Medical offices around the country have been barraged by calls about the H1N1 vaccine. So it's a good time to share some of our patients' questions about H1N1 and vaccination.

Q: I heard that my doctor's office will get the H1N1 flu vaccine, but the people there say I am not on the list of priority patients. Why are they not giving it to me?

A: Most health systems are following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on swine flu vaccinations. If you are in any of the following categories, you may get first dibs:

 · Pregnant women.

 · Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months.

 · Health care and emergency medical personnel.

 · Patients who are 6 months to 24 years old.

 · Patients who are 25 to 64 if they have health complications such as heart disease, lung disease or certain cancers.

Despite delays, it is expected that all who want the H1N1 vaccination will eventually be able to get it, as more than 250 million doses are expected to be produced.

Q: I already got the influenza vaccine; do I still need the swine flu vaccine?

A: Yes, the two vaccines are different.

Q: I had the swine flu vaccine in the ¿70s; do I still need it now?

A: Yes, the two vaccines are different.

Q: I think I have had H1N1, but I wasn't tested. Should I still get the vaccine?

A: If you had fevers, cough, chills, body aches, fatigue and headaches, you likely were infected with influenza or H1N1. It is not harmful to get the vaccination if you had a flulike illness recently, but check with your doctor on this.

Q: I don't believe in vaccinations, and I will stick to holistic remedies for treating H1N1 if I get it. Is that OK?

A: The Food and Drug Administration warns against alternative remedies that claim to kill or inactivate the virus, such as pills, air-filtration devices or cleaning agents.

You can do your best to fight the virus by washing your hands and avoiding contact with those who are ill, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and using a tissue.

If you are having high fevers, shortness of breath or an increasing cough, do not delay going to the doctor.

H1N1 complications have included adult respiratory distress syndrome, a critical lung complication that requires hospitalization and intubation.

Q: Is this all a big hype?

A: Most of the states are reporting widespread influenza activity. Influenza is rare at this time of year, and almost all the tested cases have been positive for H1N1. So we do think this is an infection that may be widely prevalent this flu season.

If you want to know more about this and other issues related to the H1N1 virus and vaccinations, your best source for up-to-date information on H1N1 is www.cdc.gov.

Drs. Kay Judge and Maxine Barish-Wreden are medical directors of Sutter's Downtown Integrative Medicine program. They have written "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Secrets of Longevity."Have a question related to alternative medicine? E-mail fitnesssacbee.com.