Q&A: Do I need a swine flu shot and a seasonal flu shot?

Yes. The seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot offer protection for separate virus strains. The seasonal flu shot is provided annually during flu season to protect you from strains of the flu that are expected to crop up. Researchers and doctors meet annually to analyze trends in illness to profile a flu vaccine for the upcoming year that is concocted to safeguard the public against prevalent virus strains.

The H1N1 virus is a different strain of flu that we have not—until now—encountered. This makes it more likely to spread because our immune systems have not had time to develop the immunities against this illness. The tough thing with viruses is that they can mutate to sneak through immunities that our bodies may have built up in the past. Viruses are built to survive and in order to do this they can keep morphing and changing.

The purpose of a vaccine is to introduce a virus to our system in a "weakened" or "killed" state so that our bodies can build up antibodies to protect us from getting sick when we come in contact with live germs.

The seasonal flu shot is recommended pregnant and breastfeeding women. Women who are pregnant are especially susceptible to the H1N1 virus and are considered a priority group for getting vaccinated. When you are pregnant your immune system becomes weaker, so doctors think that it is very important to be vaccinated.

Both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines are available in two forms; nasal spray and injection. You can get them at the same time. It is not recommended to get them both as a nasal spray if you are doing them at the same time. There are reports of side effect from the nasal spray vaccine that include; headache, sore throat, aches, fever or upset stomach. The side effects are generally short in duration.

It is important to talk to your doctor about any vaccines or medications you might take while pregnant.

In addition to getting vaccinated, be smart about staying healthy and avoiding germs!

• Wash your hands
• Stay away from those who are sick
• Get adequate rest
• Eat well