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[Messofanego]

I never would have pinned GAF as a safe-haven for anti-vaxxers, but the amount of selfish and ignorant statements in this thread are making me rethink that...

Absolutely unbelievable. You are actively harming those around you. You can harbor a virus without being symptomatic. Something that might be a minor inconvenience to you can KILL OTHER PEOPLE.

Especially disappointed with the person who works at a hospital. You would be fired at my institution, and rightfully so - I would happily show you the door. Insanely irresponsible.

I've never seen so much anti-vaxxer sentiment condensed into one thread. I would have expected it from some reddit conspiracy page but not here. It's kind of opening my eyes to how ignorant some GAFers are, and it doesn't feel good.

 

[g0tm1lk]

I'll take the 50/50 any day, especially having a lot of sick people around that don't care to be a spitting virus machine.

 

[Bustanen]

Wut.

That's not how it works.

These threads frustrate the fuck out of me.

The vaccine has side effects though and you can get sick from it. I've had fever from the shot before.

http://www.healthline.com/health/flu-shot-side-effects#FluShots1

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

The vaccine has side effects though and you can get sick from it. I've had fever from the shot before.

http://www.healthline.com/health/flu-shot-side-effects#FluShots1

But nothing like getting the flu. It should not be an excuse.

 

[Jmille99]

I didnt use to get the shots, mainly because of my fear of needles. But once I had kids, I gave in and started getting them.

I still fucking hate it.

 

[Bustanen]

But nothing like getting the flu. It should not be an excuse.

Surely not but the times I've got sick from the shot far outnumber the times I've got the flu (0). Last time I got the shot was 2008.

I could get it free because of asthma but haven't. Maybe I'll come around when I finally get the flu.

 

[ced]

For the record, I alluded to the differences in my post just above. I know flu is far worse; it's definitely not a cold. You get the flu, you're out for days. My parents have had it a couple times so I know what it can do to folks.

What I meant is that you hear people constantly using "I never get the flu" as a reason not to get vaccinated, when it's really difficult to tell the difference between it and a cold / RSV virus sometimes.

 

[Pau]

I've never seen so much anti-vaxxer sentiment condensed into one thread. I would have expected it from some reddit conspiracy page but not here. It's kind of opening my eyes to how ignorant some GAFers are, and it doesn't feel good.

You're right, it is ignorance. But I think it's not just the typical anti-vaxxers who are giving their experiences. The way the flu shot has been presented to me throughout my life has been vastly different than other vaccines. Even my own doctor is very cavalier about it, like "Do it if you feel like it." Instead of other vaccines that are pretty much mandatory for school and the importance of having them is explained, this is the first time I've seen people talk about the flu shot in terms of life or death for others. It sounds like the flu shot should be pushed more by doctors and from a young age so that people won't think of them as being softly recommended but absolutely necessary.

Or maybe my doctors just suck and that's what other doctors actually do.

 

[Necromanti]

My work is offering it throughout October, so I'm definitely getting it. I always do. But then some asshole who doesn't will get me sick anyway, and I'll be out of commission for 2-3 weeks because I'm immunocompromised. (I've got my eye on y'all and the "I never wash my hands and never get sick!" crowd.)

 

[EYEL1NER]

I've never seen so much anti-vaxxer sentiment condensed into one thread. I would have expected it from some reddit conspiracy page but not here. It's kind of opening my eyes to how ignorant some GAFers are, and it doesn't feel good.

Any past flu shot thread looks similar to this. The reason I came into this thread was so I could sit back and get a chuckle from the "I got the flu from the vaccine, so never again" or "I've never gotten sick in my life, so I don't need it" posts, because I know they are so common. I got really frustrated the first couple flu vaccine threads I read years ago, but I try not to stress them now because I don't want to give myself an aneurism.

I plan on getting one in the next week or so. My wife is almost 8mos pregnant and assumed that she couldn't get one, so I would definitely need one, but it turns out pregnant women are recommended to get the shot (not mist) in any trimester. I just need to figure out the best place to take her and our daughter and then it'll be taken care of.

