flu shot -- yes or no?

[Squirlz]

I would think that there are not many people that could say they have never been sick.

I've been sick, just not since I was a child. I also still have my wisdom teeth, my tonsils and my appendix. I have never broken a bone and didn't even have a stitch until I was 44 and a coworker pulled a trailer through my leg.

 

[Pooh2]

We've gotten the flu shot that past 5 years and feel is does reduce but not eliminate the flu.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Yes, I have a 2 month old daughter and it would be dangerous for her to get the flu. She cannot get the flu shot, but my husband and I can. We got the shot at her 2 month check up since all, three of us go to the same clinic. My parents spend a lot of time with her so I'm going to ask them to get it too.

While somewhat controversial, but recommended by the CDC, I also got the shot during my pregnancy. The risks of the shot seemed so much lower than the risks of battling a high fever while pregnant.

 

[Geoff_M]

That said, some of the side effects include a stuffy nose, congestion, cough, and the like. So people might THINK it is the flu but it is not.

To add to that, one of the ways that the live antigen in the FluMist vaccine is attenuated is that cannot live at normal human body temperatures. It can only survive in the cooler confines of your nose/sinus cavity... and while it can be shed and passed to others, it can no more survive in the person that you might pass it to than in yourself.

 

[SamRoc]

I've never gotten a flu shot. I think about getting one every year, but never do. I've never gotten the flu, so I may not have a proper sense of what I'm protecting myself from

Me too!

 

[Deb in IA]

Flu can be fatal even to healthy children, CDC says
Between October 2004 and September 2012, influenza-related complications claimed the lives of 830 children in the U.S., most of whom did not get the flu shot, according to a CDC study in the journal Pediatrics. Of the children who died and had known medical histories, 43% were healthy, without any high-risk conditions, including asthma, cancer or diabetes. "All too often, people dismiss flu as a mild illness, but every year, children, including healthy children, die from flu," CDC Director Tom Frieden said. USA Today (10/28)

It's not too late - get your flu vaccination today.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I got my 17yodd her first flu shot on Saturday. I got mine a few weeks ago. Other 22yodd got hers last month. Only person to go is DH.

 

[momto2inKC]

I got mine while at the dr this morning.

 

[bdcp]

Flu can be fatal even to healthy children, CDC says
Between October 2004 and September 2012, influenza-related complications claimed the lives of 830 children in the U.S., most of whom did not get the flu shot, according to a CDC study in the journal Pediatrics. Of the children who died and had known medical histories, 43% were healthy, without any high-risk conditions, including asthma, cancer or diabetes. "All too often, people dismiss flu as a mild illness, but every year, children, including healthy children, die from flu," CDC Director Tom Frieden said. USA Today (10/28)

It's not too late - get your flu vaccination today.

Children and seniors seem to be the most at risk. I got mine on Oct 1 at work for free. I've been getting every year since 1997. I swore after having flu two years in a row in the early 90's that I would never have it again.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I cannot do the injection due to a reaction I had in the past or the mist because it's not recommended for people with asthma.

However, the doctor just offered a dose/double dose of the kid's version as it doesn't contain the preservatives that were likely responsible for the previous reaction I had. Does anyone have experience with this? I turned it down for now but wanted to see if others have done this.

 

[Wendy31]

All 5 of us got flu shots at our local CVS Minute Clinic a little over a week ago.

Older DS has asthma, & we just always get our flu shots.

I hate getting sick, I hate going to the doctor's office (major doctor/hospital phobia), & I hate my kids getting sick even worse!

 

[Bilberry]

Personally, I'm not sold on the flu shot being all that helpful at preventing the flu. With that said, don't imagine the flu shot bad for those that want to take it. I personally wouldn't stop there though, with just the shot, if looking to prevent the flu.

The article below is some of the research information I've read on the lack of effectiveness with the current flu shots. It was surprising also to read at how few health care workers sign up for the flu shot anymore, less than 30%.

