Social Policing of "did you get your flu shot?" Yay or nay?

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Replies

  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    I'm not very informed on this, so my question is truly not confrontational, just seeking information. How does a person's decision to not the get the flu shot put a baby or an elderly person at risk if the infant and elderly person have received their own flu shot?

    /end thread

    How dare you use logic to combat 'policing'?

    Yeah, except your ''logic'' ignores people who are still building up their immunity after a flu shot and those that can't legitimately get the flu shot.

    Damnit, I told myself I wasn't going to get sucked back in.

    Welcome back! \o/

    I see your point, but the fact is, it's all circular. Assuming that we all got the flu shot on the same exact day they were available (not possible, but this is best case scenario), there's still a chance for an outbreak while everyone is building up to the best case 'immunity'...which isn't even all that impressive to begin with.
  • stacifahlsing
    stacifahlsing Posts: 38 Member
    NEVER! I really believe it is hype!
  • cuterbee
    cuterbee Posts: 545
    NEVER! I really believe it is hype!

    I work in a pulmonary clinic, with people who have Cystic Fibrosis. A bout with the flu for most of them will mean at the very least 3 weeks in the hospital with IV antibiotics. Everyone who works in the clinic gets the injection (while not mandatory, all of us are acutely aware of the dangers of inadvertently exposing our patients to the flu).

    I don't have a single patient who turns it down, and as soon as it is available, they are calling to come in to get it (none of them wait until winter). Yes, some people will STILL get it -- there are strains of the flu other than those that the injection covers -- but getting the injection is much safer.

    People die from influenza every year, even some few people who were normally healthy (mostly these are kids under 18). I've had the flu shot every year since 1995 and I think I've had it once since then; prior to that, I got it every year.

    Whether you get it or not, it's not "hype"; for some people it is a lifesaver.
  • milf_n_cookies
    milf_n_cookies Posts: 2,244 Member
    I have a son with lung damage from being born 10 weeks early, so we get it every year.
  • CurvaciousBeautyToBe
    CurvaciousBeautyToBe Posts: 100 Member
    I work at a hospital, and I had the choice of always wearing a mask around the patients I come into contact with, or getting the flu shot. I choose to get the shot, but I don't necessary think it actually helps. All I know is I was having flu-like symptoms shortly after having it. How can that be good for you?
  • McChubbyruewho
    McChubbyruewho Posts: 194
    I don't care who asks me I take joy in saying HELL NO! lol
  • CarmenSRT
    CarmenSRT Posts: 843 Member
    I don't ask, but wish I knew. We get ours every year now, but lots of people don't get this (or many other vaccines). Those who don't raise our chances of contracting the flu. The vaccine helps lower risk of contracting it, but due to variability of strains and the best guess using all known factors involved in formulating the current vaccine it still isn't 100% effective.

    I don't want the damn flu. :sick:
  • LilynEdensmom
    LilynEdensmom Posts: 612 Member
    We selective vax in our family, and I got tired of people preaching at me, and asking if we got this and that shot...so I just started responding...No **big eyes*** you know the gov't is helping the aliens by putting transponders in our bodys through vaccines...it usually gets people to leave me alone.

    And the flu shot is one we don't do...I have had the flu this year but my kids have not..Lots of raw garlic vitamin c handwashing and avoiding crowds help, not get the flu without the shot.
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I have never gotten a flu shot and I probably never will. I especially opted not to get one this year because I'm far into my pregnancy and I didn't want the first time to get the flu shot during my pregnancy. Overall, I believe flu shots are poison and I'd rather just get the flu and suck it up like I have every other year.
  • MLT314
    MLT314 Posts: 47 Member
    :smile: Getting one on Weds. Yay!
  • Jennicia
    Jennicia Posts: 409 Member
    I work in the medical field and it was required this year or else u got fired. so yea...i need my job so I got one back in Oct
  • paulaviki
    paulaviki Posts: 678 Member
    In the UK it's mainly 'at risk' groups who have the flu jab, so people with low immune systems, the elderly etc. Anyone else can pay to have it done but I don't know anyone who does. To be honest it's a good job not everyone wants it as I doubt they'd have enough vaccine to go around.

    I find it odd that people would have such strong feelings about someone not having it?
  • cobes24
    cobes24 Posts: 132 Member
    When people ask personal questions, I usually call them out on it. I think it's weird that the average person thinks that everything is their business.

    HIPAA only applies in the medical field; you can't sue a PTA mom for telling someone your flu shot status, that's just gossip. Now if the PTA mom were also a nurse, and she learned of your flu shot status at work, then that's a HIPAA violation.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    While I am an advocate for people's choice, I do prefer them to get the flu shot. Because, although I have my flu shot, that will only hasten my recovery. I can still catch it from someone else, and what happens if it is the H3N2 or H1N1? Now I am hospitalized and putting a burden on my already short staffed post, worrying my husband and family, and ending up eating nasty lime jell-o.

    For those who don't get the flu shot, I hope they are washing their hands. Because honestly, though I have never gotten sick off the flu shot, I would rather get the sniffs and a cough for a week than end up in the hospital fighting for my life from influenza.
  • SoozeE512
    SoozeE512 Posts: 439 Member
    I never used to get the flu shot, and co-workers would always ask, "Did you get your shot this year?" I would simply just say, "No, I have my personal reasons for not getting one" and that was enough for them to drop the subject.

    Unfortunately, my doctor began strongly recommending that I get the shot every year, so I have gotten it the last couple of years -- but, go figure, I still got the flu less than two months after getting the shot.

