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Posted: Wednesday, 04 November 2009 11:07PM

WBEN Extra: Cold & Flu Symptoms Everywhere, Shots Scarce

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) --

From a local shortage of the vaccine, to tips on whether you have the cold or the flu, Buffalo's Early News and WBEN.com offers the following resources:

Exclusive WBEN Audio
Click Below to Listen

WBEN's Tom Puckett on
The Flu Shot Shortage

WBEN's Steve Cichon
Is it the Cold or Flu?

On the WBEN Liveline

Dr. Anthony Billitier, MD, Erie Co. Health Commissioner

Dr. Steven Lana, MD, a frustrated pediatrician

Complete Flu & H1N1 Coverage
Are there side effects? Who Should Get the Shot?  What about the Nasal Mist?
Click the headline above for total WBEN.com coverage, including answers from the CDC.

Flu Shot Clinics: Schedules and availability varies from store to store, and shortages are growing. Find out about a clinic you are comfortable with or close to, with these links.

Catholic Health System | CVS/Pharmacy | Rite Aid Pharmacy   | The Visiting Nurses Association  | Walgreen's | WNY Immediate Care

Shot Shortage: Some Clinics Canceled

If you're looking to get a flu shot, you can't get one from the Visiting Nurses Association right now. The VNA says it's because of a vaccine shortage.

Lisa Griesler, Buffalo VNA manager, says "All of the clinics have been postponed, and they were just for the seasonal flu vaccine. We are hoping to get a shipment of seasonal flu vaccine in a couple of weeks." Griesler says about 12,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine were ordered.

Griesler says an order was placed for H1N1 vaccine as well, but she says don't get your hopes up.

"All of the public and private sites were allowed to order H1N1, and I don't know the exact amount of the order, but that is very iffy because we don't know if we will receive any of that at all," warns Griesler. She says should an order of H1N1 vaccine come in, a clinic would be scheduled.

Griesler says it's been frustrating for the VNA as well as its clients. "We wish we had our vaccine in because it's an important service, and we've been doing for over 20 years," notes Griesler

Related Story: Govt says swine flu vaccine catching up to demand
A senior adviser to President Barack Obama says the government will catch up to the demand for swine flu vaccine within a week.

What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone.

In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?

Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests that usually must be done within the first few days of illness can be carried out, when needed to tell if a person has the flu.

What are the symptoms of the flu versus the symptoms of a cold?

In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

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11/05/2009 5:56AM

WBEN Extra: Flu Clinics Cancelled; Cold & Flu Symptoms

Have you had trouble finding and getting the flu shot? Share your thoughts.

11/05/2009 7:16AM

I need a Seasonal Flu Shot!

I have had three appointments for the seasonal flu shot and each location has run out of vaccine before I get my shot. My husband is a cancer patient and can not afford for me to bring home an illness that could kill him. Where can I get a Shot of seasonal flu vaccine?

11/05/2009 9:26AM

Federal gov't not prepared

The federal Gov't response to this crisis is worse than their handling of Hurricane Katrina. They are ill-prepared and unorganized!

11/05/2009 11:47AM

Need both flu shots!

My son has a congenital heart defect and requires a seasonal flu shot yearly and now also needs an H1N1 flu shot as he is at high risk for getting complications from the flu. I have called the health department both locally and at the state level and they can give me no information except to call Walgreens or Wal-Mart. My doctor cannot get either shot, although they have had it on order for months. It makes me sick to know that the people on Wall Street, professional sports people and the Obama girls can get the shots when they have no known risk factors. Something is terribly wrong here.

11/05/2009 1:51PM

Clinics

I heard about a clinic that was cancelled because they did not have enough supply for everyone who had signed up. If one assumes they had *some*, even though it wasn't enough, what happened to the supply they had?

11/05/2009 5:24PM

Flu Shots

I would hate to see what happens when we get gov't run healthcare!