Flu Shots? thoughts

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

Really? I will be sure to call work and tell them I can no longer come in because I am not "normal" and should not be around the general population. I have asthma, compromises my immune system. Funny though, my Dr. seems to think I should live a normal life. BTW my wife has a severely compromised immune system. I got the flu shot as did she but still ended up with her hospitalized because someone at work got the flu and I ended up taking shed virus home to her on my clothing.

You are saying your asthma is compromising your immune system? Ok lol

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Have you EVER had an asthma attack?!? I'm sorry but this is where I put my foot down.

Get educated before you start making comments like that son.

So other than the inflamation causing bronchoconstriction, and closing your airway. Please tell me how it makes you more susceptible to infection.
I will be waiting on you to explain the pathophysiology of how it affects your immune response since you are educated

First off do you have asthma?

Answer my question and I'll humor yours.

no, but I asked you the question first on the pathophysiology of asthma lowering your capabilities of fighting off of an infection

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.

This was me until 2 years ago. Worked well, and I hadn't had the flu in at least 10 years. I usually get a cold every other year, but not the flu. Then my work place made it mandatory (health care system). Ironically, both years I've gotten the vaccine, I've also gotten the flu.

Now, I work in immunology, so I'm not a nutter that thinks the vaccine infected me - plus, the incubation period would have been too long for that. But, I also know that ANY vaccine puts additional stress on your immune system and that makes it easier to catch a disease that you've not been protected against inside a certain window.

My guess is that the stress was enough to allow a flu strain not in the vaccine to get by my immune system. Either that, or the strains of flu for the last couple of years were more virulent than usual, which didn't seem to be the case.

My whole family gets them! My husband and I get them through our jobs and the kids get them through their doctors office.

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).

but we werent talking about people that are slightly immunocompromised. We are talking about people that if they got the flu it could cause some serious problems

Digging hole deeper.

Even people who are slightly immunocompromised can have serious problems if they catch the flu. Not being able to fight it off 100% will often land you in the hospital. Don' forget that flu kill plenty of non-immunocompromised people every year.

Never, I know a few people that got them, and they ended up getting the flu, but worse than normal, so no flu shot for this family, we are all pretty healthy and rarely get sick though

I get one every year

Isn't this a little ridiculous? There's no argument medically over whether asthma compromises the immune system. Head over to PubMed, do a search for vaccine studies with immunocompromised subjects, as an easy example. Look and see how many use asthmatics as their study groups. What difference does it make whether she knows the specific pathophysiology?

Oh, and BTW, don't forget that many asthmatics are on a regular course of steroids. I assume you aren't going to argue that steroids have a suppressive effect on the immune system?

Thank you!!

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

Really? I will be sure to call work and tell them I can no longer come in because I am not "normal" and should not be around the general population. I have asthma, compromises my immune system. Funny though, my Dr. seems to think I should live a normal life. BTW my wife has a severely compromised immune system. I got the flu shot as did she but still ended up with her hospitalized because someone at work got the flu and I ended up taking shed virus home to her on my clothing.

You are saying your asthma is compromising your immune system? Ok lol

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Have you EVER had an asthma attack?!? I'm sorry but this is where I put my foot down.

Get educated before you start making comments like that son.

So other than the inflamation causing bronchoconstriction, and closing your airway. Please tell me how it makes you more susceptible to infection.
I will be waiting on you to explain the pathophysiology of how it affects your immune response since you are educated

First off do you have asthma?

Answer my question and I'll humor yours.

no, but I asked you the question first on the pathophysiology of asthma lowering your capabilities of fighting off of an infection

OK. So here we go.

There are many stimuli out there that can cause an asthma attack as you probably already know. Asthma being a chronic inflammatory disease, can be triggered by influenza symptoms. Influenza is a respiratory illness. Don't get it confused with gastrointestinal things. That's something else altogether. Being that influenza is respiratory it can trigger a series of bronchospasms which can turn into a massive asthma attack and can hospitalize the person. Pneumonia can also develop from influenza in a person suffering from asthma. Believe me, it has happened to me.

Considering everywhere I go and everyone I talk to says asthmatics, regardless of age, need the flu vaccine, yes...it is kind of important for asthmatics as IMMUNOCOMPROMISED to get vaccinated. We just don't have the capabilities of fighting this stuff off as someone who has "perfect health" would.

Hope this helps.

We are not talking about medication. We are talking about asthma itself and you said asthma attacks.

Nothing in your babbling talk about how asthma attacks lower your capabilities of fighting an infection.

Obstruction due to asthma does not mean you immune system is hindered

Thanks for not being educated

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

Really? I will be sure to call work and tell them I can no longer come in because I am not "normal" and should not be around the general population. I have asthma, compromises my immune system. Funny though, my Dr. seems to think I should live a normal life. BTW my wife has a severely compromised immune system. I got the flu shot as did she but still ended up with her hospitalized because someone at work got the flu and I ended up taking shed virus home to her on my clothing.

You are saying your asthma is compromising your immune system? Ok lol

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Have you EVER had an asthma attack?!? I'm sorry but this is where I put my foot down.

Get educated before you start making comments like that son.

So other than the inflamation causing bronchoconstriction, and closing your airway. Please tell me how it makes you more susceptible to infection.
I will be waiting on you to explain the pathophysiology of how it affects your immune response since you are educated

First off do you have asthma?

Answer my question and I'll humor yours.

no, but I asked you the question first on the pathophysiology of asthma lowering your capabilities of fighting off of an infection

OK. So here we go.

