Big chance the flu will be especially bad this year

[Muse]

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-10-05/why-experts-worry-the-flu-season-will-be-severe-in-the-u-s

What exactly is leading experts to believe the U.S. flu season could be significant? The biggest hint comes from the southern hemisphere, which already went through its winter flu season. Australia, in particular, saw its worst season in five years.

In 2021, there were nearly 600 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza in Australia and no deaths. During this year’s flu season, the country has reported more than 224,000 cases and 305 deaths.

Children were especially hit hard during Australia’s flu season. Kids aged 5–9 years reported the highest rates of flu along with children under 5 and adolescents and teenagers under the age of 20.

 

[nOOky]

Got my flu shot yesterday. Coincidentally I am feeling tired, weak, and experiencing muscle soreness last night and today. I almost called in to work, but I know it's just my body's immune system reacting, building up antibodies. I'm glad I didn't get my second covid booster at the same time, I might be typing this while I am dead!

 

[Captante]

I'll be getting mine next week.

Got my Covid booster a few weeks ago separately, partially to avoid side-effects but mainly because I felt like it was a bit too early to worry much about the flu.

Covid daily positivity-rate in Connecticut is still hovering around 9-10% while the risk of flu is currently minimal per the CDC. (except OF COURSE a few counties down south)

 

[Muse]

Got my flu shot yesterday. Coincidentally I am feeling tired, weak, and experiencing muscle soreness last night and today. I almost called in to work, but I know it's just my body's immune system reacting, building up antibodies. I'm glad I didn't get my second covid booster at the same time, I might be typing this while I am dead!

They asked me if I wanted a covid shot when I got my flu shot about 3 weeks ago. Told them I had the covid a week before. I got my senior flu shot, which is a double dose IIRC. No noticeable reaction at all, I never do get reactions to flu shots, none that I recall. I have tolerated all 5 of my covid shots (Moderna) very well, never felt sick from them. A little tired for a day maybe, some arm soreness, once or twice a slight fever but no sense of being ill.

 

[Captante]

Even at the worst side-effects wise for me which was from the initial Moderna vaccine it only felt like I was GETTING sick not like I was all the way there.

I've never even gotten that much from a flu shot although the second pneumonia-vaccine I had a few months back was similar.

 

[Muse]

Even at the worst side-effects wise for me which was from the initial Moderna vaccine it only felt like I was GETTING sick not like I was all the way there.

I've never even gotten that much from a flu shot although the second pneumonia-vaccine I had a few months back was similar.

I don't remember ever deferring getting vaccinated for anything and IIRC have never regretted a single one for a minute! Guess I'm lucky.

 

[IGBT]

The flu shot I received at CVS is a four in one...they say the same. The flu will be a monster this year and next...

 

[Torn Mind]

Shouldn't be a surprise. After an couple years of evolutionary pressure due to people being holed up....the thing is going to spread quite well and be quite durable .

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I got three of the other. No plans for more. The ONLY times I ever remember getting the 'flu' was after I got the shots. Yeah, I know what 'they' say, but I know what happens to me.

I have so little contact with people, the risk is minimal.

 

[PowerEngineer]

I got my senior flu shot, which is a double dose IIRC.

Actually four times the antigens in a standard flu shot.

Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent Vaccine

 

[Muse]

Actually four times the antigens in a standard flu shot.

Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent Vaccine

My HMO shows this info for me:

Administered on Sep 16, 2022
Manufacturer:Sanofi Pasteur
Product:FLUZONE HIGH DOSE QUAD 2022-2023
Lot #:UT7714BA
NDC:49281-122-88
Dose:0.7 mL
Route:Intramuscular
Site:Left Deltoid
Location:Kaiser Permanente Northern California

I perceived no side effects whatsoever. I got this one week after getting the bivalent Moderna booster (at CVS), very mild side effects. Really glad I got these shots. I hate being sick, haven't been since before the pandemic.

 

[IGBT]

Some of my friends and neighbors report really bad after effects of the latest variant of the Shingles Vac. lasting nearly two weeks...

 

[Captante]

Some of my friends and neighbors report really bad after effects of the latest variant of the Shingles Vac. lasting nearly two weeks...

Shingles vax made me feel a little crappy with the second dose but it wasn't anything to be concerned about.... actually getting shingles would have been 1000x worse!

 

[uclaLabrat]

Bivalent covid booster and flu shot bkth last weekend, will be considered fully covered by next weekend. Kids are all in school and youngest has had a cough or some sickness non stop for the last month. The germ warfare accelerates...

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I got my flu shot and covid booster shots Thursday, 1 in each arm. I had sore joints, my upper arms were a little sore, my head and neck felt a little flushed for a couple of days, and I was a little bit tired. However, now that Sunday has rolled around, I feel fine, and I'm glad I don't have to worry as much about truly getting sick with the actual thing for half a week, a week, or more.

 

[MtnMan]

Medical science is a complete mystery to far too many people.

