The pandemic of H1N1 influenza virus is lurking over our heads. There is little time left to decide whether to receive your H1N1 vaccination or not. The Center for Disease Control in conjunction with Food and Drug Administration has announced certain at risk groups who should be vaccinated before everyone else. To decide if you should be vaccinated or not the following key points should be kept in mind.

The at risk groups announced by the Food and Drug Administration and Center for Disease Control are pregnant ladies, children under six months age, the household contacts of these children under six months, people between the ages of 6 months to 24 years old and finally, the people between 25 to 64 with pre-existing medical conditions like asthma, respiratory problems or a neurological dysfunction.

Certain people are concerned that the vaccine has not been tested extensively on the trial groups for it to be safe exclusively. Food and Drug Administration has certified the vaccines under strict guidelines that the vaccines which are being administered are safe. Still it is upto people's speculation what these strict guidelines are and if these guidelines are good enough for this new H1N1 vaccine.

There are also several variations of the H1N1 flu vaccines. Some are killed vaccines administered by a shot in the arm. Others contain a live attenuated virus administered through a nasal spray. The live attenuated viral vaccines is not safe for pregnant woman, infants under six months old and people with pre-existing medical conditions. These people have compromised immune system and the weak virus in the vaccine can sometimes take over the immune system and develop into a full blown H1N1 influenza virus.

You should also be concerned about the preservatives contained in the vaccines. Certain preservatives like thimerosal are mercury based and can harm certain children due to their genetic make up. You have to ask your doctor and look at your child's vaccination history if there was any reaction to the mercury based preservative vaccine received earlier.

If you are a pregnant woman it is advisable by Center of Disease Control to receive vaccination. This is due to the fact that in addition to safe guarding the pregnant woman, the vaccine will also provide protection to the fetus. The antibodies produced by the mother's body will cross the placenta and also immunize the baby. Since, the babies cannot receive H1N1 vaccination until they are six months old, this is the best way to protect them against the virus.