Flu Shot Not Working

[LakeAriel]

So how many of you ran out and got the flu shots this year as recommended by the government?

Well it doesn't work..too bad so many wasted their time, money and the risk of side effects. It was for the wrong strain...Yet again.


Vaccine doesn’t match most circulating viruses, health officials say

Mean flu season
Feb. 15: The late-breaking flu season is putting elderly and young children in peril. NBC's Robert Bazell reports.

Flu vaccine may not provide enough protection
Flu season expected to get worse

Flu season expected to get worse

FDA ties pneumonia deaths to infant vaccine

updated 2 hours, 27 minutes ago
ATLANTA - The flu season is getting worse, and U.S. health officials say it's partly because the flu vaccine doesn't protect against most of the spreading flu bugs.

The flu shot is a good match for only about 40 percent of this year's flu viruses, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

That's worse than last week's report when the CDC said the vaccine was protective against roughly half the circulating strains. In good years, the vaccine can fend off 70 to 90 percent.

for full report..


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23187315/

 

[DebbieB]

If it protects against 40%, that's better than none. I wouldn't say it was a waste of time (I got one that my employer paid for).

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I get my flu shot every year. The one year I skipped (due to a shortage) I got the flu. I'll take a 40% chance of avoiding it over a 0%. I'm not paranoid about side effects and the like.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I got the flu shot for the first time in my life this year. I didn't get the flu or have any side effects from the shot. My husband and youngest son, who did not get the shot, both got sick.

It looks like the shot was good for 40%, so that definitely made it worth it for me to get the shot. Good thing it wasn't a waste of time for me. I guess some people always look at the glass as half empty.

 

[debaudrn]

The flu is worse than the side effects from the vaccine. As previous poster said 40% protection is better than 0. It is also thought that if you do get the flu after receiving the vaccine it is a less severe case. I've had one bout with the flu and have gotten a flu shot every year since.

 

[EMom]

If it protects against ANY percentage, that's better than nothing. Also, since some of the non-included strains are similar to the covered strains to some degree, those who have had the flu shot may experience a less severe case of flu if they contract a strain that was not included in the flu shot. Again, sounds like a winner to me.

 

[suzannen]

Well, almost everyone in my office (20 people) have gotten sick in the last few weeks, but I haven't and my DD hasn't either although it's been rampant in her school as well, so at this point, our flu shots seem to be working and we're glad we got them.

 

[sassyat30]

None of us have ever gotten the flu shot and none of us have ever gotten the flu.

Colds ~ yes. Flu ~ no.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Well, almost everyone in my office (20 people) have gotten sick in the last few weeks, but I haven't and my DD hasn't either although it's been rampant in her school as well, so at this point, our flu shots seem to be working and we're glad we got them.

The flu seems to be running rampant here as well. It's a late flu season. My office has been healthy, but my son tells me that there are lots of kids missing every day from school and some of them have been out for a week or more due to flu.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Even if someone was to get the flu after the shot, I imagine it wouldn't be as bad. I know personally with my asthma and respiratory problems that I'm much better off getting the shot than just risking getting the full on flu.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I did not waste my money. I get a flu shot every year and will do so later this year.

 

[Christine]

People shouldn't get spun up about this (the shot not working).

Part of it is the mass push by the media--GET YOUR SHOT, GET YOUR SHOT. People who don't read the fine print assume that a flu shot is a free pass not to get the flu. It's not and it never was. It is NEVER 100% effective against flu. There have been quite a few years where "they got it wrong."

I don't get the shot myself because I seem to have adverse reactions to everything and I'm not kidding. I don't want to risk some type of weird reaction to the vaccine that's going to bother me for a few days. I just take my chances. But my kids get the flu shot. I believe my DD did have the flu two weeks ago but the clinic did not have any swabs to confirm it.

I live in Virginia and, at least last week, we were one of the 11 states having a mass epidemic. Yet no one in my office of 50 people has even come down with it. I sure hope that doesn't happen. I think the schools have been hit pretty hard though.

 

[WDW~Lover]

there are to many different strains out there, So it depends on the strain you get! I get the shot every year, and have been just fine. They also said if you have the shot, it should at least cut down on the strength of the flu.

I would never NOT get it!

 

[DawnCt1]

So how many of you ran out and got the flu shots this year as recommended by the government?

Well it doesn't work..too bad so many wasted their time, money and the risk of side effects. It was for the wrong strain...Yet again.


V

So if everyone didn't "run out and get the flu shot" how many more elderly and infants would be at risk? If up to 50% are covered and will not get the flu, that is 50% that won't be at risk. For those who do get the flu, most will not get as sick because there is heterologous or cross over immunity.

 

[Sansa]

Even if someone was to get the flu after the shot, I imagine it wouldn't be as bad. I know personally with my asthma and respiratory problems that I'm much better off getting the shot than just risking getting the full on flu.

Amen to that.

Except I think I'm coming down with one of those 60% "other" flu bugs right now.

 

[cccm]

I have gotten a shot every year for the past 9 years. This is my healthiest year ever, no flu, no cold, no ear infections. Our whole house has been healthy this year.

I know I am probably jinxing myself.

 

[Christine]

I have gotten a shot every year for the past 9 years. This is my healthiest year ever, no flu, no cold, no ear infections. Our whole house has been healthy this year.

I know I am probably jinxing myself.

You probably are! I did not get the shot and I am having the same experience as you (no, I'm NOT going to come right out and say it). But I do feel with this late breaking flu season, I won't feel "safe" for another month.

 

[mefordis]

None of us have ever gotten the flu shot and none of us have ever gotten the flu.

Colds ~ yes. Flu ~ no.

Ditto. No flu shots, and never had the flu. Same for my entire family.

 

[Mkrop]

Plus I know our school is getting hit harder by the stomach bug then the flu, so when they report so many kids absent at school, it may be some witht he flu but others with stomach bugs or other ailments.

 

[Sleepy]

Vaccine doesn’t match most circulating viruses, health officials say

This is why we have never bothered with them over here. Most likely the ones they give in the military hospitals are not effective against the strains seen here.