Did you get a flu shot?

1. 68

   Kalafinaposted 10 years ago

   Every winter season the doctor asks/tells me to 'get a flu shot.'
   This got me to thinking...
   How many of us actually got ours?

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   1. 85

      snakeslaneposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I got mine. Also a pneumonia vaccine as I work with elderly and immunocompromised clients.

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   2. 76

      Uninvited Writerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, get one every year. I don't want to become a carrier and possibly make another person who can't get flu shots sick.

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      1. 83

         Miebakagh57posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Bad to get it every year. Please watch your digestive and your immune system well. They are liable to be affect negatively.

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2. 59

   tirelesstravelerposted 10 years ago

   I did, first in years.  Hope the season is almost over since I got it the first of October.

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   1. 83

      Miebakagh57posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think you should not try this again?

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3. 65

   psycheskinnerposted 10 years ago

   Yes,because they are so easy to get now at the local pharmacy.  I am not in a high risk group, but who wants to get the flu?

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      Miebakagh57posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It is only a folly because is they are easy to get! Those who do not want the flu should be mindful to take preventive measure against it?

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      1. 65

         psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         The vaccine is one of those measures.

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4. 86

   CassandraCaeposted 10 years ago

   Nope I am good.  I have all my other vaccines but I refuse to vaccinate every year for seasonal flu.

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   1. 83

      Miebakagh57posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Keep it up even for what the other vaccine factors!

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5. 0

   johndwilliamsposted 10 years ago

   No I have no desire or will to have one either.

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   1. 86

      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes for the first time in my life and I would never have another flu injection.  I have not been so ill in ages.  After three weeks I still feel awful.
      If I had known that they contain Mercury and can cause some other complications I would certainly not have done so.

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   2. 83

      Miebakagh57posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Some anti flu over the counter drugs may contain camphor!

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6. 97

   LongTimeMotherposted 10 years ago

   I stay away from flu shots, just as I will actively avoid any new 'anti-viral' treatments that are likely to be rolled out in the near future.
   
   We all know what happened as a result of antibiotics being so popular.

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   1. 83

      Miebakagh57posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Getting a shut is all that an orthodox doctor can advice. Eating good food with plenty of fruits and vegetables can work more wonder. Fruits in the citrus family helps matter much.

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      1. 65

         psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Eating fruit and vegetable is not going to stop a person either from getting the flu or passing it to an child or elderly person -- the groups who die from it.  It will help you recover though, so I guess that is okay.

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7. 0

   t aaron brownposted 10 years ago

   I get my flu shot every year. It assists others, whether they get a shot or not. I help reduce the spread as I am one less carrier. It is also frowned upon in my job field to not get it.

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   1. 0

      johndwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Does a flu-shot guarantee you won't catch flu though?

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      1. 79

         Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         It doesn't guarantee you won't get it. If it is one of the viruses covered that year, you may get a less severe case than you would have normally. If it is a flu that isn't included in the vaccine, you have no protection against it. They guess which ones are most likely to go around each year.

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8. 69

   Arachneaposted 10 years ago

   I work in a hospital environment. They're required. Employees choosing to not get the shot have to wear a hospital mask whenever in a patient area. I got the shot.

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9. 79

   Barbara Kayposted 10 years ago

   I got mine, because I am on Humira. It causes a compromised immune system.

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10. 68

    relacheposted 10 years ago

    A lot of people misunderstand vaccines, how they work, and do not recognize the difference between ethyl and methyl mercury.  This causes a lot of health problemsMin that people who really need disease protection sometimes do not get it.
    
    Here is a great explanation, including how one really bad guy who faked data about vaccination dangers caused a lot of fear and misunderstanding:
    
    http://hoovesandheartbeats.tumblr.com/p … -maki-naro

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11. 47

    Writer Foxposted 10 years ago

    Influenza killed 50 million people in 1918, before flu shots were invented.  World War I 'only' killed 16 million.
    http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/influenza-epidemic/

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    1. 86

       sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       That is interesting, however, I still won't be having that flu injection again.  I can honestly say I wondered one evening if I would survive until the following morning.

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       1. 47

          Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          It could be that in your country a live virus instead of a dead virus is used in the shot.  In the US, where thousands die each year from the flu, the dead virus is used in the shot: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

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          1. 86

             sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

             I did ask when I went back to the doctor.  They said it was a dead virus but I don't believe it, mine was very much alive and I never get sick.   Oddly enough the lady in the chemist asked me where I received the injection!  I have to say, I wonder if it more beneficial to the drug companies than the people they give it to. The TV ads are filled with flu remedies at the moment, think they are having a field day.