Here are some of the top reasons adults gave for not getting vaccinated this season:

• 41% think flu shots don’t work very well
• 39% are concerned about the vaccine’s side effects
• 28% say they never get the flu
• 24% are concerned about getting the flu from the shot
• 20% do not think influenza is a serious illness

They say they will "mask". Any bets on how many of them raged against wearing a mask because of COVID.

Most Americans don't plan to get a flu shot this season — lots of them say they'll mask to avoid germs instead

A higher share of Americans plan to mask at least sometimes this flu season to avoid germs than plan to get vaccinated, according to a survey from the NFID.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Muse]

Shingles vax made me feel a little crappy with the second dose but it wasn't anything to be concerned about.... actually getting shingles would have been 1000x worse!

I had shingles, IIRC 1993? Kind of nasty, I made a few trips to the local pharmacy seeking relief (had no medical insurance at the time). More recently I have been vaxxed against shingles, no reaction at all.

 

[Muse]

Medical science is a complete mystery to far too many people.

Here are some of the top reasons adults gave for not getting vaccinated this season:

• 41% think flu shots don’t work very well
• 39% are concerned about the vaccine’s side effects
• 28% say they never get the flu
• 24% are concerned about getting the flu from the shot
• 20% do not think influenza is a serious illness

They say they will "mask". Any bets on how many of them raged against wearing a mask because of COVID.

Most Americans don't plan to get a flu shot this season — lots of them say they'll mask to avoid germs instead

A higher share of Americans plan to mask at least sometimes this flu season to avoid germs than plan to get vaccinated, according to a survey from the NFID.

www.cnbc.com

My dad was an M.D. He'd bring the latest vaccines home and put them in the fridge. He wore the pants in our house. When it was time, we got our shots and nobody complained. My dad didn't tolerate nonsense!

 

[MtnMan]

My dad was an M.D. He'd bring the latest vaccines home and put them in the fridge. He wore the pants in our house. When it was time, we got our shots and nobody complained. My dad didn't tolerate nonsense!

Studies consistently find higher Covid death rates among Republicans than Democrats

Lower vaccination rates among Republicans could explain the partisan gap, but some researchers say mask use and social distancing were bigger factors.

www.nbcnews.com

Science vs. the superstition of ignorance.

And that's only looking at deaths. I would venture long term (life long) consequences would also exhibit similar trends. Locally, a rabid republican who is a psychiatrist, and has been on city council, county republican party leader, etc., etc., spent weeks in the ICU on a ventilator, months in the hospital, and is now learning to walk again with a walker. The day before he came down with COVID, he took his normal 5-mile jog before work. He went from a very healthy 150+ weight to less than 100 lbs.

 

[Muse]

Average excess death rates in Florida and Ohio were 76% higher among Republicans than Democrats from March 2020 to December 2021, according to a working paper released last month by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Excess deaths refers to deaths above what would be anticipated based on historical trends.

The day before he came down with COVID, he took his normal 5-mile jog before work. He went from a very healthy 150+ weight to less than 100 lbs.

Saw a story on TV fairly early on in the C-19 pandemic about a couple San Franciscan guys who went to some kind of convention in Florida. One of them was the focus. They showed pictures, etc. Before he got sick he was the picture of magnificent health. Super jock, built like a lumberjack. His body was all but destroyed by the virus. He withered to unrecognizability.

I sheltered in place until I was double-vaxxed, personally. A friendly neighbor did all my grocery shopping that wasn't online. I didn't even see her, she'd plop the bags/boxes on my porch and I'd paypal her, gave her gifts now and then to show my appreciation. Had plenty of free time and my "hobby" was to study up on the pandemic, no rumors for me, as much science, etc. as I could absorb. It wasn't hard to stay on top of that for a while but after some months the flow of information was overwhelming and it was impossible to keep up. I then tried to ascertain the crucial info, found sources that were reliable, especially certain doctors who regularly posted videos.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

>>41% think flu shots don’t work very well

Granted, in the past there was quite a bit of truth to this. They had to totally guess what strains would be prevalent, and the shot only had 2 of them included. Now they cover double the number of strains in the shot - 4 instead of 2 - which means the likelihood of being effective is doubled compared to what the shot used to be. I.E. - twice as likely to protect you.

 

[Captante]

Even flu-vaccines that "miss the target" when it comes to specific strains increase immunity to influenza somewhat and are worth getting.

 

[pcgeek11]

Got my Flue and Pneumonia vaccine last week.

 

[nakedfrog]

After last year's experience getting a Covid booster and flu shot at the same time, I'm spacing them out this year.

 

[Thump553]

After last year's experience getting a Covid booster and flu shot at the same time, I'm spacing them out this year.

I doubled up last fall and had no problem at all. Was going to do the same this year but United Health refused to sign a flu vaccine contract with the local health district (who administered the shots) so I ended up with only the new covid booster. Kind of a PIA as there are few locations around her to get the shots and nearly all require appointments.

Years ago (2009? the swine flu year) that vaccine left me feeling lousy for about a week. Given that, and the fact that I haven't ever had the flu in my life skipping the annual flu shot until my doctor gently persuaded me I was an idiot.