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Flu shots? For them or against ?
Replies
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I am for the flu vaccine, and I strongly believe in mandatory vaccinations. If you have a medical reason for not vaccinating, that's fine, and completely understandable. Any other reason isn't.
I'm also considered at-risk/immunocompromised; if I'm so much as near a person with the flu, I get sick. Having the shot regularly has meant that some years I don't get sick at all. Since getting sick means I get an irritating, persistent cough that can last weeks to months, and doesn't go away without some kind of steroids, not being sick is quite nice.4 -
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I said this upstream and I will repeat it again:
Anyone in this thread who is saying they had the flu who is willing to have it again...
NEVER HAD THE FLU.
If you were not praying for death, you did not have the flu. You had a bad cold. Full stop.dult
If you had ever had the flu, you would move heaven and earth to never, ever have it again and to ensure your children never had it.
It is awful.
I say this as a person with a very much above average pain/discomfort tolerance. I cite as reference the fact that I had a broken ankle that I soldiered through with just OTC pain meds and ice packs because I couldn't tolerate the prescription pain meds.
The real flu is not something people who have had it are blithe about.
^
This - I've had the flu twice in my adult life. First time I was about 21, second about 45. I don't believe I had a vaccination either of those years. When you've had the flu, without a doubt, you know it's the flu. It is indeed horribly horrible. Now that I'm a senior citizen and in a risk population, I get the extra boost one, but I understand the efficacy of vaccinations dwindles with age.
Anyway, I surely believe in herd protection! 2 -
Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.6
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suzannesimmons3 wrote: »GlassAngyl wrote: »Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.
Healthy people.die of the flu as well you know.
@suzannesimmons3 why do you say that?3 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »suzannesimmons3 wrote: »GlassAngyl wrote: »Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.
Healthy people.die of the flu as well you know.
@suzannesimmons3 why do you say that?
Because it's true. The flu doesn't just kill immunosuppressed people.7 -
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comptonelizabeth wrote: »I suspect anyone who thinks people with flu are hypochondriacs who should suck it up,has probably never had real flu.
I agree that there are some who have maybe a fluey cold who claim to have flu. Real flu,however,is pretty nasty even for healthy people.
Similarly, when I worked at the ER, many many many MANY people came in with the 'flu' and rarely was it actually the flu. Instead it was something else with flu like symptoms. So whenever I hear people say "I got the shot and then got the flu!" I just think, 'did your really? or did you get something with flu like symptoms?"4 -
comptonelizabeth wrote: »I suspect anyone who thinks people with flu are hypochondriacs who should suck it up,has probably never had real flu.
I agree that there are some who have maybe a fluey cold who claim to have flu. Real flu,however,is pretty nasty even for healthy people.
Similarly, when I worked at the ER, many many many MANY people came in with the 'flu' and rarely was it actually the flu. Instead it was something else with flu like symptoms. So whenever I hear people say "I got the shot and then got the flu!" I just think, 'did your really? or did you get something with flu like symptoms?"
I think I had the flu once. I was very sick for a a week and felt a bit better so tried going back to normal life and the next day I was sick again for a few weeks. It took me several months to feel normal aha.0 -
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suzannesimmons3 wrote: »GlassAngyl wrote: »Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.
Healthy people.die of the flu as well you know.
They also infect less healthy/immunoconoromised people.2 -
GlassAngyl wrote: »Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.
It's important for healthy people to get them to protect people with compromised immune systems.5 -
Sounds like most people are for them. I just have not bothered in the past few years. It seems like every year after flu season, they say the vaccine did not cover the correct strand of flu.2
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clayelliott847 wrote: »Sounds like most people are for them. I just have not bothered in the past few years. It seems like every year after flu season, they say the vaccine did not cover the correct strand of flu.
Not every year, but sometimes it doesn't. It is still always a matter of protection against something vs. nothing. So if, for example, only 15% of the viruses I come into contact with are covered by the vaccine; it is still worthwhile to me.1 -
For. I may not work in the medical field but due to the nature of where I work, people frequently show up when they are deathly ill rather than get a warrant for failing to appear, sharing their germs with EVERYBODY. The lack of hygeine around here astounds me, so yeah, I'll take a shot and do my best to avoid surfaces and doorknobs, etc. outside of my office.2
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I work in a hospital, having the flu shot is a job requirement.1
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I've never gotten sick in the years I've gotten the vaccine. I had the flu once and it was nasty. I'd rather not have it again. I was told that even if you get the flu after having had the vaccination, you will probably suffer from much milder effects because you have at least some immunity built up. It's better than no protection...
