How many of you are getting the flu shot?

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Ha Ha Tony,  you would almost make it seem i was picking on you.   No I just thought your statement about wanting your kids exposed to the flu since it gave them immunity didn't make a lot of sense since the strains are pretty much different every year  as it was correctly pointed out. and getting the flu at best is really horrible being all pukey and achey all over and this typically lasts a couple of weeks and at worst well there were a number of deaths (primarily teens) from H1N1 last year.   But keep in mind a flu shot is not a single strain, but usually a mix and its based on analysis of what is prevalent.  (there is some science behind  it) 

Well if you decide not to get the flu vaccine that is all fine,  but do everyone around you a big favor and don't show up at work to infect everyone around you if you happen to get the flu.   That is a major pet peeve I have about parents sending their child to school when they clearly are sick and shouldn't be there.   This is a real self-centered attitude that a lot of people have and is incredibly irresponsible.

Parents are having “chicken pox parties†to expose their toddlers to the virus; researchers are reporting that children exposed to colds and germs (e.g., in early daycare) build better immunities. Can the same be said for adults who contract influenza? Does getting the flu improve your immunity?

“The natural immunity you build is usually more durable than the immunity you acquire from an injection,†acknowledges Dr. Raymond Strikas, associate director for an immunization program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “However, why run the, albeit small, risk of a serious illness when it is much safer to get the vaccination?â€

“Getting the flu is not a good idea,†says Dr. Ardis Hoven, an infectious disease specialist and trustee of the American Medical Association. “The primary reason is that the influenza virus undergoes antigenic variation, so on a yearly basis the strain undergoes change.†Meaning: Getting this year’s flu doesn’t necessarily prevent you from getting next year’s flu.

The CDC estimates that every year, approximately 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu. The figures are hard to estimate because not everyone who gets the flu goes to the doctor. What is known: 1) More than 200,000 are hospitalized for flu-related complications and 36,000 will die, and 2) Ninety percent of deaths are among the elderly.

 
This kinda seems odd to me, I never knew there was such a no flu shot people vs. flu shot people debate! I have gotten it some years and have never had a sore arm or anything like that. I mean what are some of your doctors using hypodermic needles!

Here is something else to think about, How many of us actually KNOW if we got the flu, flu symptoms are very similar to common cold symptoms. Who's actually going to the doctor to see if they have contracted influenza and not just a random sore throat or cold?

 
Originally Posted by perlanga /img/forum/go_quote.gif

This kinda seems odd to me, I never knew there was such a no flu shot people vs. flu shot people debate! I have gotten it some years and have never had a sore arm or anything like that. I mean what are some of your doctors using hypodermic needles!

Here is something else to think about, How many of us actually KNOW if we got the flu, flu symptoms are very similar to common cold symptoms. Who's actually going to the doctor to see if they have contracted influenza and not just a random sore throat or cold?
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Actually the differences between the common cold and flu are very clear.   

How to distinguish the difference Cold & Flu (Ontario Health Unit info)

Fever                 Cold-rare                                           Flu- high sudden onset, lasts 3-4 days

Headache           Cold-rare                                          Flu- frequent

Aches & Pains    Cold-slight                                        Flu- usual, often quite severe

Weakness          Cold-rare to mild                                Flu- moderate to extreme, can last up to one month

Bedridden           Cold-never                                         Flu- frequently lasts up to  5-10 days

Sniffles               Cold-common                                    Flu- sometimes

Sneezing            Cold-usual                                         Flu-sometimes

Sore Throat         Cold-common                                    Flu-sometimes

Cough                Cold-sometimes, mild to moderate       Flu - Usual can become severe

Complications     Cold-sinus or ear infection                   Flu- pneumonia, kidney failure, heart failure, can be life threatening

 
^^^^ I'm not so sure it's clear, the chart itself says a bad cough with a sore throat could be either, a bad cold or a mild flu! Several years ago my little cousin had Mono, but her doctor thought it was the flu, it wasn't until she went to the ER they told us she had mono. Flu symptoms can be confused with a wide variety of upper respiratory infections.

 
Originally Posted by perlanga /img/forum/go_quote.gif

^^^^ I'm not so sure it's clear, the chart itself says a bad cough with a sore throat could be either, a bad cold or a mild flu! Several years ago my little cousin had Mono, but her doctor thought it was the flu, it wasn't until she went to the ER they told us she had mono. Flu symptoms can be confused with a wide variety of upper respiratory infections.
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the general achey feeling and fever are the most significant differences

 
I think the sore arm bit depends on how you reacted to the shot.  My son, my daughter and I bought got H1N1 and regular flu shot last year.  1 on each arm
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My H1N1 arm did not ache but my regular flu arm hurt.  My son's H1N1 arm hurt but not the regular.  My daughter was fine for both.  My husband got his a couple of days later, he was fine.

