Flu Shot

[MissManda]

I don't typically get a flu shot. Never had one in my life and thus far have been lucky (of course, I probably just jinxed myself with that statement). With the flu being so bad this year, I'm wondering if I should get one? Is it too late in the season? Isn't the fall the best time to get one? I'm nervous to get one b/c the one year my DH got it, he stayed sicker that winter than he ever had been. That was his one and only time he got the shot. He swears he will never get one again.

Also, I heard several people t are getting the vaccinne for whooping cough because its so bad this year. Has anyone gotten that?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

When is the last time you had the Dtap booster? I think they are good for 10yrs or something like that? I had mine 3 yrs ago.

I am going to get the flu shot. I am caring for my dh who is recovering from bypass surgery.

My dd's already had Type A flu here. I am scared of the Type B that is going around.

 

[Christine]

I don't get the flu shot for various reasons--one of which is that I am extremely sensitive to things and have had reactions to other injected material. It's not worth it to me.

However, there is a cynical side of me that believes that the flu shot works to some degree but I think it's overly hyped and they push people to get it and I'm not sure it works as well as they'd like us to think. For instance, I read a recent report that this year more people got the flu shot and it was a "good match", yet I then read that many of the people getting the flu had the shot so it's apparently NOT a good match and there's more people with the flu than usual. I have my doubts that the shot is really doing its job.

But, it won't hurt you to get the shot, it's not too late, although you won't really be protected for another 2 weeks.

 

[Kellydelly]

I am forced to get the flu shot by my employer (hospital) but several of my coworkers have come down with the flu this season, so apparently the vaccination didn't match what's going around. I would skip it but be diligent about hand washing and not touching your face. And of course don't get any closer to sick people than you have to .

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I am forced to get the flu shot by my employer (hospital) but several of my coworkers have come down with the flu this season, so apparently the vaccination didn't match what's going around. I would skip it but be diligent about hand washing and not touching your face. And of course don't get any closer to sick people than you have to .

Not true, the vaccination this year is quite affective against this years flu strain....how do you know they got 'the flu'?

 

[Christine]

Not true, the vaccination this year is quite affective against this years flu strain....how do you know they got 'the flu'?

That's what the media is saying but I'm not reading other reports that it's not. I know several people who have been confirmed through swabbing with the flu and had the flu shot. Either it's a diffferent strain or they did not get full protection from the shot.

 

[Ditz]

My school gives out the Flu Mist. I got it and so far no flu.(KNocks on Wood)

 

[lorimay]

I gave in today and got my first one.

The media scared me into it! Plus we are leaving for a cruise in 2 weeks and did not want to take any chances if I didn't get one.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

It is not too late this year to get a flu shot. In my area there are 2 strains going around, 1 was covered by the vaccine, 1 was not. The one covered by the vaccine is the one that 75% of hospitalized patients have, not the other one. And many people I work with have gotten the flu, and it has been confirmed by a swab at the hospital. I have heard there is a 3rd strain going around in other areas, but not at the health system I work for yet.

Flu mist (spray up the nose) is a live virus and can give you the flu if your immune system is compromised. The Intradermal and Intermuscular shots are not a live virus and will not give you the flu. They may make you feel sore for a few days.

 

[MissManda]

When is the last time you had the Dtap booster? I think they are good for 10yrs or something like that? I had mine 3 yrs ago.

I am going to get the flu shot. I am caring for my dh who is recovering from bypass surgery.

My dd's already had Type A flu here. I am scared of the Type B that is going around.

Actually, its been a long time because it was before I got married and I've been married almost 12 years, and I think they gave me just the Tetanus portion back then. So, it might have been since I was a teenager or younger that I actually had the full Dtap.

Still unsure about flu shot. I try to be very conscious of washing my hands a lot, not touching my face or rubbing my eyes a lot. I'm also not around a lot of kids which should help too. My nephew who lives with us is in high school but he's had the flu shot and so far he's been very lucky (and the flu has gone around his school pretty bad).

 

[zurgswife]

Just got mine today.

 

[SaraJayne]

My MIL had her flu shot before Thanksgiving...and is currently in the hospital with Influenza A.

OP, it is not too late to get the shot if you would still like one.

For many of the same reasons that Christine listed, we do not get flu shots.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Don't get ours. Both of my children reacted horribly and we tried 3 different times. So none for them. I reacted also. I have a horrible sinus infection but I am stuck with it at home. I refuse to go out with my resistance down. Dr wont prescribe over the phone and I don't want to risk sitting in the offfice. ER's won't see you (well they will but you are warned NOT to go there) and emergency care is risk also.

Many people who had the shot in our area are down with confirmed flu cases. I guess it is a rock and hard place situation for our family!

 

[pumba]

besides the flu that is going around...
Our area in Maine also has the norvovirus..
That one is doing a number on the kids..
I got the flu shot and knock on wood...so far
no flu yet...I had the real flu four years ago and I
was sick for a week...that was when I decided to
get the shot..again knock on wood that I didnt
get it then and hopefully wont get it now..

Getting the flu shot not only protects yourself but
others around you...be it a baby, child, elderly parent,
or someone else with illnesses that cant fight it back

 

[mombrontrent]

I have never had a flu shot and niether has anyone in my family. I have 3 kids in school, I work as a cashier and come into contact with lots of people and dirty money, my DH does food delivery and goes into schools, restaurants, retirement homes ect multiple times a day. No one in my family has even gotten a cold this year, very lucky. In fact we rarely get sick. I have found that over the last few years everyone at work will be sick and I never catch it. At most I might feel something coming on or get a slight cold for a day or two and then it goes away. It's been at least 10 years since I have even missed a day at work because of illness. KNOCKING ON WOOD

 

[Pixiedust34]

It's not too late to get a flu shot, but I think I read somewhere that it takes a week or so to be effective.

 

[4nana]

Not taking any chances, DH & I got flu shots early Nov. Thankfully have only had the flu once in my life and once was enough , sadly our local drs offices are full of patients with both kinds of flu. Shingles is also on the rise this year, so finally got my shingles vaccine. We also use precautions like washing our hands whenever we go out, hand sanitizer, etc. There's an old saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

[mamamary]

I have not gotten the flu shot. I never get it but with all the talk on the news about how bad the flu is I'm thinking of doing it. Both my kids got the flu mist about two months ago. Right now I am having construction done on my house so I don't think I can get out until next week to get it. I'll have to see.

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I got the flu shot two days ago and have been sick ever since. I know you can't get the flu from the shot, but the night I got the shot I developed a high fever. I looked it up on line and found that a fever can be a side effect. I'm still not feeling well. I've never had a reaction to the shot before. I haven't had it every year, but at least 5 times in my life.

 

[Janepod]

I've had the shot every year but one out of the last 12-15 years and that one year I got the flu and it was terrible - seriously knocked me out for about 10 days. Never again! Also, my husband has an autoimmune disorder, so I have to take his condition into consideration. I would hate to bring the disease home.

I always get a fever from the shot but it's a reasonable side effect. Better that than the flu.