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Flu shots? For them or against ?
Replies
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This is my second winter getting one. The winter before, I spent in the hospital with my 2 month old. Whatever we had (all of the tests were negative, except the x-ray showing pneumonia), we (breastfed baby and mom) were pretty much quarantined up in Pediatrics.3
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My state (Minnesota) just reported its first pediatric flu death of the flu season. I don't know the circumstances of the case, but it's a useful reminder for everyone who thinks the flu is no big deal.8
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I get my flu shot every year. I've had the actual flu once and want to avoid getting it as much as I can. I also get immunized because I live with a person who is taking chemotherapy medication and can't get vaccinated because of that. Since I live with someone who can't get vaccines, I get vaccinated to prevent others from getting sick.6
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Every. Single. Year. Though it would be pretty irresponsible of me if I didn't since I conduct vaccine preventable disease surveillance for my state and I see what not vaccinating does to a person and can do to their community.13
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I haven't had one since I was 8, and I haven't had the flu either...if I get sick it's usually just a cold for a week once a year. I'm not saying I'm against them, though. I just know my immune system is strong.1
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I don't get the flu shot. I haven't gotten it in 12 or 13 years and don't plan on getting it anytime soon. The last time I remember having the actual flu and not just 24 hour bug is may be 15 years ago.2
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Highly susceptible to colds and flu, but used to feel wary of the shot. Have had the shot, though, 3 different years, not in a row, where I've been working downtown and travelling subways, etc. No colds or flu after during those years I was vaccinated. This year, in particular, so many people around me have been down with a horrible flu (none were vaccinated) including my husband who had never had so much as a cold before. Me? I didn't get sick this year.1
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If the OP is giving them I'll get them0
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janejellyroll wrote: »My state (Minnesota) just reported its first pediatric flu death of the flu season. I don't know the circumstances of the case, but it's a useful reminder for everyone who thinks the flu is no big deal.
An adult friend (in her 50s) died in December from influenza here in MN. I know they don't publicize adult numbers.. it's a shame, actually.
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All these saying they've never had the shot and never had the flu.....It's like saying you've never worn a seat belt and never been in a car accident.
You've been lucky. It's nothing to do with a strong immune system.14 -
thielke2015 wrote: »amAyrebeccah wrote: »thielke2015 wrote: »Interesting post. I am a flu vaccinators for my area of work...... However, I do not have the flu vaccine. On receiving the training to give this vaccine to a PGD I was told that it may be difficult for me to Be an effective vaccinator because of my unwillingness to have the jab myself. I really didn't see this as an issue as I do not have the vaccine as I am vegetarian and do not take egg products.
Apparently my vegetarian status was looked down on and it was obvious that I was being pressured into receiving a vaccine that I did not want for this reason.
Needless to say I vaccinated between 100-200 staff.
The way I see it is there are always going to be the type of person who ques up for the vaccine and there will always be those who will not.
I'd probably be more concerned about this attitude toward your patients than the fact that you don't take the vaccine.
Also, you can get flu virus inoculation without egg in it. I'm surprised that no one told you that so you could at least properly educate patients.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_flublok-vaccine.htmA way to make me feel guilty I think was for the educators to tell me that I can have the flu without having any symptoms and therefore, could pass the flu on in this way...... this was the first I had heard of this and if anyone has come across any evidence for this then please share.
It is possible, but studies question how likely.
Most healthy adults may be able to infect other people beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days. Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm
Contrast with
Asymptomatic individuals may shed influenza virus, but studies have not conclusively determined if such people effectively transmit influenza.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2646474/
That said, a person who regularly works in a medical context is probably at higher risk for spreading, even if asymptomatic.
Hi, thank you for this and if I had been given this information on the day then I might have actually proceeded. The papers look interesting so I have saved them and I was told there was no alternative for people who didn't take egg eg, veggies and vegans. Maybe a change for next winter! However, I am wondering about the motives behind them saying there was no other option... maybe financial?
Just to point out that the egg free vaccine is grown up in a mammalian secondary cell line so most definitely not vegan friendly and depending on your vegetarian ethics possibly also not suitable. This vaccine is substantially more expensive to make and therefore buy than the egg based one too so I would guess that is why they told you there is no alternative.0 -
I'm convinced that the flu shot is something I should get and everyone eligible should get.
But I didn't always feel this way. Years ago I went with my daughter to the mall shopping and we encountered a free flu shot station with almost no line up and we each got the shot. Both us of were horribly ill afterwards. Of course I heard that the flu shot didn't have any live viruses and our illness was not connected but I couldn't disassociate the two occurrences. A bit like the novel ice cream flavour served to chemotherapy patients.
I got quite sick this year and finally did some reading and see that I had norovirus that year, not even a virus represented in the vaccine. Doh!
I'll try to protect myself in the future and maybe more importantly protect the people in my life with immune systems weaker and than my own.3 -
All for flu vaccine and have it every year, mainly because I'm asthmatic but also as it is a requirement for the work that I do.
