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So since it was brought up briefly a few times in the vaccines thread and I view the annual flu shot as very different from shots like the MMR, Polio, and HiB vaccines, I wanted to have a separate thread to see people's thoughts on the annual flu shots.
I've never gotten a flu shot. There are tons of different strains of the flu. The flu shot only covers a few of those potential strains. You could still be infected by any of the others, even with a flu shot.
Also, the influenza virus is constantly mutating (more so than the majority of other viruses). Even though they try to predict what the most common strains for the upcoming year will be, because it takes so long to develop, test, and get approval for the flu shot, the strains that the shot covers are the forms of those strains from a year or two ago. Those strains have quite likely undergone multiple mutations since that time, quite possibiliy rendering the flu shot completely useless against them.
Personally, I would only get a flu shot if I was in a high risk group (pregnant and/or raising young children, elderly, chronic condition making me more suscesptible, etc).
So Bees - what do you think?
yeah, I tend to agree with you. I voted "never," but I have in the past, and I'm not completely opposed to it.
I don't get one usually, but I have in the past when I was teaching little kids.
I never get them. I have a very strong natural immunity to flu, I think. I've only ever had it one time (at a time of high-stress and extreme exhaustion) and I never caught swine flu even after living in close quarters with 4 people that got it.
BUT, I got one today. Why? Because I'm pregnant and that makes me high-risk for it. Pregnant women can get the flu MUCH worse than normal people and my doctor strongly advised me to get it. Both DH and I will be getting pertussis boosters when the baby is born too. A lot of cases of pertussis are passed from parent to infant, so I don't want to take that chance.
I work in a hospital so I have to get one every year. Makes it easy, because I don't have a choice! They just opened up the clinic today and of course I'm procrastinating but I imagine I'll get it this week. I never got one before working in a hospital because I just never really thought of it. Now that I take public transportation to work everyday though I might have been more likely to get one because people are constantly coughing and sneezing all over the place.
I never have (not even as a kid), but if I ever become part of a high-risk group in the future, then I probably will.
Nope... Never had one, and don't plan on ever getting one... even when I worked at the hospital.
I saw more co-workers out with the flu shortly after getting the vaccine then co-workers out that didn't get it. (just the observation of our department)
I voted other. I don't usually get one, but I wouldn't be opposed to it, for whatever reason.
I got one once and I regretted it. My arm was bugging me for days. I don't normally get the flu anyways.
I have to get them for work, but I've gotten it every time it was offered to me. It kinda seems like why not - even if it only gives me say 70% protection against the flu, I wouldn't turn it down. I'll admit I've never sought it out though, but I would if I had kids or anything.
I get one every year because my work offers it for free, all I have to do is walk down the hall. If it wasn't that convenient, I probably wouldn't get one.
I have to get them for work or wear a mask from now until May whenever I am with patients. I would not get it this year because I feel very strongly against the H1N1 vaccine which is included in the flu shot this year. I also know atleast a dozen people that got sick this year after getting the flu shot. yes, I know you don't get the flu from the shot, I believe it is the preservatives in it.
I do not, have not and will not. My extreme needle phobia coupled with the low effectiveness of this vaccine due to the nature of the flu have me avoiding it.
I would, however, consider the nasal spray version if I were in the high risk category.
I have never gotten one before, but now that I'm working in a hospital, I'm considering it. I have all month to get it done along with my annual PPD.
I've only ever gotten it once and I was sick that whole winter. I didn't get it the 2 years I was teaching and never got the flew. I didn't get the swine flu vaccine when I was teaching and survived that as well. I don't forsee myself getting the vaccine in the forseeable future either.
I dont really have a choice. I am in a high risk group so I have to. I got mine the other day and my arm is still sore and I had a headache for the first day but its so worth it to me.
Yes it only protects you from a few strains but its better then no protection at all. Also the one thing I think people forget is that it takes 2 weeks for the shot to work. So you can get your shot and still get the flu in those 2 weeks.
You can get side effects from the shot which are flu like but you wont get the flu. the shot is inactivated. If your going to get sick it is going to be from the nasal spray because it is a live,weakened vaccine. Thats why the dont give the spray to people in high risk groups
everyone shoul decide for themselves but before you do make sure you have all the information you need
I work in an Ear Nose and Throat practice so I do everything I can to protect myself from what my patients bring in! (so, yes, I got one).
I work in a medical office with a lot of little kids, so I got one. Also, te hospital did it for free on company time. Would I go out of my way to do it? No.
I normally wouldn't.
I work at a hospital. (Actually, not even at the hospital, I work for the hospital but in an office building about a block away.)
