How Do You Feel About The Flu Shot?

jsmith2377

Loaded with a mega dose of mercury.

Not going to start an argument about the safety of thimerosal. But the FluMist nasal spray vaccine and all single-dose vials do not contain thimerosal.

and we survived

Lucky you. Approximately 36,000 people a year are not so lucky.

^^^This!
There are so many misconceptions about the flu shot. My favorite of my students is you can get the flu from the vaccine. No, that's impossible. However, you can get a minor sore throat from the mist. If you got the flu after getting the shot, you either got another strand or your shot was ineffective (that does happen sometimes)

My husband is military and a few weeks after he deployed a few years ago, I got the flu. No shot. I was all alone across the country with an 18 month old asthmatic child and was SO sick. I was in such an awful position and I've gotten one ever since. Luckily he didn't get sick but do you really want to put someone else with a comprimised immune system in a position with getting the flu that they may not survive, while you with a healthy immune system can? Remember, many people go a few days contagious without knowing they are sick.

SassyCalyGirl

got it once-got very sick. Will never do it again!

jsmith2377

I personally prefer not to get them because I believe I could fight it off just fine at this point in my life, making myself stronger while not making the virus more resilient with the shot. However, if I were older or had a weak immune system then sure, I'd get the shot. I do believe it's a personal choice and that your work is violating ethics by forcing you to get one. It's not a law to get the shot, therefore they cannot force you to get one. But l jest...

that's not how viral infections (or vaccines) work...you don't make the virus more resilient. It isn't like antibiotic resistance.

Agreed.
Plus, you're immune system doesn't generally make antibodies to a viral infection for life. Those protections can sometimes only last a few months. That's why it's very possible to get a cold and then get the same cold six months later.

alexsmith01

People in the medical field should def have them because if you get someone sick it could kill them... Most other workplaces shouldn't force you to! My work pays for us to get them each year if we want them, but I didn't get one this year (it's my first yr out of uni) and I didn't get sick anyway

love22step

A little scared. I took them every year during my military career, but I finally stopped taking it last year. I'm healthy, and there's too much controversy around them. I had a flu shot the year I had my worst case of flu.

tataliciousd89

This was my first year getting one. I had to for school, because we will be doing clinicals at the hospitasl next quarter. I'll have to get one probably every year for the rest of my life, because I'll be working in health care and then I'll just be old. Either way it truly is better to be safe than sorry, not just for you, but for your loved ones as well. Plus the flu shot, unless you are allergic to any of the ingredients, cannot make you sick or hurt you.

SARgirl

Used to get one until I got the flu even after having the shot. I haven't had one for as long as I can remember and (knock on wood) have been pretty healthy. I work in education so I'm around germy kids everyday! I say it builds up the immune system!

honeysprinkles

I've never gotten them. I see no reason to. I'm young and pretty healthy and I can't even remember the last time I might have got the flu. Not anytime in the last 5-6 years at least, so it seems unnecessary.

onewhodiets

Just got mine and I'm only sorry that I was too busy and therefore waited this long into the flu season to do it. It really doesn't hurt like some other injections. I never used to get it , but about seven years ago I got the influenza and was wretched for two weeks. The flu is awful. Much of what people call "the flu" is not the true influenza , which is truly awful and long. Even if you don't mind suffering so much, you may be putting other vulnerable people in danger, if you spread it - like the old and very young. But I don't mean to be preachy; I never thought of those things before experiencing the true flu!

busterbluth

Here is a Wikipedia link about Herd Immunity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity

THIS is how vaccinations work. Get them. Not getting them not only puts yourself at risk, but puts the people around you at risk.

zoeemmaboard

wish i could get one. we have to pay for it other in the uk unless you have a medical problem and i get the flu every year!

goodgollymrsholly86

I rather get the flu shot than the flu.. I work in a pharmacy so I do not want want to go without it.. I am the type that gets sick easy. I always got the flu every year..I have not gotten the flu since I have gotten my flu shot 3 years ago. Make sure you get your flu shot early September. It takes a full 28 days for it to be effective. So you could actually get the flu within those 28 days due to not being fully active and no you do not get it from the vaccine cause it is dead except for the nasal vaccine that one is alive.

M3CH4N1C

Metal poisoning from mercury, lead, aluminum and who knows what other metals are linked to alzheimers, autism, etc.

