University Of Maryland Hosts H1N1 Flu Seminar

ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA) -- "I was very afraid, because the vaccine wasn't there," one Maryland student admitted.

Biology students from the University of Maryland and members of the public were invited to learn about the H1N1 flu from a panel of experts at the Universities at Shady Grove.

Another student said, "There's a lot of confusion about the virus and the vaccine."

Because this new H1N1 flu strain is similar to the deadly flu of 1918, it's sparked worry from the start. 

Dr. Jennifer Todd who heads up the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville says, "Part of the problem is we're seeing so many cases early in the season.  It could continue to be mild forms, but we just don't know."

Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, but there's still a big misconception about that.

Dr. David Rollins at the University of Maryland says he finds the majority of students still think you can get the flu from the vaccine. 

"You cannot get the flu from the vaccine," says Dr. ROllins. "It's an inactive virus,  not a live virus."

Dr. Rollins explained that the H1N1 vaccine was not rushed through.  He said it was made the same way and took the same 7 months to produce as the seasonal vaccine.

The most common way to be infected is someone coughing or sneezing on you. But your hands are also an excellent transmitter because the virus can live up to two days on hard surfaces.

The experts told the group that hand-sanitizer is as effective as handwashing, but only if its done correctly, just like with handwashing.  You need to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and you need to rub the sanitizer on your hands and keep rubbing until it dries.   Not wait for it to dry.   It's important to keep those hands clean, because you will touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Adults touch their face 18 times and hour, and children do it 80 times an hour.