Are you getting your flu vaccine?

[dennilfloss]

Got mine yesterday from my family physician. Three strains covered, the H1N1 strain along with two other strains predicted to be circulating this year.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

No, I never get one.

 

[SunnyD]

No point. If I wanted to gamble, I'd go to vegas.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

No. A few years ago, I came down with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). While I recovered just fine, I am at a higher risk of contracting the disease again. And since the flu shot has been shown to induce GBS in a limited number of cases, I'm not taking the risk.

And before you call me a wuss, GBS is a condition wherein the immune system attacks the myelin sheath around the nerves. Symptoms start with numbness in the extremities, which doesn't sound like a big deal until you realize that nerve damage is involved. Not to mention that it can quickly lead to respiratory failure by interfereing with your brain's ability to communicate with the muscles involved in breathing. Damn scary disease if you ask me.

 

[Gibsons]

"my immune system is too cool for vaccines" posts in 3, 2,...

 

[Anubis]

never have never will

 

[Codewiz]

My family will be getting theirs when it is offered for free at work and my son's daycare.

 

[acheron]

I don't usually get one. Maybe I'll start when I have kids, but for now I've never bothered.

 

[waggy]

i already got it last week. the kids got it this week.

 

[BW86]

nope

 

[Number1]

No point. If I wanted to gamble, I'd go to vegas.

Leme guess, you think getting the shot is more risky then getting the flu?

 

[Number1]

i already got it last week. the kids got it this week.

Me, my wife and the grand daughter got it yesterday. We get it every year and starting this year, it is free of charge.

 

[meltdown75]

yes, the nurse comes right to my office and administers the shot. i get it every other year or so. that probably makes it less effective but whatever

 

[eits]

No point. If I wanted to gamble, I'd go to vegas.

this

 

[Mo0o]

Got it last week

 

[Riverhound777]

Nope. I can't remember the last time I had the flu. And I hate needles.

 

[Mo0o]

Nope. I can't remember the last time I had the flu. And I hate needles.

They have a sniff one if you're afraid of needles

 

[moshquerade]

never have never will

never say never.

i am obligated to through work.

 

[eits]

Leme guess, you think getting the shot is more risky then getting the flu?

no, it's just that the chances are slim that you'll be protected by the flu shot for whatever strain of flu is going around. that the vaccine is typically made for two different strains of flu type a and one strain of flu type b the year prior... and they're almost always wrong. they make educated predictions on what strains are going to be big the following year so they can start pumping out enough vaccines for everyone. then flu season hits and it usually turns out that the flu vaccine is pointless because the major strains of flu going around are different than the ones originally predicted. around the same number of people get and die from the flu every year regardless of how many people get the flu shot.

taking vitamin d supplements and washing your hands regularly is a much better way to stay safe from the flu than to rely on a flu shot.

 

[eits]

They have a sniff one if you're afraid of needles

not nearly as effective.

 

[moshquerade]

not nearly as effective.

also contains the live, albeit weakened, virus. so you can get a mild flu from the inhaled mist.

 

[Mo0o]

not nearly as effective.

It's actually more effective if you dont have preexisting lung disease or otherwise immunocompromised.

And yes, strain matching is always a gamble, theres data to suggest that even in a suboptimal match-season, you get better outcomes with less symptoms and faster recovery if you've been immunized.

 

[Riverhound777]

I also think it would depend on your job a lot. If I were a teacher or something where I was around sick people or kids all the time, I would take it. But working in a small office, it's really up to me to wash my hands and avoid people who are sick. I really doubt the flu shot would help me a whole lot.

 

[eits]

It's actually more effective if you dont have preexisting lung disease or otherwise immunocompromised.

And yes, strain matching is always a gamble, theres data to suggest that even in a suboptimal match-season, you get better outcomes with less symptoms and faster recovery if you've been immunized.

[knocking wood]

i haven't had the flu since i was a like 9. the last flu shot i got, i think i was 14.

flumist is more effective in children and babies. not in adults.

 

[soulcougher73]

No, I never get one.

This. Im still alive at 37 and kicking just fine.