Welcome everyone. As many as 100,000 H1N1 vaccine doses have arrived in the metro area, including thousands to the Houston and Harris County health departments. That means many people are deciding whether to get the vaccine for themselves and their families.

We’re joined today by two Texas Children’s Hospital physicians who can discuss your concerns and answer your questions about the H1N1 vaccine. Both are also affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Julie Boom is a pediatric immunization specialist who works with the Center for Vaccine Awareness & Research at Texas Children's Hospital. She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her pediatric internship and residency at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston. Following Hurricane Katrina, the American Immunization Registry Association recognized Boom and her team for innovative efforts that allowed the immunization records of Louisiana’s children to be linked with the Houston-Harris County Immunization Registry's system. Boom has not received any support from H1N1 vaccine manufacturers.

Dr. Pedro Piedra is a pediatric infectious disease specialist whose research has focused on the influenza virus. Piedra received his medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa and completed his pediatric residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He fulfilled a three-year fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. And, for full disclosure, Piedra has received research support from several companies that manufacture the H1N1 vaccine.

(We’d also like welcome participants from Southeast Texas who have come to the chat via our sister site, BeaumontEnterprise.com.)

For clarity, doctors: Do you recommend the H1N1 vaccine?

Sark Syd, There are multiple studies in children   that demonstrate that thimersol is safe.   That being said, if you would prefer there is thimerosal-free H1N1 vaccine that will be available soon.

Hello T Wilson -- Local H1N1 vaccine availability: Most of the doses are the FluMist or nasal spray.

The city of Houston health department has more than 17,000 doses available today. Vaccinations began at 9 a.m. at 10 city health clinics. The doses are available on a first-come, first-served basis, though officials hope they go to high-risk patients. The 6,400 doses of injectable vaccine are reserved for pregnant women and those younger than 18 with underlying medical conditions.

Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services got more than 10,000 doses of swine flu vaccine on Friday, nearly 8,000 of them in the nasal spray form.

More than 1,300 doses were given on Monday, spokeswoman Rita Obey said, and the pace continued Tuesday at five county clinics.

Montgomery County’s health department is taking appointments for its 800 new doses, a mix of shots and nasal spray.