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Flu shots? For them or against ?
Replies
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TeacupsAndToning wrote: »ManBehindTheMask wrote: »@TeacupsAndToning what's your opinion on flu jabs?
Lol in short: absolutely get them if you can.
Short and sharp. Did we really need 26 *kitten* pages in this thread to get to this conclusion?
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Yeah, I have inexplicable woo reactions for posts like "I like diet coke because diet pepsi tastes nasty to me". Do people agree? Do people think I'm a shill for Big Coke? Is there some hidden cultural meaning to the statement that's going to get me a warning for insulting a segment of the population?5 -
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I used to never get flu shots because I never got the flu (or other viruses). Then a few years ago I caught it and was ghastly sick for 3 weeks. I've read the flu can damage your heart. Now I get the shots. It's a small thing to do for extra protection.2
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Where I live, they offer flu shots all over the place. I am able to get mine earlier than everyone else (they give it to the at-risk and immunocompromised first) but it's offered for everyone a bit later. Most of the time, it is free.Rosemary7391 wrote: »Well, why did I get offered MMR as a baby, but not flu shots then or since? It's obviously different from the perspective of the NHS! I've seriously never been offered one, no doctor has ever recommended I get one. I think one of my friends got offered it by his employer, but mine doesn't offer it and we don't have these yearly flu problems everyone is talking about. I really can't remember the last time someone I knew had flu. I think I live in quite a different situation to a lot of folks here who seem to get flu thrown at them from all directions. Sure if the doc recommended it, but until then I'll treat it like the yellow fever jab (which I've had!), rabies jab (which I've not), and so on - I won't bother until I get into a situation where it's recommended. Not against it vaccines as recommended by medical professionals, but it isn't recommended for me currently.
The flu shot isn't something that can be given once, so giving it to you as a child doesn't mean you're done for life. Personally, I find it weird that flu shots aren't offered.
http://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/influenza-flu - based on this at least some people are recommended the flu vaccine. It seems odd that they aren't relying on herd immunity, though.
Off-topic, but I have to wonder why I sometimes get the "Woo" button. It's not like I post pseudo-science or the like?
Yep, that link lists the folks I thought were recommended to have it. I know it needs doing every year but it isn't on the list of things that are recommended for everyone like MMR is, is what I meant there.
If people I knew were coming down with the flu then I might've gone looking for the vaccine, but I would have to look for it and I really mean it when I say it's not something I come across. I think one of my friends got swine flu about 6 or 7 years ago. I'm sure with that level of local prevalence you can understand why I'm a bit nonplussed at all the fuss? Seems like flu is a much bigger deal in other places than in my little world!1 -
Yeah, I have inexplicable woo reactions for posts like "I like diet coke because diet pepsi tastes nasty to me". Do people agree? Do people think I'm a shill for Big Coke? Is there some hidden cultural meaning to the statement that's going to get me a warning for insulting a segment of the population?
To the person who hit the woo button for this post - you have my heart
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No, your body is already set up to fight illness, disease etc. Just eat properly and wash your hands.16
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I get a flu shot every fall. Unless your doctor advises against it, you should too. It may save a life; yours, a loved one, a neighbor, or a co-worker.
The great flu epidemic of 1918.7 -
The deadly 1918 strain wasn't what killed 3% of healthy adults. It was the secondary bacterial pneumonia that did. The reason the elderly and children were hit less hard was because of previous exposure to similar strains that skipped a generation (the generation that was hit the hardest). The unsanitary conditions of most hospitals during that time period also contributed to the rapid decline of health in these individuals giving rise to secondary complications. Today we have life saving antibiotics.. something they were lacking then. The reason for vaccinations today is to try and introduce strains that we may have "missed" to avoid another deadly outbreak. They still haven't invented a vaccine to cover all potential strains but scientist are working on one. Another deadly outbreak could happen again but our gen already experienced the same strain that killed so many in the early 1918's. The H1N1 strain back in 2008. My kids both got it. My daughter was sick for two weeks while I battled 105 temps the entire time. My son had two days of "bad" illness then was over it. My daughters immune system was already weak from complications early in life.3
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janejellyroll wrote: »
Apparently. I always knew it was my fault.
Coincidentally I've just had a text from my doctor's surgery ,asking me to book in for a flu jab. Ffs. It's August
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comptonelizabeth wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »
Apparently. I always knew it was my fault.
