Posted: 9/25/2008 10:10:24 AM EDT
|
Alright, got an e-mail from my employer and they are giving free flu shots in a week. I haven't had one in years and I am debating on whether I will get one this year. I need to let them know by tomorrow whether or not I will participate. Are there any benifits of the typical flu shot for H5N1? Other pros / cons? I personally don't think that there are but I'm not a doctor by any means. What say the SF hive mind, flu shot or no flu shot? Please briefly explain your answer. |
|
Are you healthy, not pregnant, not around people who are chronically ill, very old or very young? Then you probably don't need it. And the flu shot does not protect you from every strain of influenza. It targets 2-3 strains that they think will be the biggest issue during the season. Invariably someone will tell you the only time they got sick was after getting the shot as evidence that it doen't work. |
|
The flu shot is usually a forecasted strain and created about a year out. Over the past I’d say 5 years I know they forecasted the wrong strain that was prevalent in the US. My wife is a nurse at a local hospital and they PUSH this on anyone and everyone because of the big money that drives big Pharmacy here in the US. The flu shot itself can make you sick and is probably the wrong strain for this year. Plus more evidence is coming out that says the preservative (Thimerosal) from these vaccinations is causing many health problems in people over time. You just don’t need it. If you’re elderly you again don’t need it. The flu can lead to Pneumonia in seniors but there is a Pneumonia vaccination which kills the need for the flu shot. It’s all a scam. |
|
Alright, my mind is in line with y'all's. Just thought someone may point out a benifit I hadn't thought of. Last one I had was probably 10 years ago and I did indeed get pretty bad flu later that year. I've written it off since then and will continue to do so. Thanks for the input guys. |
My mind was pretty much made up before but thought someone may have some input on why I should get it that I hadn't thought of. I couldn't come up with any pros at all but, hey, I'm just a dumb country boy who doesn't understand such complicated things as flu viri. 
|
|
As everyone has said, it's a forcast of what they think will be in the US. Last year, they were wrong and flu was EVERYWHERE! When they get it right, you don't hear anything about it. Much like, if Homeland Security does it's job you always question if they did avoid a terrorist act or if someone just said they did. Some people are good reactors to the flu shot. Some get sick. Have you ever had a flu shot before? If so, how did you react to it? I personally get it IF my employer pays for it. If not, forget it. Hospitals make employees take it so that they don't end up spreading the flu within the hospital and potentially killing someone (ie: chemotherapy patients with weakened immunity systems.) Hospitals do not force patients into having to take flu shots. Hardwarz |
My wife has been a nurse for over 30 years (working in a hospital) and she has never been forced to take a flu shot. 
|
|
I get a flu shot every year. I had a bad case of the flu once, after that, I started getting flu shots. Never had a problem since then. Well worth it IMO. Your employer seems a little early in giving out flu shots. I usually wait until around the end of October or mid-November to get one. |
|
I get a free one every year. I get two weeks of sick time and I would rather use it to have fun than be sick. You shouldnt get sick from a dead vaccine which I think is all the do now. The culture they grow it in can make you sick. Its a crapshoot, but its free and it seems to help. I work around air handlers and all sorts of places that gather dust with germs from people from all over the world come so I do whatever I can to stay healthy. |
We have to sign a "declination form" if we choose NOT to get the shot. They push it really hard. FB |
|
Your doctor doesn't take them..ask him. I am an RN and refuse too also. Last years shots covered none of the flu types that hit. They like to say that the shots will still help you anyway. Whatever. Also they will say the shot will not make you sick. It sure as hell can, although not very often. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or talking out their ass. Be very suspicious of these health care providers who say it cannot make you sick. They are lying. A tylenol will make someone sick...there are no absolutes. The flu is to thin the herd. Old people probably should get the shot. ETA: Nursing for 12 years and no one ever made me take any shot. They cannot make a health care provider take a shot. I see no reason for a health care provider to be a position to pass anything on to a patient. Standard precautions and all that. |
|
