Flu Shot

[horseshowmom]

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.

I was sick this year after getting mine too. Probably similar side effects.

I've had the flu before, and it was awful. I always get my shot now. I work in a school and am notrious for catching everything so I'm not taking any chances - got mine in October.

My daughter works in a hospital, and they actually had to cancel surgeries earlier this week because they were maxed out (even used old hospital rooms that were no longer in use due to renovation and used rooms in the ER). There was even a story in the newspaper where the hospital requested that people not visit patients, and if it was an absolute necessity to visit, to please select only one family member and let them be the designated visitor. She said it was really, really bad.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I had to take my DH to the ER Tuesday night because he slipped on the ice and hit his head pretty hard. (He's OK, BTW, had a mild concussion and is back at work.)
The ER was overloaded with flu cases!. We sat in the waiting room for 3 hours before being called in to be examined and we tried to sit in a corner away from all the sick people. I'm hoping that if I make it through today without flu symptoms I am in the clear.
I have religiously had a flu shot for the past 15 years and never caught flu, so I'm keeping fingers crossed!

 

[snapppyd]

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

do you take a lot of vitamins?

 

[shortbun]

I got mine in October. The flu that's going around is an Avirus and is particularly contagious. Having a shot helps lower the severity. Depending on your age and immune system, the vacccine has various percentages of coverage. Least effective in seniors and children at 30%, it's still worth getting, imho. I'm going no where and we're not getting carry out-preparing all our food at home for now. My husband is doing all the grocery shopping because he's got the strongest immune system in the house. He showers as soon as he gets home and uses hand sanitizer as he leaves the grocery. I've heard several times that it takes 7 days for someone with the flu to be non-contagious. Stop hugging, shaking hands, keep your hands away from your face. I'm also keeping tissues in my pocket so I can open doors with a barrier and I've got a mask in my purse if I find myself in the presence of a sick person. Yeah, I'm paranoid but I'm a diabetic so my immune system is compromised.

 

[Jaime4004]

I got mine in October. The flu that's going around is an Avirus and is particularly contagious. Having a shot helps lower the severity. Depending on your age and immune system, the vacccine has various percentages of coverage. Least effective in seniors and children at 30%, it's still worth getting, imho. I'm going no where and we're not getting carry out-preparing all our food at home for now. My husband is doing all the grocery shopping because he's got the strongest immune system in the house. He showers as soon as he gets home and uses hand sanitizer as he leaves the grocery. I've heard several times that it takes 7 days for someone with the flu to be non-contagious. Stop hugging, shaking hands, keep your hands away from your face. I'm also keeping tissues in my pocket so I can open doors with a barrier and I've got a mask in my purse if I find myself in the presence of a sick person. Yeah, I'm paranoid but I'm a diabetic so my immune system is compromised.

I had flu mist a few months ago and ended up with the flu last week. I definitely believe it decreased the severity. I've had the flu twice before and had been much, much sicker. Of course, it was still no picnic (fever and chills are the worst!) but I know I have felt worse before so it was still worth it. The friend who stayed with us over New Years and shared her germs (before she knew she was sick) did not have a flu shot and was very sick, weak, and fainted a few times. So usually I do not make an effort to get the flu shot, we get it if we're all at the MD office for one of the kids appointments and they happen to give it to everyone in the family, but glad we did this year. No one else in my family has had the flu so far this year.

To a PP, I also have a pet peeve when people believe the "stomach flu" is influenza. They clearly have very different symptoms and it drives me crazy.

 

[Geoff_M]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162...soon-to-predict-severity-of-2012-2013-season/

Excellent article explaining flu types, vaccine effectiveness and the difference between noroviruses (which so many people call stomach flu) and influenza/flu.

That's a good summary. It's important to understand that the alarming charts we are seeing are not for confirmed influenza, but "Flu-like illnesses". Last night I was looking at a tracking chart for lab confirmed cases of influenza and, while the numbers are "up", they aren't racing off of the charts like the "Flu-like" numbers. I agree with the assessment that a lot of what we are seeing here are really cases of norovirus and other pathogens. We've had several waves of norovirus hit our community in recent months that's resulted in several school closures.

