with the word out that there is a shortage in Flu vaccine, and the anticipation of a worse than normal flu season, I was curious to know if anyone else has gotten one of these things. I usually don’t get a flu shot, but since I work for a major pharmaceutical company, I had the option to get one for free. Also, last winter I did get the flu and it side lined me for two weeks so this year I am not taking chances.
Graz
I was thinking about getting one. Do they make you sick?
I got one- and then proceeded to get the flu 3 weeks later anyway. Apparently, the strain of flu that popped up around here was a strain that the vaccine didn’t inoculate against. I was basically out of commission for about 2 weeks (from working out, at least. Only missed a few days of work). I’d say that if you can get the shot you should. Very few side effects (just a sore arm for a day for me), and if you’re lucky and it happens to protect you against whatever strain pops up in your area you’ll save yourself an aweful lot of misery.
The flu shot is worth getting for most people in my opinion. Especially all you geezers over 50! The predominant flu thus far (could shift with time over the season) is Influenza A Fujian. It is not one of the three strains included in this years vaccine but is genetically similar to the A Panama H3N2 strain which is included in the vaccine. It may confer some degree of protection or yield a milder case if you do get infected. The older antiflu drugs amantadine and flumadine as well as the newer drug tamiflu may (not will) help reduce your symptoms by about 36 hours if you start early enough.
David
Very rarely. But like anything, it depends on the individuals reaction. The flu shot that I received was the most recent vaccine for 2004. For me, I felt nothing but a sore arm for two days. Now a-days, there are only two companies that are really manufacturing them. Chiron and Aventis Pasteur. I also understand that there are 3 “main” strains of the virus. Sometimes a strain might make it’s way around. But for sure, having a flu shot strenghtens your resistance regardless. Also, today’s flu shots are not “Live” virus’s as they once were so it’s not like they actually give you the flu. I wouldn’t worry Tom. I just am not trying to miss any winter training this year.
Fran
Just my cynical self here, but I saw a good news show on the flu and concur with the above post as well. They stated the scientists pick a strain of flu that may be bad this year and that’s all you are protected from. If that strain mutates (as they do all the time) or changes in one littel way, you aren’t even protected. This year they missed they boat and now everyone is in a panic and still getting the wrong shot. If your old or very young go for it, but think I smell a rat and he just took everyones money, again.
Nope - I get one every year…
Me too–our work provides them.
My work provides them too but I have never bothered getting the shot. But then, it’s been years since I have been sick so maybe I just have a good immune system.
I usually take anything my work gives me for free . . . including the flu shot
The flu vaccine has to be created before the flu season happens, The WHO makes an educted guess by pooling the information about the strains that are being seen worldwide. Vaccine makers create something accordingly. There are usually 3 strains that are in a vaccine. Each strain is named for the place where it was first found. Well the WHO guessed wrong. But it would be foolish to say that this is the wrong shot becuase 1. no other shot exists, calling it the wrong shot implies that there is a right shot. 2. There is still a good chance if you are a healthy person that there will be enough overlap with the vaccine. 3. If you are over the age of 50, a child, or are immunocompromised at all you should absolutely get the shot becuase you can die from the flu. In the last flu epidemic several million people died… To say that this was done on purpose or is some kind of scam is a huge leap.
The most you will feel is a little sore in that arm for a day or two… shouldn’t inhibit any activity though… If you haev great insurance you could also get the inhaled vaccine if you are really needlephobic… without insurance it is pretty pricey from what I hear… Don’t personally knwo anyone with any experience with it though
I usually get one. It’s never made me sick, and doesn’t usually affect me at all (no sore arm, etc). This year however, I got one from a doctor (as opposed to a nurse) and he pounded my arm with it, being really rough. My arm was a little sore for about a day. Not so much that it prevented me from doing anything, but kind of like a baby charley-horse in the shoulder. Still, well worth the insurance.
If you get the flu in the early stages, call your doctor and demand some anti-viral medicine, often called Tamiful. It doesn’t matter if you got the flu shot or not, these drugs can make a big difference. They can reduce the duration of sickness by days, and reduces the chance that you will pass the virus it another person. I have had very good results with this medication but it does require a prescription.
Dave from VA
Your immune system is kind of like your fitness; if you don’t stress it, it will diminish. Let your body handle the flu. If you come down with it, your body will fight it off and you will be stronger the next time around. Only elderly people and people with serious hart or lung conditions should take the shot. As you are posting on this site I assume that you are fit and hence not in the danger zone.
My 2c.
Sindre
If you get someone good, you may have no arm pain.
Also, depending where you live, if your work doesn’t provide them for free, Walgreen’s drug stores (and probably other places) offer them for $10. That’s a lot cheaper than going to your doctor to get one.
20-40 million deaths which is the range I have usually seen for the 1918-1919 flu seems a bit higher than “several million”. The movement of troops around the globe at the end of WWI was a large factor in the worldwide spread and modern global air travel would greatly increase the transmission next time around. I believe there was a recent DNA analysis of the remains from some victims that showed it was quite similar to a current strain, so it wouldn’t take much of a mutation to happen again.
If things were more than a generation ago people have a strong tendency to think they will never happen again whether it’s earthquakes, global depressions or epidemics.
I had both the flu shot and the flu last year. This year I had the shot, and got the flu again, but it was only one day of fever and nausea. My son who didn’t get the shot has been sick for ten days, the first five of those with high fever. So far nine children have died of the flu in Denver. I’d get the shot, there’s no downside I know of, and it might help…
I just got one.
Nice…
Now you should start to feel some soreness set in after about an hour or two. My arm was hurting for two days.