Flu Shot Or Not?

[Papa32129]

I work in the medical field, I am current on all my vaccines.


Papa

 

[the ringo kid]

Just wondering how people feel about the Flu Shot? I've been getting mine for about the last 10 years. And glad I do! If it even lessens my chance for getting it or even helps give me an milder case, I'm all for it.

I hear people every year say, they'll never get one because you'll get sick. I call Hog Wash, I've never felt bad after getting it! I'll turn 60 in December and have enough medical issues, as it is and the Flu shouldn't be one one of them!!

I got mine last week, and my wife and Grandson have already had theirs. Our insurance covers ours. But if it didn't, I wouldn't let $40 stand in my way. And we were at Wally World Saturday and they even give it!

In this day and time, there is NO reason to get sick and miss a weeks work (maybe more) over the fear of a simple shot. Just my humble opinion!

I've been getting the shot for years. Sometimes I get the flu immediately, and sometimes not at all. I'm 48 and probably in the best health I've had since born. I take it when suggested, and not afraid of needles like my oldest bro is. That dudes a coward when it comes to shots and spiders.

Anyway, I've been exposed to lots of sick folks already this year, and I'm surprised I've not even a sniffle. Usually, I get sick as a dog for about a week when riding a bus where someone is coughing and not considerate enough to cover their mouth.

 

[Salty RI]

Flu shots work great, I had my last one somewhere in the late sixty's and I had the flu within a week, so they do work, I haven't had the flu or a cold since.

 

[Florida Guy]

I get one every year. Does it help? Who knows, but I haven't gotten the flu in decades.

 

[dougb1946]

http://www.birdflubook.org/resources/NIALL105.pdf
Global Mortality of the 1918–1920 “Spanish” Influenza Pandemic

A 1991 paper revised the mortality as being in the range 24.7–39.3 million. This paper suggests that it was of the order of 50 million.

The chronicle of influenza epidemics. - PubMed - NCBI

In the 20th century there have been 4 pandemic (1918/19, 1957/58, 1968/69 and 1977) due to the emergence of new subtypes of influenza A virus.

If you are surrounded by vaccinated people, you probably are safe. Of course if you do catch it, you can only share it with the unvaccinated -the old, the ill, the children too young to vaccinate, the holdouts who don't trust modern medicine. Thats a nice thought.

You carry an expensive gun and practice with expensive ammo in the one in a million chance you may need the gun for self defense. You avoid a few bucks for a vaccine because you heard rumors it may be unsafe or ineffective.

 

[usm1rifle]

I get one every year as early as possible. Got one early and one late last year.

 

[TTSH]

I got my first pneumonia shot last year. They said it was good for 5 years?

Generally true I guess except that they've come up with a second, newer pneumonia vaccine. The new recommendation from the CDC is to get both but my doctor says I need to wait 12 months past the first shot (which was the older vaccine) to get the newer one. I'm not sure if that is his personal opinion/practice or the official recommendation re: the time gap necessary between shots.

Don't be surprised if this happens again. I suspect there will be more "new" bigger and better pneumonia vaccines developed as time goes on.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I have been taking Vitamin C almost daily since the 1990s, THAT is my "flu shot".

 

[Hellraiser]

Flu shot or not...

So... you need to ask yoreself this question...

"Do I trust the gov'ment?" Therein lies yore answer.

 

[max]

I have taken them for years and also got the pneumonia and shingles shots.

 

[Long Barrel]

Do what your doctor(s) says....

Especially if you are over 60. You're a big target for everything the grand kids and nieces and nephews drag in the door when they visit. Before I started getting the shots, I used to get sick as soon as school started in the fall, and the kids came in contact with a larger population of runny noses.

 

[rburg]

A bunch of wussys. Afraid of the shot. Also lacking in common sense.

So take note, every illness isn't the flu. Those advertising they got the flu right after the shot are just full of it. The only way you could possibly know is by going to the doctor and having some blood drawn, then sent away for a lab test. But we know that won't happen because you are afraid of needles. You have about the same confidence as saying you had polio, anthrax, the plague or whatever. You just don't know unless you've had a lab test that confirms it. I know you folks aren't very strong on statistics, but here's the skinny. You have a better chance of getting some disease by just sitting in a doctors office, or worse, Walmart. But it won't be the flu. If you get a shot and then get sick, get yourself right back to the doctor and have him confirm the illness.

If you do that, I'll help you stand up and shout how you got the flu. Otherwise, I'll consider you and all others with similar stories to be idiots. To claim you've caught the flu without a test to confirm it is just crazy.

Yes, as always, I got my shot on 10/2. And I got sick yeasterday. Probably not the flu, more likely the creeping crud my grandson has been fighting for a few weeks. But he still spends lots of time on my lap, and I'm good with it.

 

[sheepdawg]

Never had one in my life. Got the flu pretty bad back in 1996.

 

[ladder13]

Yes I do for the past few years; but I did have my feelings hurt last year by my crotchety old pharmacist.

It was a cold day, and I had on a jacket, which I removed, and asked if I should remove my long-sleeved long john shirt for the shot.

The old *#%* said: "hell naw, you want to run all my customers out" ?

My girl-friend says I still look good bare-chested.........for 74 !

How old's your crotchety old pharmacist?

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

I get one every year, and I'll continue getting it every year until they come out with something better.

 

[Usmc5811]

Haven't had one since 1998. I have had a few head colds and 2 bouts of pneumonia (was a pack or more a day smoker), but not much else. I drink my orange juice everyday, take a multivitamin, and try to run/walk 3 or more miles a day. I don't see the need in one. Now they have shots for the chickenpox too. When I was a kid my friend got the chickenpox and my parents sent me over for a sleepover. Now you would probably be arrested for child endangerment for doing that. I also try to refrain from taking antibiotics also. But hey it's a free country and one of the great things is its your decision to get it or not get it.

 

[johngalt]

No. They are how many strains of the flu? I don't know, but lots. The shot only covers a fraction of those, they just guess what strains will be active this year. Sometimes they guess wrong.

Anyway, I haven't had anything worse than a cold for probably the last 5 years or more.

 

[gunfighter48]

After getting sick 5 years in a row after getting the flu shot, I don't do them anymore. Considering how often the reports on them say that the vaccines aren't very effective or don't cover the strains they tell us they will, i don't feel I'm missing anything. I haven't had the flu in over 10 years. I do get the pneumonia and did get the shingles shot this year. I'll be 68 next Feb.

 

[Stephanie B]

I began getting them after I got tired of having the flu every 2-3 years. The last time I was so sick, I was just lying in bed on my stomach, moaning. One of my cats laid down on my back (along my spine, with her front paws on my shoulders) and purred until I fell asleep.

 

[prplbkrr]

I have a friend who gets a flu shot every year. I have never gotten one. He hasn't had the flu since he started getting his shots. And I haven't either.

I hope he keeps getting his shots so I don't get sick.