And to the person so was ha-ha-ha-ing about herd immunity: that's fine if you don't want to contribute to strengthening "the herd" (your choice) but mocking it and bragging about being a free-rider isn't very nice. People who can't (for medical reasons) get vaccinated are at great risk when the general population doesn't make choices that contribute to the health of the greater community. Again, it's your right to abstain, but it's not really a joke.10 -
suzannesimmons3 wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »suzannesimmons3 wrote: »GlassAngyl wrote: »Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.
Healthy people.die of the flu as well you know.
@suzannesimmons3 why do you say that?
Because it's true. The flu doesn't just kill immunosuppressed people.
A small snapshot of the flu at work
The influenza or flu pandemic of 1918 to 1919, the deadliest in modern history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide–about one-third of the planet's population at the time–and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims.
The flu was most deadly for people ages 20 to 40. This pattern of morbidity was unusual for influenza which is usually a killer of the elderly and young children. It infected 28% of all Americans (Tice). An estimated 675,000 Americans died of influenza during the pandemic, ten times as many as in the world war. Of the U.S. soldiers who died in Europe, half of them fell to the influenza virus and not to the enemy (Deseret News). An estimated 43,000 servicemen mobilized for WWI died of influenza
Are.you telling me that 500 million people who got the flu and the estimated 20 TO 50 MILLION people who died many of them young healthy people including soldiers were all somehow immunosuppressed.without knowing it.
If you're interested in family research, the 1918 Spanish flu is something worth looking at. I have two great-grandmothers who died of this flu, and my husband has one. Both of mine were older people, but neither were elderly. The odds are very good that you also have at least one family member who died of this flu - millions of people did, around the globe. I wasn't aware of the ones in my family until looking at their death certificates for research.1 -
rheddmobile wrote: »suzannesimmons3 wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »suzannesimmons3 wrote: »GlassAngyl wrote: »Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.
Healthy people.die of the flu as well you know.
@suzannesimmons3 why do you say that?
Because it's true. The flu doesn't just kill immunosuppressed people.
A small snapshot of the flu at work
The influenza or flu pandemic of 1918 to 1919, the deadliest in modern history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide–about one-third of the planet's population at the time–and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims.
The flu was most deadly for people ages 20 to 40. This pattern of morbidity was unusual for influenza which is usually a killer of the elderly and young children. It infected 28% of all Americans (Tice). An estimated 675,000 Americans died of influenza during the pandemic, ten times as many as in the world war. Of the U.S. soldiers who died in Europe, half of them fell to the influenza virus and not to the enemy (Deseret News). An estimated 43,000 servicemen mobilized for WWI died of influenza
Are.you telling me that 500 million people who got the flu and the estimated 20 TO 50 MILLION people who died many of them young healthy people including soldiers were all somehow immunosuppressed.without knowing it.
If you're interested in family research, the 1918 Spanish flu is something worth looking at. I have two great-grandmothers who died of this flu, and my husband has one. Both of mine were older people, but neither were elderly. The odds are very good that you also have at least one family member who died of this flu - millions of people did, around the globe. I wasn't aware of the ones in my family until looking at their death certificates for research.
My great grandfather died from it. He was a very young man at the time. I think he was only 28.1 -
Probably said this already somewhere in this thread. Flu shots are just not part of our everyday discussion where I live. To have or not to have, is not the question. The question just doesn't come up.
This. I'm reading this thread and wondering where on earth everyone lives to have the flu so often! Not only have I never had the flu, I can't remember anyone in my office having it either. I'm not in an at risk group, I don't work or live with anyone at risk. I've never been offered a flu jab and unsurprisingly have never gone looking for one. Why would I?2 -
I am for them!0
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Rosemary7391 wrote: »Probably said this already somewhere in this thread. Flu shots are just not part of our everyday discussion where I live. To have or not to have, is not the question. The question just doesn't come up.
