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[verbum]

Just got my flu shot.

A panel of immunization experts voted today (February 24, 2010) to expand the recommendation for annual influenza vaccination to include all people aged 6 months and older. The expanded recommendation is to take effect in the 2010 – 2011 influenza season. The new recommendation seeks to remove barriers to influenza immunization and signals the importance of preventing influenza across the entire population.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine issues, voted on the new recommendation during its February 24, 2010 meeting in Atlanta. The vote took place against a backdrop of incremental increases in the numbers and groups of people recommended for influenza vaccination in years past, and lessons learned from the world’s still ongoing first flu pandemic in 40 years.

There are two types of vaccines:

* The "flu shot" — an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
* The nasal-spray flu vaccine —a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist®). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:

1. Pregnant women
2. Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
1. Health care workers
2. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
3. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

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

I work in a pediatric hospital. We are giving the flu shot/nasal spray to most kids who come in with a fever, asthma symptoms, pneumonia, and chronic illnesses such as diabetes, epilepsy,etc. (If they have not already had the vaccination)
This years vaccination protects against last year's swine flu and two new strains of flu expected to be seen this year.
Any chance of pregnancy means a person should not get the nasal spray.

Flu activity for the last month:

From June 13 to September 25, 2010, the United States experienced low levels of influenza activity. During this period, typical seasonal patterns of influenza activity occurred in the Southern Hemisphere; in addition, influenza activity was observed in the tropical regions, with a mix of 2009 influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and influenza B viruses cocirculating. This report summarizes influenza activity in the United States and worldwide since the update published on July 30, 2010 (1)....
(For the USA):
The largest proportion of positive samples came from the southeastern United States (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) (40%), followed by western states (Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada) (14%), and the Midwestern states (Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) (10%).

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5939a3.htm?s_cid=mm5939a3_w

Sometimes you can be protected from the flu by "herd immunity", where everyone around you gets vaccinated so you never get exposed. But not a great protection.
The big problem this year are the number of folks without medical coverage due to unemployment and jobs not providing any medical coverage. Hopefully, public health departments will give them free of charge. Usually the cost is $25 at pharmacies and urgent care centers. Some communities have free shots announced periodically. Any big employer should give the shots for free since they make back the cost in seeing fewer sick days.

 

[equil]

I got mine a week or two ago. Its mandatory for me to get one.

 

[Dr.Horrible]

I do not partake in flu shot season.

 

[madara]

Went without one last year and it was a mess so I really should get one soon. I just hate to make an appt with a doctor for just a shot. If they except my cards at walgreens and other places with no fuss I might do that.

 

[Chris R]

Totally anecdotal but the only year I got a flu shot is also the only year I've had the flu. Happened when I was like 12.

 

[badcrumble]

I do not partake in flu shot season.

My immunity protects you.

You're welcome.

 

[AVclub]

Fuck the flu shot. My immune system does not need help to fight off viral infection.

 

[Dr.Horrible]

My immunity protects you.

You're welcome.

Thank you kind sir

 

[Runus]

Have never gotten it and probably never will.

 

[grumble]

Fuck the flu shot. My immune system does not need help to fight off viral infection.

It isn't just to help you. If you don't get the flu because you're immunized, then you don't pass it on to others. This means that you don't visit your grandma and kill her because you gave her the flu.

 

[SolsticeZero]

Totally anecdotal but the only year I got a flu shot is also the only year I've had the flu. Happened when I was like 12.

Ditto. I never get the fucking flu, and I never get a flu shot. Simple as that.

 

[ianp622]

My immunity protects you.

You're welcome.

Actually it doesn't. Vaccines aren't 100% effective, more like 50-60%.

Vaccines are most effective when everybody gets them, even for those vaccinated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity

 

[Suairyu]

Got mine this Saturday past. For free. Thank you, democratic socialism!

 

[elseanio]

Been offered it in work. Will get it if they do it on a day I'm in..

 

[gillty]

Have never gotten it and probably never will.

.

 

[ScrabbleDude]

My wife, children, and I do not get flu shots. The children are too young to decide for themselves and the wife and I don't believe they are beneficial.

Hell, the only years I've gotten the flu were ones where I got the shot.

 

[jmdajr]

already got it..

THANKS

 

[jmdajr]

My wife, children, and I do not get flu shots. The children are too young to decide for themselves and the wife and I don't believe they are beneficial.

Hell, the only years I've gotten the flu were ones where I got the shot.

oh please....

 

[siddx]

Have never gotten one, don't feel the need. I get the flu about once a year but I just power through it. Got swine flu last winter when I was in Argentina, it was like getting the normal flu, it just lasted a bit longer.

