# Have you received the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358 "2009-12-15T14:49:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/61 "2009-12-18T19:02:53Z")
The U.S. government is finally recommending that everyone, not just high-risk individuals, get the H1N1 flu vaccine. From this [story](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34465289/ns/health-cold_and_flu/): > [@Associated Press](#): > > …For people who’ve been at the back of the line, “Now it’s your turn,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday. > > Even though this new flu that scientists call the 2009 H1N1 strain is ebbing, specialists stressed that it’s too soon to say it’s over. There’s plenty of illness going around, and the 1957 flu pandemic ebbed in the fall only to bounce back in January and February. > > …Through mid-November, about one in six Americans have caught this new H1N1, and about 10,000 have died, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. **Far more children and young adults have gotten seriously ill and died than in a normal flu year** [emphasis added]. > > …The concern now is that people will lose interest in swine flu vaccine just as supplies finally are adequate that states are lifting restrictions. Even drugstore chains in parts of the country are starting to get enough supply to offer doses to anyone. > > Historically, interest in flu vaccine plummets by the holidays, even though the regular winter flu usually revs up in January or February. As of December 16, Connecticut changed their guidance to [this](http://www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch/cwp/view.asp?a=2533&q=450302): > [@State of Connecticut](#): > > The H1N1 vaccine can now be administered to anyone who wishes to receive it. Vaccine is no longer restricted to the previously outlined priority groups. My wife and I actually got our H1N1 flu shots a week ago today from our doctor’s office. At the time, I remember thinking that they were jumping the gun by giving it to us (not being high-risk), but they must have determined that they had received enough vaccine to inoculate everyone in their practice. I also rationalized that I was contributing to [herd immunity](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity). In any event, I wasn’t going to argue with them when they offered us the vaccine. Also, here’s a neat PSA video from the CDC: [I Never Get The Flu](http://www.cdc.gov/cdctv/inever/) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/62 "2009-12-18T19:49:25Z")
I got the H1N1 flu shot yesterday – I finally was a in a category that allowed me to get it at my medical clinic: I’m the father of a ten-day old baby. ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/63 "2009-12-18T20:51:32Z")
I got the H1N1, the seasonal, and the pneumonia shot all back in November. I’m high risk because of health issues, and because I’m a teacher. My lung doctor refers to schools as ‘sewers’ because of the germ sharing. ---
**Author:** ![BleizDu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@BleizDu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BleizDu)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/64 "2009-12-18T21:36:13Z")
Nope, don’t see the point. My partner got the H1N1 flu back in september or october, I didn’t get sick from it though. He recently received a voucher to get a shot for it. Not me. He don’t plan to get a shot either. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/65 "2009-12-18T22:08:11Z")
Got it ages ago (October). H1N1 in left arm, seasonal 'flu in right. H1N1 hurt more, but no other side effects. I’m a doctor with a baby under 6 months who is going back to work in Paediatrics in February…no way in hell was I turning the opportunity to get vaccinated down and put the health of myself, my baby and other peoples’ kids at risk. I got vaccinated throgh work- they sent an email saying “we’re offering vaccines to all front-line staff on these dates- come with your work ID or a recent paycheck and photo ID”. As it turned out I’d worked with the nurse who vaccinated me, so that wasn’t even necessary. One thing the NHS has actually done well is getting priority groups covered. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/66 "2009-12-19T00:06:04Z")
No, I’m not getting it. I’m not in a risk group and haven’t had flu in 12 years, so I don’t bother with flu vaccines. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/67 "2009-12-19T00:09:53Z")
Never had a flu shot, and I haven’t had the flu since high school ---
**Author:** ![Neeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@Neeps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neeps)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/68 "2009-12-19T09:14:55Z")
> [@irishgirl](#): > > One thing the NHS has actually done well is getting priority groups covered. Yup, for all that people slate them, they have been pretty organised in rolling out the vaccine to priority groups. It’s a shame not more people are taking up the offer to get the vaccine. Last I heard, the uptake amongst pregnant women was pretty poor, although this doesn’t surprise me. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/69 "2009-12-19T19:28:15Z")
I got the shot to do my thing for herd immunity. I’m in good health, and would likely have no problem surviving the flu. By getting the shot I reduce the likelihood of catching the flu and passing it on to someone who’s not as healthy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/70 "2009-12-19T19:32:49Z")
Finally got it on Tuesday Dec 15 and I’m in a high risk group. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358/71 "2009-12-19T21:02:08Z")
**Markxxx** , you’re off base here. The federal government purchased all the shots in advance to fund the development of the vaccine and gave them away. “How will the 2009 H1N1 vaccine be financed? In general, the 2009 H1N1 vaccine will be financed similarly to seasonal influenza vaccine, with two important exceptions. First, the federal government has purchased the vaccine and related supplies so providers should not be seeking reimbursement for these. Second, states are receiving funding from CDC to coordinate vaccination efforts. Vaccine administration can be billed to public and private insurance in much of the same way that they currently are billed for the seasonal influenza vaccine. In no case will commercial community vaccinators be permitted to receive both federal monies provided to public health departments and bill insurance for vaccine administration for the same patient. Details are below, but in summary, the 2009 H1N1 vaccine will be financed similarly to the seasonal influenza vaccine.” From here: [CDC H1N1 Flu | Questions and Answers on 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Financing](http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/statelocal/vaccine_financing.htm) The federal government did not go that extra mile to actually pay the $10-15 administration cost for every American. Many if not most people with insurance already have coverage for vaccinations, and many employers also provide vaccines at no charge for their employees. The truly destitute have Medicaid or other public health options. Additional funding for the H1N1 shot would have been, to a large extent, a handout to insurance companies and employers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-received-the-2009-h1n1-flu-vaccine/521358.md?page=3)