I always do. I am offered the flu vaccine through my work (clinical virologist), but I could opt out. Why would I though? I work with positive flu samples every day, and that puts me at a really high risk. I also would not want to bring flu home to my mom (immunocomoromised), my FIL (also immmunocomoromised) or my grandma (on a respirator). I never have any bad side effects from it, and it protects me. Honestly, I get any vaccine offered at work (flu, rabies, TDaP, and further on, maybe smallpox).
As to the pps who argue that the vaccine only covers a few strains, this is true, but do you have any idea the amount of research and work that goes into choosing the strains included? The vaccine is based on circulating strains around the world, and are not chosen willy-nilly.
As long as I have insurance I get it done. I also get a full blood panel done every years including sugars and thyroid, I am in the better safe than sorry camp.
I work retail and the amount of people/money/surfaces I come in contact with is crazy. My company offered them for free, so I figured why not.
When I was in college I always got one because they were free for students and kids were always coming to class sick. I didn't get a flu shot last year, the first time in five years, and I got the flu! Probably just a coincidence, but still funny haha.
I don't. I know a few people who were sick for a few days after getting one. No thank you.
I'm planning to get one. I was actually going to get one last week but ended coming down with a slight cold and decided to hold off on the shot until I was sniffle-free.
I am getting one because the true upper-respiratory flu is a serious illness, even for individuals who are not immunocompromised. My brother-in-law is a marathon runner (he's competed in the ironman) and takes excellent care of himself. He came down with the flu two years ago and was out of work for three weeks - during that time, he was so weak he could barely get out of bed and my sister was a worried wreck because she hadn't ever seen him that sick in the 20 years they have been together. My mom actually came down with flu that year also, and I was so worried about her because her symptoms were very similar and she was in bed for two weeks.
I think there's a common misconception that the flu is just a bad cold. From the people I know that have contracted it, it has been much more serious.
@MsJ26: that is because you are not protected for 2 weeks after the shot
its not that hard to do research
I have never in my life gotten a flu shot and I have never gotten the flu. If I was in a high risk or prone to getting the flu however, I would.
I would never tell anyone what to do but you couldn't pay me enough money to get one. BTW, I haven't had a cold or flu in over 17 years.
I work in a hospital so its required. I got one before and felt it made me sicker so I don't want one but oh well.
I will always get one because even if you feel off for a day or two as your body builds up immunity it is better than the actual flu. Also, there are people who can't get the flu shot due to allergies. I wouldn't want to be the one spreading the flu around to people who can't even get the shot! (just something to keep in mind)
I got one last year when I worked in a call center. I have a weak immune system and I'm a carrier for strep - so when I generally get the flu I come down with strep as well. I didn't get one this year because I've already have a bad cold and I'm working in a small office.
I just got mine today! I get one every year because I work with elementary children. Gotta protect yourself when you have kids sneezing and sliming all over! lol
I appreciate it when people get them. I'm in a high risk group and can't get a flu shot. I agree that they aren't perfect, but they usually catch (and provide immunity to) at least one of the flu strains going around each year. DH gets them to protect me!
I find the first option in the poll a little odd. I used to get them every year, but there was something that stopped me. I don't think most people would actually get them 'no matter what' when what can happen is quite serious!
@miss sparkly cat: You think? Way to state the obvious. I'm pretty sure I made that distinction.
I wanted to vote for both: If I was in a high risk group and also, I do because of my job. I worked in a hospital...kind of necessary. I also took a boatload of vitamins and supplements too...and bought hand sanitizer by the gallon. Lol. So...
I work in a hospital so I am required to get on or wear a mask all season...so I get mine--I don't want to be the person spreading it around to the sick people in the hospital!
but if I didn't work in a hospital and I wasn't high risk, I probably wouldn't get one...because as someone stated above its only based on a few strains (3) that they think will be popular that year...and the flu mutates and evolves so fast...
I've had the flu about 3 times, once in high school and once in college and once the year after...each time it put me flat on my butt for a week, vomiting, diarrhea, it was bad, i lost about 10-15 lbs each time...but I survived just fine...and honestly, 3 times in 25 years isn't bad!
@MsJ26:excuse me but you did not. what you said was "that you know a few people who were sick for a few days after getting them" that is in no way the same as doing research and your snark is uncalled for
I would only get one if I had to for work purposes or like other PP said if I was in any of the high risk groups. I might of had a flu shot when I was in high school because I would get sick often. I don't get them anymore because like OP said, there are many strands out there of the flu and the flu shot won't protect me from all strands out there. And honestly I think it's more of a pain to get it than not to get it.
My FI is type1 diabetic and could die from gettign the flu so we go every year.
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