But this year I think I have to, since I'll be working in a school.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

Getting people to get flu shots is kind of counter productive to keeping YOU safe since it only means the kind of flu you vaccinated against won't be as prevalent as the ones you're not vaccinated against

 

[badcrumble]

My wife, children, and I do not get flu shots. The children are too young to decide for themselves and the wife and I don't believe they are beneficial.

Hell, the only years I've gotten the flu were ones where I got the shot.

Are you and your wife doctors?

 

[ScrabbleDude]

oh please....

What? They are four and two months. They can't make a proper decision about the flu shot, so we need to decide for them.

 

[neptunes]

The one and only time I got a flu shot, I ended up with diarrhea for the entire day.

 

[Shanadeus]

Yeah I'll be getting one, you gotta do your best to protect the herd.
No matter how many in the herd are being irresponsible.

 

[jmdajr]

What? They are four and two months. They can't make a proper decision about the flu shot, so we need to decide for them.

unfortunately I don't think your being funny.

 

[brianjones]

meh, a healthy intake of alcohol kills all germs

 

[verbum]

Have never gotten it and probably never will.

I was like this until 7 years ago. Some years I would get the flu and be miserable for 3-5 days and some years I didn't get it.
In 2003, I got it bad. Difficulty breathing, mental confusion due to fever of 105F, severe shaking all over. I had thoughts of "Well this is it, my time is up". IV fluids, oxygen, and antivirals for 4 days. I have been getting the vaccination since.

 

[Skiptastic]

Got mine yesterday.

 

[ScrabbleDude]

Are you and your wife doctors?

No, but not getting something is not a good way to determine that something works. There are a lot of people and children that experience negative side effects from the flu shot. And sometimes these side effects can be worse than just getting the flu. Do you remember the Dallas cheerleader who became disabled after getting her flu shot? I'd rather get the flu, thanks.

 

[jmdajr]

the odds of the actual flu killing you are MUCH higher than the odds of the vaccine killing you.

It's like being afraid of flying but then going drinking and driving.

 

[Chorazin]

We get ours free at work, so of course I'm gonna take them up on it. Why wouldn't I?

 

[AVclub]

It isn't just to help you. If you don't get the flu because you're immunized, then you don't pass it on to others. This means that you don't visit your grandma and kill her because you gave her the flu.

This is retarded logic. First of all, why would I want to visit old people? Second, I have never had a flu shot in my life yet somehow I've managed to avoid killing off everyone around me and myself for the better part of 40 years.

These shots are a scam by pharmaceutical companies. Nothing's going to stop the flu from infecting people or being contagious. It may help some people fight it off faster, but that sort of goes against the whole "survival of the fittest" thing we've all learned about nature.

 

[badcrumble]

No, but not getting something is not a good way to determine that something works. There are a lot of people and children that experience negative side effects from the flu shot. And sometimes these side effects can be worse than just getting the flu. Do you remember the Dallas cheerleader who became disabled after getting her flu shot? I'd rather get the flu, thanks.

Oh, you're one of those.

 

[ScrabbleDude]

the odds of the actual flu killing you are MUCH higher than the odds of the vaccine killing you.

It's like being afraid of flying but then going drinking and driving.

Maybe, but I've only contradicted the flu when I've had the shot, so my experience does not match the desired results of the vaccine. On top of that, I don't trust pharmaceutical companies not to put additional shit in the flu vaccine -- but that is just conspiratorial paranoia.

 

[jmdajr]

This is retarded logic. First of all, why would I want to visit old people? Second, I have never had a flu shot in my life yet somehow I've managed to avoid killing off everyone around me and myself for the better part of 40 years.

These shots are a scam by pharmaceutical companies. Nothing's going to stop the flu from infecting people or being contagious. It may help some people fight it off faster, but that sort of goes against the whole "survival of the fittest" thing we've all learned about nature.

that's great and all if you think your just another damn animal. And no, his logic is not retarded.

 

[totoro'd]

I got my first one ever about 2 weeks ago, and my arm was sore for about 3 days :lol I had a horrible flu earlier this year, worst ever for me, and didn't want to go through that again

 

[Suairyu]

No, but not getting something is not a good way to determine that something works. There are a lot of people and children that experience negative side effects from the flu shot. And sometimes these side effects can be worse than just getting the flu. Do you remember the Dallas cheerleader who became disabled after getting her flu shot? I'd rather get the flu, thanks.

Confirmation bias. It shouldn't be medically possible to have any adverse reactions to vaccinations as they are dead viruses. I have never heard of a case myself where the person who later got sick/died wasn't going to get sick/die anyway even if they hadn't had the shot.

