Do You Get Flu Shots?

[jyl]

The news of a flu vaccine shortage as got me wondering if I should get in the habit of getting a flu shot each year (not this year, obviously). Do you guys get the shots? Why or why not?

I've never had a flu shot before. I come down with a flu bug or a bad cold maybe once every 2nd or 3rd winter, it is always pretty mild (stay in bed, watch TV, sleep - pretty much handles it), and I can stay home for a day or so without losing income or hurting my work. So it has never seemed necessary. Right/wrong?

[CarreraS2]

No. I rarely get a cold and can't remember the last time I had the flu. I haven't missed a single day of work due to illness in 13 years.

[jrdavid68]

Had my first flu shot last year at the recommendation of my Dr. (I have the pre-diabetes thing going on). I don't think I got the flu, but I think I did get a nasty cold or two.

[red-beard]

Yes, every year I can. $20-30 against even a 10% chance of getting the flu and being sick for a week+, is a no-brainer.

[emcon5]

Nope. I like keeping my immune system on it's toes.

Tom

[ronin]

nope. rarely ever get sick, and the worst the flu has ever done to me as an adult is miss one day of work

[Adam]

My employer organizes them en masse for all staff for free!

[adrian jaye]

jyl,

general concenus is that

1) if you are at risk. that is you are
i) elderly
ii) suffer from circulatory/respitory problems
iii) diabetic

then you should, the thing is that FLU can really cause problems, being a Diabetic, myself, I was advised and this year I had mine for the first time with "NO" contrary effects

HOWEVER, look on the web for "possible" side effect of the flu jab. It's scary !

The flu jab will only last a year, cos it's specfically looking for a certain or latest strain. the FLU jab will not PREVENT YOU from getting the flu, though if you do get it, it will be less severe.

Also the Flu jab will not stop you getting colds ! dont forget most people who say they have the flu usually only have very bad colds !!!!

If your not at risk, you dont need to take it. Personally I dont like taking anything unless I really have to or a specfic threat is identified but as a diabetic I have to be carefull

[adrian jaye]

Originally posted by Adam Chaplin
My employer organizes them en masse for all staff for free!

thats only cos they dont want you taking time of work, not because they actually care !

I would "NOT" get in line for anything like this without checking with your own GP.

Pls check the internet for people who have had all manner of problems as a result of side effects of the FLU jab, "supposedly"

and as I said, it wont stop you getting the flu or colds anyway !

[adrian jaye]

Originally posted by jrdavid68
(I have the pre-diabetes thing going on).

I am always "VERY" concerned with people who are diagnosed or told they are borderline, or only just diabetic.

there is no such animal, you either are or are not diabetic.

its like saying, i'm slightly pregnant.

The only think that I assume from what you've said is that, you've had symptoms. or blood work done and your sugar levels are high or higher.

other than type 1 or type 2, there is a type 1.5, also known as LADA.

have a look at my website (diabetic section), if you got any questions holla back

Ade
Type 1.5 (by argument) type 1 officially
3 years
HUmulin I, twice a day by injection

[rcecale]

Used to HAVE to get one every year while I was in the Corps, along with a myriad of other shots...on a schedule. They would schedule them for Fridays, so if (when) we got sick, it wouldn't cause any time lost from work. Spending a good weekend down with an "intentional" flu sucked.

Haven't had one since I retired and haven't had the flu, either...go figure.

Randy

[azasadny]

No flu shot for me!

[island_dude]

I have had them a few times. I don't think it really helped much. I'll skip it this year since I think there are others who can benifit before me.

[Adam]

thats only cos they dont want you taking time of work, not because they actually care !

Absolutely! They're trying to reduce the downtime... but I work in a job where I'm meeting clients all the time and dealing with many folks face to face, so I like to think it helps.

[motion]

I was flat on my back, near death (so it seemed) for 2 weeks, 10 years ago from the flu..... that was enough for me. I get one every year I can.

[RickM]

No flu shot here.
Many people I know who get them are out of work for 2 weeks from the shot itself.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

My office was going to have 'em but they were scheduled literally three days after the "crisis" was announced and they cancelled it for everyone except "high risk" groups with the rest on a first-come, first-served basis. I didn't even bother; I'm in reasonably good health, rarely get sick at all and figure there's someone out there that will benefit a lot more from it than I. . .

[Superman]

Our shots were cancelled. Today's flu strains are not fun. The $70 vials are now selling for $800. So although supply is cut in half, revenues are up several fold, not to mention PROFITS. You capitalism lovers must be proud.

[304065]

Jim, once again you are showing your abject ignorance.

A survey conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists showed that 20% of the 677 pharmacies polled had been offered the flu vaccine at $800, or ten times the original price.

Various state attorneys general are filing price-gouging claims against the distributor involved. That conduct is obviously illegal, so nobody is "profiting" from anything. CERTAINLY not Sanofi-Aventis, the manufacturer of 100% of the flu shots to be used this season.

Another GREAT job by GOVERNMENT- the CDC used a UK supplier and a Paris-based company for the vaccines! And then everybody is scratching their heads when one of the suppliers can't conform to cGMP!

This is nothing less than a failure of GOVERNMENT!

And all the while, MedImmune's Flumist has had limited release into the market due to the FDA's age limitations. Why don't you go read something and enlighten yourself for once. . . MEDI is the ticker.

[on-ramp]

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?flok=FF-APO-1110&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20041015%2F1446996126.htm&sc=1110

waiting in line for the flu shot can kill you.

oh, the ironies of life. ..this woman might just as well have lived to see 100+ without any flu shots...