A Flu-Season Request

[jennylyn_b]

You do realize that the flu shot is "fly by night" because influenza mutates so quickly that the vaccine - and your own body's immunities - cannot keep up, right? This is why there is a new flu shot mix every year. It's only an educated guess as to which strain you may be exposed to in a given year; this year's vaccine protects against four strains. If you are unlucky enough to catch the flue, no matter how much immunity you build, you are still vulnerable to the other strains out there. This is spoken as a father of five who laughs at hand sanitizer, who worries not one whit about his kids playing with other kids, who believes that the "five second rule" for dropped food is more of a suggestion (read: my kids have been known to eat things from the floor a half hour later)... and my kids are extremely healthy. I'm a firm believer that over-insulating against every single germ (i.e. folks who keep hand sanitizer clipped to their belt 24/7/365) leads to a weaker immune system and more sickness, but it's a pretty convincingly proven fact that influenza is in a whole other category. The flu shot might not protect you, as you might get exposed to a different strain... but the flu shot is cheap, nearly painless, and very safe. Even a mild case of the flu will wreck you for a week, and serious cases kill people every single year. Seems like a no brainer to me.

Yes I know everything you have posted here. I don't have a problem with shots. My problem is overmedicating the body so it can't fight off illness on its own. An otherwise healthy person isn't going to die from the flu or chicken pox. They will take a few days sleeping and be fine. That what I will do. Before I had my daughter I was a teacher and despite that I still didn't get the flu or chicken pox shots. Never got sick. My students got the flu despite having the shot (different strain), colds, stomach viruses etc. I stayed healthy.
I was a sick child with allergies and allergic asthma. Always on tons of meds. Once I became an adult I stopped all the crazy meds and I've never been healthier. No allergy issues.
Due to that, I try not to use meds or vaccines unless absolutely necessary. I did get the pertussis booster when I was pregnant to protect my child.

 

[jennylyn_b]

That's not how vaccines work.

Yes they do.

 

[Gracie09]

Yes I know everything you have posted here. I don't have a problem with shots. My problem is overmedicating the body so it can't fight off illness on its own. An otherwise healthy person isn't going to die from the flu or chicken pox. They will take a few days sleeping and be fine. That what I will do. Before I had my daughter I was a teacher and despite that I still didn't get the flu or chicken pox shots. Never got sick. My students got the flu despite having the shot (different strain), colds, stomach viruses etc. I stayed healthy.
I was a sick child with allergies and allergic asthma. Always on tons of meds. Once I became an adult I stopped all the crazy meds and I've never been healthier. No allergy issues.
Due to that, I try not to use meds or vaccines unless absolutely necessary. I did get the pertussis booster when I was pregnant to protect my child.

My childhood best friend almost died from complications of chicken pox. He was in the icu for a few weeks and it was very touch a go for a while. When he eventually came home he was on bed rest for a few months. All from the chicken pox. So yeah we got the kids their chicken pox vaccine and their flu shot. It hurts for half a second and hasn't caused any adverse reaction for any of us and if it lessens the flu symptoms why not.

 

[jennylyn_b]

My childhood best friend almost died from complications of chicken pox. He was in the icu for a few weeks and it was very touch a go for a while. When he eventually came home he was on bed rest for a few months. All from the chicken pox. So yeah we got the kids their chicken pox vaccine and their flu shot. It hurts for half a second and hasn't caused any adverse reaction for any of us and if it lessens the flu symptoms why not.

And that's completely your choice and I have no problem with that choice. What drives me batty is when our CHOICE is taken away from us or people think if you choose differently you are wrong or evil or trying to get everyone sick lol

 

[Gracie09]

And that's completely your choice and I have no problem with that choice. What drives me batty is when our CHOICE is taken away from us or people think if you choose differently you are wrong or evil or trying to get everyone sick lol

But when you say healthy people don't die from chicken pox or flu you're wrong, healthy people do die from them. My grand mother was an orphan after her parents died from the flu. Healthy adults. That was decades ago and the medical profession has advanced but those a advances include vaccines to prevent or lessen illnesses. My parents generation had the same thoughts about measles. It's not a big deal we all had it as a kid.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

And that's completely your choice and I have no problem with that choice. What drives me batty is when our CHOICE is taken away from us or people think if you choose differently you are wrong or evil or trying to get everyone sick lol

You don't have a choice to pay taxes or send your kids to school. Why should you have a choice whether or not to participate in public health?

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I'm one that would rather be safe than sorry that is why I get the flu shot before a trip to WDW. 11 years ago I was at WDW and the day I left I started feeling ill. By the time I got to Pensacola I had a very high fever. It took a month to get over the flu and a bad case of bronchitis. Since the yearly shot, no flu and I have not had a cold in all that time due to frequent hand washing.

It's up to each person to decide what is best for their family, but precaution is needed when being around crowds during flu season.

 

[jmrothermel]

You don't have a choice to pay taxes or send your kids to school. Why should you have a choice whether or not to participate in public health?

I do have a choice - everyone has a choice but choices come with consequences. I don't have to pay my taxes, sure they'll seize things I own or come after my house. I don't have to send my children to school - sure I'll have to either home school them or get fined and/or jail time. Same goes with matters of my health. I don't have to get the flu vaccine - the consequence is I may either get sick or get others sick.

 

[delmar411]

My childhood best friend almost died from complications of chicken pox. He was in the icu for a few weeks and it was very touch a go for a while. When he eventually came home he was on bed rest for a few months. All from the chicken pox. So yeah we got the kids their chicken pox vaccine and their flu shot. It hurts for half a second and hasn't caused any adverse reaction for any of us and if it lessens the flu symptoms why not.