"Flu vaccination ‘over-promoted’ and ‘over-hyped’ according to researchers"

http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/11/22/...oted-and-over-hyped-according-to-researchers/

snippet from the piece:

...The Independent article also includes input from Tom Jefferson – a Cochrane Collaboration researcher – who is quoted as saying:

We have conducted four reviews since the late 1990s. We calculated that you need to vaccinate between 33 and 99 people to prevent one case of flu, depending on the match between the vaccine and the circulating strains of the virus. I want people held accountable for wasting taxpayer’s money on these vaccines. The reviews have been available for years and nothing has been done....

I personally have had very good luck avoiding the flu bug for many years by eating well, practicing good hygiene, and taking vitamin D3.

 

[SamRoc]

No one in our family gets it. I did get one about 10 years ago but that was it.

 

[AmazingGrace]

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!

What's the name of this book?

 

[sam_gordon]

Flu can be fatal even to healthy children, CDC says
Between October 2004 and September 2012, influenza-related complications claimed the lives of 830 children in the U.S., most of whom did not get the flu shot, according to a CDC study in the journal Pediatrics. Of the children who died and had known medical histories, 43% were healthy, without any high-risk conditions, including asthma, cancer or diabetes. "All too often, people dismiss flu as a mild illness, but every year, children, including healthy children, die from flu," CDC Director Tom Frieden said. USA Today (10/28)

It's not too late - get your flu vaccination today.

I saw this article. I found it interesting they never defined "most". Out of 830 kids who died, if 416 didn't get the shot, that would qualify as "most". But that would mean 414 DID get the shot and still passed away.

No one in my family gets it. I asked our pediatrician about it last year and she's not a big proponent either for healthy kids.

Knock on wood, we've never had the flu. Yes, it's a gamble. But so is getting the shot. You're gambling that they are fighting the right strain.

 

[alizesmom]

I push getting the shot but then my kids are medically fragile and very high risk. I would love anyone coming near them getting the vaccine but last time I looked, I didn't rule the world.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

DH and I both got ours at the same time our daughter got her 2 month immunizations. The flu can be very bad for babies and my daughter is too young to get the flu shot, so the best we can do is get immunized ourselves.

 

[Art 1]

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.

The 1918 flu mostly killed younger and healthier people, it was the over reaction of a strong immune system that killed the people. The people with a weaker system had a better chance.

No, I do not get the flu shot. No reason really, too busy mostly, I guess.

 

[bdcp]

The 1918 flu mostly killed younger and healthier people, it was the over reaction of a strong immune system that killed the people. The people with a weaker system had a better chance.

No, I do not get the flu shot. No reason really, too busy mostly, I guess.

It's secondary infections that kill most people (or make them sick enough to be hospitalized), not the flu itself. Pneumonia seems to be the worst offender. I've had pink eye and a sinus infection after having the flu. It just leaves your immune system so weak.

The flu outbreak of 1918 really has nothing to do with current flu viruses. Fortunately, that type of outbreak won't happen again since so many do get vaccinated. The infection rate in 1918 was very high, but there also were no antibiotics or immunizations or antivirals to help people.

BTW, just because someone's never had the flu doesn't mean they can't/won't catch it. Believe me, once you've really had it, you never want it again. It's miserable, lasts at least a week and just isn't worth it. And, yes, it's not 100%, but most who get the flu after getting the immunization have a much weaker illness and are less likely to develop secondary infections.

 

[Art 1]

It's secondary infections that kill most people (or make them sick enough to be hospitalized), not the flu itself. Pneumonia seems to be the worst offender. I've had pink eye and a sinus infection after having the flu. It just leaves your immune system so weak.

The flu outbreak of 1918 really has nothing to do with current flu viruses. Fortunately, that type of outbreak won't happen again since so many do get vaccinated. The infection rate in 1918 was very high, but there also were no antibiotics or immunizations or antivirals to help people.

BTW, just because someone's never had the flu doesn't mean they can't/won't catch it. Believe me, once you've really had it, you never want it again. It's miserable, lasts at least a week and just isn't worth it. And, yes, it's not 100%, but most who get the flu after getting the immunization have a much weaker illness and are less likely to develop secondary infections.

The 1918 flu was the H1N1. It does have something to do with current strains. I simply said the people with heathy systems didn't do as well as those with weaker systems. It had to do with their stronger immune systems reacting.