I don't understand this ( about the flu shot )

[Mskanga]

My kids are both in high risk and have been getting it for years. Every year the doctor says the same thing, the flu shot may not work for some strains but it will reduce it to mild.
I'm tired of people this year telling me that I wasted my time because the flu shot is not for the type that is going around. Hello?? Every year we are told the same thing, that the vaccination may work or we may get a mild case of the flu. What is wrong with some people this year? Just today I found out three of those people who told me I wasted my time and who did not want the shot before , today they were furious because they couldn't get one anywhere.
I know one thing, I don't play around with it, I make my appointment in September for sometime in October and I make sure that my kids get it, I have done it for 7 years now.
What makes people think that in order for the flu shot to work , it has to be the exact type that goes around?

 

[DocRafiki]

Everyone thinks they're the expert. Unless they're an epidemiologist, I wouldn't pay attention. Hmmm... maybe they could present their "educated opinion" at next year's American Epidemiological Society's national conference. (yeah, I made that up)

 

[Deb in IA]

I'm with you, mskanga.

'Some' protection is better than NO protection, don't you think?

Every year, the vaccine manufacturers make their best educated guess as to which of the literally hundreds of influenza strains will be the most prevalent in the upcoming fall, based on historical and epidemiological data. Sometimes, they are right, and sometimes they are a bit off. But you know, predicting the future is a tricky thing, even in medicine.

So to those who don't get a shot because it isn't 'perfect' -- tough beans. Life isn't perfect. You do the best you can.

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by Deb in IA
So to those who don't get a shot because it isn't 'perfect' -- tough beans. Life isn't perfect. You do the best you can.

Tough beans for me. I also don't get the shot because I've only had the flu one time in 34 years.

 

[Lewski709]

Tough beans for me too and my kids too.....we don't get it! How is this year any worse than any other year? They are all bad.

 

[Cruise04]

And my fav is those that are perfectly healthy but think they are at risk more than an at risk person. Yesterday I had to get my allergy shots. Was going to get my daughter her vaccine because she had been sick all the other times that we would have had an opportunity to get it. The clinic was FLOODED!!!!! I have never seen so many people. And all because of a mass panic in my area because a child died of possibly having the flu. So by the time I was done with my allergy shots, they were done giving the flu shots. So back she went to the clinic today and they are no longer giving it to walk-ins. In order to have the shot (which they will probably be out of by tomorrow they told me last night on the phone) you have to be a critical (high risk person which a chronic illness - asthma, chronic bronchitis, heart problems, history of pneumonia, etc) and ordered by the doc to have it.

But some of the people yesterday were being plain rude. One of my secretaries' sisters works in the peds dept and she said they gave 175 kids a flu shot yesterday. And I'm guessing the majority was between 2:30 and 4:30.

 

[always quiet]

Personally, I don't get the shot because I am very healthy (or at least I think that - gotta go to the doctors in the first place! ) and I would rather save what vaccine there is out there for people who need it. I would think I would have better chance at fighting off the flu than a small child or an elderly person.

Now, I have a call into the doctor's office for my husband. He needs to get the shot because he is chronically ill. Still haven't had a call back yet. Guess they are swamped!

 

[Cruise04]

Colleen - you may just want to drive to your doc rather than wait for a call. If they are swamped they may run out before you get the call.

 

[m&m's mom]

I am so glad that I have gotten the flu shot for my whole family every year and we have never had the flu.
It has never made sense to me that people think they do not need to be proactive and get the flu shot because they have never gotten the flu before now. Using that logic, how many people who have never gotten robbed still lock their doors. It's PREVENTIVE!
I would feel horrible if I did not get my kids the shot and they got sick.
While I am on my soap box- I want to scream when people say they did not get their kids the vaccine because their kids are "afraid of needles'. My kids ask for shots any chance they get - NOT!! But, they also know shots are not a negotiable item. My DH and I wait to get the flu shot until we all go together and we go first. They feel better seeing us go through the same thing we are telling them they have to. Neither child has even cried since they were probably 3.

 

[Rajah]

I should have gotten it this year, since I'm in the high-risk group, but they say *don't* get it if you're already sick and I was sick when the opportunity came up to get one. Sounds like they're hard to find now. Oh well.

 

[Ellester]

I got my shot in Oct. I'm double high risk this year, asthma and I'm pregnant. I got my girls' theirs last year but somehow didn't get around to it this year. I tried last week, but they are out. Only 200 doses left in the county, all reserved for high risk. It wouldn't have mattered, both my girls(5 and 2) got the flu this week. They'll be fine, but it's not a fun week for us. The reason people are freaking this year is that it is hitting much earlier (many states now have as many reported cases as they ususally do in March) and apparently kids are having more serious complications than usual, a drug resistant staph to be specific. Locally, one child has died from the flu (he was 6, but a premie when born) and one child died from a Tylenol overdose (the mom was giving 1/2 an adult tablet to her 5 year old, over a week or so it shut down her kidneys). I've heard from a doctor friend of mine that this year the flu has done a "genetic shift" which happens every 20-30 years. This means this year's big hitter is much different than last year's. Normally they are pretty close from year to year and the vaccine just required a tweak, this year a whole new vaccine is needed. Anyway, I agree that it is preventative. I wish I had gotten on the ball in Oct. to get my girls' their's, but we'll just go with the flow now that they have it!

~Ellen

 

[Planogirl]

Our pediatrician refuses to give our 10 year old a flu shot because he's treating him for bronchitis. And he doesn't even show any symptoms lately, he was just breathing "a little fast" the last time we were in his office. (I had just told DS that he might get a flu shot and he was VERY nervous but the doctor didn't care.) This all confuses me because it sounds like people who have conditions should get the shot.

 

[caitycaity]

pg, people who are currently sick with anything are advised not to get it. i am not a doctor so i'm not sure of the details, but i was supposed to get one in october and my doctor said i shouldn't b/c i was being treated for a bad infection at the time.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think that people who are in a high risk group should definitely get the flu shot.

I am a normal healthy adult, don't get sick too often, so I don't get the flu shot. Personal choice...nothing more.

 

[disykat]

People change their minds all the time. Prior to this year they didn't necessarily recommend the shot for healthy people. My older son and I always get the shot because of our Asthma. My younger son and husband don't. The only reason was that while ds#1 and I catch everything, dh and ds#2 never do.

That said, I started getting worried, figured better safe than sorry, and took my other son in. He had his first dose, but I guess he won't be able to have his second dose in two weeks. Now I'm wishing he'd always had them since it's only the first time having them that the young kids need two doses.

 

[my3kids]

Ellester...so your kids were dx. with influnza....you had the shot and have not gotten the flu.....you're my first test subject! Oh boy, I am hoping this shot works. I am scared to death. If you stay healthy, then I'll "know" at least one person whose shot worked! Keep us informed!

I hope your little ones are on the mend.