Flu Shots? thoughts

I have a nearly superhuman immune system. I rarely get sick, and if I do, it lasts a fraction of the time that people I know suffer.

That said, I get the flu shot every year. I don't have insurance and I'm not volunteering right now, but it's worth the $25 to me.

A wise half Vulcan once said, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Even if there was only a 0.01% chance of it helping someone, I'd still do it.

My mom's best friend from childhood had a kidney transplant a few years ago. For some reason, they didn't give her a flu shot (maybe she declined, I don't know). Within a week of going home, she contracted H1N1 and died. My dad is also immuno-compromised. Despite these two facts, and that she works in a hospital, my mom refuses to get a flu shot. Her tinfoil hat seems to be helping her though.

I wish I didnt but I work in healthcare and they are required at my job. ppl literally get terminated if they dont get them! i actually got the letter today to REMIND me to get it by November or I am terminated
My husband and our future kids will not

People who are immunocompromised shouldnt be running around with normal people in the first place. It is one of the precautions medical professionals tell them.

Because people who are immunocompromised don't have bills to pay, especially medical bills.

If they are immunocompromised, the flu is really the least of their worries.

They are not supposed to be around normal people in crowded areas or be in too much contact, bottom line. You dont see chemo patients running around

This is quite ignorant. What about people with autoimmune diseases who are taking immuno-suppressants? They may not be severely immuno-compromised, but still at risk. Many are active people who work, go to the gym, etc. There are also people who have had transplants, are doing very well and living normal lives, but must take immuno-suppressive medications to help prevent rejection. I could go on...

eta: apologies to lithezebra. I posted before I saw that you had already addressed this (quite well, too). :flowerforyou:

For them to avoid crowded areas and using caution with contact is the most basic of teaching of people who are immunossed status. If they go to the gym depending on tgeir degree they have to wear full gloves. It will vary to the degree but people who are in nadir stage of chemo have an extremely low wbc.

You are 100% incorrect. There are varying degrees of immuno-suppression and there are LOTS of illnesses that are treated with immunosuppresive medications These patients are NOT advised to stay out of contact with people. Not everyone taking "chemo" has cancer or is severely immunosuppressed. Not everyone who is immunocompromised has "extremely" low wbc. You are really digging a big hole here because it is clear you are ignorant of a huge range of treatments for various illnesses that involve some degree of immunosupression, and not all require the kind of risk management you are describing.

Do you even know how this conversation started? They were talking about people should get the flu shot because of immunocompromised people.

Yes, I know. There are many immunocompromised people walking around and it helps them when others are vaccinated. Many people are on medication to DELIBERATELY suppress their immune systems because they have autoimmune diseases or have had organ transplants. Many of these people are only slightly immunocompromised, so they are NOT advised by their doctors to avoid people, or quit their jobs, or wear gloves at the gym, etc. However, they are at higher risk when it comes to communicable illnesses. It is helpful to these people if others are vaccinated against various illnesses. There are varying degrees of immunosuppresion and not all of these people are advised by their doctors to avoid public places (as YOU stated repeatedly).

I have a very persistent case of thyroid cancer so I definitely get one.

My family always gets flu shots now. I did get influenza in 1996. I was 9 months pregnant and I almost died, and I almost lost the baby. I really don't remeber most of it except for having a terrible fever and extreme headache. I attempted to drive myself to the hospital and just couldn't move.....I ended up throwing the car into park on a very busy road, just hoping someone would help me....I don't remeber labor, don't remember delivery....everything was just dark. All I remember is the headache.

This year there is an egg free vaccine available. Get the facts.

That is seriously scary.... I hope both you and your child had no lingering effects.

We can get them at work for free, so I get them. Last time I had flu I was out of work for a week and wishing I was for a second, and I was still in my relatively healthy 20s. I've been getting them for years and have never had a bad reaction--fingers crossed.

Flu's mostly harmless. Flu shots are a crapshoot anyway. I don't see the point.

That attitude KILLS people. Get an education.

This makes me HULK angry.

I agree. Herd immunity is a *huge* thing for those who can't be immunized themselves. I get the shot now that I'm in my 40s and work with college students, not because I can't deal with the flu myself (yes, it sucks, but it's not that bad), but because my friends and co-workers who can't get the shot, for whatever reason, don't deserve to risk exposure just because I am a special snowflake who doesn't need the vaccine.

Influenza blows goats when you have it. Literal goat blowage. Just get the shot, it's a bennie of modern medicine that the vaccine is available.

I've only gotten the flu shot a handful of times. I think I have a pretty awesome immune system because I rarely ever get sick. To each their own, but I think flu shots in the long run help more than they hurt.

Never got, always sign form at work refusing it. As long as job doesn't make it mandatory, I'll politely turn it down. My immune systems been pretty good to me so far.

I already got mine for the year. I work at a Pharmacy and they give them to us for free.

I get them because I don't want the flu (this is not the tummy one, but the one that can kill you)

I also have a son with asthma so I have always gotten one.

Last year I got one before I had my surgery. I had major surgery last Oct. They also gave me a pnemonia shot. Sorry I know I spelled that wrong.