EDIT because of your other post - you CANNOT, repeat, CANNOT contract a virus from the vaccination of a virus. It is dead. It would break all known laws of science. However, you can contract the virus immediately before or after the vaccination (before it has done its desired work) independent of the vaccination, hence the confirmation bias of "flu vaccine gave me the flu".

 

[AVclub]

that's great and all if you think your just another damn animal. And no, his logic is not retarded.

Do you think that you aren't just another damn animal? What are you then?

 

[jmdajr]

I got my first one ever about 2 weeks ago, and my arm was sore for about 3 days :lol I had a horrible flu earlier this year, worst ever for me, and didn't want to go through that again

The needles hurt a lot less this year. But yeah I've had quite a sore arm before.

 

[ScrabbleDude]

Confirmation bias. It shouldn't be medically possible to have any adverse reactions to vaccinations as they are dead viruses.

And yet, somehow, there are a ton of people reporting adverse side effects every year.

 

[Runus]

I was like this until 7 years ago. Some years I would get the flu and be miserable for 3-5 days and some years I didn't get it.
In 2003, I got it bad. Difficulty breathing, mental confusion due to fever of 105F, severe shaking all over. I had thoughts of "Well this is it, my time is up". IV fluids, oxygen, and antivirals for 4 days. I have been getting the vaccination since.

Well if this happens I will get it in the future. lol I actually may get talked into getting it once my wife starts teaching. I figure she will bring home every sickness in the world.

 

[Shanadeus]

No, but not getting something is not a good way to determine that something works. There are a lot of people and children that experience negative side effects from the flu shot. And sometimes these side effects can be worse than just getting the flu. Do you remember the Dallas cheerleader who became disabled after getting her flu shot? I'd rather get the flu, thanks.

You should probably check this out:

Medical Mystery or Hoax: Did Cheerleader Fake a Muscle Disorder?

Anyway, statistically you are better off getting a vaccine shot even with the potential side effects.

 

[Suairyu]

And yet, somehow, there are a ton of people reporting adverse side effects every year.

There are a ton of people who have issues unrelated to the vaccination occurring within close proximity to the vaccination, yes. To say the vaccination caused it just because it occurred around the same time is witch-hunt levels of irrationality.
"I ate a tomato and two days later I was diagnosed with cancer. TOMATOES ARE DANGEROUS." etc.

With so many people in the world, of course coincidences happen.

 

[jmdajr]

And yet, somehow, there are a ton of people reporting adverse side effects every year.

debatable. Like I said, A TON more die from the actual virus.

It's all about choice but in my opinion the fear is irrational.

 

[badcrumble]

Confirmation bias. It shouldn't be medically possible to have any adverse reactions to vaccinations as they are dead viruses. I have never heard of a case myself where the person who later got sick/died wasn't going to get sick/die anyway even if they hadn't had the shot.

EDIT because of your other post - you CANNOT, repeat, CANNOT contract a virus from the vaccination of a virus. It is dead. It would break all known laws of science. However, you can contract the virus immediately before or after the vaccination (before it has done its desired work) independent of the vaccination, hence the confirmation bias of "flu vaccine gave me the flu".

You can get a natural immune inflammation response - symptoms of your immune system reacting to something, not symptoms of the disease itself.

 

[j_k_redtail]

Got it almost a month ago.

 

[badcrumble]

Well if this happens I will get it in the future. lol I actually may get talked into getting it once my wife starts teaching. I figure she will bring home every sickness in the world.

For the love of god, yes. EVERYONE gets sick several times in the first couple months of working at a school and/or hospital. It should be expected.

As long as your immune system is hardy, you shouldn't have a problem with this. My wife is a teacher for kindergarten and she is sick constantly. I never catch what she brings home.

This is true, though - your wife is going to be incredibly exposed to germs, you'll only be somewhat more exposed.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I got them twice, for the two years after my children were born.

Well if this happens I will get it in the future. lol I actually may get talked into getting it once my wife starts teaching. I figure she will bring home every sickness in the world.

As long as your immune system is hardy, you shouldn't have a problem with this. My wife is a teacher for kindergarten and she is sick constantly. I never catch what she brings home.

 

[Suairyu]

You can get a natural immune inflammation response - symptoms of your immune system reacting to something, not symptoms of the disease itself.

Right, but that's not a solid argument against vaccinations by any means.

 

[jmdajr]

Right, but that's not a solid argument against vaccinations by any means.

right, and I think the dude is PRO vaccine. So he's pretty much agreeing with you.