No they aren't. Please stop with your conspiracy theories and spreading of misinformation.

Everyone should do their own research from a variety of sources and make a decision that is right for them. It's unfortunate that sensationalist news stories get accepted as fact even after they've been disputed. A story about how something is KILLING US ALL is much more interesting than a story about something that isn't.

eta: I'll give you lead, but the link between mercury and autism and between aluminum and alzheimers have weak evidence at best

Yeah, they've pretty much completely debunked the mercury-autism link myth.

No they have not debunked the mercury/vaccination autism link at all, yet alone "pretty much completely." LOL

M3CH4N1C

Vaccines are so effective at halting disease that they confer total immunity, say vaccine advocates. "Take a flu shot and you won't get the flu!" Both flu shots and MMR vaccines are so safe and effective that everybody should be forced to take them, they insist.

And why? Because they claim all those un-vaccinated people will spread disease to the vaccinated people!

(Insert vinyl record screeching sound here.)

Hold on just a minute. Wasn't their whole argument about vaccines based on the idea that they confer total immunity to those who take them? Well, if that's true then they should have no fear whatsoever of un-vaccinated people!

RonSwanson66

Metal poisoning from mercury, lead, aluminum and who knows what other metals are linked to alzheimers, autism, etc.

No they aren't. Please stop with your conspiracy theories and spreading of misinformation.

Everyone should do their own research from a variety of sources and make a decision that is right for them. It's unfortunate that sensationalist news stories get accepted as fact even after they've been disputed. A story about how something is KILLING US ALL is much more interesting than a story about something that isn't.

eta: I'll give you lead, but the link between mercury and autism and between aluminum and alzheimers have weak evidence at best

Yeah, they've pretty much completely debunked the mercury-autism link myth.

No they have not debunked the mercury/vaccination autism link at all, yet alone "pretty much completely." LOL

Completely.

The entire premise was baseless to begin with.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/the-final-nail-in-the-mercury-autism-hypothesis/

Elizabeth_C34

Vaccines are so effective at halting disease that they confer total immunity, say vaccine advocates. "Take a flu shot and you won't get the flu!" Both flu shots and MMR vaccines are so safe and effective that everybody should be forced to take them, they insist.

And why? Because they claim all those un-vaccinated people will spread disease to the vaccinated people!

(Insert vinyl record screeching sound here.)

Hold on just a minute. Wasn't their whole argument about vaccines based on the idea that they confer total immunity to those who take them? Well, if that's true then they should have no fear whatsoever of un-vaccinated people!

afigueroa_pr

I work for a hospital. It is either get one or wear a mask on your face for all the duration of your shift.

cbmcphillips

blank no.... would rather take my chances.....

why take something that is going to make you sick?????

RonSwanson66

blank no.... would rather take my chances.....

why take something that is going to make you sick?????

You don't have the slightest idea how vaccines work.

cbmcphillips

blank no.... would rather take my chances.....

why take something that is going to make you sick?????

plus if you wash your hands, and work in a fairly safe enviroment... why bother???
i don't work for a school system or in the medical field.....

cbmcphillips

blank no.... would rather take my chances.....

why take something that is going to make you sick?????

plus if you wash your hands, and work in a fairly safe enviroment... why bother???
i don't work for a school system or in the medical field.....

plus i have had major surgery... don't need to add anything else to my current history....

Grokette

My own doctor even says that the flu shots are pretty worthless. The put the strains of the virus they "think" is going to cause the most cases of the flu every year, yet you are not 100% protected from getting the flu.

When I used to get the shot, I had 2 years that I still ended up with the flu because the strain of the flu virus I contracted was not a strain of the virus in the shot. One of those times I ended up in the hospital for 5 days.

It is just a way for pharmaceutical companies and doctors offices to make more money.

ShapeUpSidney

My own doctor even says that the flu shots are pretty worthless. The put the strains of the virus they "think" is going to cause the most cases of the flu every year, yet you are not 100% protected from getting the flu.

This is true.

When I used to get the shot, I had 2 years that I still ended up with the flu because the strain of the flu virus I contracted was not a strain of the virus in the shot.

While that *could* be the case, it could also be the case that you either a) contracted a viral infection that was not influenza at all or b) contracted the flu that WAS in the vaccine, but were exposed within 4 weeks of getting the vaccine

It is just a way for pharmaceutical companies and doctors offices to make more money.