As for the question of "did they get the vaccine strains right this time?" Here's the latest CDC data on the strains they've captured in the wild here so far this season: (bolding mine)

CDC has antigenically characterized 413 influenza viruses [17 2009 H1N1 viruses, 281 influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and 115 influenza B viruses] collected by U.S. laboratories since October 1, 2012.

2009 H1N1 [17]:

" All 17 2009 H1N1 viruses tested were characterized as A/California/7/2009-like, the influenza A (H1N1) component of the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere.

Influenza A (H3N2) [281]:

279 (99.3%) of the 281 H3N2 influenza viruses tested have been characterized as A/Victoria/361/2011-like, the influenza A (H3N2) component of the 2012-2013 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
2 (0.7%) of the 281 H3N2 viruses tested showed reduced titers with antiserum produced against A/Victoria/361/2011.

Influenza B (B/Yamagata/16/88 and B/Victoria/02/87 lineages) [115]:

Yamagata Lineage [79]: 79 (68.7%) of the 115 influenza B viruses tested so far this season have been characterized as B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like, the influenza B component of the 2012-2013 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.

Victoria Lineage [36]: 36 (31.3%) of 115 influenza B viruses tested have been from the B/Victoria lineage of viruses.

Looks like a pretty good match!

 

[Ginny Favers]

I think the reason it's so bad this year is that most people DON'T get the shot-- I read that a third of people do in a normal year?

I've read that the vaccine is a very good match for the types that are going around, but 1 strain of B that is not covered by the shot is causing 8-10% of the cases.

Like I've said before, I had the flu once before that knocked me to my knees for weeks and made me feel dead, despite being a perfectly healthy 23 year old. Since then, I always get the shot.

One warning on the pertussis booster. It can really hurt. Get it in the arm you don't use as often because it might completely immobilize your arm for a couple days. I am not afraid of shots, never had bad reactions, and got one this year . . . ouch.

 

[kidshop]

The flu vaccine is only about 59% percent effective at preventing the illness from developing so you still have a 41% chance of getting the flu, getting sick and dying.

And you have to remember that not getting a shot does not mean you automatically get the flu either. It pretty close to 50/50 either way, we don't do the shot here.

Most people who do get the flu have mild to moderate illness (not certain death as hyped) and recover, maybe with some lifelong antibodies to protect them in the future.


I think it over every year, but still have concluded we don't need it.

 

[lorimay]

Comment twin! I got my first flu shot on Tuesday because I'm leaving for a cruise in two weeks also. I didn't want to risk it and potentially ruin my vacation. I read that even if you end up getting the flu then it's at least a watered down version. If I have to get it, please don't let me catch until I'm my way home! I was also able to convince my mother to get one who is afraid of doctors and anything medical related. Thank you to the sick guy at the CVS Minute Clinic for breathing on her, haha.

HAHA!
What date are you sailing?
Disney?

Have a great time and stay healthy!!!
Lori

 

[Geoff_M]

Most people who do get the flu have mild to moderate illness (not certain death as hyped) and recover, maybe with some lifelong antibodies to protect them in the future.

The notion that "naturally" acquired immunity to influenza is somehow superior to immunity acquired through vaccination represents a misunderstanding of immunology. Vaccines do not replace the function of our immune systems, they only provide an alternative means to teach our body's to produce the antibodies that can fight off the target pathogen. And in the case of influenza, the virus' ability to frequently mutate presents the same future challenge regardless of the manner a body learned to make its current set of antibodies.

So yeah, you can put up with a sore arm for a couple of days... or you can risk getting knocked on your butt for a week, or more, (losing time at work or at school... or could be hospitalized), and becoming part of the disease vector and pass the virus on to others (some of which may have additional risk factors) who may not develop cases as "mild" as yours.

 

[erin1715]

Well you all have helped convince me to go get the flu shot after work today! I've never gotten the flu shot in my 31 years on earth but we are traveling to Disney at the end of February and I figure it can't hurt!

 

[MolonLabe]

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 .

That's the same thing we're seeing on the ground here. A larger system I have privileges at mandated the influenza vaccination for the first time this year and a record number of staff have had the flu this year. It's bizarre.

