Never had a flu shot -- you?

[jfoofj]

Even if they were sure that the flu shot was for the strain/strains that were going around each year (I can't find the research I had the showed how many years they got it right... it isn't that great though) I still wouldn't get it after seeing what my cousin went through with Guillian-Barre. I am not a big fan of injecting things into my body that may or may not keep me well, and at the same time may or may not make me ill.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've never had one and my DH never has either. We have gotten the flu but nothing a day off from work didn't cure. We take care of ourselves and don't find ourselves ever really that sick. My son is 2 and has never had one either. He's never been that sick either. He had an ear infection last year and that was his first time he had medicine.

I have nothing against flu shots. I just dont get them!

Day off from work? Trust me - you didn't have the flu!

 

[scrump]

I got the flu shot for the first time last year, and got sick. I didn't get it this year.

 

[dislal]

No I have never had a flu shot.

 

[wilderness01]

We get the flu shot every year. The injection is a dead virus, so I'm not quite sure how anyone has gotten sick from this. The nasal spray is a live virus, and no, I would not get this.

Although I agree, handwashing is a good defense, simply by breathing you can get the flu because it is a respiratory illness that is spread by droplets. So someone sneezes, you walk by, breath and you have the potential of getting the flu.

I did get the flu one year and honestly I can see how people who aren't healthy can die. I was sick for a month, very, very sick. I will never chance this again.

Statistically, the chances of gettin Guillian-Barre are very, very small, although, I agree, I would never ever want to get this as it is a horrible disease, even for those who recover. I saw someone hospitalized for months and then in rehab for months trying to relearn how to walk, use her hands, bowels, etc. It was so sad.

 

[puffkin]

We are a very healthy family. I got the flu shot the year I was pregnant over the winter on the recommendation of my OB. I haven't gotten the shot before or since that year.

DH has Type 1 diabetes and is considered high risk. He has gotten the shot every year since he was a kid. At least 3-4 years in a row he came down with the flu even though he had the shot (maybe not full blown influenza) but enough to knock him out of work for almost a week. He stopped getting the flu shot a few years ago and hasn't been sick like that since.

DS is 2 1/2 and in daycare. I get him the flu shot every year. Besides a couple minor colds and 1 bout with diarrhea, DS has never been sick AND he is in daycare.

 

[Momvic5]

The one time my family and I got flu shots was the one time we all came down with the flu. My son's entire 3rd class (teacher included) had the flu that year, and the flu shot did not protect us. It was awful. We will never get the flu shot again.

 

[daisax]

I had the flu about 15-18 years ago (I don't remember precisely, only the apartment I was living in at the time!) Yes, it was bad.

However, I haven't had it since, so that's 15-18 substances I haven't injected into my body "just in case". When/if I become a high risk case, or a loved one does, I may change my mind.

When you take the death rates and subtract all the people with pre-existing medical vulnerabilities, I don't see the risk:benefit ratio being in favor of me doing it.

I work at a hospital and take public transportation, so it's not like I'm not exposed constantly.

 

[monkey68]

Re the Guillan-Barre, it was my undertanding that the risk of getting it is greater from actually getting the flu than it is from getting a flu shot. So you're not really "safe' from it in either case. I get a flu shot every year, they're free from school, so why not? I also don't get the flu when I get the shot.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Yes, both DH and I get flu shots yearly. Years ago I made a Scarlett O'Hara declaration from my incredibly sick bed while surrounded by a sea of Kleenex - "I'll never go without a flu shot again!".

 

[Piecey]

This was my first year, only because I ALWAYS get sick and with the pregnancy... figured I'd better.

 

[Lib E]

I work in heathcare, so I always get one and so does my family. This year though, right as flu shot season came I was hit with the flu. I have never felt so pain & misery in my life. The stomach issues were nothing compared to the body aches. I spent the night in the hospital with an IV drip of fluids and pain meds, was curled up in a ball in bed for 7 days and then on the couch for a few more.

It might have hit me even with the shot, but I will be first in line from now on.

