OT: Flu Shots

No thank you. I got a pneumonia shot a few years back and what happened? The following year I got pneumonia, and have had several more bouts since then. When I asked my dr about it, he chortled and said "There are 40 kinds of pneumonia, the shot covers 22 of them. You must have got one of the other 18." So, why bother????

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Well, one reason is that there are different kinds of flu, just as there are different kinds of pneumonia, and they vary in severity. When I get a flu shot or a pneumonia shot, I don't get it so that I don't get the disease, I get it so that I don't die of the disease. People do still die of pneumonia and flu, you know. The more virulent strains of each are very hard to fight, even for a young person in good health. I'm not so young anymore, and while my health is generally good, I've got a couple of little problems. Anything that helps me beat the likelihood of what I consider to be a premature death is good. I don't want to get sick and linger. When I do go, I want to be taken by surprise.

There are always 2 sides to the vaccine debate, aren't there. There are always people who say that after having the flu vaccine or the pneumonia vaccine that they go sick. I've also had pneumonia, even though I've had

2 pneumonia shots. I had one at 60 on the advice of my physician and the the second at 65. I had a viral pneumonia, no vaccine for that yet. I prefer to err on the side of caution. I've had the flu shots for40 years now and never had the flu. I worked for many years in schools and flu was rampant, I stayed healthy. I prefer it that way. Nothing is perfect,but....... It works for me. juno

Another part of the argument is the public health issue. Those who refuse vaccines are putting everyone else at risk if there is a major outbreak. Pandemic? No, thanks, I'll take a shot.

I have had flu shots every year, and never (to the best of my knowledge) had "influenza". I also have had pneumonia vaccine twice, first when I was taking care of my elderly father, second when I reached the age the doc said I should have it for my own protection.

I'm with you there, sister!!! :)

-Irene

Same here; I work on a college campus and with such a huge mobile population, the students bring all kinds of nasty bugs with them! I've gotten a flu show for the last several years (the college even provides them to the employees) and they have worked for me. When I get sick I tend to REALLY get sick so I'll do anything I can to circumvent catching something in the first place :)

-Irene

Me too! I have several XXX rated scenarios in mind. ;-)

Unfortunately The public health impact of the flu seems to be the one thing that doesn't sway enough people. It is rare that people see that by protecting them self they are protecting others. If it did we wouldn't be faced with huge amounts of vaccine being thrown away at the end of flu seasons.People get the vaccine because they want to avoid illness. I take it because I want to avoid illness and avoid the spread of illness. I find that that argument frequently falls on deaf ears. People scream for vaccines because they think they will be come ill, not because they worry about spreading it around. How many people do you know who go back to work before they have fully recovered from the flu and then spread the "joy" around. Juno

So do I!!!! Fancy that!!!

Because a recent case control study in the UK suggests a 19% reduction in risk for first heart attack if you've had a flu shot in the previous year? (as did previous, smaller studies.)

I think they don't "get" it. It's like the parents refusing to have their kids inoculated against some pretty terrible childhood diseases because they hear rumors of side-affects and they figure if everyone else is vaccinated, their kid is safe. Yeah, right. Tell that to the families in CA and southern OR, where Pertussis is making a nasty comeback.

I believe the word you are looking for is "narcissism".

Exactly!

Also the ones who fly in spite of being ill. With just one exception, I have managed to catch a nasty cold almost

*every* time I have flown.

I also feel for teachers, like my DSIL. Parents send sick kids to school, because they "can't find child care", and don't want to do the right thing, which would be to stay home and care for them until they are well. Sheesh, why have kids if you don't want to rear them?

Off my soap box.

Hee hee hee....

Don't stop now! What about bosses who insist you aren't sick enough to stay off work unless you're in a hospital? I've had that kind. Also jobs where you don't get paid if you aren't there for your shift.

Probably not enough. How about "100% of lottery winners have kept their flu shots up to date!!"

I got mine Wednesday at the local recreation center/library sponsored by one of the local hospitals. I've seen signs everywhere this year and since I haven't had one for a few years due to lack of vaccine I'm happy that I got one, very happy.

Judie

I plan to have a Pertussis booster soon as my DD is due to have the new baby in January. Sad to say my DD's MIL is insistent that vaccination is just one big huge vast "big pharma/government conspiracy" meant to make a profit and cause "injury". Of course there are possible side effects, there are possible side effects to almost anything but my generation was one of the last to know first hand the terrible fear of polio and other diseases. But if these "non-vaxxing" folks have their way these diseases will be back and you're right, they just don't "get" it.

Judie

How does she feel about smallpox? There are still live viruses in a few labs around the world. If those suckers escape into the wild, LOOK OUT. Both my DD's are old enough to have received the vaccination (my younger DD was among the very last group) but neither of my precious DGC has had it. I very much doubt enough vaccine exists to make a difference if it gets loose. :-(

My HMO has them now, I'll get up there next week a few days after I donate blood (another thing I encourage everyone to do). Last year I had the "regular" flu shot but the swine flu shots were in such limited supply that by the time they opened up to my demographic the flu season had pretty much passed.

Smallpox was very bad. But diphtheria and tetanus may be worse. Death is relatively certain in all three instances, but the period between getting sick and dying.....well.....read the symptoms. I'd consider opening a vein if I were able to do it. Life involves risk. The odds of vaccine causing illness or death are extremely low. The odds of being injured or killed in your own bathtub is the highest for accidents. Do people stop taking baths because of this?