Except that the vast majority of public hospitals have free walk in vaccination clinics. If you have a problem with the money aspects of it, there are places you can go to get the vaccines free of charge, no questions asked.

Grokette

My own doctor even says that the flu shots are pretty worthless. The put the strains of the virus they "think" is going to cause the most cases of the flu every year, yet you are not 100% protected from getting the flu.

This is true.

When I used to get the shot, I had 2 years that I still ended up with the flu because the strain of the flu virus I contracted was not a strain of the virus in the shot.

While that *could* be the case, it could also be the case that you either a) contracted a viral infection that was not influenza at all or b) contracted the flu that WAS in the vaccine, but were exposed within 4 weeks of getting the vaccine

It is just a way for pharmaceutical companies and doctors offices to make more money.

Except that the vast majority of public hospitals have free walk in vaccination clinics. If you have a problem with the money aspects of it, there are places you can go to get the vaccines free of charge, no questions asked.

When I used to get the flu shot I always got them in October when the company I worked for had a clinic to come in and do them paid for by the company and then discounted pricing for spouses and kids of employees.

I had CONFIRMED flu by my doctor with that stupid up the nose swabbing test they do and it was way past the 4 week time frame because for some reason I get the flu in December or January every time I have ever had it.

The emergency room doctor in both cases told me that either my body never built up an immunity to that particular strain (if it was included in the shot) OR it was a strain that was not in the shot at all.

And money isn't an issue for me anyway. I choose not to get the shots any more because it is a waste due to the fact you can still contract the virus anyway.

It is best just to wash your hands after being in public places, stop using so much antibacterial and other germ killing items and allow your body to build up immunity to the germs in the first place.

Because of Doctors pushing antibiotics, telling everyone to use antibacterial and antimicrobial products the germs are becoming super germs resistant to most things and our bodies have a harder time building up the immunity.

And the "free clinics" are getting massive amounts of money from the local, state and Federal governments so the shots are still being paid for.

ShapeUpSidney

Because of Doctors pushing antibiotics, telling everyone to use antibacterial and antimicrobial products the germs are becoming super germs resistant to most things and our bodies have a harder time building up the immunity.

You obviously aren't a doctor, because it's quite the other way around. Doctors are reluctant to give antibiotics without a confirmed bacterial infection. It's the patients that demand antibiotics, because they're ignorant and want to believe a pill will make their cold go away.

ShapeUpSidney

And money isn't an issue for me anyway. I choose not to get the shots any more because it is a waste due to the fact you can still contract the virus anyway.

I understand your perspective, but for me, Ive had success with the flu shot. And I was super bummed getting H1N1, when everyone KNEW it would be the most prevalent flu strain that year. I missed 10 days of work, and didn't get my energy back for over a month. It sucked.

Speedtrap

I have a different perspective on this,
Where I am in Canada we can get the shot for free, but it bothers me when people think it is only big pharma trying to make money.
The flu kills people every year. It is a major contributing factor in several other illnesses as well.
As a parent of a child with a Genetic Disease, anyone who spends any large amount of time with my daughter will either have a flu shot of not spend time with her.
It is true it is not all strains and it is the best guess of people way smarter than me who make that call, but how many times did you not get sick because you had the flu shot. There is no way to know but if it does not cost you anything to get it I look at it as why not.
Now just don’t get me started on Idiot parents that have stopped vaccinating their kids.

brocantrs

A lot of ignorance on this subject.

formersec

For people in fragile health, a flu shot can be a lifesaver. A pneumonia vaccine may also be a good idea. I have some health issues, and the doctor recommended I get both vaccines. Well, I didn't listen, and in 2009, I developed pneumonia. Trust me, you don't ever want to get pneumonia. I was in the hospital for one week, including days on a respirator. When I was released from the hospital, I was too sick to go home. Had to spend six weeks in a convalescent facility. I was so weak, I couldn't stand up. People had to feed me, bathe me, brush my teeth and so on. I had to undergo physical and occupational therapy and basically relearn how to take care of myself. It was a nightmare. From then on, I have received a flu vaccine every year and a pneumonia shot every five years. I've managed to avoid every respiratory illness, including the common cold. I don't ever want to be sick like that again.