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[C.Ann]

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[PatsMom]

I will get the vaccine along with my regular flu shot. I am an insulin dependent diabetic so the flu can be more serious for me than for some. I haven't missed a flu shot in 30 years.

You can be a test for the vaccine or you can be a test for how nasty the virus is. I figure I'll take my chances with the vaccine like I do with the other strains of the flu.

 

[minniebeth]

Wasn't there an issue with a similar vaccine years ago in the '70s?

We'd really be on the fence...my gut would tell me no thanks, but we have 2 kids with compromised immune systems and are always considered in the "high risk" group for everything, so I would want to talk with several Drs. about it first...

This is a great topic since I'm thinking at some point in the future we will be needing to face it...

 

[PatsMom]

I think the issue in the 70's was a link to Guillan Barre syndrome. Which is very serious - a man I work with came down with it two years ago. For a time he as totally paralyzed. He is still suffering from paralysis of some facial muscles and has some mobility issues.

I think all vaccines have risks of side effects and should be considered carefully to determine if the risks are worth the rewards. In my case, I have decided they are for the flu shots because of the risks that an upper respiratory infection could kill me when combined with the diabetes and COPD. Someone else may feel they are better off taking their chances with the flu - many don't get regular flu shots and that is the group that I would expect to choose not to get the swine flu vaccination when available either. They feel they are better off risking the flu than the vaccine side effects and they are free to make that decision.

 

[C.Ann]

I think the issue in the 70's was a link to Guillan Barre syndrome. Which is very serious - a man I work with came down with it two years ago. For a time he as totally paralyzed. He is still suffering from paralysis of some facial muscles and has some mobility issues.

I think all vaccines have risks of side effects and should be considered carefully to determine if the risks are worth the rewards. In my case, I have decided they are for the flu shots because of the risks that an upper respiratory infection could kill me when combined with the diabetes and COPD. Someone else may feel they are better off taking their chances with the flu - many don't get regular flu shots and that is the group that I would expect to choose not to get the swine flu vaccination when available either. They feel they are better off risking the flu than the vaccine side effects and they are free to make that decision.

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The woman who lives across the street from my sister (in Florida) came down with GBS right after she had that vaccine in the 70's.. She's had a tough row to hoe ever since then - has terrible flare-ups which cause her to be bedridden or have to use a walker for months at a time - and she wishes she had never gotten the vaccine..

As for me - I'm one of those high risk people you mentioned - and because I'm so extremely sensitive to medications of all kinds as well , it's a double whammy for me.. When push comes to shove though, I'll probably get it anyhow - and just do a lot of praying that the vaccine itself doesn't cause even worse problems for me..

 

[PatsMom]

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The woman who lives across the street from my sister (in Florida) came down with GBS right after she had that vaccine in the 70's.. She's had a tough row to hoe ever since then - has terrible flare-ups which cause her to be bedridden or have to use a walker for months at a time - and she wishes she had never gotten the vaccine..

As for me - I'm one of those high risk people you mentioned - and because I'm so extremely sensitive to medications of all kinds as well , it's a double whammy for me.. When push comes to shove though, I'll probably get it anyhow - and just do a lot of praying that the vaccine itself doesn't cause even worse problems for me..

GBS is tough - sometimes I feel so bad for the man I work with. But his was unrelated to any single cause that they could pinpoint. He doesn't get flu shots because of egg allergies so it definitely wasn't that.

Being sensitive to medications, the decision is probably harder for you. I figure I've got 30 years of flu shots with no significant reactions behind me so I figure I'll be OK with this one too.

 

[DMickey28]

I think the issue in the 70's was a link to Guillan Barre syndrome. Which is very serious - a man I work with came down with it two years ago. For a time he as totally paralyzed. He is still suffering from paralysis of some facial muscles and has some mobility issues.

I think all vaccines have risks of side effects and should be considered carefully to determine if the risks are worth the rewards. In my case, I have decided they are for the flu shots because of the risks that an upper respiratory infection could kill me when combined with the diabetes and COPD. Someone else may feel they are better off taking their chances with the flu - many don't get regular flu shots and that is the group that I would expect to choose not to get the swine flu vaccination when available either. They feel they are better off risking the flu than the vaccine side effects and they are free to make that decision.

My mom had Guillan Barre in the early 80's immediately following the birth of my brother. She was hospitalized for a long time before they even knew what it was and was paralyzed and wheelchair bound for about 6 months. She has made a full recovery and does not suffer much for side effects. Very scare stuff.

 

[C.Ann]

Being sensitive to medications, the decision is probably harder for you. I figure I've got 30 years of flu shots with no significant reactions behind me so I figure I'll be OK with this one too.

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I do get the regular flu shot every year - since my doctors started insisting on it - and I do get quite sick for several days afterwords - but I'm guessing that "sick" is better than possibly being dead - right?

 

[PatsMom]

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I do get the regular flu shot every year - since my doctors started insisting on it - and I do get quite sick for several days afterwords - but I'm guessing that "sick" is better than possibly being dead - right?

Being sick gets my vote over possibly being dead! Sorry that you get sick from the regular flu shot - makes me feel bad that I never have so much as an injeciton site sore spot!

 

[DawnCt1]

Absolutely, I won't hesitate.

 

[AnimalKingdomLover15]

I will have to! I HAVE to get the flu shot, being I have chronic asthma thing going on. Once of course, I do my research on it!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Nope. I've never had the flu shot that I can recall. And I've never had the flu. If I'm going to get it, I'm going to get it.

