11:52
Welcome to today's House Call web chat on flu! David Koppein, NP, a nurse practitioner at ProHealth Care Medical Associates in Watertown will be our host today. We look forward to answering your questions. 12:02
[Comment From Teresa] I have a son with a severe egg allergy that can't get flu shots. He also as occaisional asthma so our pediatrician also said she didn't think the flu mist would be an alternative. Our family generally tends to get flu shots, except for him. But, I'm concerned that over the years his immune system will be weak and he may be more suseptable to the flu. Is there any progress being made for alternative delivery methods? 12:05
Great question. At this point no, there is no alternative delivery method. My suggestion would be to speak with an allergist about possible desensitization to the allergy or the possibility of giving the immunization under extremely controlled conditions. 12:06
[Comment From Lucy] I am a middle school teacher in a public school (700+ students) and I will see about 1/5 of them daily in my classroom. Are you advising teachers to get this shot, should it be necessary to get more than one? I also have Diabetes II controlled with Metformin ER. Please advise. Thank you. 12:09
Great question. My stance on this is everyone should get both a flu shot and an H1N1 (swine flu) shot when they become available. Unfortunately we are going to have two shots this year. One for the traditional flu and one for the H1N1. 12:13
[Comment From Lucy] How is virus transmitted? Is it enough to use handsanitizers in the classroom as students seldom wash hands. As a reading teacher I am concerned that the books that are read daily will become loaded with viruses and transmit from student to student to teacher. Do antibacterial sprays help at all? Any other suggestions? ( 12:18
The flu is mainly tranmitted by person to person contact. That being said it can live for some time on surfaces such as desks, books and grocery cart handles. If a person infected with the virus wipes there mouth and wipes their hand on a desk and then you touch that same area and then wipe your mouth it is possible you could be infected. The good news is antibacterial soap and wipes are very effective against the transmission of the flu. I would suggest investing in some. 12:18
[Comment From Sarah] Would you recommend giving the H1N1 to my newborn baby. 12:22
Absolutely. What we have learned from the swine flu so far is it affects babies, toddlers, pregnant women and the immunocompromised more severely. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends all people in these populations, as well as health care providers get immunized. On a personal note I am expecting a child of my own next week and he will be getting immunized when the vaccine arrives. 12:29
[Comment From Rita] What is the expected date, that the flu shots will be available? Will there be restrictions on who can get it first? Also will pets eventually be able to get it? 12:33
Great question. We are not sure on a specific time for delivery. The CDC is estimating that if there are no production problems that the vaccine will be available sometime in late September or early October. The vaccine should be open to everyone, with an emphasis put on those I discussed above. As for pets, I am not positive on the answer to that, but my thought is that pets should be ok as this is a pig/human DNA based virus. 12:34
[Comment From Lynn] I would like to know how your clinic's are treating people right now as they call for an appt on the phone or as they walk in & want to be seen by a dr because they feel they have flu like symptoms? 12:37
I can only speak for how the ProHealth Medical Associates clinics are handling this situation. At all of our clinics if a patient has any of the symptoms associated with the flu, they are immediately asked to put a protective mask on and are then escorted by a staff member to a treatment room. Once in that treatment room they are asked to keep their mask on until a staff member has gotten a thorough medical history on them. 12:38
[Comment From Guest] we going on vacation in Mexico Oct-Nov this year, should we get a flu shot or can we before we go? Are their any other precautions we should take before our trip? 12:42
This is a very common question that I have been hearing. I would recommend getting the flu shot as soon as it is available. At this point there is likely as good of chance of you contracting the flu in this country as in Mexico. As for any other precautions I would say there really are none. Diligent handwashing will be the most important thing that any of us can do throughout this flu season to try to prevent it's spread. 12:44
[Comment From joy] If a pregnant woman receives a H1N1 flu shot,does the baby still need one after it's born? 12:46
Excellent question. Yes the baby still will need to get the flu shot as well. My understanding is the immunity properties will not adequately cross the placenta to protect the baby once it is born. 12:59
If you are interested in meeting Dr. Edward Frost, who appeared on Fox6 House Call this morning, or David Koppein, NP, as well as our other physicians and staff at our Watertown Clinic, please plan to join us on October 3 for a special open house. At this event called Saturday Morning ABC's, you'll have the opportunity to talk to physicians and staff, take part in health screenings, and enjoy complimentary coffee and other refreshments. 12:59
[Comment From Guest] Are there any side effects to an unborn child of you get the shot? 1:03
At this point side effects of the vaccine to all are unknown. However, the risks of getting the flu while pregnant are significant, so these are risks and benefits that need to be weighed carefully between you and your physician prior to being immunized. 1:08
That is all of the time I have. Thank you for your participation in today's web chat. We encourage you to get a flu shot this year, especially if you are at high risk. ProHealth Care is offering flu shots at various locations throughout the area starting in October. To find dates, times and locations---and to get more information about the flu---visit www.prohealthcare.org/flu . 1:13
For more information or to register for our free open house, please visit www.prohealthcare.org and choose Classes and Events from the main menu. You can also register by calling (262) 544-2745. We hope to see you there!
