Flu Shot Or Not?

[chaparrito]

I read it's been banned in a few Countries because of the side effects it can cause.

What you read about was the H1N1 Flu vaccine, also called bird or swine vaccine. It was banned by Finland and Australia in 2010 but new versions of it are now allowed there. H1N1 is distinctly NOT the vaccine being discussed in this thread.

 

[RJJ 1971]

Nope. Hadn't had one in 5 years.

 

[vytoland]

do i get a flu shot = not now..not ever...........dont need it or any of the other "shots", except maybe a couple of crown royals....i dont get sick...take vitamins and eat well............

 

[Arney]

get them with some success in not getting the flu. When I do, its lessened in severity and feel better in half the time. As far as risks involved...yes I accept them....

 

[shouldazagged]

You tough guys who never need a shot for anything amaze me, and I hope your luck holds.

My lungs are shot to hell with COPD and bronchiectasis. A serious case of flu could send me off to the big LGS in the sky, and make the trip very unpleasant. I'm not ready to check out yet--I might miss something. I take the flu shot and the pneumonia shot.

I've had shingles on my face and head, and do not want that pain again. I took the shingles shot.

Feel free to call me an old wuss. I just think of it as cheap insurance.

 

[steveno]

I went over to the VA clinic to get the flu shot and they decided I should have the pneumonia and shingles shots as well. I haven't had that many shots at one time since basic training at Lackland when we got marched down to the dispensary and the medics were on both sides of the hallway with their air guns. I think they did that one day a week for 4 weeks. I have no idea what we were getting the shots for. my arms are still a little sore this morning

 

[wbraswell]

Got my freebie Monday. Damn, I feel healthy.

 

[Comrad]

Would you use a box of ammo that isn't 100% effective? The flu vaccine is a guess at which 3 types of flu might be active this year. They always guess wrong. Some years its as low as 9% effective.
A 10 round magazine with only 1 live round and 9 squibs.

 

[boykinlp]

Got mine today.

 

[shouldazagged]

I read it's been banned in a few Countries because of the side effects it can cause.

What countries, and where did you read that? Just curious.

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Got mine back on Sept 29 and haven't gotten the flu, yet.

It might work, it might not but I like to cover my bases.

I also have a "Plastic Jesus" on my truck's dashboard along with a Star of David, a Budda statue, and a Shinto Idol.

And, I'm not religious.

Unless you count attending the church of "St. Mattress" every Sunday morning.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

It is a no brainer to get your shot.

 

[crsides]

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.

Dick, as much as I enjoy your posts, I cannot agree with this one.

No flu shot since mid 70's, I have had the flu once in the interim.

Charlie

 

[Absalom]

This is a simple case of science versus anecdotes.

Those of you who never get a flu shot and never got the flu, great. Get rid of your guns. There are people who never have to defend themselves all their lives. So a gun-free life obviously is the way to go.

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but nobody is entitled to their own reality. Facts remain facts, whether you believe them or not. And the facts, as demonstrated not by "I never..." stories, but rigorous scientific studies which are peer-reviewed and replicable, are that while a flu shot does not protect you 100%, it dramatically decreases the likelihood that you'll get the flu, and if you do get it, the course of the illness will be significantly less severe than without the shot.

The fact that I religiously get the flu shot every year and haven't had the flu for years despite still spending quite a bit of time every week in public schools surrounded by sniffling, sneezing, coughing kids with questionable hygiene habits convinced me a long time ago that science is right.

 

[billwill]

Got it two weeks ago...I'm ready to roll into the season.

 

[MSgt G]

Only missed one year since 1981. Just got this year's a few days ago. No side effects at all.