Have you got your flu shot?

[BobSch]

Got my seasonal flu shot Friday. Not in one of the high-risk groups for H1N1 so not sure if they'll ever have enough to get to me.

[jackellis]

We got flu shots on Saturday and MilDoc's description may explain why my wife came down with flu-like symptoms this morning that are proving to be mild.

We're going to get the H1N1 vaccine when it's available for folks our age.

As a rule I avoid medications other than aspirin and alcohol However I remember a childhood episode of flu that made me really sick and I just hate being sick.

[iceman61]

I got my seasonal flu shot a few weeks ago. I took my son to get the nasal mist for H1N1 yesterday, which was actually the 1st of 2. They said he needed to come back in 4 weeks for a second round. I was actually scared to let him take the nasal mist since I was told it was a live virus but the nurse reassured me it was safe & everything turned out ok for him. The only side affect was that he fell fast asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He woke up feeling great this morning.

I think I was more scare for him to not get the vacination. I will get my H1N1 as soon as it is available for my age group.

Anyone know how long the H1N1 vacination is good for once you get the shot or the mist?

[MilDoc]

That is some really interesting information on GBS MilDoc, do you have any sources? I would like to look more in depth on that. I so far have avoided flu vaccines because of this event - it was only about 4 years ago so I haven't missed much by way of vaccination, but I work with the public and have 2 small children to consider.
And yes, Radhak, her progress was slow and took quite a bit of rehab. In men it hits harder initially so I don't know if he will recover quicker or not.

The connection with your mother was probably her cruise exposure, not the flu vaccine.

The Google Health link you posted says basically the same as I did.

Remember, millions DO receive the flu vaccine every year, tens of millions worldwide. Thus the possible 1 in one million GBS cases, and even that is hard to prove due to the vaccine.

And the best source for any infectious disease is www.cdc.gov. Best medical source for many things: www.webmd.com. FAR too much "medical knowledge" of zero value on the net, much of it just plain wrong. Be careful what you read!

[OpaDC]

And the best source for any infectious disease is www.cdc.gov. Best medical source for many things: www.webmd.com. FAR too much "medical knowledge" of zero value on the net, much of it just plain wrong. Be careful what you read!

Out of this whole discussion, this to me has been one of the most helpful posts. I take most everything on the internet that I don't have first hand knowledge of with a grain of salt. The cdc site was obvious, but the webmd was one of those that looks good, but... like I said. I now feel more comfortable with the information posted there. Thank you, MilDoc.

[Black wallnut]

I do not, never have. Think of how many world wide who neither get the shot nor the flu. I'm betting that it is more than do get the shot. To me it is a matter of odds and I think they are in my favor. I wash my hands often. I suppose in a few years I will start getting the shot due to aging.

[chopnhack]

Thanks for the info, MilDoc

[mschrank]

Hmmm, one story from Inside Edition and another from Fox News....

I got my shot for regular seasonal flu a couple weeks back, and will get one for H1N1 if I can (I'm not in the "high risk" group, so I'll wait for my turn).

[Santa Clarita Len]

Fast and Easy

I got my flu shot yesterday at the local college drive through as I have the last few years. I never even had to get out of the car, just open the car door and got the shot, no fuss, no muss.

[sparkeyjames]

Germdoc calling Germdoc please come to the BT3Central infirmary.

Seriously I have never ever gotten a flu shot and have never gotten the flu.
Just have not had the time nor the inclination to get that seasonal flu shot. From some statistics I have read (yeah yeah statistics! 96.2% of which are made up on the spot) say that the shots are only about 30 to 40 percent effective anyway.

[MilDoc]

Germdoc calling Germdoc please come to the BT3Central infirmary.

Seriously I have never ever gotten a flu shot and have never gotten the flu.
Just have not had the time nor the inclination to get that seasonal flu shot. From some statistics I have read (yeah yeah statistics! 96.2% of which are made up on the spot) say that the shots are only about 30 to 40 percent effective anyway.

Actually, the inactivated vaccine ("flu shot") has an 86% effectiveness rate in healthy folks, with a year-to-year range of 70 - 90%.

In children ages 1 - 15 years, it is 77 - 91% effective.

In the 65 and older age group it is not as effective at preventing the flu, but is 80% effective in preventing influenza related death.

The reason for the variation is that the CD "guesses" in February what flu strains will circulate the next winter, and the vaccine will include 2 "A" and 1 "B" strain. Obviously they don't always hit the mark 100%.

Effectiveness of the LAIV (spray) is similar. When the vaccine matches the flu strain circulating, it is generally 91% effective. When there is a mismatch, more like 71 - 86%.

On average, 36,000 people die from the seasonal flu every year. The range has been approximately 17,000 to 52,000.

If you are healthy, you risk of dying is of course small. Of course, your risk is 100% if you are one of the unfortunate.

[cwithboat]

I had the seasonal shot in the left arm and a pneumonia shot in the right arm a few weeks ago. The right arm hurt like heck for a week. LOML is undergoing chemo and radiation treatments, so we are short listed for H1N1, but it still hasn't shown up for us. The hospital staff has received it.

[thestinker]

I got the regular flu shot a couple of weeks ago, but haven't bothered with the swine flu vaccination.