There are many stimuli out there that can cause an asthma attack as you probably already know. Asthma being a chronic inflammatory disease, can be triggered by influenza symptoms. Influenza is a respiratory illness. Don't get it confused with gastrointestinal things. That's something else altogether. Being that influenza is respiratory it can trigger a series of bronchospasms which can turn into a massive asthma attack and can hospitalize the person. Pneumonia can also develop from influenza in a person suffering from asthma. Believe me, it has happened to me.

Considering everywhere I go and everyone I talk to says asthmatics, regardless of age, need the flu vaccine, yes...it is kind of important for asthmatics as IMMUNOCOMPROMISED to get vaccinated. We just don't have the capabilities of fighting this stuff off as someone who has "perfect health" would.

Hope this helps.

We are not talking about medication. We are talking about asthma itself and you said asthma attacks.

Nothing in your babbling talk about how asthma attacks lower your capabilities of fighting an infection.

Thanks for not being educated

You don't have asthma.

I do.

I never mentioned anything about medication in this post.

Can you read?

I have never gotten the flu shoot and I do not believe I ever will. I have not gotten the flu and it is unusual for me to get a cold.
In the fall until spring I use Spring Valley Natural Echinacea 2 capsules 2X per day (it is a Dietary supplement for the immune system) and I also take L-Lysine 1000 mg per day. In the Summer I cut back to every other day. My Doctor is aware that I use natural herbal dietary supplements. I am not fond of drugs, and the side effects.
Most of my friends and my husband get the shoot and they get the flu! ! ! They also get bad colds.

What ever works best for you, it is a personal choice.

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).

but we werent talking about people that are slightly immunocompromised. We are talking about people that if they got the flu it could cause some serious problems

YOU made the general statement that immunocompromised people are advised by their doctors to avoid public places. This is not a generally true statement. Some of us are trying to point that out to you. In addition, even slightly or moderately immunocompromised people can end up with serious problems from the flu. In fact, people who have chronic (or even temporary) illnesses can have serious problems from any additional illness.

I get them every year now. I got the flu about 10 years ago and it was the sickest I've ever been. I used to think flu was just a really bad cold, but after going through it, I don't ever want to deal with that again. I was only 30 and was very healthy and fit and I still almost ended up in the hospital because it developed into pneumonia.

My son has virus-activated asthma and flu could be really bad for him, so he gets flu shots every year too.

May daughter and I get one every year, and we have never gotten the flu. I don't have any shot hang up's or vaccination fears, so I say better safe than sorry.

We get them. We live in a tourist resort, so we are exposed to germs from all over the world. Knock wood, they seem to work - have not had the flu in many years!

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

Really? I will be sure to call work and tell them I can no longer come in because I am not "normal" and should not be around the general population. I have asthma, compromises my immune system. Funny though, my Dr. seems to think I should live a normal life. BTW my wife has a severely compromised immune system. I got the flu shot as did she but still ended up with her hospitalized because someone at work got the flu and I ended up taking shed virus home to her on my clothing.

You are saying your asthma is compromising your immune system? Ok lol

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Have you EVER had an asthma attack?!? I'm sorry but this is where I put my foot down.

Get educated before you start making comments like that son.

So other than the inflamation causing bronchoconstriction, and closing your airway. Please tell me how it makes you more susceptible to infection.
I will be waiting on you to explain the pathophysiology of how it affects your immune response since you are educated

First off do you have asthma?

Answer my question and I'll humor yours.

no, but I asked you the question first on the pathophysiology of asthma lowering your capabilities of fighting off of an infection

OK. So here we go.

There are many stimuli out there that can cause an asthma attack as you probably already know. Asthma being a chronic inflammatory disease, can be triggered by influenza symptoms. Influenza is a respiratory illness. Don't get it confused with gastrointestinal things. That's something else altogether. Being that influenza is respiratory it can trigger a series of bronchospasms which can turn into a massive asthma attack and can hospitalize the person. Pneumonia can also develop from influenza in a person suffering from asthma. Believe me, it has happened to me.

Considering everywhere I go and everyone I talk to says asthmatics, regardless of age, need the flu vaccine, yes...it is kind of important for asthmatics as IMMUNOCOMPROMISED to get vaccinated. We just don't have the capabilities of fighting this stuff off as someone who has "perfect health" would.

Hope this helps.

We are not talking about medication. We are talking about asthma itself and you said asthma attacks.

Nothing in your babbling talk about how asthma attacks lower your capabilities of fighting an infection.

Obstruction due to asthma does not mean you immune system is hindered

Thanks for not being educated

You don't think having inflamed airways from asthma would make it more difficult for the body to deal with an infection like a cold or flu? Really? I could imagine it certainly might. Any inflammation is tough on the body, and certainly may impair one's immune system. Menses and stress HAVE been established to impair immune response. Does this fit in with your view of ways the immune system can be impaired?

Also, immunocompromised people don't "catch" things more often (i.e. have a virus enter their system), their immune systems just have a harder time fighting the infections they do get. Having an immune system disorder (like an autoimmune disease or even allergy) can make the immune system less efficient at fighting harmful invaders such as a virus or bacteria, even without the addition of immunosupressive medication. If the immune system is busy attacking your kidneys, and a nasty virus enters your system, your immune system might not be as efficient at attacking that virus relative to someone with a normally functioning system (i.e. one that attacks harmful foreign bodies and not harmless allergens and/or own body tissue).