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12. 61

    Vintervargposted 10 years ago

    I am not afraid. I think doctors are just making money

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13. 79

    colorfuloneposted 10 years ago

    Since I moved home to care for my, elderly Mom, I have been getting a flue shot right along with her. Twice now. Otherwise, I most likely would not.

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14. 70

    SmartAndFunposted 10 years ago

    I haven't gotten mine yet this year. Normally my two kids and I go get one sometime around the start of fall, but this year we skipped it because we live in the Dallas area, and the Ebola scare was going on here. I decided I would rather skip going to a medical office and sitting in the waiting room with a bunch of random sick people unless it was an emergency. Now that the Ebola scare is over, it is just a matter of getting around to going for our flu shots. Is it too late at this point?

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    1. 83

       Miebakagh57posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       All the discussions are meaningful. But it seems some persons have a mind set to get the flu and the flu shut, instead of taking a preventive measure against it. I know I once get the related cold shut some forty years ago, thereafter, I took a solid preventive measure against cold and flu. This year, I wrote an article "How To Prevent A Cold All Season" It was informative and it was published online. Taking the shut is good, but will not cure the flu. It will occur again and again, to serve the purpose of the producer of the vaccine, advertiser and  the medical profession to make some cool money. A good preventive measure consultancy service from doctors can against flu can pay off well into the doctors wallet.

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    2. 85

       snakeslaneposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I got a flu shot in January last year here (in Canada). The season runs through March so I would think shots would still be available.

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15. 86

    CassandraCaeposted 10 years ago

    Heck no.  When people are speaking out at MIT against the thing I think I am going to avoid it at all costs.  I will deal with my flu and stay home when it happens.

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    1. 76

       Uninvited Writerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Who, and what exactly did they say? Sources would be nice.

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       1. 70

          SmartAndFunposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          I found an article reporting that MIT's medical clinic administered more than 5000 flu shots in six hours a couple of months ago. There were also a couple of articles covering how MIT researchers are discovering ways to make the shots more effective. I couldn't find anything regarding anyone at MIT speaking out against flu shots. I'll admit that I only did a quick search, so maybe I missed something.
          
          edit: forgot the link. http://newsoffice.mit.edu/topic/influenza

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16. 78

    Digital MDposted 10 years ago

    Yes, I have since I'm a healthcare worker. Seasonal flu vaccines are very important for certain population groups like us, elderly, immunocompromised patients, and those with other medical conditions.
    
    For the general population, it is highly encouraged to be vaccinated. Aside from personal protection, being immune to the strain helps others indirectly as well. You will be one less person to be infected, so the chances of transmission will be very much lesser. Imagine if one of your family members has a generally weak immune system, he/she will have lesser chances of contracting the illness.
    
    Nonetheless, being not vaccinated annually does not entail much of a "healthcare risk" as compared to not being vaccinated by the important diseases such as measles, Hepatitis, Chickpox.

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17. 97

    Rochelle Frankposted 10 years ago

    I think all of the answers  here -- for and against -- give good reasons. My husband always gets one, I usually don't.

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18. 68

    Kalafinaposted 10 years ago

    Wow. I am amazed at the variety of opinions and explanations here. I believe hugely in vaccines (EXCEPT gardasil) but do not get the flu shot as it is a vaccine against the most likely strain of this year's flu. Could mean it is hugely effective or ineffective in that particular year. If I were in the health care field I would get the flu shot or if I had contact with others in high-risk groups. When it comes to looking for answers about the latest in health I recommend using a source like pubmed where you will find many many free (click the settings for free full articles) from accredited medical journals or the CDC. The best way to fight the flu is to be informed about it from legit sources especially if you are wondering about whether your vaccine contains attenuated, dead, or live vaccine.

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    1. 76

       Uninvited Writerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Why are you against a vaccine that is proven to prevent cancer?

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19. 74

    Aime Fposted 10 years ago

    No, I've never had a flu vaccine and I haven't given my daughter the vaccine, either. I'm not really 'against' it but given the uncertainty of if the vaccine is even going to protect against this year's strain,  I'm just not as quick to jump on board. My daughter and I are fully vaccinated otherwise.

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    1. 83

       Miebakagh57posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Great!

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20. 83

    Miebakagh57posted 10 years ago

    I congratulate you!

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