    To me, it doesn't matter whether people get the shot or not, everyone still has a chance of getting the flu regardless of the vaccine. It's not 100%. What does matter is that people take themselves away from social situations when they are experiencing symptoms. No one wants a co-worker or schoolmate walking around coughing on everything saying, "I feel kind of feverish, but I'm here anyway!"
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member

    Yeah, except your ''logic'' ignores people who are still building up their immunity after a flu shot and those that can't legitimately get the flu shot.

    Damnit, I told myself I wasn't going to get sucked back in.

    If it's true that the flu vaccine is only 61% effective in preventing the flu, I don't think that's a good enough efficacy to blame people who choose not to get the flu vaccine for other people getting sick. The flu vaccine doesn't cover every strain out there. People at risk are still at risk, unfortunately. If the flu vaccine had a much higher efficacy rate and was able to protect against most to all of the strains, I'd buy that argument more. Over the years in my area, the advice on whether or not to get the vaccine has ranged from, "Only the elderly and sick and very young need it, save the supplies for them" to "There's enough for more people to get it this year, so even if you aren't in a risk category, come on in." I have never heard it argued though that it's necessary to protect the at risk populations for all of us to get the flu vaccine (before this thread.) Like I said though, it's not something I know tons about or have spent much time looking into.

    I'm not anti-vaccines, but I'm not agreeing that Joe's failure to get the flu vaccine caused Betty to die. High risk populations should be offered the vaccine prior to influenza season to begin building their immunity. Joe still has a 40% chance of getting the flu with the vaccine and passing it to Betty. If I were Betty, I wouldn't be hanging my hat on not getting the flu if 100% of people still have a 40% chance of transmitting it to her.
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    I do not follow the lemmings to the cliff and jump off. They can inject themselves and their children with toxic chemicals that are required to be red-bagged and labeled with skull and crossbones all they want. Morons. Self-correcting problem.
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    No thank-you, no thank-you, NO THANK-YOU!!!!
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    I do not follow the lemmings to the cliff and jump off. They can inject themselves and their children with toxic chemicals that are required to be red-bagged and labeled with skull and crossbones all they want. Morons. Self-correcting problem.
    Yes to strong rejection of flu shots!
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I think it would be interesting to see how many people died from the Spanish Flu epidemic (circa 1918) before influenza vaccines were available and how many people die from the flu now with widespread vaccinations.

    Just sayin...
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    I think it would be interesting to see how many people died from the Spanish Flu epidemic (circa 1918) before influenza vaccines were available and how many people die from the flu now with widespread vaccinations.

    Just sayin...

    For the sake of all the arguing that flu shots create, let's say," I think it would be interesting to see the percentage of world population who were exposed died from the Spanish Flu epidemic (circa 1918) before influenza vaccines were available and the percentage of the world's population who are exposed die from the flu now with widespread vaccinations."


    ...and I'm waiting for someone to pick that apart, too. :laugh:
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    ....Like, for instance....taking into account the improved health care system in general...


    There. I'll pick apart my own argument.
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    On a similar note I asked someone at work who was obviously very sick for a long period if they were infectious and they told me it was none of my business =/

    I'm not sure you can compare 1918 to now due to so many different factors.
  • pseudomuffin
    pseudomuffin Posts: 1,058 Member
    I do not subject myself to superfluous vaccinations.
  • LeviLeDoux
    LeviLeDoux Posts: 151 Member
    No, I do not support aleopathy, nor do I put pharmaceuticals in my body. -_-
  • proudandprejudiced
    proudandprejudiced Posts: 127
    I haven't had any vaccinations since I was 2 years old and have never had any problems with anyone about it. Flu shots are only really encouraged to the elderly or vulnerable in the UK, I think.
  • Mrder37
    Mrder37 Posts: 904
    I sat no to the flue shot ill get the flue the way god intended me to get it that is unless its man flue women you wouldn't understand that living hell:)
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I think it would be interesting to see how many people died from the Spanish Flu epidemic (circa 1918) before influenza vaccines were available and how many people die from the flu now with widespread vaccinations.

    Just sayin...

    For the sake of all the arguing that flu shots create, let's say," I think it would be interesting to see the percentage of world population who were exposed died from the Spanish Flu epidemic (circa 1918) before influenza vaccines were available and the percentage of the world's population who are exposed die from the flu now with widespread vaccinations."


    ...and I'm waiting for someone to pick that apart, too. :laugh:


    Or, for instance, how do you know who had/has been exposed?
    (To the flu, not like a steaker running thru a stadium full of people:wink: )
  • robot_potato
    robot_potato Posts: 1,535 Member
    I think it's absurd how people think what I do for my children is any of their business. I am the one who gets to weigh the pros and cons and make those decisions for my family.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    I think it would be interesting to see how many people died from the Spanish Flu epidemic (circa 1918) before influenza vaccines were available and how many people die from the flu now with widespread vaccinations.

    Just sayin...

    For the sake of all the arguing that flu shots create, let's say," I think it would be interesting to see the percentage of world population who were exposed died from the Spanish Flu epidemic (circa 1918) before influenza vaccines were available and the percentage of the world's population who are exposed die from the flu now with widespread vaccinations."


    ...and I'm waiting for someone to pick that apart, too. :laugh:


    Or, for instance, how do you know who had/has been exposed?
    (To the flu, not like a steaker running thru a stadium full of people:wink: )

    Well that's easy. You ask every person on the planet, then you multiply that times 60%, then subtract the distance in miles they have travelled from home in the previous two weeks. Then calculate the number of influenza strains and multiply THAT by the average age of the population of Switzerland.

    Then subtract .0035 - as a margin of error.

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