 

[Ryzaki009]

You've been lucky! Still, there's no reason not to get a flu vaccine. All it does is even make it less likely you will get the flu. And you can save people's lives.

And the absolute #1 reason you should always get the flu shot.

You can save someone's life. Thousanda of people die from the flu every year, and vaccines only work when most people get them. So get vaccinated every year!

If I was gonna be around a bunch of little kids or old people or something I'd get it. But I'm not so I can't be bothered. Like I'm going to be around pretty much no one so I don't see the point.

 

[prag16]

You can't get sick from the flu shot. I realize people are going to shit on me for this, but you just can't, and none of you have (barring an allergic reaction to eggs).

My grandmother got a mild-ish flu type illness EVERY damn time she got the flu shot. Never was sick any other time. One year she said fuck it; not getting it. Didn't get the flu ever again. I'm sure you'll say it's a coincidence.

You are exposed to about 15 thousand antigens every day. The flu shot is a drop in an ocean. It just adds a single entry in a huge database along with the 15,000 others you will get that same day.

The rest of them aren't injected directly into your bloodstream intravenously, bypassing all mucous membranes and anything else.

Doctors will never say something is 100% safe or effective. No scientist will. It's just not the way they are wired.

They sure do seem to say it pretty often actually.

Ron Paul... ...fucking idiot.

Your credentials trump his? Dismissing out of hand as "fucking idiots" anybody who disagrees with me on anything would be convenient though, eh.

 

[ExVicis]

Nope, scared of needles.

I know I got one one year and was stiff as hell and still got sick though. But even if that didn't happen if didn't change my fear of needles.

 

[meppi]

My work is offering it throughout October, so I'm definitely getting it. I always do. But then some asshole who doesn't will get me sick anyway, and I'll be out of commission for 2-3 weeks because I'm immunocompromised. (I've got my eye on y'all and the "I never wash my hands and never get sick!" crowd.)

Same here.
I always get it, simply because of my mom.

I rarely get sick, and when I do it's almost always because of some moron I work with who is sick and doesn't want to see a doctor because they are "man enough to get rid of it by themselves". Yeah...
A couple of days later they are at home on antibiotics and the week afterwards I'm in the same situation.
Dumb people fucking suck.

 

[Messofanego]

Any past flu shot thread looks similar to this. The reason I came into this thread was so I could sit back and get a chuckle from the "I got the flu from the vaccine, so never again" or "I've never gotten sick in my life, so I don't need it" posts, because I know they are so common. I got really frustrated the first couple flu vaccine threads I read years ago, but I try not to stress them now because I don't want to give myself an aneurism.

I plan on getting one in the next week or so. My wife is almost 8mos pregnant and assumed that she couldn't get one, so I would definitely need one, but it turns out pregnant women are recommended to get the shot (not mist) in any trimester. I just need to figure out the best place to take her and our daughter and then it'll be taken care of.

I must have missed these past flu shot threads. Sounds infuriating especially when people feel smug in their indifference to getting one.

 

[Brianimaniac]

I must have missed these past flu shot threads. Sounds infuriating especially when people feel smug in their indifference to getting one.

Probably as infuriating as you trying to lump everyone together as anti-vaxxers when different people have different situations.

 

[ExVicis]

I must have missed these past flu shot threads. Sounds infuriating especially when people feel smug in their indifference to getting one.

Is being so scared of needles that you hyper-ventilate and faint smug though? You should shame if ignorance, not the decision to not get one.

Edited because phone.

 

[digdug2k]

Any past flu shot thread looks similar to this. The reason I came into this thread was so I could sit back and get a chuckle from the "I got the flu from the vaccine, so never again" or "I've never gotten sick in my life, so I don't need it" posts, because I know they are so common. I got really frustrated the first couple flu vaccine threads I read years ago, but I try not to stress them now because I don't want to give myself an aneurism.

