flu shot, y or n?

" BTW, the 1918 Spanish Flu was an H1N1 variant and IIRC it killed something like 18 million people world wide and a large proportion of those killed were between 18 and 30 years of age. For some reason not fully understood H1N1 flu variants are particularly nasty and often lethal. So, don't think that Youth will protect you, get that shot."

That is correct...that particular strain was most deadly to those in the population that were the strongest and otherwise healthiest, young adults in their late teens and early twenties. Your own body kills you trying to fight it. Something called a "cytokine storm."
Does the date strike anyone as significant? It's the year massive numbers of soldiers from around the world returned home from battlefields, likely carrying all sorts of exotic bugs. It's also the year following the most massive use of the newly developed technology of vaccination. Early efforts at vaccination on massive scales often resulted in causing more sickness than they prevented. This may have actually been the cause of most of those deaths, classified as being from a flu form before there were any tests for the flu.
 
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If your young and can deal with the flu. But when your 60 you don't want to get sick. I been getting the shot for the last ten years and never got sick. I hate to vomit!!!!!!

Influenza is respitory, so vomiting isn't one of the symptoms. You're probably remembering the times you've had a stomach or intestinal virus, which many people wrongly classify as the flu.
 
As a person ( now 69) that has some medical concerns, my doctors have said for years for me to get them.

I do and I get it early in the season. Yes I know they say it will not be as good these years as they figured a bit wrong but it will still help many people much of the time!

PS also get the shingles shot. (Even if you have to pay for it yourself)
 
Worst flu I ever had was during a year that I had been vaccinated (as was my routine) back in the 1990s. For a couple of days I couldn't make it to the bathroom without help. Never been that sick before or since.
 
I don't remember the last time i got a flu shot and i have no plans of getting one.
 
Some posts talk about getting the flu a few days after getting vaccinated, as if this shows the futility of flu vaccinations. I have always heard that it takes 15 days or so for the shot to take effect.

Or do they mean the flu shot gave them the flu? I have felt a little dizziness on occasion for 15 minutes after getting the shot, but nothing more than that.
 
Every year. I'm 77, with bronchiectasis and COPD. I'm classified as high risk, and I prefer to minimize my chances of shuffling off this mortal thingamajig as long as possible.

Costs me nothing and can't hurt--why not go for it?

I paid for the shingles shot in September too. I had a mercifully fairly light case on my head and face the first of last year, and definitely don't want to go through that again.

Sorry to drift this thread, but.. If you've had shingles once, can you get them again???? An inquiring mind wants to know..
JIM.......
 
I was required to take it at my last job. I'll never risk going without it. If you've ever had the flu you won't wonder why. Got the pnumonia and shingles shots last year. I quit smoking 2 and a half years ago. Wish they made a shot for Marlboros. I'd still smoke one today
 
I get one every year. I have for along time. I started when I used to
go home to visit my parents every Oct. and took them to the health dept.
to get their flu shot. I just took one to. No real bad reaction to them and haven't had a really bad case of flu since taking them. In fact haven't
really had the flu at all. After having that Asian flu back in the late
sixty's and feeling like s**t I never want to go through a bad flu again,
 
I had to get the flu shot every year while on active duty...had a bad reaction several times. Since retiring from the military, I haven't had a shot and haven't had the flu either, even though I work with a lot of people who have kids that pass it around at school and bring it home.
 
I got one this year for the first time. I got that nasty swine flu last
year, and then got pneumonia, which I think dang near killed me.
I never went to a doctor, but I was in bad shape. And I have the early
stages of COPD from years of smoking. I quit that nearly two years ago.
But the paranoia of having a replay of last year compelled me to get
a shot this year.
And... I got the flu anyway. Just got over it about a week ago.
But it was much milder than last year, and no pneumonia this time.
Don't know if the shot helped keep it milder this year, but it may well
have. I'll probably get one every year from now on. The flu didn't
bother me so much last year, but the pneumonia was bad news.
Don't want that again if I can help it.
 
After suffering through several cases of the flu about 7 years ago, now get one every year. After illness last couple years, doctor tells me not to miss them, catching the flu may have serious consequences. I believe him.
 
I never have had the flu but for the last few years now that I'm older it has seemed like the right thing to do. Why risk it? I now keep hearing that the shot they gave this year doesn't fully protect you from the strain that is out there. But since the only side effect I had from the shot was a little sore arm I would do it again.
 
I had to get the flu shot every year while on active duty...had a bad reaction several times. Since retiring from the military, I haven't had a shot and haven't had the flu either, even though I work with a lot of people who have kids that pass it around at school and bring it home.
You likely don't have the habits that make one prone to catching cold and flu, e.g., touching your hands to your face.
 
I got flu shots sometimes in the Navy. Never got flu from them, maybe some minor reactions. Haven't had a flu shot in at least 27 years, haven't gotten flu without them. I think I might be doing the right thing, but I certainly don't know.
 
I was at my doc's office and asked him for the skinny on this year's flu brew. He confirmed it wasn't going to be "as reliable" in fighting the major strain of flu we are seeing this season. But, he told me it could help to reduce your chances of getting the flu and could shorten the length and severity if you did contract it.

I asked what his patients were doing. He said the ones who usually get the shot were still getting it. I got mine while I was there (as usual).
 
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