You should avoid flu shots if you are allergic to eggs. I get a yearly flu shot and have yet to report any adverse effects from it. My chances of getting the flu are elevated as I have school age children. My favorite petri dishes bring home all sorts of infectious homework. You may get some benefit from a flu shot even if they "miss" the specific strain that circulates in any given year. The theory behind this is because your immune system will produce antibodies against whatever strain they do end up giving you (it is a cocktail of strains, IIRC). Your immune system will then (hopefully) five years down the road (for instance) still have that strain in "memory" and be able to fight it off. Influenza is constantly re-shuffling the cards so the flu shot is always a "best guess". H5N1 is a different kettle of fish as it is not a strain that circulates in the human population (and it damn well better stay that way). A pandemic virus would require a specific targeted treatment to be of much use. |
There ya go.... thats what I was trying to say! Good thing someone can write English! |
|
Mom's been a microbiologist for 35 years and strongly encourages me to get one. I didn't get one for the past 10 years and didn't' get a bad case of the flu. I got the flu bad last year. Ended up in the ER twice. My parents experienced some flu like systems when everyone else had it but it was mild by comparison. They both had gotten flu shots. ETA I am planning on getting one this year. |
| thiomersal hasnt been in any flu shots for years in any sufficient quantity, and there is still no proven direct connection between thiomersal and autism. I get one every year because in the er everyone coughs all over you to prove how sick they are. its a personal choice, and physicians are not trained by pharmaceutical reps, mattter of fact they are no longer able to give pens, pads etc. as they are seen as bribes by the justice department.Most physicians continue theyre education through classes and papers, and a thing called ceu`s continuing education credits that are required to keep up their licenses. just to clear up some urban myths. do what you think is right and let others do what they think is correct for them. there is no absolutes in life or medicine. |
| As mostly everyone else has said, its a scam. Don't bother. I've never had a flu shot and the times I have gotten the flu, I've been healthy and managed to fight it off within a week. If you're healthy, you have nothing to worry about. The only reason they push it so hard is because of the corporations who profit from it, not for the sake of the health of the american people, thats for sure. |
) of getting sick, so I am going to get one this year.
I would strongly disagree with your statement there. I have had blood poisoning and my lungs are pretty scared up from the ensuing double pneumonia. I was coughing up glassfulls of blood. I am back to being very healthy now, by I have been told I should get a flu shot every year to not stress my lungs any more than they have been. I have seen worksites laid bare when a flu rolls thru. In the jet age, anything that can be done to limit the spread of the flu is a good thing. Unless you have medical training I dont think you would be in a position to make blanket statements. Feel free to state your own personal opinion.... but it is just your opinion that its a scam. And if its free to the recipient.... where is the scam? |
|
WOW!!! It's interesting that in a "survival forum" there are so many nay sayers when it comes to flu shots (read "preparedness" at a price)... It is also surprising to see this amount of misinformation all in 1 place... OK, listen up - here's the skinny >>> The choice to get a flu shot (like ALL choices) requires some thoughtful risk (&/or cost) vs benefit analysis... First you need facts to help you asses both - I'll try to shed some light... Facdoids (for adults and adult vaccine)> 1) The "formula" (the componenets included in the vaccine) for the flu vaccine is determined by the CDC & the WHO (I believe it is a joint effort) and is sent to the vaccine manufacturers to act as a blue print for them to produce vaccine. The vaccine (usually) includes components of the 3 strains of the flu predicted to be most problematic for the coming season. Predictions are not perfect, vaccine production is not perfect, immunity resulting from the vaccine is not perfect... The immunity that you get from the vaccine vaccine is to the strains of flu in the vaccine and very little else. The common cold is NOT the flu (it isn't even distantly related to the flu)... 2) The flu shot is NOT a live vaccine (hasn't been "live" in over a decade) and you CAN NOT get the flu from the flu shot. If you have some immunity to the components of the vaccine, you may experience a local injection site reaction which is usually mild or a mild systemic reaction (body aches, low grade fever, etc). These reactions typically last a day or 2 (maybe even 3) and are treated with tylenol, aspirin, or advil... 