From my colleagues and my first hand experience here, the shot is offering little to no protection this year.

The single biggest thing anyone can do to protect themselves and others is washing your hands and (properly) covering a cough.

 

[kidshop]

The notion that "naturally" acquired immunity to influenza is somehow superior to immunity acquired through vaccination represents a misunderstanding of immunology. Vaccines do not replace the function of our immune systems, they only provide an alternative means to teach our body's to produce the antibodies that can fight off the target pathogen. And in the case of influenza, the virus' ability to frequently mutate presents the same future challenge regardless of the manner a body learned to make its current set of antibodies.

So yeah, you can put up with a sore arm for a couple of days... or you can risk getting knocked on your butt for a week, or more, (losing time at work or at school... or could be hospitalized), and becoming part of the disease vector and pass the virus on to others (some of which may have additional risk factors) who may not develop cases as "mild" as yours.

Maybe I don't understand it, but if you get chickenpox; for example, naturally you are immune for life. (In the majority of cases) With the vaccine you need boosters. Now I know varicella doesn't mutate.

So does the flu vaccine protection last about 4 months b/c it wears off or b/c of mutation?

I would still rather get the virus. The body is designed to respond and it makes sense to me that you may get some lifelong protection from that response.

For me, the risk is small and worth it to catch the flu. I can't be responsible for others when I feel there is risk to me, even though small as well, for the vaccine. That is not worth it to me at this time.

I don't think I've ever had the flu. Maybe it is genes.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Well you all have helped convince me to go get the flu shot after work today! I've never gotten the flu shot in my 31 years on earth but we are traveling to Disney at the end of February and I figure it can't hurt!

I have always found that if I consciously relax the arm getting the shot, I don't have a sore arm afterward! Just a hint from someone who hasn't missed a flu shot in 15 years....

 

[Geoff_M]

So does the flu vaccine protection last about 4 months b/c it wears off or b/c of mutation?

The protection lasts for years, not month. IIRC, one of the theories about why the recent H1N1 outbreak affected more younger people than older was that it was very similar to a strain of flu that was last part of the "swine flu" vaccine in the 1970's, and many people that received that vaccine still had immunity. The need for annual flu vaccines is due to the presence of differing strains and mutations.

Also, lifelong "natural" immunity to the varicella zoster virus is far from guaranteed once you've had Chickenpox. Some people can develop a 2nd case, and about 20% of people later in life will develop Shingles... including my father who got a nasty case right before Thanksgiving. He now kicks himself for passing up the vaccine a couple of years ago when it was offered to him.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I just saw on Dr. Oz's facebook page that they were looking for people who had the flu. Wonder if he is doing his own research about the strain/vaccine and if it is affecting those who were vaccinated.

So if you had the flu and like Dr. Oz, go check out his facebook!

 

[Geoff_M]

I just saw on Dr. Oz's facebook page that they were looking for people who had the flu. Wonder if he is doing his own research about the strain/vaccine and if it is affecting those who were vaccinated.

So if you had the flu and like Dr. Oz, go check out his facebook!

How quacktastic! It'll be interesting what the next Oprah-fied medical breakthrough he will announce as part of this "research"!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

How quacktastic! It'll be interesting what the next Oprah-fied medical breakthrough he will announce as part of this "research"!

It was tongue in cheek, guess it didn't come across that way in print!

 

[bdcp]

That's the same thing we're seeing on the ground here. A larger system I have privileges at mandated the influenza vaccination for the first time this year and a record number of staff have had the flu this year. It's bizarre.

From my colleagues and my first hand experience here, the shot is offering little to no protection this year.

The single biggest thing anyone can do to protect themselves and others is washing your hands and (properly) covering a cough.

The people I know that got the shot and have gotten the flu, have had very mild cases compared to those that didn't get the shot. It is offering plenty of protection, but like everything, nothing is 100%. I'd much rather have the shot and get a mild case than have full blown flu EVER again.

 

[Geoff_M]

It was tongue in cheek, guess it didn't come across that way in print!

Sorry, I didn't pick up on your joke!