I plan on getting one in the next week or so. My wife is almost 8mos pregnant and assumed that she couldn't get one, so I would definitely need one, but it turns out pregnant women are recommended to get the shot (not mist) in any trimester. I just need to figure out the best place to take her and our daughter and then it'll be taken care of.

Weird. At 8 months you're close to the just constant weekly checkups for your wife aren't you? Our doctors just gave her the shot then (but won't to the father because its not your appointment).

I never get the flu shot either. I think I might have last year because we had a baby at home.

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

Is being so scared of needles that you hyper-ventilate and faint smug though? You should shame if orange, not the decision to not get one.

Nasal spray flu vaccine.

Although the CDC is not recommending it this year.

And this is why herd immunity is beneficial.

 

[Llyranor]

I get it every year because I work with kids and the elderly. I'd hate to give the flu to some infant who can't get vaccinated yet.

Surely not but the times I've got sick from the shot far outnumber the times I've got the flu (0). Last time I got the shot was 2008.

I could get it free because of asthma but haven't. Maybe I'll come around when I finally get the flu.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/asthma/

Though people with asthma are not more likely to get the flu, influenza (flu) infection can be more serious for people with asthma, even if their asthma is mild or their symptoms are well-controlled by medication. This is because people with asthma have swollen and sensitive airways, and influenza can cause further inflammation of the airways and lungs. Influenza infection in the lungs can trigger asthma attacks and a worsening of asthma symptoms. It also can lead to pneumonia and other acute respiratory diseases. In fact, adults and children with asthma are more likely to develop pneumonia after getting sick with the flu than people who do not have asthma. Asthma is the most common medical condition among children hospitalized with the flu and one of the more common medical conditions among hospitalized adults.

 

[Walter White Walker]

I swing by the Walgreen's up the street from me for my annual flu shot. It only takes a few minutes, doesn't cost anything, and I've never had a side effect issue with it.

 

[YourMaster]

Wut.

That's not how it works.

These threads frustrate the fuck out of me.

How so? If I would want to go get a shot, I have to go to the doctors office and sit there waiting in the waiting room for at least half an hour between people with various illnesses. Some of them may be contagious. I also have to open the door to the doctors office, that has been held by a lot more people. And I would have to do this once a year, so each year I risk getting infected again. I might have to go twice, once to convince the doctor I want the shot, and a second time to actually get it.

 

[semisonic]

Good lord all this anti-vaxxer shit. Who isn't even here yet and things are this bad...

I always hate these threads because all the evidence comes from one side, which gets ignored by anti-vaxx mooks because one time they got a shot and still got sick, and as we all know, correlation definitely equals causation. It's like going into one of those threads about not beating your children. Just page after page of "I got my ass beat raw and I turned out fine." No, that's not how that works. There are people on this page willing to explain how this does work. Please don't ignore them, the consequences aren't only on you if you don't.

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

How so? If I would want to go get a shot, I have to go to the doctors office and sit there waiting in the waiting room for at least half an hour between people with various illnesses. Some of them may be contagious. I also have to open the door to the doctors office, that has been held by a lot more people. And I would have to do this once a year, so each year I risk getting infected again. I might have to go twice, once to convince the doctor I want the shot, and a second time to actually get it.

Your local pharmacy can do it, at least in the US. You're in contact with the public anyway. Stop making excuses.
Takes 5 minutes.

 

[GrapeApes]

Is being so scared of needles that you hyper-ventilate and faint smug though? You should shame if ignorance, not the decision to not get one.

Edited because phone.

How do you even get blood drawn? They have an interdermal version of the shot. You don't really see the needle.

 

[YourMaster]

Your local pharmacy can do it, at least in the US. You're in contact with the public anyway. Stop making excuses.
Takes 5 minutes.

Well, not here. They don't just give out flu shots to everybody. I'm not sure I can even get one, but if I could I'd have to pay for it.
If it was in some way a national program and it was made convenient, like I could walk in somewhere when I was in the area and get a shot, I wouldn't mind getting one.