With flu vs cold, I usually just go by the fever = flu and no fever = cold.  The other symptoms kinda interchange with me. I don't think I've ever had a headache with the flu.

 
first time i had it this winter.... in australia. no side effects and brilliant. not a sick day

 
yeah me & the hubby will probably be getting it, just because im preg now and due anytime, & the doc reccommended that you definately get one if you got an infant, ecspecially a newborn in the household...whew, i just hope none of us get it this year, that H1N1 was vicious last year around here...

 
Originally Posted by Darla /img/forum/go_quote.gifWell if you decide not to get the flu vaccine that is all fine,  but do everyone around you a big favor and don't show up at work to infect everyone around you if you happen to get the flu.   That is a major pet peeve I have about parents sending their child to school when they clearly are sick and shouldn't be there.   This is a real self-centered attitude that a lot of people have and is incredibly irresponsible.
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^^ This is true for anyone, not just those who didn't get the vaccine. If you're contagious, stay at home!!  You getting in one more day of work or school is not worth getting the rest of the office/class infected and having the entire place practically shut down for the rest of the week!

 
It's coming into summer here now but, I only ever had the flu once as a kid, and I'm pretty sure I have never had a flu shot in my life, except maybe as a baby. I don't ever plan to get one unless I get pregnant. I think if you are at high risk of illness then you should go get a shot. Like with H1N1 last year - Most of the people who died due to that particular strain of flu had poor immune systems anyway, cancer patients, the elderly etc. I'm not saying I'm not at risk of getting the flu, I just don't see the point in getting the shot if my chances of getting sick are so low.

 
No thanks. On a realistic point, it's the one sickness i never get, now a cold or a bronchitis shot i would get it immediately because every winter, i catch one of these, if not several in a row.

 
No, i'm not getting the shot. I had a regular flue shot in 2003 and i felt so crappy for a couple of days. Only 20,000 people died from the h1n1 virus since 2009 and 500,000 people die yearly from the regular flu type 1 or 2..not a lot considering there are 7 billion people on earth.  Vaccines aren't 100% effective and since the h1n1 vaccine is so new, no one really  knows the long term effects of it.  The really young, old or people with weakened immune systems should consider it,  but the number one way to prevent the flu is to wash your hands throughout the day, avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose and stay home if you are sick. Diluted bleach kills flu effectively.

The funniest thing I saw the other day at walgreens were gift cards ($30 a pop) for a flu vaccine.  I'd be so happy to get one of those, hahaha, what do you say to someone who buys you one?

 
I don't know pumpkincat  that is still quite a few people to get killed by the flu.   There are still parts of the world and certain populations that are really susceptible to something really dangerous.  

I had seen a special last year on the H1N1 flu and its similarity to the flu (Spanish flu) that occurred in 1918.   Over a relatively short period  (March 1918 to June 1920)   almost 50 million people or 3%  of the world's population were killed by the Spanish flu  and 500 million or 33% were infected.   (see Wikipedia for the citation)    So now you can see what happens to a pandemic when there is no flu vaccine to minimize the number of carriers.   (Boy we take this stuff for granted!)



Interestingly enough the reason this didn't get much press coverage is because the majority of time during this pandemic World War I was going on and newspaper did not want to emphasize or even acknowledge that there was a serious problem in the United States or any of the allies.  It was however reported by the Spanish press who remained neutral in World War I so hence the name.

 
Just a thought: you can´t really compare pandemics like the Spanish flu as an example. Today, we know how to help prevent infection (washing/disinfecting hands, wearings masks etc). Also, our diets are a lot more healthy compared to back then, we´re not malnourished (most people are far from that lol) and most of us don´t have to engage in hard physical labor, which can weaken your immune system as well. And the people who are chronically ill get proper treatment for their illness, and generally keep up with getting their shots.

So a flu strain would nowadays not be able to infect & kill so many people (unless we´re talking 3rd world countries...btw, is it still politically correct to use this word?)

But I agree, a lot of people do take things for granted when it comes to our health. Not taking preventative measures that are available to us might bite you in the ass if you actually do get sick and doctors can´t save you for whatever reason (not meaning the flu here, just in general)

 
I got mine last year for the very first time. They were offering both the H1N1 and flu shots at work. I ended up having 3 HUGE allergy attacks (sneezing, wheezing, sore throat, and head cold). My immune system was so weakened after that I ended up with laryngitis & bronchitis. I was sick for about a month straight! I've decided against getting the flu shot!!

 
I haven't got the flu shot in 8 + years... Haven't had the flu in 8+ years. Daily vitamins, eating healthy and washing my hands frequently. When ever I go shopping and use a cart I always wipe it down with disinfectant wipes.  ....

 
Not getting it, it always makes me feel crummy and I usually end up getting the flu anyways so why bother...

I have to laugh at this thread though... some people saying "if you get sick after you don't get a flu shot you better come to work so your coworkers don't have to cover your butt!" and some saying "if you get sick don't come into work and get your coworkers sick!".
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