This. I'm reading this thread and wondering where on earth everyone lives to have the flu so often! Not only have I never had the flu, I can't remember anyone in my office having it either. I'm not in an at risk group, I don't work or live with anyone at risk. I've never been offered a flu jab and unsurprisingly have never gone looking for one. Why would I?
Just so you know. I not only suffer from asthma and another chronic disease; I'm also immunocompromised due to the medication I'm on. So,I have the jab. The problem is that,precisely because I'm immunocompromised , the jab is less effective. So I could still catch flu from another person. It would be great if healthy people would do all they can to avoid passing it on. The jab doesn't offer complete protection but it's a step in the right direction.
I don't see many people arguing against other vaccines such as mmr. Why is flu - which can kill - any different?6 -
comptonelizabeth wrote: »Rosemary7391 wrote: »Probably said this already somewhere in this thread. Flu shots are just not part of our everyday discussion where I live. To have or not to have, is not the question. The question just doesn't come up.
This. I'm reading this thread and wondering where on earth everyone lives to have the flu so often! Not only have I never had the flu, I can't remember anyone in my office having it either. I'm not in an at risk group, I don't work or live with anyone at risk. I've never been offered a flu jab and unsurprisingly have never gone looking for one. Why would I?
Just so you know. I not only suffer from asthma and another chronic disease; I'm also immunocompromised due to the medication I'm on. So,I have the jab. The problem is that,precisely because I'm immunocompromised , the jab is less effective. So I could still catch flu from another person. It would be great if healthy people would do all they can to avoid passing it on. The jab doesn't offer complete protection but it's a step in the right direction.
I don't see many people arguing against other vaccines such as mmr. Why is flu - which can kill - any different?
Well, why did I get offered MMR as a baby, but not flu shots then or since? It's obviously different from the perspective of the NHS! I've seriously never been offered one, no doctor has ever recommended I get one. I think one of my friends got offered it by his employer, but mine doesn't offer it and we don't have these yearly flu problems everyone is talking about. I really can't remember the last time someone I knew had flu. I think I live in quite a different situation to a lot of folks here who seem to get flu thrown at them from all directions. Sure if the doc recommended it, but until then I'll treat it like the yellow fever jab (which I've had!), rabies jab (which I've not), and so on - I won't bother until I get into a situation where it's recommended. Not against it vaccines as recommended by medical professionals, but it isn't recommended for me currently.2 -
@TeacupsAndToning what's your opinion on flu jabs?0
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Rosemary7391 wrote: »Probably said this already somewhere in this thread. Flu shots are just not part of our everyday discussion where I live. To have or not to have, is not the question. The question just doesn't come up.
This. I'm reading this thread and wondering where on earth everyone lives to have the flu so often! Not only have I never had the flu, I can't remember anyone in my office having it either. I'm not in an at risk group, I don't work or live with anyone at risk. I've never been offered a flu jab and unsurprisingly have never gone looking for one. Why would I?
It depends on where you live. In the U.K./Europe it's generally only recommended for people with compromised immune systems and elderly people. In the US and Canada, it's generally recommended for everyone over the age of 6, mostly to help protect the more vulnerable population.1 -
Rosemary7391 wrote: »comptonelizabeth wrote: »Rosemary7391 wrote: »Probably said this already somewhere in this thread. Flu shots are just not part of our everyday discussion where I live. To have or not to have, is not the question. The question just doesn't come up.
This. I'm reading this thread and wondering where on earth everyone lives to have the flu so often! Not only have I never had the flu, I can't remember anyone in my office having it either. I'm not in an at risk group, I don't work or live with anyone at risk. I've never been offered a flu jab and unsurprisingly have never gone looking for one. Why would I?
Just so you know. I not only suffer from asthma and another chronic disease; I'm also immunocompromised due to the medication I'm on. So,I have the jab. The problem is that,precisely because I'm immunocompromised , the jab is less effective. So I could still catch flu from another person. It would be great if healthy people would do all they can to avoid passing it on. The jab doesn't offer complete protection but it's a step in the right direction.
I don't see many people arguing against other vaccines such as mmr. Why is flu - which can kill - any different?
