Got Your Flu Shot Yet...?

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Last flu season [winter 2003] was a particularly nasty one, the worst in many years. Do you remember SARS? Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

No matter what age or health you are in, a flu shot seems like a really good idea these days. Especially if you plan to travel, particularly airline travel.
 
36,000 Expected to Die in U.S. Alone!

www.fluwatch.com/

But it's true that healthy folks under 50, much less in their 20s, are not as much at risk. From that site:

"The CDC recommends influenza vaccination for those at high risk for complications from the flu, including individuals aged 65 and older and others with chronic medical conditions such as heart and lung disease and diabetes, as well as health care workers. All other groups, including household members of high-risk persons, healthy people ages 50-64, and others who wish to decrease their risk of getting the flu should begin receiving vaccinations in November. CDC also encourages children aged 6 months to 23 months to receive influenza vaccinations."

Chicken Little :cluck:
 
Although as a health car worker of sorts, I'm considered a candidate, I choose not to. Instead, I'm almost compulsive about washing my hands when anywhere in public. Must be working since I haven't even had a cold in over 2 years and I used to get 'em every time one made the rounds!
 
I am a believer in better living through chemistry, but we all must choose for ourselves, and hopefully that choice is informed.

I don't get the shot because, I like other tend to get the flu along with the shot, and the year I didn't get the shot, I didn't get the flu. Watch, this year I'll get it. But, when I get into the risk age, I'll probably get it.

I work in the healthcare field and do agree that it does more good then bad. I also deal with HatMat/WMD Training and know that small pox is another good one for those at risk, which isn't too many right now.

You should be aware that even though people are getting the flu shot these year, there still getting the flu. This is due to the fact that it's a different strain. But this shouldn't prevent you from getting it.

Bill:)
 
The flu almost killed me a few years ago. I never miss getting the vaccine now. My air consumption has never fully recovered from that illness.

You cannot get the flu from the vaccine. The vaccine is made using dead virus. OTOH, there are many strains of flu and you may still catch one for which you didn't receive the vaccine and you may catch the flu immediately prior to receiving the vaccine, but you won't get it from the vaccine.
 
Walter once bubbled...
The flu almost killed me a few years ago. I never miss getting the vaccine now. My air consumption has never fully recovered from that illness.

You cannot get the flu from the vaccine. The vaccine is made using dead virus. OTOH, there are many strains of flu and you may still catch one for which you didn't receive the vaccine and you may catch the flu immediately prior to receiving the vaccine, but you won't get it from the vaccine.
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Thanks for that clarification; I thought, but I wasn't sure that it was a "dead virus" vaccine. Dang I learn a lot on SB. :book:

Even though the strain going across North America is not the one I got vaccinated for, as virruses mutate quickly - especially this one, they're similar enough that I will still enjoy some immunity against others strains.



CBulla once bubbled...
A good reference... not saying vaccines are bad or vaccination is bad, but its good to know whats in it, how it was made, and what it could do to you.

http://909shot.com/Diseases/influenzafacts.htm
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And this was very helpful, too - thanks, CBulla! This helps me educate my opinion, even though it reamins about the same - with adjustments:

Dead virrus flu shots don't give you the flu. They may give you reactions, but the improved immunity is worth it overall.

And even though younger people usually are low risk from dying from flu, there's another view: The two 30 year olds I work with aren't getting the vaccine, so they're more likely to get flu, and while they probably won't die, they'll bring it to work as much as they can - increasing my exposure. If more younger people got the shots, fewer older people would be exposed and die; of course, one could also argue that we have too many people, and some of us older folks need to move on??

don
 
...I have already had the flu this year. Seems like every year, I get the flu, am sick for a week, and a week later hear about flu shot being offered. Actually, I'm starting to think that that's how they decide to give flu shots. :doctor: "Oh, did you hear? TJ has the flu, the season must be starting, we can give the shots now."

Oh, well. :D
 
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