Coincidentally I've just had a text from my doctor's surgery ,asking me to book in for a flu jab. Ffs. It's August
I usually get them through my employer and they're offered in September or October. August is early -- it's still summer!0 -
suzannesimmons3 wrote: »GlassAngyl wrote: »Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.
Healthy people.die of the flu as well you know.
@suzannesimmons3 what medical evidence do you have that "Healthy" people even get the flu much less die from it?
If low Vitamin D levels are a factor in getting the flu and other illnesses why not just develop flu protection by using Vitamin D that does not come with the side effects that can come with flu shots that can only offer limited protection at best or none at worse?
https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170216110002.htm
Vitamin D protects against colds and flu, finds major global study
Date: February 16, 2017
Source: University of Queen Mary London
Summary: Vitamin D supplements protect against acute respiratory infections including colds and flu, according to a study. The study provides the most robust evidence yet that vitamin D has benefits beyond bone and muscle health.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/02/study-confirms-vitamin-d-protects-against-cold-and-flu/
Study confirms vitamin D protects against colds and flu
A new global collaborative study has confirmed that vitamin D supplementation can help protect against acute respiratory infections. The study, a participant data meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials including more than 11,000 participants, has been published online in The BMJ.
“Most people understand that vitamin D is critical for bone and muscle health,” said Carlos Camargo of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the study’s senior author. “Our analysis has also found that it helps the body fight acute respiratory infection, which is responsible for millions of deaths globally each year.”.........
One way or another it is best to try and prevent getting the flu. How each on does that is up to themselves in my view.1 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »suzannesimmons3 wrote: »GlassAngyl wrote: »Both. For them if you have a compromised immune system due to illness or age..or if working in a medical field. Against if you are perfectly healthy.
Healthy people.die of the flu as well you know.
@suzannesimmons3 what medical evidence do you have that "Healthy" people even get the flu much less die from it?
If low Vitamin D levels are a factor in getting the flu and other illnesses why not just develop flu protection by using Vitamin D that does not come with the side effects that can come with flu shots that can only offer limited protection at best or none at worse?
https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170216110002.htm
Vitamin D protects against colds and flu, finds major global study
Date: February 16, 2017
Source: University of Queen Mary London
Summary: Vitamin D supplements protect against acute respiratory infections including colds and flu, according to a study. The study provides the most robust evidence yet that vitamin D has benefits beyond bone and muscle health.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/02/study-confirms-vitamin-d-protects-against-cold-and-flu/
Study confirms vitamin D protects against colds and flu
A new global collaborative study has confirmed that vitamin D supplementation can help protect against acute respiratory infections. The study, a participant data meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials including more than 11,000 participants, has been published online in The BMJ.
“Most people understand that vitamin D is critical for bone and muscle health,” said Carlos Camargo of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the study’s senior author. “Our analysis has also found that it helps the body fight acute respiratory infection, which is responsible for millions of deaths globally each year.”.........
Well, n=1 but I'm quite healthy by all my numbers, exercise regularly, live in CA so plenty of sunshine plus vitamin D supplements and rarely get colds. I got seriously ill in Jan with the flu and ended up in ER with potentially life-threatening complications. so there's that...7 -
@mph323 do you know your Vitamin D level at the time of your trip to the ER?
n=1 reports are of value.0 -
n=1 reports are of value to one person.
The outrageous claim would be that only people who eat poorly or fail to wash their hands get ill. That is the claim that must be substantiated.
Reducing risk by, say, getting enough vitamin D, is not the same as eliminating a risk. I get far fewer colds now that I eat well, wash my hands, and get enough vitamin D. But it does not eliminate the risk altogether.
There are poor eaters with dirty hands that never apparently get ill.
There are slim, fastidious eaters who wash their hands who do get ill.
That means that there is at least one other factor in play.
I use the analogy of a country's standing army. Any country's defences can be overcome if the overwhelming force is big enough. Better defences, fewer battles lost. Better healthy choices, better hand washing, and an annual flu vaccine boosts the standing army to maximum alertness.12 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »@mph323 do you know your Vitamin D level at the time of your trip to the ER?
n=1 reports are of value.
