Are you getting a flu shot this year?

[DandyDon]

I want to encourage my daughter, grandkids, brother, and sister-in-law to get theirs', as they'll all elevated risks, but I thought I'd have to skip.

The preliminary news is that there will be plenty in the part of Texas, though, so I may get to afterall? I would prefer increasing my off against being one of the 36,000 expected to die of flu this year, but I wonder why part of our supply is not being redirected to more needy areas?

I'd do the live-virus mist, but I'm too old. The max on that is 49 - an age I sorta' remember.

And of course - we'll hear from those who really think that shots can give a person the flu, even though it's a dead virus and 100% impossible. :silly:

 

[SueMermaid]

There will be a dire shortage of flu vaccines this year due to one of the companies that is a major US supplier of vaccines going out of production. You may not have a choice. If you do, I would recommend it. I work for the company that makes FluMist, and we have been offered this or the injectable killed form, gratis, every year, except, I fear, this year. I have never taken it, and last December, I came down with the real live flu while traveling on business. It made me understand why so many people die from it. It was bad. Bad, I tell you! I was unable to walk functionally or eat for five days.
If you can, get it. If you cannot, wash your hands. A lot.

 

[Green Mountain]

A Brother Elk that I am in the Lodge with was partially parlayzed as a side effect of a flu shot.

I have been pretty healthy thusfar, (60 years). My feeling is that this is due to keeping as far away from doctors that I can. When I am sick I'll go to the doctors but I am not pushing it if there is nothing wrong with me.

Ps. There is no sense preaching to me, I heard all before from my wife.)

 

[letterboy]

Last time i got a flu shot i got the dag on flu from the bloody shot!


Nope no shot for me!

John

 

[bwerb]

Personally I think flu shots are one of the absolute biggest wastes of health dollars in the system.

You are literally allowing your system to be used as a viral "crapshoot". Some conglomerate of medical professionals decides what "might" be the strain of flu likely to hit your region this year. The flu is insidious and mutates regularly...so...you get a shot of something which may or may not offer you any protection against reality when it arrives at your doorstep.

I'm a proponent of immunization against specific identifiable viruses...polio, rhubella, whooping cough etc...not something which is in the cocktail of the season.

For the record, my wife is forced by her job to get the shot every year...there isn't a single year she hasn't gotten the flu anyhow...the strain just wasn't in the immunization.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Nope don't need it. And, I answered "afraid of needles".

 

[Firefyter]

You left one choice out....Never took it, never will.... I'm 42 yrs. old, and I've never taken the shot. So far, my immune system has been above average. I've never spent a day in bed sick, so there's no point in worrying about it now. If I get the flu, I'll just go on like I always do...

 

[rhadamanthus]

Yep, got mine today. My wife is due soon, and the Dr. wants us all to get it (there should be a category for us as well!). I Think it is sort of a waste though ... haven't been sick in years. I'll update when I'm in bed feeling like I'm gonna die ...

Rhad

 

[DandyDon]

A Brother Elk that I am in the Lodge with was partially parlayzed as a side effect of a flu shot.

Allergic to eggs?

Last time i got a flu shot i got the dag on flu from the bloody shot!

You realize that this is totally impossible. A life virus cannot be caught from a dead virust vaccine, or - did you get a live virus innoculation of some sort?

There are other risks to the shots, though, and there are anti-flu treatments. I did that 2 years ago when I'd failed to get the shot, got sick and had a Cozumel trip approaching. :11:

Personally I think flu shots are one of the absolute biggest wastes of health dollars in the system.

It is a crap shoot, isn't? The efforts may well be better directed elsewhere.

The horror stories of the flu pandemic from World War I still scare me, though.

 

[DennisS]

I heard on the news tonight that there is a major shortage of the vaccine and the shots should be reserved for high risk folks.

On the other hand a columnist in todays paper said that there was no better way to get people to line up for flu shots than announce there was a shortage.