Antivirus?

[bunsen_h]

If one were to receive a vaccination for H1N1 a few hours after exposure — say, in the big crowd/lineup waiting for the shot — would one be protected?

Comments

[radargrrl.livejournal.com]

Would they even give it to you if they thought you had been exposed?

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

If someone waiting for the shot has some symptoms, would they tell everyone else around to just go home, don't bother?

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that the immunity takes a couple weeks to fully kick in, so you're not protected at the time you get the shot.

[popelaksmi.livejournal.com]

This is what I have heard/ read as well.

[kattale.livejournal.com]

I've also heard that "contact" with the virus is a much earlier stage than the proliferation of the virus - I've heard that you have a few hours to gargle with salt-water and use a saline nasal spray, which is supposed to kill the virus if you catch it before it starts to proliferate in your system.

This is wisdom gained from too much internet reading, so take with a grain of salt..

[radargrrl.livejournal.com]

Or a nasal spray, as it were...

Dr. I. Says..

[i-and-t.livejournal.com]

(please see my most recent post)
Once you get the shot, it does take approximately 3 weeks to get to full immunity. in that window time, you still could get H1N1. (as I have).
They are recommending that even if you think that you might already have had H1N1, it is still a good idea to get the vaccine. this virus has a good chance of mutating slightly. If you get the vaccine, your body has a huge number of antibodies against it (all its epitopes (i.e.all its parts) so that if you get a slightly different version of the virus later, if you've had the vaccine, that will still protect you.
best website: www.fightflu.ca
for local things e.g. where are vaccine clinics: look up the ottawa public health website.
hope that this helps.

p.s. if you are worried about getting the virus in the lineup, bring a mask (N95 is best, you can find them in hardware stores) but any will do, and bring lots of hand sanitizer. this virus is transmitted by droplets: i.e. coughs, sneezes, hand touches doornob, touches nose, etc. try and stay about 2 m away from peopl who are coughing or sneezing, as this is about the furthest a cough or sneeze droplet can go. This virus is NOT airborne like SARS.

Re: Dr. I. Says..

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info.

I'm not particularly worried about getting the virus in the lineup; I was just thinking that the crowding I was hearing about sounded like a risk for contagion. (I'm also not in a high-risk group, so I'm not in a great hurry to get the shot.)