H1N1 Vaccine: What You Need To Know

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- 251 million people are expected to get the H1N1 flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is launching its largest vaccine giveaway in decades. But what do you need to know before you get vaccinated?

"My kids were perfectly healthy," Katrina McIntosh told Ivanhoe. "They had no underlying health problems whatsoever."

McIntosh lost not one, but two of her children to the H1N1 virus this year.

"You know how people think that can't happen to me … well, that's what I thought," she said.

To prevent anyone else from experiencing this kind of loss, the CDC says every American should get vaccinated now. The first wave of the vaccine, already underway, consists of a nasal spray containing the weakened live H1N1 virus. It's recommended for healthy people between two and 49 years of age. Pregnant women and the elderly should get the shot with the inactive virus.

But is the vaccine safe? So far tests show 80 percent of those vaccinated produce enough antibodies to keep them from getting sick. If you're healthy, you only need one vaccine dose. If you're under 10, the CDC recommends two.

The more you know about protecting yourself, the better your odds of avoiding the flu this season.

The regular flu vaccine will not protect against the H1N1 vaccine. You'll need to get both vaccinations to protect yourself from both kinds of flu this year.