How Do You Feel About The Flu Shot?

ShapeUpSidney

I got swine flu before the vaccine was available. It sucked.

ShapeUpSidney

I also don't really appreciate all you Typhoid Marys out there that refuse to vaccinate. I get that it's your personal choice, but I'm not a fan of willful vectors.

PS: wash your hands!

xMedullaOblongatax

I think it's everyone's preference (more or less necessity-based) to get flu shots.

It's been 10 years since I've had a flu shot. When I turned 18 and got out on my own, I was so poor for the next 6 years that I couldn't afford a $15 shot. Yes... if I saved every last penny left in my bank account after buying basic necessities, paying the bills, and budgeting like crazy, I would come up far short of $15. =(

If I got sick, then I threw on a blanket, replaced all of my liquid intake with green tea, ate soup, and played some video games. I let my immune system do its job, and I generally recovered within the week. I spent years doing this, and it strengthened my immune system. Nowadays, I get sick maybe once a year, and I work and travel among a LOT of people - lots of coughers, sneezers, and wheezers. If I get sick, its a 24-hr flu or a 4-day fever.

I know it's not this way for everyone - there are some people who NEED the shot, and there is no room for negotiation. There are some people who are better off without them, and I'm part of the latter. I remember my last flu shot very well... my life became hell for 2 weeks. Things were so bad that I was in pain every time I drank water or swallowed broth. I was in and out of consciousness for days, I was just flat out messed-up. Never again

Elizabeth_C34

I think it's everyone's preference (more or less necessity-based) to get flu shots.

It's been 10 years since I've had a flu shot. When I turned 18 and got out on my own, I was so poor for the next 6 years that I couldn't afford a $15 shot. Yes... if I saved every last penny left in my bank account after buying basic necessities, paying the bills, and budgeting like crazy, I would come up far short of $15. =(

If I got sick, then I threw on a blanket, replaced all of my liquid intake with green tea, ate soup, and played some video games. I let my immune system do its job, and I generally recovered within the week. I spent years doing this, and it strengthened my immune system. Nowadays, I get sick maybe once a year, and I work and travel among a LOT of people - lots of coughers, sneezers, and wheezers. If I get sick, its a 24-hr flu or a 4-day fever.

I know it's not this way for everyone - there are some people who NEED the shot, and there is no room for negotiation. There are some people who are better off without them, and I'm part of the latter. I remember my last flu shot very well... my life became hell for 2 weeks. Things were so bad that I was in pain every time I drank water or swallowed broth. I was in and out of consciousness for days, I was just flat out messed-up. Never again

The problem is that although YOU don't get sick or get better, you could end up being a carrier for a disease that could kill someone else. It's not really about the individual but a matter of public health.

Elizabeth_C34

I also don't really appreciate all you Typhoid Marys out there that refuse to vaccinate. I get that it's your personal choice, but I'm not a fan of willful vectors.

PS: wash your hands!

LOL @ Typhoid Mary's comment. I gotta use that sometime in the future (though not sure where just yet).

Also, I wholeheartedly agree with your comment.

skateboardstef

I've actually never had a flu shot, I probably should get them though. I work in a children's hospital and we get them for free. I had the swine flu a couple years back and it sucked! I remember laying in bed trying to get enough energy just to take a drink of water. It was probably the sickest I've ever been.

xMedullaOblongatax

The problem is that although YOU don't get sick or get better, you could end up being a carrier for a disease that could kill someone else. It's not really about the individual but a matter of public health.

I totally get where you are coming from! However, I could be a carrier for the disease whether or not I took the shot. All it takes is someone sneezing on the back of my clothes, and then another person to bump into me! =(

I am TOTALLY for disease prevention, good hygiene, and good health practices. However, getting a flu shot will *wreck* me, they always have.

gp79

It's the responsible thing to do. As an employer where the bottom line is at stake, it's likely a good business decision as well.

tikikris

Against! Who really knows what's in those things.

Hoaimy

My family is split on this issue too. Out of the 6 of us, 3 get regularly flu shots, 3 adamantly refuse to. However, when one of the stubborns just came down with the flu, he was sure wishing he had gotten the flu shot.

Josie_lifting_cats

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.

I am in love with you.

Mercury is not in all of the flu shots - I highly recommend people do their research before going off on a tangent that doesn't even affect half of the population.

Also, the flu shot is only good for a few strains each year, it is hardly a guarantee.

I get them when pregnant, because getting the flu (primarily influenza while pregnant is strongly correlated with your children's odds of schizophrenia later in life (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090609073032.htm). Otherwise I'm not too paranoid about it. Last year no one in the household got them. The year I was pregnant with my daughter my son caught H1N1, and he was pretty miserable. They treated me, but the vaccines weren't in yet, so nothing we could have done earlier - and I didn't get it.

catgirl711

Well, I work at a hospital as well and the CDC and another large group came out with recommendations that any hospital worker that comes in contact with patients either has to get a flu shot or you get to wear a surgical mask within 6 feet of a patient during flu season (approx six months)

Personally, I'll get a flu shot. Those surgical masks are not made to be worn for the majority of a 12 hour shift (obviously changing them between patients)

I think it is unfair that they would tell you get it or lose your job. That is unreasonable. But get one or wear a mask all the time. That one at least gives you a reasonable choice.

LethaSue

Would have to let them fire me as I had one once and it felt like I was at deaths door for 3 weeks.

fasmoodle

My doctor won't get it so why should I? No coincidence that a couple years ago when scare about vaccine statistics showed a drop in reported incidence of flu world wide ....flu shot only shortens period you have the flu by 1 day...it does not prevent you from getting it....

Josie_lifting_cats

If I were you, I would go get my religious exemption form signed and not get it. I'm not sure where you are from, but here you can either claim religious exemption or get a note from your doctor if you can dream up a medical reason you don't want it. I have no desire to have Thimerosal or any other magical chemical injected in me...I would much rather have the flu. Shame on your work for forcing employees to make that choice!

From what I understand this isn't easy at all. Not to scare you away from it, but I think you need this notarized and have to prove the religious exemption now if your employer is requiring it. And I've heard stories where people fought against getting it, got the religious exemption, and then got fired soon after for something else - completely unrelated, and nothing they could do about it.

ReverendJim

I wouldn't go without one.

Elizabeth_C34

The problem is that although YOU don't get sick or get better, you could end up being a carrier for a disease that could kill someone else. It's not really about the individual but a matter of public health.

I totally get where you are coming from! However, I could be a carrier for the disease whether or not I took the shot. All it takes is someone sneezing on the back of my clothes, and then another person to bump into me! =(

That argument works for things like the common cold, but vaccinations against diseases like smallpox, malaria, polio, the measles, and other life-threatening diseases are another matter entirely. Seasonal flu is responsible for an average of 36,000 deaths per year in the US alone. That number is higher in other countries where vaccination is not possible or practical.

Josie_lifting_cats

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.

ARMom8251

I don't do it....I've had two and once I got the flu right after, and the next time I got pneumonia so no thank you responsible or not I just am not one for that crap!

jmsmitty123

I went years without taking the flu shot. Three years in a row I took the shot, and without fail within 2 days I was sick for 3-5 days. This year, I decided not to, and I feel great... no flu bug.

Other than when I took the flu shot, I've never had a stomach bug last more than 24 hours. Let's see, 100% of being sick for 3-5 days with the shot, no thanks!