Flu Shot Not Working

[golfgal]

Here is the latest CDC Flu map:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

It looks like it is at it's peek right now.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Flu shots have never been 100% effective, and like everyone else--I'll take my chances. 40% is better than nothing.

Just a case of the media making "new" news out of "old" news.

 

[HOGFAN]

myself and kids got the flu this year, I got the shot. I dont blame the governement tho, I think they did the best prediction they could at the time.

 

[Christine]

Here is the latest CDC Flu map:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

It looks like it is at it's peek right now.

Based on that map, I think we all need to head to Disney!

 

[Bluesdad]

Based on that map, I think we all need to head to Disney!

Yeah, looks like that's the only place that didn't get hard hit! I always get my flu shot because I have heart dz and work in the health care field. Last year I skipped it (why I have no clue) and last year on Christmas day I had to go to the ER cuz I was coughing up blood. Turns out I had the flu AND pneumonia! So this year I got not only the flu shot but the pneumonia shot as well and my DW and DD12 also got a flu shot and so far none of us has gotten sick. Praise God.

 

[mjkacmom]

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

Colds ~ yes. Flu ~ no.

I'm 40 years old, have never been in a car accident, and I wear my seatbelt all of the time! And I also get a flu shot!

 

[Nancy]

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

Colds ~ yes. Flu ~ no.

same here, except we have had the flu, but it was years and years ago. Last time I had it I was still single and it had to be over 25 years ago. Kids and DH all got it last 15 years ago. I know that because I was pregnant with #3 and they were sick and I was afraid I would get it but I never did.

I'll take my chances and stay away from the shots. I figure since I am not a germaphobe and believe in just a good hand washing with soap and hot water that my family has built up some good immunities...we just don't get sick all that often.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

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/

Oh way to start a debate! Adding your own opinion cleverly disguised as an informational post was very nice of you.

You left this quote out of your post:

“While a less-than-ideal virus match between the viruses in the vaccine and those circulating viruses can reduce vaccine effectiveness, we know from past influenza studies that the vaccine can still protect enough to make illness milder or prevent flu-related complications,” Bresee said.

So, money and time were not wasted and any potential side effects were still worth any slight risk for the benefits provided by the flu vaccine.

Imagine how terrible it would have been if no one had gotten the vaccine this year.

Also, we didn't decide vaccinate ourselves and our children this year because the "government" told us to. We did so because our children's pediatrician, a licensed physician and expert in the prevention and treatment of health-related complications, recommended it since DS has asthma and a lot of other health issues.

The flu is bad here. I really am hoping we are not affected by it because of its potential effects on DS.

I just can't wait until flu, RSV, and rotavirus season are over.
Come on summer!!!

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Based on that map, I think we all need to head to Disney!

I saw that too. But, I bet Floridians hope all the flu-infested people from other states just stay away.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

FDA ties pneumonia deaths to infant vaccine

The deaths were caused by the vaccine?

Do you mind linking to the information where this is stated?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.

 

[DMickey28]

We don't get the flu shot and we didn't get one for DS. He doesn't go to daycare and hasn't been in any playgroups recently. He is scheduled for surgery on Friday and we have been very careful about who is is around right now. The surgery was rescheduled from November where he came down with Bronchiolitis a few days before the surgery. We don't want to risk it right now.

He is going over to our friend's house tonight for a few hours while DH and I go out to dinner. I am actually a little nervous! I can't handle this surgery being rescheduled again ...

 

[englishteacha]

We've had a lot of kids absent from school the past couple of weeks. Something vicious is going around. Kids running 103º fevers isn't normal "home sick." I do get the flu shot every year, (my district provides them for every teacher) and I haven't gotten any bad cases of the flu since getting them. I've had a couple of weak strains that had me feeling bad a few days, but nothing like what others have gotten. I'm more apt to get a bad sinus infection or respiratory infection. At least those can be treated with antibiotics.

 

[mefordis]

I'm 40 years old, have never been in a car accident, and I wear my seatbelt all of the time! And I also get a flu shot!

I wear my seat belt, too. But that doesn't involve injecting foreign substances into my bloodstream, luckily. No side effects from seat belts.

 

[mefordis]

The deaths were caused by the vaccine?

Do you mind linking to the information where this is stated?

Here ya go, but they are not talking about the flu shot:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23183636/

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I try to avoid as much as possible what the govenment suggests.

 

[disneynutt1225]

I'm glad I got the flu shot this year. I was a little apprehensive about it, but I did it anyway. It was paid for by my employer and if it took 5 minutes out of my day to get it, that was a lot. Many people in my office wound up getting the flu (the ones who didn't want to get the flu shot because of all the negativity surrounding it). I'm happy to say that the sickest I've been so far this winter was just a bad head cold. For me, it was definitely worth it.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Here ya go, but they are not talking about the flu shot:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23183636/

Thank you, with your information, I was able to find a more detailed article here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080215/hl_nm/glaxo_rotavirus_dc_3

I was a bit concerned at first, but DD had the RotaTeq vaccine as an infant.

It's great to stay informed.

 

[EMom]

I wear my seat belt, too. But that doesn't involve injecting foreign substances into my bloodstream, luckily. No side effects from seat belts.

As far as I am concerned, the "side effects" of the flu far outweigh any potential side effects of the vaccine. No one is forcing me to get the vaccine. I do it of my own free, INFORMED will. Only the very ignorant would expect 100% protection, as nothing in the literature ever suggests anything like that. But I'll take any protection over zero protection. That is my choice and my right. If you choose to do otherwise, more power to you. I just don't see why some of you get your knickers in a twist because so many of us choose to vaccinate against the flu. Our decision isn't hurting you in any way, so get over it.

I've gotten the flu shot for about 25 years because I have asthma and getting the flu can be very serious for me. In all that time, I have gotten the flu once. That was a strain not covered by the vaccine. Once in 25 years is pretty good, I'd say. I know I got the flu much more often than that before I began getting the vaccine. Some will say, "I haven't gotten a flu shot in 20 years and I've never had the flu." Well, goody for you. I'm not willing to take that risk. You skip the shot, I'll take it and we'll agree to disagree.

 

[mefordis]

As far as I am concerned, the "side effects" of the flu far outweigh any potential side effects of the vaccine. No one is forcing me to get the vaccine. I do it of my own free, INFORMED will. Only the very ignorant would expect 100% protection, as nothing in the literature ever suggests anything like that. But I'll take any protection over zero protection. That is my choice and my right. If you choose to do otherwise, more power to you. I just don't see why some of you get your knickers in a twist because so many of us choose to vaccinate against the flu. Our decision isn't hurting you in any way, so get over it.

I've gotten the flu shot for about 25 years because I have asthma and getting the flu can be very serious for me. In all that time, I have gotten the flu once. That was a strain not covered by the vaccine. Once in 25 years is pretty good, I'd say. I know I got the flu much more often than that before I began getting the vaccine. Some will say, "I haven't gotten a flu shot in 20 years and I've never had the flu." Well, goody for you. I'm not willing to take that risk. You skip the shot, I'll take it and we'll agree to disagree.

No need to get defensive. I don't care if you get 50 flu shots -- it doesn't affect me in the slightest. As long as we all remain free to choose for us and our children, I am happy. But there is no comparing wearing a seat belt to getting a vaccination. A vaccination is invasive, while a seat belt, well... it's a belt! It goes on externally!