3) Flu vaccine can produce a serious complication called Guillian Barre Syndrome the incidence of this complication is about 1 case of GBS per 50,000 to 100,000 flu shots. This is about the same as compared with individualy who actually get the flu... 4) Each year in the USA influenza produces about 200,000 hospitalizations and 30,000 deaths. Most of these are among "senior" (age >= 65 years) Americans. Healthy adults less than 65 years old are unlikely to be hospitalized although may miss several days (2 to 10) of work as a result of influenza. Among older Americans, more diagnoses (e.g. heart disease, lung disease, kidley disease, diabetes, etc.) results in greater risk of hospitalization and death from the flu. 5) Flu shot season is October & November... immunity from the shot starts developing in about 2 weeks, reaches its peak in about 10 weeks and lasts for years. Peak flu season (in the US) is December, January, February (worst month) and March although flu can happen any month of the year... 6) Thimersol has been used as a preservative since the 1930s and IS used in multidose vials of flu vaccine. Unless you have a specific hypersensitivity to this component of the vaccine, its presence is probably inconsequential... Many single dose vials of vaccine are thimersol-free. 7) Individuals who are allergic to or have hypersensitivity reactions to any of the components of the flu vaccine should not get a flu shot. 8) The current recommendations from the CDC for influenza vaccine (for adults) are as follows: People who should get vaccinated each year are: - Pregnant women - People 50 years of age and older - People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions - People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities - People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including: a. Health care workers b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu c. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated) <The above information was excerpted from CDC publications and other sources> Good luck with your choice - at least now you have good information... For more information (as much as you can stand), see the CDC Website Peace, - Michael - |
|
While in the military I got one every year for 20 years and never got sick. I've been retired for 14 years now. No shots, never sick. Maybe after 20 years you have so much stuff in you that you don't need anymore  Anyway...since I'm getting old and feble..I'll likely get one this year. Besides, my wife is diabetic, so it's just a good idea for us both to get them. |
Actually my MD, a former Med School prof and internist takes 2, one soon as they come in and one late in the seasonMy SO, an MD, but not in primary care gets one every year. Do your "sandard precautions"include Level IV biohazard gear? Never exhale, cough or sneeze in a petient care area? Also, I don't think most hospitals push it to prevent the patients from catching it (nursing homes probally would), but to ensure their work force is available when they are needed the most- during the worst part of the season. Do you have a source for none of the flue types being in the vaccine last year. Kind of hard to believe. Guessing right is part luck and part good work, but to pick 3 strains and have none of them last until the US flu season is very unlikely. And who says the shot can't make you sick? It can't give you the flu, but it could damn well kill you. I seem to remember getting a sheet to that effect every year. |
|
There is a pneumonia vaccine, which it seems to me would be a good thing to get, because if you do get the flu, or any number of other respiratory diseases, it can turn into pneumonia. If the avian flu comes through and you survive it, it would be a shame to then die from the opportunistic pneumonia infection that you pick up while recovering. www.medicinenet.com/pneumococcal_vaccination/article.htm |
The intraction between Pharma and physicians is nothing like you described. I've watched the head of my school's/hospital's ortho department rake pharm reps over the coals and after seeing that you couldn't pay me enough to do that job. Physicians aren't educated by mouse pads, evidence-based testing and Pubmed works much better. As for me - I've recently had vaccines against tetanus, Hep A/B, yellow fever, and typhoid. I'll get a chickenpox vaccine because my titer came back neg and I'll get the flu vaccine this year as well. |
Those two quotes sum up where I'm at on the issue. |
| I've gotten the injection for the past 4-5 years, been exposed to a couple of people with diagnosed influenza (not a nasty cold) and never taken ill. As a gov't employee it's free. I just wish it was for my immediate family as well. The charge for pediatric shots is crazy. |