 

[lulugirl]

I just got my first flu shot this morning. I got one this year because I'm pregnant and my OB advised it.
I've only had the flu once, about 15 years ago.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Although I agree, handwashing is a good defense, simply by breathing you can get the flu because it is a respiratory illness that is spread by droplets. So someone sneezes, you walk by, breath and you have the potential of getting the flu.

You're right. No amount of handwashing will help you when you are breathing the air of infected people at the mall, in the grocery store, and at work.

Also, there are some people who still think the flu vaccine will protect you from the stomack "flu." And it will not. Unfortunately.

Our son is high risk so now we have to get the vaccine, but we got our shots even before children. I've never had the flu, that I can remember, and never want the flu so we do what it takes decrease our risk.

 

[Laura]

I do sometimes. I got one this year. I don't want the flu when I'm pregnant!

 

[Nette]

We are a very healthy family. I got the flu shot the year I was pregnant over the winter on the recommendation of my OB. I haven't gotten the shot before or since that year.

See? I don't get this... During pregnancy, they tell you not to eat tuna because of the mercury content. And yet, they still recommend a flu shot which has 25 mcg of mercury per dose (50,000 parts per billion).

http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

Drinking water is not allowed to have more than 2 parts per billion.

A can of chunk light tuna has about 350 parts per billion... You do the math.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html

 

[lulugirl]

See? I don't get this... During pregnancy, they tell you not to eat tuna because of the mercury content. And yet, they still recommend a flu shot which has 25 mcg of mercury per dose (50,000 parts per billion).

http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

Drinking water is not allowed to have more than 2 parts per billion.

A can of chunk light tuna has about 350 parts per billion... You do the math.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html

Thimerosal (mercury) free flu shots are available. CVS Clinic offers them.

 

[smartestnumber5]

See? I don't get this... During pregnancy, they tell you not to eat tuna because of the mercury content. And yet, they still recommend a flu shot which has 25 mcg of mercury per dose (50,000 parts per billion).

http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

Drinking water is not allowed to have more than 2 parts per billion.

A can of chunk light tuna has about 350 parts per billion... You do the math.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html

ppb is pretty meaningless unless you know how much is being injected/consumed (i.e., a can of tuna is a lot more "stuff" with "parts" per billion in it than a tiny injection). A can of tuna with 350 ppb would have about 18 mcg of mercury per can (that is light tuna -- albacore is a lot worse -- say twice as bad, thus about 36 mcg per can).

Now, it is not true that women shouldn't eat tuna at all when pregnant -- it is just encouraged they eat it in moderation.

Now let's say a woman ate a can of light tuna per week (a fairly moderate amount) throughout her pregnancy. That would mean in a 40 week pregnancy, she'd get 720 mcg of mercury. Now, I think that consuming that amount of tuna/mercury would be generally considered safe during pregnancy (maybe not ideal, but fairly safe).

Compared to that safe dose of 720 mcg, 25 mcg doesn't sound like a lot, especially if we count the number of deaths and serious disabilities caused by the flu, but of course everyone needs to make their own assessment of risks and benefits.

Just "doing the math" ...

 

[Pigeon]

The only year in recent history when I got the flu was the one year I got the shot.

I'm not getting one, but I do enjoy the annual hype. It's like a Laurel and Hardy routine. Early on in the season it is imperative that everyone get the shot. Then they run short, and suddenly it's fine for the general population not to get the shot. Then they make more, and again, if you don't get the shot ASAP you'll probably die. And in years like last year, they find out that the shot won't help you with the strains of flu you're likely to get.

 

[RitaE]

The only year in recent history when I got the flu was the one year I got the shot.

I'm not getting one, but I do enjoy the annual hype. It's like a Laurel and Hardy routine. Early on in the season it is imperative that everyone get the shot. Then they run short, and suddenly it's fine for the general population not to get the shot. Then they make more, and again, if you don't get the shot ASAP you'll probably die. And in years like last year, they find out that the shot won't help you with the strains of flu you're likely to get.

yeah, I think you can always get a pretty good feel for how many doses of the flu shot have been shipped to the US by the strength of the "inject now or DIE!!!!" Ad campaign that hits the airwaves. This year, there is definitely a very high inventory of flu vaccine - they've even expanded the "high risk group" to include nearly everybody.