good barrier or blocker back when the bird flu was rampaging in certain parts of Asia. The N95 respirator mask is a comfortable and breathable mask you can wear that covers your nose and your mouth, with think fibers that block out harmful particles, yet still allow you to breath comfortably.

The best thing about swine flu respirators is that they come in foldable designs so there is no excuse to not have one on you. You don’t need complicated and bulky masks that need a bag in order to carry them around, because an N95 swine flu respirator can comfortably fit in your back pocket. It also comes in disposable forms, so you can simply throw away one at the end of the day and pull out a fresh pack the following day – which is highly recommended for utmost sterilization.

Respirators over Surgical Masks: The Real Deal

Some people make the effort to done surgical masks in an attempt to protect themselves against the swine flu. While their efforts are commendable, it is not enough. It is important to get a mask that is specifically designed for swine flu to ensure customized protection for this kind of dreaded illness. For one thing, simple surgical face masks have very loose fibers so the particles could still seep through. The garter might become loose into the day so you might end up being exposed through the sides of your face.

On the other hand, a swine flu-specific respirator or mask has thick fiber where even almost-invisible water droplets (which are carriers or the virus) cannot pass through. There is additional protection from the side as it is also especially coated and lined with cotton and thin plastic padding to ensure that it will not deform and expose your face. In times like these when your health is at stake, there is no other way to go but to buy an especially-designed respirator meant to protect you from the dreaded swine flu.

Of course, you can protect yourself against the seasonal flu by practicing good hygiene (wash your hands as often as possible); however, you may want extra protection from a flu shot. How can you go about getting that shot?

If you are covered by insurance, a good place to start is your primary care doctor. However, you want to take into account your co-pay. Some individuals end up paying more money than they would have if they had just opted for a flu shot clinic where you can pay cash. Speaking of those clinics, how can you find one?

There are two different types for clinics offered for these vaccinations. One is hosted through your local country health department and the other is hosted through local retail stores. In most cases, the cost of a flu shot is no more than $40. If you are uninsured, these are your best options to getting a flu shot without paying an arm and a leg.

To find a flu shot clinic locally:

Call Around: Start by contacting your local retail stores (including grocery stores and drug stores). See if they have any upcoming events scheduled. If you missed one already, ask if they intend to have anymore. If there is a possibility, see if you can leave your phone number. Also, start calling around your local country offices, namely the health department; ask if they have any upcoming flu shot clinics scheduled.

Check Online: You have a number of options when it comes to checking online. There are some websites that are like flu shot checkers; you can enter in your zip code and get a list of upcoming clinics in your area. You can also visit the online websites of local retail stores or your country’s health department. Moreover, many news channels have information on flu clinics in the area posted on their website. The good news is that this information is usually updated regularly, so you should know in advance if a clinic is cancelled due to a shortage of supplies.

So there you have it: you now know how to find a flu shot clinic in your area. While the shot is not necessary or required by any means, it may help prevent you from getting sick or it may limit your symptoms this flu season.

With more and more strains of flu and colds going around, more and more kids are coming down with these common colds and flus. We all want our kids to get better as quick as possible. Most of us rush down to the local drug store and buy an over the counter cough and cold medicine to help deal with the symptoms. What most people do not realize is that these common and often overused medications are doing our kids more harm than good.

Not only are these medications toxic and dangerous, there is no substantial evidence that they are effective. In the past 50 years, there have been only 11 studies on the effect these medications have on children. Yet none of these studies show that these over the counter medications help cough and cold symptoms at all.

Additionally, there have been many cases where children have gotten sick and even died from using these medications. These recent cases pressed the FDA to pull infant doses of these medications off the shelves. The FDA has also recommended that kids under the age of six should not use over the counter medications for cough and cold. There are indications that teenagers may be added. While this is a start to addressing this serious problem, that is simply not enough. There is also no evidence that over the counter medications are effective in adults.

The best way to cure a common cold is to let nature run its course. Most colds will go away within seven days without the use of any medication. The most effective treatment for a cold is to drink plenty of warm liquids and get lots of rest. We have several whole food supplements that we recommend that are safe and effective for all ages. Their unique formulas can help boost the immune system and get rid of your cold and flu symptoms faster. Schedule an appointment today for our nutritional scan to see what supplements would benefit you the most.

With the upcoming swine flu vaccination program coming soon, you’ll eventually have to decide whether or not you’re going to get vaccinated. This is not something you want to do without informing yourself; it’s important to hear all the arguments before you make your choice.

Swine Flu Vaccines to be Put on Fast Track.

The United States has committed to plans for a mid-October vaccination program. They really have no choice but to promote broad administration of swine flu vaccines; to do nothing means assuming the risk of negligence.

The big problem, though, is that creating vaccines in a such a short period of time leaves no opportunity to test them thoroughly. On top of that, neither the government nor the pharmaceutical industry will have any liability should something go wrong, such as the last time there was a mass-vaccination campaign for swine flu back in 1976. If you suffer a severe reaction to the vaccine that hospitalizes you, for example, you will have no legal right to compensation.

All this begs the question: How Do You Know the Vaccines Will Be Safe?

The government has a very specific agenda, and that’s to get as many people inoculated as possible. They can’t say for sure if any vaccine is safe: vaccine safety studies are usually very short-term - a few weeks, typically. If symptoms take months or years to appear, how can you trace them back to their origin? There have been other episodes of adverse reactions to flu shots in the past, not just swine flu.

Vaccines are already a prime suspect as a causative factor in neurological diseases such as autism and alzheimers. Although these connections are difficult, if not impossible to prove, there are enough case histories out there that you would be foolish to disregard the possibilities.

Are These Vaccines Any Different from Other Flu Shots?

Many of these swine flu vaccines will contain a dangerous adjuvant, squalene, in addition to the other toxins that go into most vaccines: heavy metals such as mercury and aluminum, preservatives and emulsifiers, including formaldehyde. Adjuvants are added to vaccines to make them more “effective” and to reduce the amount of vaccine required per dose.

Squalene is proving to be among the most deadly of immune adjuvants. Victims of Gulf War Syndrome received anthrax vaccines which contained squalene, which was later found to be the primary cause of GWS.

In Short, Don’t Assume Anything.

Just because the government is promoting swine flu vaccines is not a good reason to think that they must be safe - they won’t really know. However, you can be sure that they’re going to downplay any risks, and do whatever is necessary to get as many people inoculated as possible. It’s your job to stay informed and make an intelligent choice.

What Else Can You Do to Prevent Swine Flu?

If you’re concerned about the swine flu, the safest strategy is to build up your natural immunity that your body needs to protect itself against infections. This includes a diet rich in immune-boosting antioxidants, adequate sunshine for vitamin D, regular exercise and sleep.

Is Vitamin D the Real Answer to Swine Flu?

Numerous studies indicate that Vitamin D is perhaps the single most powerful nutrient for preventing influenza. Recent studies also show that well over half of the population has insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D in their blood. Yet no one in official circles is promoting the supplementation of vitamin D immediately, even in the face of a potentially devastating global pandemic. Nutritionists are now recommending a minimum of 1,000 to 2,000IU a day for general preventive health, even more if you’re chronically deficient.