Flu Shots? thoughts

I worked in an Assisted Living facility for 2 1/2 years...every winter all the staff except me and one other gal got the flu shot (as well as the residents)....some staff always harped on us about not getting our shot, which I thought was rude, I never told anyone I didn't get the shot unless I was asked. Anyway, I was the one who did the majority of the cleaning, that means if someone did get sick, I cleaned it up, as well as cleaning all of the bathrooms and apartments.

I did not get the flu, nor did the the other gal who did not get the shot...the majority of the rest of the staff did, in fact one winter EVEYONE but us got the flu.

I beleive that the flu shot is overused, much like antibiotics. Viruses are extremely adaptable and mutate and I think that the overuse of the vaccine is causing extremely virulent strains of the flu. Just like the superbugs we are seeing in relation to the overuse/misuse of antibiotics.

i think the flu shot should be used as it was in years past for those that would likely suffer the most damaging or life threatening complications from the flu. I work in healthcare and it is becoming mandatory in that setting to prevent possible transmission to immunocompromised patients.

Doesn't work like that with vaccines.

The response isn't the same but viruses will mutate in response to barriers to their transmission. They need a host to proliferate. I am not anti-vaccine at all. The flu vaccine has about a 60% success rate per the CDC and that is for the strains that are included in the vaccine. I don't think it is a bad idea but not extremely effective for the general population.

The way it works with vaccines is that the more people who get vaccinated, the better it works, for everyone. It's called "herd immunity." If the virus doesn't have enough sensitive targets to spread, then no one catches the virus.

I understand how vaccines work. However, the flu vaccine doesn't work like most other vaccines because of antigenic drift. It may provide some herd immunity but nothing in comparison to other vaccinations.

The fact that the flu vaccine is made in advance, based on predictions of which flu strains will predominate, and that it doesn't provide as much protection to each individual as many other vaccines do, makes herd immunity more important, not less important.
A lot of people with some protection is better at preventing the spread of an epidemic than a few people with a lot of protection. Also, a little protection is better than none. That can mean that you get less sick, or that you only get sick, and don't end up dying from something silly like the flu.

I get one every year, I work with kids (Home daycare for past 10 years) and to date I have been very fortunate and not gotten sick. My son has gotten one every year also.

I have never gotten one and don't plan to unless I get pregnant...even then, I'm going to make sure that it's 100% okay for the baby and myself and that I won't have a bad reaction to it. I'm not really educated on it. I am lucky to have good health and have never had the flu, and haven't ever had much more than a bad cold in terms of sickness. So I don't see the need to get it myself.

I do not believe in vaccines of any kind now! I have seen the damage they can do! I wish I had known better and not gotten my 2 older boys vaccinated! My youngest has never had a vaccine and rarely gets sick! If he does it's for a day and then he is off and running again! It is much better to let your body fight things naturally! The more you do, the stronger your body will be!

This is incredibly depressing. I am ashamed for you.

I beleive that the flu shot is overused, much like antibiotics. Viruses are extremely adaptable and mutate and I think that the overuse of the vaccine is causing extremely virulent strains of the flu. Just like the superbugs we are seeing in relation to the overuse/misuse of antibiotics.

i think the flu shot should be used as it was in years past for those that would likely suffer the most damaging or life threatening complications from the flu. I work in healthcare and it is becoming mandatory in that setting to prevent possible transmission to immunocompromised patients.

Doesn't work like that with vaccines.

The response isn't the same but viruses will mutate in response to barriers to their transmission. They need a host to proliferate. I am not anti-vaccine at all. The flu vaccine has about a 60% success rate per the CDC and that is for the strains that are included in the vaccine. I don't think it is a bad idea but not extremely effective for the general population.

The way it works with vaccines is that the more people who get vaccinated, the better it works, for everyone. It's called "herd immunity." If the virus doesn't have enough sensitive targets to spread, then no one catches the virus.

I understand how vaccines work. However, the flu vaccine doesn't work like most other vaccines because of antigenic drift. It may provide some herd immunity but nothing in comparison to other vaccinations.

The fact that the flu vaccine is made in advance, based on predictions of which flu strains will predominate, and that it doesn't provide as much protection to each individual as many other vaccines do, makes herd immunity more important, not less important.
A lot of people with some protection is better at preventing the spread of an epidemic than a few people with a lot of protection. Also, a little protection is better than none. That can mean that you get less sick, or that you only get sick, and don't end up dying from something silly like the flu.

I understand what you are saying but there seems to be this flippant attitude among many that vaccines are perfect and without risk or other unwanted outcomes.

The CDC is now reporting that we are seeing a rise in Shingles in the elderly and even in young adults and children because of the varicella vaccination now given to all children. Vaccination is a good thing, as is herd immunity but it isn't without future risk. It only took about 20 years for them to recognize the increase in Shingles after the introduction of the varicella vaccine.

Again, I'm not anti vaccine and my family is fully vaccinated minus the flu shot and the HPV vaccine.

We did once and it WORKED~We got the freaking flu!!!...for 2 weeks I was out of work and the kids were out of school!! Never again.

I work in a hospital delivery room where I'm exposed to everything. The amount of people who come to visit patients and are sick are amazing, they don't care that they are exposing a newborn, they just can't wait to see the baby. Last year they started mandating it and will do the same this year. I'd get it anyway. I was one of the first on my unit to get the Swine Flu a few years ago - thanks to the lovely sick people who roll through our doors. I just don't feel it's worth risking, I'm not afraid of needles and don't have any allergies that contraindicate it, so ...

Working at a hospital, they are required or I have the option to wear a mask for what seems like FOREVER! Last year I declined... I wanted to fight the power.. I personally think they are ineffective and you are prolly more susceptible to contracting the flu with the vaccine. I will play ball this year and get it :P