 

[Beaulieu]

I thought it was for old people ?

 

[Izayoi]

I've never seen so much anti-vaxxer sentiment condensed into one thread. I would have expected it from some reddit conspiracy page but not here. It's kind of opening my eyes to how ignorant some GAFers are, and it doesn't feel good.

Yeah, it's incredible, really. I'm shocked, and frankly, a little disappointed. I expected better. 😷

The vaccine has side effects though and you can get sick from it. I've had fever from the shot before.

http://www.healthline.com/health/flu-shot-side-effects#FluShots1

My grandmother got a mild-ish flu type illness EVERY damn time she got the flu shot. Never was sick any other time. One year she said fuck it; not getting it. Didn't get the flu ever again. I'm sure you'll say it's a coincidence.

Correlation does not imply causation.

At the very most, the flu vaccine can cause a mild immune response with a low grade fever for a couple of days at most.

If someone presents with the flu immediately following the injection, they were already infected before they were immunized.

I thought it was for old people ?

Good thing the article in the OP dispels that myth then, or did you not read it?

 

[Messofanego]

Probably as infuriating as you trying to lump everyone together as anti-vaxxers when different people have different situations.

These different situations being? I haven't picked on anyone who had a genuine reason like they had a rare allergy or reaction, just the healthy people who have the privilege to avoid it.

 

[Bustanen]

I get it every year because I work with kids and the elderly. I'd hate to give the flu to some infant who can't get vaccinated yet.



http://www.cdc.gov/flu/asthma/

Damn, pneumonia is nothing to sneeze at. You've convinced me.

 

[thelastcrusader]

Never got one. Never will. Everyone I know that gets them complains they always get sick when they get them. Take my little cousin for example, he's required to get them as an ambulance driver and everytime he did he would he out of commission for a week+. I take colostrum daily to keep my immune system strong. If I get sick during a year it's usually gone in a day or two.

 

[WorriedCitizen]

Already got my shot. Getting it every year. I had a really bad flu as a teenager that had me bed ridden for 4 weeks and during the worst days so weak i had to crawl on all four to the bathroom. It's just something that i don't want to experience again.

When i was a kid, before the flu shots got widespread and popular, i had the flu every 2-3 years. Had my last flu in 1997. So herd immunity and me getting the shot myself definitely works. Usualy i don't get much side effects. Mild muscle and headaches for 1-2 days. This year i had no side effects at all.

 

[Messofanego]

Never got one. Never will. Everyone I know that gets them complains they always get sick when they get them. Take my little cousin for example, he's required to get them as an ambulance driver and everytime he did he would he out of commission for a week+. I take colostrum daily to keep my immune system strong. If I get sick during a year it's usually gone in a day or two.

You'll never get a flu shot because of other people's anecdotes that don't hold up under scrutiny? You genuinely seem to believe that flu shots give you the flu, which is just factually incorrect.

Your immune system can't do anything against a new strain of influenza because it hasn't encountered the antigen yet to be forming antibodies against, and they mutate every year which is why every year you get a flu shot to account for the various mutations.

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

Never got one. Never will. Everyone I know that gets them complains they always get sick when they get them. Take my little cousin for example, he's required to get them as an ambulance driver and everytime he did he would he out of commission for a week+. I take colostrum daily to keep my immune system strong. If I get sick during a year it's usually gone in a day or two.

Multivitamins don't do anything to your immune system. You can't "boost" your immune system other than vaccinations due to antibodies.

 

[NomarTyme]

I have bad reaction to flu shots, so meh. Not a anti vaxxer.

 

[Xe4]

Personal experience disagrees with you. The only times I got sick were the times I got the shot. Those experiences were awful; worse than food poisoning.

Science disagrees with you. Again it is impossible to get the flu from he flu shot. All it can do is help your chances.

I know the flu is awful, though. That's why I do everything possible to avoid myself and others getting it.