Sure, it was high-normal, I'd by chance just gotten my annual physical a week and a half before (great timing, right? I had the best lab numbers I've had in years
) It was consistent with the labs I've gotten over the past several years.
eta: grammar5 -
@jgnatca I agree with this - I was pointing out that a person who is healthy by all standards and certainly hitting the vitamin D mark can become just as sick as anyone else.
I'm not sure if this was pointed out anywhere above, but viruses are airborne and easily spread by coughing and sneezing, so those who carefully wash hands (I'm one) will still be exposed frequently during the season by simply walking around in public places
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I have always been pro flu shot. However, my long-time doctor who always recommended the flu shot in the past, has recently informed me he has changed is opinion and is totally against it. He said it hasn't been effective against recent strains of the flu and the potential side effects (he didn't clarify) are not justified. He is an Ivy League educated doctor and keeps up on the latest trends and techniques and takes a more holistic approach than most MDs. I have always relied on his advice. Now, I am just confused and don't know what I will do for this upcoming flu season.2
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janejellyroll wrote: »comptonelizabeth wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »
Apparently. I always knew it was my fault.
Coincidentally I've just had a text from my doctor's surgery ,asking me to book in for a flu jab. Ffs. It's August
I usually get them through my employer and they're offered in September or October. August is early -- it's still summer!
I'm wondering if they know something I don't!0 -
@jgnatca I agree with this - I was pointing out that a person who is healthy by all standards and certainly hitting the vitamin D mark can become just as sick as anyone else.
I'm not sure if this was pointed out anywhere above, but viruses are airborne and easily spread by coughing and sneezing, so those who carefully wash hands (I'm one) will still be exposed frequently during the season by simply walking around in public places
I wash my hands frequently, do my best not to touch my face, etc. I will still get sick if I am in the same room (and we're talking a classroom of 20 - 40 people, and the person is on the opposite end from me) if someone has the flu or the cold. This was the case when I was young, and living on the equator getting plenty of vitamin D, and this is the case now when I probably don't get as much vitamin D as I should.I have always been pro flu shot. However, my long-time doctor who always recommended the flu shot in the past, has recently informed me he has changed is opinion and is totally against it. He said it hasn't been effective against recent strains of the flu and the potential side effects (he didn't clarify) are not justified. He is an Ivy League educated doctor and keeps up on the latest trends and techniques and takes a more holistic approach than most MDs. I have always relied on his advice. Now, I am just confused and don't know what I will do for this upcoming flu season.
Please get the flu shot. The strains can be hit or miss because it's statistical guesswork but if it can help you avoid even one case of the flu, and/or help anyone around you who is immunocompromised or cannot get the shot, it's a good thing.3 -
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I work in a hospital and am mandated to get the flu shot. I'd get it anyway. I've never had negative reactions and if it helps great, if not... I'm taking a week off 0
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I have always been pro flu shot. However, my long-time doctor who always recommended the flu shot in the past, has recently informed me he has changed is opinion and is totally against it. He said it hasn't been effective against recent strains of the flu and the potential side effects (he didn't clarify) are not justified. He is an Ivy League educated doctor and keeps up on the latest trends and techniques and takes a more holistic approach than most MDs. I have always relied on his advice. Now, I am just confused and don't know what I will do for this upcoming flu season.
I'd be interested in what kind of side effects he was concerned about, how often they occur, and if the occurrence is generally limited to a specific population (infants, elderly, immuno-compromised, etc,)2 -
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suzannesimmons3 wrote: »I have always been pro flu shot. However, my long-time doctor who always recommended the flu shot in the past, has recently informed me he has changed is opinion and is totally against it. He said it hasn't been effective against recent strains of the flu and the potential side effects (he didn't clarify) are not justified. He is an Ivy League educated doctor and keeps up on the latest trends and techniques and takes a more holistic approach than most MDs. I have always relied on his advice. Now, I am just confused and don't know what I will do for this upcoming flu season.
I'd be interested in what kind of side effects he was concerned about, how often they occur, and if the occurrence is generally limited to a specific population (infants, elderly, immuno-compromised, etc,)
Isn't it dead virus they inject...
Exactly! Basically the risks are related to the serum the dead virus is suspended in.1 -
I never get flu shots and I never get the flu.3
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saltlakecitywestsider wrote: »I never get flu shots and I never get the flu.
you can thank the rest of the 'herd' around you that gets theirs and protects you.12 -
Never have gotten them. Maybe as a senior I will due to higher risks.3
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