Pushing the flu shot

Two years ago and three years ago I got the free flu shot from the nurses where I work. Both years I had a mild reaction the day of the shot and had to go home ill. Those years over the winter I contracted full blown influenza A and both years its lead to pneumonia. Last year I skipped the shot and was healthy all winter. They say that the flu shot doesn't make you sick, but I remain skeptical.

 

I think as long as you don't react to it that is probably the best course of action.

 

I don't get flu shots. I force myself to avoid hand-to-face touching (not easy to do) and I use the hand sanitizers a lot... during flu season. Haven't had the flu in a long while. My honey gets a shot every year. She's had the flu recently too. Each to herzone I guess...

 

I haven't gotten a flue shot in years and knock on wood, haven't been sick in years. Everybody has their own opinions on the shot, it's not for me

 

Ok I going to step on my soap box and rant.
The flu shot doesn't make you get the flu. It isn't going to always stop it either. Last's years protection missed the the worse of the virus. The flu shot has a very good chance to protect you, either in part or whole from getting flu or having a severe case of it. Better yet, it protects others from you spreading it around. So much is known about this that our hospital employees are not allowed to work in the same area that patients are unless that employee has the immunization. Do you think is it wise to work around someone who you are being paid to help only to be the one that passes on flu. Flu Kills. My daughter in-law's 32 yr old sister died from it three years ago. She was a smoker, and didn't like getting a flu shot. She left two young daughters with no parent and no home. Preventable, most likely. The flu runs you down, severely weakening your resistance from other opportunistic infections that can kill. There are many people out there who are immunological suppressed. i.e those with anti inflammatory treatments or receiving chemo. If you are going to stay in the woods, fine, but if you are around people then it is important for them or you not to increase a preventable risk.
My family has a large percentage of health care providers and teachers. Some liberal, some conservative, but all supportive of preventive care.

 

That works, works well for many other things also. Everything you mentioned has merit. Be healthy, if you are not exposed, you can't pass it on!
We have kids living with us now. They come home from school sick and spread it around.

 

I've been staying away from the flu shot for about the past 10 years. Last year I was work for my company at a hospital and had to get it. I did get sick for 3 or 4 days with flu like symptoms. This year I am back on the fence as to whether I'll get it or not.

Unfortunately this has become a political debate. Last year I recall reports of the shot not being the correct one for the strain that developed. I watched a documentary on it, and they essentially have to make an educated guess. Then there are the claims of formaldehyde, mercury, aluminum, borax, etc .....

 

Larry, I was conviced of the same but after my personal experience over the last few years I no longer believe it. When the side effects came was when I started getting sick after it. Before that, I had no problem. The second year I gave it to one of the people I work with and that's when I decided I wasn't doing that again.

 

No shot here.....ever, unless someone gave it to me during the last surgery.
I rarely get sick. The only time I'm around others is when I go shopping about 2x/month.
If I get it, it more than likely stays here until I go again.
This may change in a couple years or so though. Maybe.

 

yes, there are side effects. local and systemic reactions as there are with anything. But one of them is not influenza. What we often see is folks getting the shot when the disease is already active. They get sick and blame the shot. It is impossible to get flu from a dead virus. Most care providers will tell you that you were going to get sick anyway, but the severity of the illness might be less with the immunization. Anyway, it is your decision, your body until you spread it around.
Around here, no health care provided is allowed to work with patients unless they have proof of immunization. Please, I am in no way trying to insult you or infer anything. Whenever we hear stories such as yours, we know one thing, that we need to do a better job with public education.

 

The last time I had the Flue was 32 years ago. I got my first flue shot last year and i'll probably get one this year. It's been so long since I've gotten the flue, I'm overdue to get it.

 

Never had a flu shot.

 

One of the most important roles for the news media these days is to act as spokespersons for their sponsors. Over the past 10 years or so, the flu shot has become Big Business. Do they still use animal mascots in their ad campaigns? I stopped paying attention sometime around the 'swine flu'. I hope it's not canine this year - I didn't have any birds or pigs, but I have a dog!

My mom recently retired from her nearly 40 year nursing career. She was required to get one every year since Big Pharma started pushing them heavily. She's a staunch advocate of them as well, even though her and my dad would get the flu every year after she got her required shot. Maybe it's just a coincidence, and they were coming down with a -different- strain than she was 'immunized' for... Seems unlikely to me though.

 

I have never got a flue shot. I'm still alive. I rest my case.

 

I am also big supporter of washing my hand frequently, not touching my face, wiping down my phone/laptop/keyboard frequnently to keep it clean from germs.

5 years ago now, I came down with the flu. I was out for a week and a half with that. On the second weekend, I was still not feeling good. My wife dragged me to a birthday party for my daughter at the local YMCA on Sunday. Two days later I was in the hospital with double pneumonia. Add another two weeks for that, and I was digging into my vacation time.


Now that I think of it, I did get the flu shot that year. I was working in our corporate offices and felt it was a good idea. So scratch my previous comment of 10 years in my earlier post.


Jason