FluMist and Wal-Mart. The next cash cow, but at what expense?

[alchemize]

BBD as always your medical commentary is welcome.

An interesting read

Some snippets:

Apparently, the goal seems to center around frightening?or inducing enough guilt?that everyone would begin to demand the vaccine as soon as it is available. And at nearly $70 a dose, this will be a financial bonanza for MedImmune and Wyeth, who are expecting the vaccine to become the blockbuster new drug that will push MedImmune?s revenues to more than $1billion/year.

A cause for significant concern is the vaccine?s most prevalent side effects: "runny nose" and "nasal congestion." It has been documented that the live viruses from the vaccine can be shed (and potentially spread into the community) from recipient children for up to 21 days, and even longer from adults

In the section of the FlumMist package insert labeled "PRECAUTIONS," the manufacturer states the following warning:
"FluMist® recipients should avoid close contact with immunocompromised individuals for at least 21 days."

I don't know about you folks, but I already won't take my children to Wal Mart. (I don't buy much there anyhow...they do carry some organic stuff I buy). I might have to start wearing a mask

The article also fails to mention how the FluMist vaccine is of course like any flu vaccine, it is a crapshoot on whether a mutated or other variant of the virus comes out.

My favorite Wal-Mart customer experience. A young man and woman are waiting in line with an extremely small infant. The checkout girl says "oh how old is she?". The mother replies "Three Days". What were they buying? A case of beer, baby formula, and two cartons of cigarettes.

 

[miguel]

Originally posted by: alchemize
My favorite Wal-Mart customer experience. A young man and woman are waiting in line with an extremely small infant. The checkout girl says "oh how old is she?". The mother replies "Three Days". What were they buying? A case of beer, baby formula, and two cartons of cigarettes.

No wonder they were buying formula, eh?

 

[DealMonkey]

I figure I'll take my chances without a flu shot/spray. Besides I'm not in the high-risk group (the elderly and very young), so if I get it - no biggie. I don't have any evidence to back this up, but I believe the extremely virulent strain of flu you're seeing this year could be a resistant strain or just a stronger version after years of flu shots. What are the implications of our anti-bacterial society? Are we breeding super germs in our bathroom soap dish?

 

[Moonbeam]

I won't need a flu shot this year. I'm caring for somebody who's got it right now. I may be dead in a week.

 

[Martin]

People buy vaccines from walmart now? I thought people were supposed to get them from their doctors, school nurses and such.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I won't need a flu shot this year. I'm caring for somebody who's got it right now. I may be dead in a week.

I doubt you'll be dead, you just might be awful sick. The majority of the deaths have come in children who have already had some immune system issues (will try to find a good link for that). The media never tells you that of course, it's much easier to stir up a frenzy. Stimulates the economy But I hope your care patient gets better soon.

DealMonkey: Anti-Bacterial != Anti-Viral. Antibiotics have no effect on Viruses. (I don't know if anti-bacterial soap kills viruses...I doubt it does.) But yes, from the bacteria side of things, we've caused a lot of issues with antibiotic treatments creating "super-bacteria" (i.e. drug resistant staph).

BBD will jump in soon and set us straight, I'm an amateur on this science stuff.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: alchemize
DealMonkey: Anti-Bacterial != Anti-Viral. Antibiotics have no effect on Viruses. (I don't know if anti-bacterial soap kills viruses...I doubt it does.) But yes, from the bacteria side of things, we've caused a lot of issues with antibiotic treatments creating "super-bacteria" (i.e. drug resistant staph).

BBD will jump in soon and set us straight, I'm an amateur on this science stuff.

Right, I understand. It just seems to me that we're breeding super germs and super viruses with our behavior. Americans are notoriously short-sighted and the future implications could mean much stronger bugs that kill more often.

As an aside, is there an actual risk with taking a flu vaccine? Is it possible to get sick from the vaccine itself?

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

As an aside, is there an actual risk with taking a flu vaccine? Is it possible to get sick from the vaccine itself?

Minor, the flu shot is antigen-based and will cause nothing more than mild upper respiratory symptoms. The problem with FluMist (nasal vaccine) is that it is indeed live "attenuated" virus. IIRC, young children (younger than 5) did have an increased tendency to develop asthma/wheezing after vaccination compared to placebo. Apparently, concern over these symptoms was sufficient not to approve FluMist for use in this population. But if your options were no vaccination versus using FluMist I would favor the FluMist.

The other thing that might keep you or your kids from using FluMist is the cost. FluMist is expected to cost $46 per dose, which is a lot higher than the $10-$15 that flu shots usually cost. It is also not clear if insurance companies will pay for it, since there is a less expensive alternative that works just as well.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Originally posted by: alchemize
DealMonkey: Anti-Bacterial != Anti-Viral. Antibiotics have no effect on Viruses. (I don't know if anti-bacterial soap kills viruses...I doubt it does.) But yes, from the bacteria side of things, we've caused a lot of issues with antibiotic treatments creating "super-bacteria" (i.e. drug resistant staph).

BBD will jump in soon and set us straight, I'm an amateur on this science stuff.

Right, I understand. It just seems to me that we're breeding super germs and super viruses with our behavior. Americans are notoriously short-sighted and the future implications could mean much stronger bugs that kill more often.

As an aside, is there an actual risk with taking a flu vaccine? Is it possible to get sick from the vaccine itself?

The answer is, "it depends" on the vaccine There are definitely some serious side effects in a small percentage of people who get any vaccine.

There's a ton of information and viewpoints out there...generally we don't vaccinate our children, unless we feel the reward outweighs the risk. The flu shot this year was one we took. Here's a wacko website with a ton of links. I say wacko because they say stuff like this on it:

Don't allow your child to go on the chopping block for these Liars and their profit margins. They aren't working for you, they're servants of the corporate elite/Illuminati and the Illuminati has a surreptitious population reduction agenda in place.

If you follow that Illuminati link you definitely fall through the looking glass But a lot of the links lead to better information. (PS feel free to use this link to stir up stuff on other threads...lot's of whacko consipiracy theorist stuff to have fun with

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: alchemize

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I won't need a flu shot this year. I'm caring for somebody who's got it right now. I may be dead in a week.

I doubt you'll be dead, you just might be awful sick. The majority of the deaths have come in children who have already had some immune system issues (will try to find a good link for that). The media never tells you that of course, it's much easier to stir up a frenzy. Stimulates the economy But I hope your care patient gets better soon.

DealMonkey: Anti-Bacterial != Anti-Viral. Antibiotics have no effect on Viruses. (I don't know if anti-bacterial soap kills viruses...I doubt it does.) But yes, from the bacteria side of things, we've caused a lot of issues with antibiotic treatments creating "super-bacteria" (i.e. drug resistant staph).

BBD will jump in soon and set us straight, I'm an amateur on this science stuff.

Thanks for the best wishes. Hope you have a flu free season. Vaccine here is all gone. Called the hospital, got told to come in for a shot, drove an hour, but they were out of vaccine yesterday. Amazing!

 

[SuperTool]

From my point of view, if you can avoid spraying things in your lungs, you should I much rather get it through the skin, and at 1/5th the price it's a no brainer

 

[SuperTool]

Not to mention that with a shot you are having a nurse do it, so you are paying 15 bucks for the vaccine and the service. With this flumist, you are just paying $70 for the vaccine to medicate yourself. You put the shot on a small area of the skin, and you have a lot of skin. Flumist goes everywhere in your lungs, and you only get one set of lungs. So flu shot for me.