Want to clear up a few misconceptions that have floated past reading the post:
Yes the live attenuated could get reactive again but is highly unlikely as one of its safety requirements is genetic stability testing and the virus is passaged well beyond what ends up in the drug product.(this is an EU requirement not a US requirement)
Big pharma does not make big money on vaccines, in fact flumist is currently running at a loss as it is not recommended for use in the US and when it was still sold in the US at best breaks even.
The 19% percent effectiveness in 2014 was due to a mismatch of the H3N2 the most prevalent strain that season.
The WHO who makes the recommendation each year bases this on cycling of the most prevalent strains over the last year across the globe, it's a very educated guess but not 100%
The jab only contains the viral proteins that cause the immune response so the reaction you get is either from your own immune system or one of the additives/ adjuvants/preservatives in the vaccine.
In the UK mercury based preservatives haven't been present in vaccines for the large part of a decade.10 -
I never get the flu shot and I've had the flu once in the last.... 15+ years. If I worked in health care or around people who were at risk, I would get one for their protection.0
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janejellyroll wrote: »My children do get flu shots every year. Their annual physicals always take place late summer or early fall, around the time the doctors get the vaccine in...so since we're already in the office, they get the shot (or mist, if it's deemed effective...this year it was shots only).
I never get the flu shot. I suppose I am relying on herd immunity from my family. For me it would mean a special trip to the doctor for the shot, and I never seem to fit it in. So far I've been lucky.
If you are in the US, many pharmacies offer them on a walk-in basis. It's easy to fit in with other errands.
I'm not in the US. Maybe that's why I never gave serious thought to it. I regard flu as just a more serious version of the common cold. But maybe I'm wrong.1 -
Very impressed by some of the clearly explained, scientific reasons to get vaccinated given in this thread. I expected to see a lot more woo thrown around.
Definitely pro-flu shots.8 -
janejellyroll wrote: »My children do get flu shots every year. Their annual physicals always take place late summer or early fall, around the time the doctors get the vaccine in...so since we're already in the office, they get the shot (or mist, if it's deemed effective...this year it was shots only).
I never get the flu shot. I suppose I am relying on herd immunity from my family. For me it would mean a special trip to the doctor for the shot, and I never seem to fit it in. So far I've been lucky.
If you are in the US, many pharmacies offer them on a walk-in basis. It's easy to fit in with other errands.
I'm not in the US. Maybe that's why I never gave serious thought to it. I regard flu as just a more serious version of the common cold. But maybe I'm wrong.
If you read through the thread you will see explanations of how you are wrong.
ETA - and not sure how being in the US or not changes that - you are wrong on this ,wherever you live.
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paperpudding wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »My children do get flu shots every year. Their annual physicals always take place late summer or early fall, around the time the doctors get the vaccine in...so since we're already in the office, they get the shot (or mist, if it's deemed effective...this year it was shots only).
I never get the flu shot. I suppose I am relying on herd immunity from my family. For me it would mean a special trip to the doctor for the shot, and I never seem to fit it in. So far I've been lucky.
If you are in the US, many pharmacies offer them on a walk-in basis. It's easy to fit in with other errands.
I'm not in the US. Maybe that's why I never gave serious thought to it. I regard flu as just a more serious version of the common cold. But maybe I'm wrong.
If you read through the thread you will see explanations of how you are wrong.
ETA - and not sure how being in the US or not changes that - you are wrong on this ,wherever you live.
Also I don't get the people saying,I've never had the shot and I've never had the flu.3 -
comptonelizabeth wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »My children do get flu shots every year. Their annual physicals always take place late summer or early fall, around the time the doctors get the vaccine in...so since we're already in the office, they get the shot (or mist, if it's deemed effective...this year it was shots only).
I never get the flu shot. I suppose I am relying on herd immunity from my family. For me it would mean a special trip to the doctor for the shot, and I never seem to fit it in. So far I've been lucky.
If you are in the US, many pharmacies offer them on a walk-in basis. It's easy to fit in with other errands.
I'm not in the US. Maybe that's why I never gave serious thought to it. I regard flu as just a more serious version of the common cold. But maybe I'm wrong.
If you read through the thread you will see explanations of how you are wrong.
ETA - and not sure how being in the US or not changes that - you are wrong on this ,wherever you live.
Also I don't get the people saying,I've never had the shot and I've never had the flu.
Agreed. That is the same as one saying I always get a flu shot and I have never had the flu.1 -
I always get the flu shot and I've never had cancer or autism. Therefore flu shots are good for more than the flu.
On the other hand the last time I ate spaghetti I ended up spilling wine all over myself so the garlic in the tomato sauce must cause temporary muscular deficiencies.
If you want to hear any other anecdotal and arbitrary correlations then let me know - I'm here all week!13
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