Welcome to today's House Call web chat on flu! David Koppein, NP, a nurse practitioner at ProHealth Care Medical Associates in Watertown will be our host today. We look forward to answering your questions. 12:02
[Comment From Teresa] I have a son with a severe egg allergy that can't get flu shots. He also as occaisional asthma so our pediatrician also said she didn't think the flu mist would be an alternative. Our family generally tends to get flu shots, except for him. But, I'm concerned that over the years his immune system will be weak and he may be more suseptable to the flu. Is there any progress being made for alternative delivery methods? 12:05
Great question. At this point no, there is no alternative delivery method. My suggestion would be to speak with an allergist about possible desensitization to the allergy or the possibility of giving the immunization under extremely controlled conditions. 12:06
[Comment From Lucy] I am a middle school teacher in a public school (700+ students) and I will see about 1/5 of them daily in my classroom. Are you advising teachers to get this shot, should it be necessary to get more than one? I also have Diabetes II controlled with Metformin ER. Please advise. Thank you. 12:09
Great question. My stance on this is everyone should get both a flu shot and an H1N1 (swine flu) shot when they become available. Unfortunately we are going to have two shots this year. One for the traditional flu and one for the H1N1. 12:13
[Comment From Lucy] How is virus transmitted? Is it enough to use handsanitizers in the classroom as students seldom wash hands. As a reading teacher I am concerned that the books that are read daily will become loaded with viruses and transmit from student to student to teacher. Do antibacterial sprays help at all? Any other suggestions? ( 12:18
The flu is mainly tranmitted by person to person contact. That being said it can live for some time on surfaces such as desks, books and grocery cart handles. If a person infected with the virus wipes there mouth and wipes their hand on a desk and then you touch that same area and then wipe your mouth it is possible you could be infected. The good news is antibacterial soap and wipes are very effective against the transmission of the flu. I would suggest investing in some. 12:18
[Comment From Sarah] Would you recommend giving the H1N1 to my newborn baby. 12:22
Absolutely. What we have learned from the swine flu so far is it affects babies, toddlers, pregnant women and the immunocompromised more severely. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends all people in these populations, as well as health care providers get immunized. On a personal note I am expecting a child of my own next week and he will be getting immunized when the vaccine arrives. 12:29
[Comment From Rita] What is the expected date, that the flu shots will be available? Will there be restrictions on who can get it first? Also will pets eventually be able to get it? 12:33
Great question. We are not sure on a specific time for delivery. The CDC is estimating that if there are no production problems that the vaccine will be available sometime in late September or early October. The vaccine should be open to everyone, with an emphasis put on those I discussed above. As for pets, I am not positive on the answer to that, but my thought is that pets should be ok as this is a pig/human DNA based virus. 12:34
[Comment From Lynn] I would like to know how your clinic's are treating people right now as they call for an appt on the phone or as they walk in & want to be seen by a dr because they feel they have flu like symptoms? 12:37
I can only speak for how the ProHealth Medical Associates clinics are handling this situation. At all of our clinics if a patient has any of the symptoms associated with the flu, they are immediately asked to put a protective mask on and are then escorted by a staff member to a treatment room. Once in that treatment room they are asked to keep their mask on until a staff member has gotten a thorough medical history on them. 12:38
[Comment From Guest] we going on vacation in Mexico Oct-Nov this year, should we get a flu shot or can we before we go? Are their any other precautions we should take before our trip? 12:42
This is a very common question that I have been hearing. I would recommend getting the flu shot as soon as it is available. At this point there is likely as good of chance of you contracting the flu in this country as in Mexico. As for any other precautions I would say there really are none. Diligent handwashing will be the most important thing that any of us can do throughout this flu season to try to prevent it's spread. 12:44
[Comment From joy] If a pregnant woman receives a H1N1 flu shot,does the baby still need one after it's born? 12:46
Excellent question. Yes the baby still will need to get the flu shot as well. My understanding is the immunity properties will not adequately cross the placenta to protect the baby once it is born. 12:59
If you are interested in meeting Dr. Edward Frost, who appeared on Fox6 House Call this morning, or David Koppein, NP, as well as our other physicians and staff at our Watertown Clinic, please plan to join us on October 3 for a special open house. At this event called Saturday Morning ABC's, you'll have the opportunity to talk to physicians and staff, take part in health screenings, and enjoy complimentary coffee and other refreshments. 12:59
[Comment From Guest] Are there any side effects to an unborn child of you get the shot? 1:03
At this point side effects of the vaccine to all are unknown. However, the risks of getting the flu while pregnant are significant, so these are risks and benefits that need to be weighed carefully between you and your physician prior to being immunized. 1:08
That is all of the time I have. Thank you for your participation in today's web chat. We encourage you to get a flu shot this year, especially if you are at high risk. ProHealth Care is offering flu shots at various locations throughout the area starting in October. To find dates, times and locations---and to get more information about the flu---visit www.prohealthcare.org/flu . 1:13
For more information or to register for our free open house, please visit www.prohealthcare.org and choose Classes and Events from the main menu. You can also register by calling (262) 544-2745. We hope to see you there!
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