It's always felt like I was getting sick twice in the season (once with symptoms along with the flu shot even if it wasn't because of it and once again with the actual flu) instead of just once. But like I said, I didn't know the effectiveness varied so much year to year so yeah, I just got unlucky.

I still get the flu shot more often than not, but with my luck I have to be sure I'm not doing anything important the next two days because I will most likely get sick.

Well the shot can give "flu like symptoms" although I'm not sure what that means. Whatever they are, they're a lot more mild, that's for sure.

And if you get the flu around the time of the shot, you either got the flu before, or a bit after, as it can take a week or two for the shot to give you full protection.

Sometimes getting sick is unavoidable though. I suppose we do what we can. In low effectiveness years, you don't get it for yourself. Alone, a 20% effective vaccine doesn't do too much, but if everyone gets one, it can provide amazing herd immunity and keep lots of people from getting sick.

If I was gonna be around a bunch of little kids or old people or something I'd get it. But I'm not so I can't be bothered. Like I'm going to be around pretty much no one so I don't see the point.

That's not how it works though. You get the vaccine not just for yourself, but to create heard immunity. You may not be around children/the elderly, but those you interact with may be. It is entirely (probable even, if were talking abiut an unvaccinated public) for you to give the flu to someone who then gives it to someone else.

An individual flu shot can't do much to stop that, but lots and lots of people getting flu vaccines can stop the spread of the vitus entirely.

Never got one. Never will. Everyone I know that gets them complains they always get sick when they get them. Take my little cousin for example, he's required to get them as an ambulance driver and everytime he did he would he out of commission for a week+. I take colostrum daily to keep my immune system strong. If I get sick during a year it's usually gone in a day or two.

Again, that's not how it works. It is literally impossible to get the flu from the flu vaccine. Anyone who said they did is either lying, misidentified an illness as the flu, had the flu already, got the flu before the vaccine kicked in, or got unlucky.

Beleive in hard science over anecdotal evidence, and if you do have a negative reaction to the flu vaccine (repeatedly), bring it up to the doctor. That's not normal and it needs to be looked at.

I've never seen so much anti-vaxxer sentiment condensed into one thread. I would have expected it from some reddit conspiracy page but not here. It's kind of opening my eyes to how ignorant some GAFers are, and it doesn't feel good.

Every flu vaccine thread is like this, sadly.

 

[Japanmanx3]

Nope. That crap makes me feel like my arm is going to fall off. Haven't gotten it for at least 4-5 years.

 

[gamma]

Is it recommended for everyone in the US? I've never gotten it in Germany, pretty sure they only do it for people with weak immune systems like kids and old people here.

 

[NewFresh]

Every flu season I get frustrated beyond belief at how smart reasonable people become complete idiots.

Stop being selfish jerks and get the damn shot.

 

[Xe4]

Is it recommended for everyone in the US? I've never gotten it in Germany, pretty sure they only do it for people with weak immune systems like kids and old people here.

Yep.

Here's the CDC

Who should get vaccinated this season?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. This recommendation has been in place since February 24, 2010 when CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu vaccination in the United States to expand protection against the flu to more people.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

It builds herd immunity. Aside from being short on resources to make the vaccines, I don't know why any country wouldn't have this policy. Vaccines are never 100% effective, and the best way to protect everyone, risk groups included, is for everyone to get vaccinated.

I thought it was for old people ?

Nope. For everyone : ) everyone getting the flu shot helps everyone else.

 

[TheSecondSpitter]

Y'all people still believe in dem myths, huh? I do like the disclaimer of you not being anti-vaxxer but when it comes to the flu shot, "I'll take my chances".

Let's try to shame people who don't agree with you.

I've had Big Pharma clients and I know more about the efficacy of flu-shot than the average joe and their unethical attempts to use the "anti-vaxxer" stigma on people.

 

[Media]

I'm always told to wait until November because I have to take immunosuppressive meds.

