flu shot -- yes or no?

[Lorelei Lee]

I was at my doctor's office yesterday for something totally unrelated, but while I was there he gave me the shot. He knows my medical history and recommended that I get it.

But most people aren't going to their doctor, they're going to CVS or Rite Aid or a flu shot clinic.

So . . .are you planning to get the shot? Why or why not?

 

[Deb in IA]

Weekly flu shot thread, version 3.0:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3169827

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3173805




Yes, I get the flu vaccine, and have for 20+ years.
Everyone in my family gets a vaccine of some form - either injection or Flu Mist.

 

[4nana]

Yes, DH & myself . Never had the flu and luckily only get 1 or maybe 2 colds a year.

Plan to get @Walgreens as they are participating in 'Get a Shot - Give a Shot' through United National Foundation Shot @ Life Campaign. thru Oct 14th.

 

[Lynne M]

Always get it, every year. One year that I skipped, I got two separate strains of the flu in one year. Missed 3 weeks of work, the second bout had me deathly ill and unable to get out of bed for a week and a half. I lost twenty pounds. Never, ever want to do that again.

In the years since, I've developed asthma, and the flu would probably put me in the hospital.

Yeah, I know there are risks. They are minimal. I'm at far more risk driving to work every day.

Yeah, I know there's a chance I'll still get the flu. The vaccine drastically reduces that chance.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I got it (first time in about 15 years) along with my shingles shot, we have a Disney trip coming up.

 

[kimblebee]

Nope. I should get it as I have a weakened immune system but I will not be getting it. Won't be getting it for my daughter either.

When the H1N1 panic was going on we didn't get that shot either. We both survived. I do believe in vaccines so it's not that I'm against it. I just don't see the need for it.

 

[Meriweather]

I got mine............DH needs to go get his still.

 

[Kies99]

Wife and I don't get them and we don't get them for our kids. None of us have ever had the flu so don't see the point of it.

On a semi-related note, I just read a novel about a flu-pandemic and the government rushed out a new vaccine. Someone messed with it and those who got the vaccine turned into zombies!

 

[Squirlz]

No, never. I never get sick.

 

[tcufrog]

My mom has some autoimmune diseases for which she gets chemo even though she doesn't have cancer. I and our sons get the shot for that reason and because the combo of allergies and the flu isn't a pleasant one. My younger one had to have breathing treatments as a baby so he's at increased risk of developing asthma. I don't want him to develop asthma because of an illness such as the flu. My dh doesn't get the shot though because every time he gets it he gets very sick with a high fever. I wonder if it's because he grew up in a country where the flu doesn't occur at all.

I got my sons' flu mist yesterday at their dr's office.

FYI... This year there's two types of vaccines. There's the trivalent which has 3 flu strains in it and the quadrivalent which has 4 strains. It's harder to obtain the quadrivalent vaccine and not everyone has it.

 

[wiigirl]

Getting mine tomorrow.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Never got one, getting one this yr. for the first time. Major heart issues here.

DH had a heart attack and bypass in Dec.

My dd who is 22 and has a repaired heart defect got her first flu shot 2 weeks ago. She has had the flu every yr and sometimes twice a yr now. She has permanent damage from it on top of her other issues.

My 17yodd refuses to get one. I need to work on her getting one for the health of this house. Maybe I can get her the mist!

My dd's get the flu every yr.

 

[anniemae]

yup, got mine, kids got theirs. DH will get his at work next month, they provide it for all employees. I like to stack the deck in my favor!

 

[scdak]

I don't have a choice really - required at work for basically everyone, we could apply for the chance to decline it based on religious or medical reasons but have been told that the chances of successfully being allowed to decline taking it are very, very low! Religious reasons would be near impossible, medical reasons almost as impossible due to the many types available for people allergic to components of the regular flu shot. So I will get mine next week whether I want it or not!

 

[Lynne M]

Always get it, every year. One year that I skipped, I got two separate strains of the flu in one year. Missed 3 weeks of work, the second bout had me deathly ill and unable to get out of bed for a week and a half. I lost twenty pounds. Never, ever want to do that again.

In the years since, I've developed asthma, and the flu would probably put me in the hospital.

Yeah, I know there are risks. They are minimal. I'm at far more risk driving to work every day.

Yeah, I know there's a chance I'll still get the flu. The vaccine drastically reduces that chance.

 

[LJSquishy]

No, I don't get the flu shot. If I were in an at-risk category I would.

But, I'm 29, healthy, housewife (so not around a lot of the public & other kids), have no kids, and I don't think I've ever had the flu. I haven't had any vaccination since I was around 10.

This doesn't mean I won't get the flu -- but if I do, my body will be able to fight it off.

 

[minnie mum]

Weekly flu shot thread, version 3.0:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3169827

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3173805
QUOTE]

Just in case you missed it the first time.

Yes, we get the flu shot.

 

[Pigeon]

Nope, although I do enjoy the annual hype.

Early in the season, there's the hype for everyone and their mother to get the shot immediately or else You Will Surely Die.

Later on, there's a shortage. Then the hype is that the young and healthy should pass on the shot so that the more likely compromised can have it. If you are young and healthy and get the flu, don't worry, you'll be just fine.

More vaccine is manufactured late in the season and the manufacturers need to get it sold. So the push resumes for the young and health to get the shot or they will Surely Die, even though the season is pretty much over.

Oh, and who knows in all of this if the shot is even for the strains circulating.

 

[buggy]

DO NOT GET THE SHOT OR SPRAY PRIOR TO A DISNEY TRIP. Our 5 year old had a check up a week or so before our Disney trip and they gave him the flu spray. Yep, he got sick and actually missed the entire week of school prior to our trip.

 

[Deb in IA]

DO NOT GET THE SHOT OR SPRAY PRIOR TO A DISNEY TRIP. Our 5 year old had a check up a week or so before our Disney trip and they gave him the flu spray. Yep, he got sick and actually missed the entire week of school prior to our trip.

You cannot get the disease from the vaccine, either version, and your son was either exposed already before getting the vaccine, or had another viral illness that was not one of the influenza strains in the vaccine.