 

[4nana]

I think the issue in the 70's was a link to Guillan Barre syndrome. Which is very serious - a man I work with came down with it two years ago. For a time he as totally paralyzed. He is still suffering from paralysis of some facial muscles and has some mobility issues.

-------------------
The woman who lives across the street from my sister (in Florida) came down with GBS right after she had that vaccine in the 70's.. She's had a tough row to hoe ever since then - has terrible flare-ups which cause her to be bedridden or have to use a walker for months at a time - and she wishes she had never gotten the vaccine..

My mom had Guillan Barre in the early 80's immediately following the birth of my brother. She was hospitalized for a long time before they ven knew what it was and was paralyzed and wheelchair bound for about 6 months. She has made a full recovery and does not suffer much for side effects. Very scare stuff.

My heart and prayers go out to anyone suffering from GB. Our SonIL's Mom, my dear friend, contracted GB while our families were on vacation together several yrs ago, none vaccine related . Let me say, I wouldn't wish this terrible virus on my worst enemy . It has left her mostly invalid, totally dependent on her family and friends, constantly in and out of the hospital at death's door and she's maxed out her retired teacher's million health ins policy . Currently she has been in ICU, in a medically induced coma, about a month this time, and we're all crossing our fingers and saying our prayers she's strong enough to pull out of it one more time. Difficult to understand, we can go to the moon, yet can't even cure a common cold and so many other viruses/diseases.

As far as this H1N1, altho tho I get the regular flu shot, I think many of us will be beween a rock and a hard place. Altho perhaps there needs to be more research on a vaccine, I'm afraid many of us will have no choice but to try to protect ourselves against it, as someone said, it beats the alternative!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

No way. Never have gotten a flu shot and don't plan on it. Our family just doesn't. It would take a VERY good reason for us to even consider it.

DS #1 had GBS almost exactly three years ago. Wouldn't wish that on anyone!!!

 

[luvmy3]

Yes, everyone in my household will get it, some more willing than others

 

[liamsaunt]

I will absolutely get the vaccine. I never used to get a flu shot....until the year that my DH and I got the flu. It was not a mild flu. It was the sickest I have ever been in my life. We could not keep our fevers down, no matter how much ibuprofin we took. It went on for at least 10 days...I think it may have been even longer. Every joint ached horribly--not just the major ones, but things like the knuckles in my fingers. Towards the end, I did not have the strength to walk more than a few steps. If I needed to go further I had to crawl. It was horrifying, and took a serious toll on my overall health. I am not exaggerating. Complete recovery took well over a month. Not the fevers, but just rebuilding my strength.

I know every flu is different, but I am willing to take a chance on the vaccine to avoid the possibility of having to go through that again. I am grateful for the free flu shot that I receive from my company every year!

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

I will absolutely get the vaccine. I never used to get a flu shot....until the year that my DH and I got the flu. It was not a mild flu. It was the sickest I have ever been in my life. We could not keep our fevers down, no matter how much ibuprofin we took. It went on for at least 10 days...I think it may have been even longer. Every joint ached horribly--not just the major ones, but things like the knuckles in my fingers. Towards the end, I did not have the strength to walk more than a few steps. If I needed to go further I had to crawl. It was horrifying, and took a serious toll on my overall health. I am not exaggerating. Complete recovery took well over a month. Not the fevers, but just rebuilding my strength.

I know every flu is different, but I am willing to take a chance on the vaccine to avoid the possibility of having to go through that again. I am grateful for the free flu shot that I receive from my company every year!

I'm sorry you had to go through that. It sounds horrible. I really think people who say "I never get the flu" have just been lucky so far. We would get the H1N1 vaccine and always get a flu shot.

 

[Va-bear]

I will definaltey get it! More people die of the flu each year than die of reactions to getting the vaccine. Could this one be different? Sure, but odds are, it will be fine like most.

This flu epidemic is not over ... and if it is at all like the H1N1 pandemic flu of 1918, a 'second wave' that is more deadly than the first, could hit months down the road.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[minkydog]

I will get the vaccine along with my regular flu shot. I am an insulin dependent diabetic so the flu can be more serious for me than for some. I haven't missed a flu shot in 30 years.

I figure I'll take my chances with the vaccine like I do with the other strains of the flu.

I think all vaccines have risks of side effects and should be considered carefully to determine if the risks are worth the rewards. In my case, I have decided they are for the flu shots because of the risks that an upper respiratory infection could kill me when combined with the diabetes and COPD. Someone else may feel they are better off taking their chances with the flu - many don't get regular flu shots and that is the group that I would expect to choose not to get the swine flu vaccination when available either. They feel they are better off risking the flu than the vaccine side effects and they are free to make that decision.

You both make valid points. People who have normal immune systems, normal lungs and heart, might feel like they could roll the dice understanding that they will probably not develop any really serious complications. People with chronic lung or heart disease, diabetes or any other illness which compromises their ability to fight infections have a much higher risk of serious complications and even DEATH. That population really needs to do all they can to prevent flu and pneumonia, including vaccines.

My 52yo DH has stage 4 lung disease. If he gets the flu or pneumonia he would have to go to intensive care and could easily die from it. There is no question about it--he will get whatever flu vaccines are available. I do not have chronic illness. I will likely not take the swine flu vaccine.