Dr. Lana discusses H1N1 vaccine

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The first doses of the swine flu vaccine could be arriving in New York state in the next week.

Can you still get H1N1 once you're vaccinated, what can happen if you don't get your child vaccinated, those are just some of the many questions, Buffalo School's Medical Director Dr. Steven Lana answers Thursday, as we continue our week-long series on H1N1.

QUES: Can the vaccine make you sick?

Answer: No, that's an urban myth. The vaccine is a killed virus, so killed virus has no ability to cause infection.

QUES: Is there any reason why parents should be concerned about getting their kids vaccinated?

Answer: None. Zero.

QUES: Does the seasonal vaccine protect a child against H1N1?

Answer:No because the regular flu vaccine is strain specific for what was expected to be the dominant circulation strains. So each vaccine as far as the flu, is manufactured to target specific strain, specific surface marker.

QUES: If you have a healthy child, with no chronic illness, what are the dangers if you don't get them any flu shot?

Answer: That they will get sick with H1N1 influenza and most will do quite well. But, who wants to take the chance that your child is going to be the one that doesn't do well?

QUES: If you have doubts and will only get one vaccination for you or your child, which should it be, seasonal or H1N1?

Answer: H1N1 for sure. This is a way you can ensure that your child is protected and that's what we all do. It's a missed opportunity if you don't get immunized.

QUES: There are two forms of the vaccine, the shot and the flu mist, what's the difference? Start with the injection that contains the killed virus.

Answer: Again, the killed product can't make you sick. You might get mild side effects, but that is the extent. You can not get the flu from the killed virus vaccine. If you get the flu mist, which comes in a live attenuated form, that virus is not killed it's weakened, significantly weakened and it's engineered so that when it enters your body and changes body temperature it becomes inactivated.

QUES: Can you still get H1N1 if vaccinated?

Answer: Possible, because no vaccine is 100% effective plus there's a lag period from the time you get immunized to the time you have optimal antibody levels. Let's say I got the vaccine today and get exposed tomorrow, the vaccine doesn't do any good.

QUES: How long for the vaccine to take effect?

Answer: It takes about 3 weeks to get the optimal anti-body which is why so important not to wait.

QUES: How long does the vaccine last?

Answer: The vaccine is designed to give at least a year of protection. Every time you're exposed to the flu virus in the air in the community you're getting booster effect.

Many have asked if you can get the swine flu twice, and are people who got the 1976 swine flu vaccine protected this time around.

Dr. Lana answers those questions Friday morning on Wake Up.