But yes, please get the flu shot, cause the flu could kill people with autoimmune diseases.

 

[Pau]

Well the shot can give "flu like symptoms" although I'm not sure what that means. Whatever they are, they're a lot more mild, that's for sure.

And if you get the flu around the time of the shot, you either got the flu before, or a bit after, as it can take a week or two for the shot to give you full protection.

Sometimes getting sick is unavoidable though. I suppose we do what we can. In low effectiveness years, you don't get it for yourself. Alone, a 20% effective vaccine doesn't do too much, but if everyone gets one, it can provide amazing herd immunity and keep lots of people from getting sick.

Yes I wish my doctor had explained it like this.

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

Let's try to shame people who don't agree with you.

I've had Big Pharma clients and I know more about the efficacy of flu-shot than the average joe and their unethical attempts to use the "anti-vaxxer" stigma on people.

Ah, the shill gambit.

 

[Xe4]

My grandmother got a mild-ish flu type illness EVERY damn time she got the flu shot. Never was sick any other time. One year she said fuck it; not getting it. Didn't get the flu ever again. I'm sure you'll say it's a coincidence.



The rest of them aren't injected directly into your bloodstream intravenously, bypassing all mucous membranes and anything else.



They sure do seem to say it pretty often actually.



Your credentials trump his? Dismissing out of hand as "fucking idiots" anybody who disagrees with me on anything would be convenient though, eh.

Flu like symptoms =! The flu. Don't take this the wrong way, but if your grandmother did get the flu, there is a decent chance it would kill her. The flu can kill perfectly healthy adults, and the elderly are especially vulnerable.

The method of antibody entrance doesn't effect the way they work. That's why we have nasal and oral vaccines availible (although not the latter for the flu).

Scientists and doctors are cautious. That's why there's a million warnings for drugs, and why some horrible shit is listed as a side effect for some vaccines, even though there is absolutely no statistical significance to the reasuts. The only reason people tend to say something us perfectly safe, because people freak out when it's not completely 100% not going to harm them, even if it's 99.99999% likely not to.

And yes, I know more than Ron Paul or Jill Stein on this issue. I don't care how many years they spent in medical school, their views on vaccines are dead wrong. I know this because the vast majority of doctors and medical scientists say the exact opposite of what Paul and Stein do, and because study upon study upon study have been overwhelmingly in support of vaccination.

At the very least, I am more correct in the issue. I don't know what Paul and Stein actually beleive, but I do know they both pander to the antivaccine movement in both their respective parties.

Let's try to shame people who don't agree with you.

I've had Big Pharma clients and I know more about the efficacy of flu-shot than the average joe and their unethical attempts to use the "anti-vaxxer" stigma on people.

Tell me more about Big Pharma.

Yes I wish my doctor had explained it like this.

I wish doctors gave a little more effort into "selling" the flu vaccine as well, but with all the other health matters it's unsurprising it gets lost in the hubbub. There needs to be a PR campaign for the flu shot, as theres a lot of misinformation about it, alough there doesn't seem to be support for one because eradication is off the table as of now.

 

[Snaku]

Why do they guess which strains to include in the shot? Why not include all of them?

 

[digdug2k]

I do love how every year they're like "Get the flu shot! Oh wait, we need more for old people, don't get the flu shot unless you need it! You fuck, I can't believe you didn't get the flu shot!"

 

[Thoraxes]

I always debate every year. Basically when I got the shots I'd be out of school for 2 weeks with the flu.

When I stopped getting the shots, I stopped getting the flu, even when in close proximity to family members that had it.

 

[Persona7]

I get it every year. Even if you still get the flu, your symptoms and length of being sick will be decreased so it's worth it for that alone.

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

I always debate every year. Basically when I got the shots I'd be out of school for 2 weeks with the flu.

When I stopped getting the shots, I stopped getting the flu, even when in close proximity to family members that had it.

Read Xe4's posts. It's not the flu, just a mild reaction.