Well, why did I get offered MMR as a baby, but not flu shots then or since? It's obviously different from the perspective of the NHS! I've seriously never been offered one, no doctor has ever recommended I get one. I think one of my friends got offered it by his employer, but mine doesn't offer it and we don't have these yearly flu problems everyone is talking about. I really can't remember the last time someone I knew had flu. I think I live in quite a different situation to a lot of folks here who seem to get flu thrown at them from all directions. Sure if the doc recommended it, but until then I'll treat it like the yellow fever jab (which I've had!), rabies jab (which I've not), and so on - I won't bother until I get into a situation where it's recommended. Not against it vaccines as recommended by medical professionals, but it isn't recommended for me currently.
Googling it, I found several articles - it seems Great Britain has the highest rate of flu deaths yearly in all of Europe. I'm thinking they should offer it.5 -
Rosemary7391 wrote: »Probably said this already somewhere in this thread. Flu shots are just not part of our everyday discussion where I live. To have or not to have, is not the question. The question just doesn't come up.
This. I'm reading this thread and wondering where on earth everyone lives to have the flu so often! Not only have I never had the flu, I can't remember anyone in my office having it either. I'm not in an at risk group, I don't work or live with anyone at risk. I've never been offered a flu jab and unsurprisingly have never gone looking for one. Why would I?
Interesting. Where I live (CA bay area) there's a HUGE push to get everyone vaccinated, starting in Sept. All the pharmacies have big signs offering the shot, a lot of the urgent care and regular medical groups offer free vaccine clinics, there's advertising on buses and bart and so on. We do have a vicious flu season each year so potentially that drives the campaign, and the push for immunity might not be so strong in an area that traditionally doesn't get hit so hard.1 -
Where I live, they offer flu shots all over the place. I am able to get mine earlier than everyone else (they give it to the at-risk and immunocompromised first) but it's offered for everyone a bit later. Most of the time, it is free.Rosemary7391 wrote: »Well, why did I get offered MMR as a baby, but not flu shots then or since? It's obviously different from the perspective of the NHS! I've seriously never been offered one, no doctor has ever recommended I get one. I think one of my friends got offered it by his employer, but mine doesn't offer it and we don't have these yearly flu problems everyone is talking about. I really can't remember the last time someone I knew had flu. I think I live in quite a different situation to a lot of folks here who seem to get flu thrown at them from all directions. Sure if the doc recommended it, but until then I'll treat it like the yellow fever jab (which I've had!), rabies jab (which I've not), and so on - I won't bother until I get into a situation where it's recommended. Not against it vaccines as recommended by medical professionals, but it isn't recommended for me currently.
The flu shot isn't something that can be given once, so giving it to you as a child doesn't mean you're done for life. Personally, I find it weird that flu shots aren't offered.
http://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/influenza-flu - based on this at least some people are recommended the flu vaccine. It seems odd that they aren't relying on herd immunity, though.
Off-topic, but I have to wonder why I sometimes get the "Woo" button. It's not like I post pseudo-science or the like?1 -
Where I live, they offer flu shots all over the place. I am able to get mine earlier than everyone else (they give it to the at-risk and immunocompromised first) but it's offered for everyone a bit later. Most of the time, it is free.Rosemary7391 wrote: »Well, why did I get offered MMR as a baby, but not flu shots then or since? It's obviously different from the perspective of the NHS! I've seriously never been offered one, no doctor has ever recommended I get one. I think one of my friends got offered it by his employer, but mine doesn't offer it and we don't have these yearly flu problems everyone is talking about. I really can't remember the last time someone I knew had flu. I think I live in quite a different situation to a lot of folks here who seem to get flu thrown at them from all directions. Sure if the doc recommended it, but until then I'll treat it like the yellow fever jab (which I've had!), rabies jab (which I've not), and so on - I won't bother until I get into a situation where it's recommended. Not against it vaccines as recommended by medical professionals, but it isn't recommended for me currently.
The flu shot isn't something that can be given once, so giving it to you as a child doesn't mean you're done for life. Personally, I find it weird that flu shots aren't offered.
http://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/influenza-flu - based on this at least some people are recommended the flu vaccine. It seems odd that they aren't relying on herd immunity, though.
Off-topic, but I have to wonder why I sometimes get the "Woo" button. It's not like I post pseudo-science or the like?
The stupid button means both "woohoo" (positive) and "this is nothing but woo" (negative). It makes no sense and I can't even on the logic of putting it in there.
eta for clarity5
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