Yes but your friend is immune from the pox now while your children will require a lifetime of pox boosters to keep themselves protected. Most adults do not get their needed boosters, they are very unlikely to get the pox booster as well so we will have a new epidemic of adults coming down with the pox when it is much more severe.

It is better to get the pox naturally and have a lifetime of immunity and to get it as a young child over getting it as an adult.

 

[ses1230]

Not even close for us. I had allergy shots for 7 years as a child. I have no problems with shots and neither does my husband.
We don't have weakened immune systems. Our bodies can fight it off we don't need more medications filling our bodies making them weaker. If you have a compromised immune system or feel they are needed then go for it. Whether I get a shot or not shouldn't matter. But it does. I am the one who will get sick not you right? Not necessarily and if you really believe that you are being short sighted. If you do get the flu from me after having the flu shot then the shot was useless.

.

 

[jannylynn]

Yes but your friend is immune from the pox now while your children will require a lifetime of pox boosters to keep themselves protected. Most adults do not get their needed boosters, they are very unlikely to get the pox booster as well so we will have a new epidemic of adults coming down with the pox when it is much more severe.

It is better to get the pox naturally and have a lifetime of immunity and to get it as a young child over getting it as an adult.

Yes, and then you get to have shingles as an adult. Most people forget about that until they get it. And they don't offer the vaccine for that until you are a senior. Honestly, I'd rather vaccinate and booster.

 

[delmar411]

Yes, and then you get to have shingles as an adult. Most people forget about that until they get it. And they don't offer the vaccine for that until you are a senior. Honestly, I'd rather vaccinate and booster.

You'd rather booster but the reality is most will not booster. When my oldest was 3 they said this new pox vaccine was good for life. When she was 10 they said, oops we were wrong now she needs another booster. A few years ago they said, she'll likely need more boosters. She has been exposed to chicken pox a lot in daycare but never got it.

I've also seen shingles vaccines available to anyone who wants to pay for them. Maybe it varies by area?

 

[t_catt11]

My problem is overmedicating the body so it can't fight off illness on its own.

Overmedicating would be people who go and get antibiotics for every sniffle, who hand out symptom treating meds when they really aren't needed. I agree that this is a bad thing. Vaccinating is different. Vaccinating enables your immune system to be able to stop a given disease from ever infecting you.

An otherwise healthy person isn't going to die from the flu or chicken pox.

My wife worked as an intensive care nurse. Tell this to the family of the 27 year old mother of two that watched the woman die... from influenza. No immune system disorders, no secondary infections. The woman simply got the flu and died.

31 year old father, different hospital, same thing. No illnesses. Guy was a runner, in great physical health. He recovered, but spent a long time in the hospital, and the end result was very much in doubt.


And for personal experience... I got chicken pox at age 30. Four days with a VERY high fever, body aches, etc. The itching was miserable, of course, and I got some scarring for my trouble... but that was secondary. Missed a week from work, and I NEVER take sick days.

We didn't have the chicken pox vaccine when I was a kid, and I had been exposed multiple times... we just figured that I must have had one of those super mild cases as a child, so I didn't get it as an adult. Did I ever wish that I had made a different choice.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Anywhere from 3,000 to 50,000 people in the US die of the flu every year, per the CDC. I'd argue that at least a small percentage of those people were otherwise healthy.

 

[BayouMickey]

Anywhere from 3,000 to 50,000 people in the US die of the flu every year, per the CDC. I'd argue that at least a small percentage of those people were otherwise healthy.

Deaths from car accidents anywhere from 25k-50k a year, maybe people should quit driving...

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Deaths from car accidents anywhere from 25k-50k a year, maybe people should quit driving...

Strawman argument. Sorry.

 

[AmyB2006]

Whether I get a shot or not shouldn't matter. But it does. I am the one who will get sick not you right? Not necessarily and if you really believe that you are being short sighted. If you do get the flu from me after having the flu shot then the shot was useless.

Google Herd Immunity. Vaccines work better when the entire "herd" gets them.

 

[jannylynn]

You'd rather booster but the reality is most will not booster. When my oldest was 3 they said this new pox vaccine was good for life. When she was 10 they said, oops we were wrong now she needs another booster. A few years ago they said, she'll likely need more boosters. She has been exposed to chicken pox a lot in daycare but never got it.

I've also seen shingles vaccines available to anyone who wants to pay for them. Maybe it varies by area?

It's not by area. The FDA hasn't approved it for under 50 yet. As someone who has had shingles and under 50, I would have gladly boostered a chicken pox vaccine. It didn't kill me but it was terrible and I'm glad my children are protected from shingles and chicken pox even if I have to booster them!

 

[t_catt11]

Deaths from car accidents anywhere from 25k-50k a year, maybe people should quit driving...

Definitely strawman argument. If there were such a thing as an auto accident vaccine, I'd be a proponent of it, too.

All of life is full of risks. Common sense says to mitigate those risks where possible.

Wear a seat belt when driving. Get vaccinated against deadly diseases where possible.

 

[mgrayar]

Speaking as a father of a 5yr old with Cystic Fibrosis that will be visiting the week after Thanksgiving, I would appreciate any illness/germ/virus prevention my fellow visitors would be willing to attempt.

It is always amazing to me how many parents will take obviously sick kids to crowded play areas (dripping noses and uncovered sneezes and all). That is like a loaded gun for a kid with CF. However, we balance our princess's health concerns with a desire to allow her joy in life. That is why we feel the "risk" of Disney is worth the reward of her enjoying one of the planet's most amazing places.

Flu shots save lives. Vaccines save lives. Everyone has choices, but choices have consequences. Sometimes those consequences are not felt by the choice maker, rather those they merely pass on the street.

This is not a lecture to support either side of the argument, just a father who knows how precious good health days can be. Any step that can make those days more numerous is worth taking in my opinion.