Flu Vaccine

I agree that we don't know if the flu shot is good or bad, but living in Wi., with everybody sneezing and coughing, I will take my chance with the shot. I am a 61 year old woman, and after my last bout with the flu a few years ago-give me a shot. Although I wonder like everybody else does, are these shots good for us?  Why all of a sudden do we need shots for the flu, when we all lived through, and survided, colds, flu and sore throats. It's weird but I will get the flu shot every year. Karen and Jason, I love you, and I'll see your Mom and Dad in a few days.

Dean brings up a good point that honestly hadn't crossed my mind.  I've heard of carriers for Typhoid, TB, and even Strep Throat.  I hadn't considered it for the flu.  As many people as get it, it never occurred to me that there may be some who have it who never turn symptomatic.  

I do know that people with the stomach flu are contagious before they are symptomatic, which is why I'm a huge proponent of keeping all family members home until the household has safely passed the incubation period with everyone healthy.  Again, it hadn't occurred to me that this would be the same for other types of flu.  But it makes sense that this may be why Aubrey's PRN facility requires masks.

I had an email in my box today that had an interesting article with some science in it that some may like to take a look at. As always, a dose of healthy skeptism is wise when looking at most any media information.  Here is the link:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/11/01/flu-vaccine-and-its-side-effects.aspx

When I worked in New York, nearly everyone got a flu shot. Here in the UK, they celebrated an 18% adherence last year! There is a lot of stories (I can't substantiate them nor can the people who tell them) of rampant Guillian Barre here when the first swine flu epidemic hit in the 70's. I could find documentation that showed a significant increase in the US in the 70's though!

As I've learned from this semester's epidemiology class, not everyone needs to get the shot. Herd immunity is dependent upon lowering the amount of people who can get the flu therefore your less likely to come into contact with someone who can give it to you.

That being said, I am surprised that of the 5 responses, nobody mentioned the danger of being a carrier. It is possible to carry the flu virus and infect others without having any symptoms yourself. If one works with the frail elderly or very young, you may want to consider the shot. You don't want to be the "Typhoid Mary" of your unit.

Me? I get it every year. It is inactive virus of the 3 most likely variations to prosper in that year. It has never caused me to feel ill. I also work with the very frail elderly and I couldn't live with myself if I infected someone who wound up hospitalized or worse.

And Jon is right about that author, Gina Kolata, she doesn't bother much with facts. Read the article she wrote about PT witchcraft. It created quite a stir right here on this blogging board.

Cheers, Dean

A hospital I PRN at requires us to get them, or wear a mask with ALL patient interaction for approximately 6 months. Since I think it is important for patients to see my face I relent and get the shot. My kids and husband however do not get it. Sometimes I feel guilty that I am "protected" and they aren't...but I would prefer that they build up "natural" immunities...

I did get a flu shot this year (at public health was only $15).   I did not feel well for a couple of weeks but am great now.  I have not had the flu in years.

It's still a toss up, but this year in PTA school with all the practice we do on each other and tight quarters, the germs are going around.

An interesting side-note to this story is that the author of the book you're reading is the same Gina Kolata that created a flurry of conversation and controversy in the PT world earlier this year (as well as many letters to the editor at ADVANCE) after writing a New York Times piece that questioned the evidence and cost-effectiveness behind many established "voodoo" treatments employed by physical therapists.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/health/nutrition/07best.html?pagewanted=all

Absolutely not.  You're right- the injection, and the mercury contained in it, are permanent.  My partner's coworker just had a very serious anaphylactic reaction to his shot.  I just won't risk it; I'll risk getting the flu instead.  I don't believe that the benefit of the "best guess" outweighs the risks.  We can all take common sense, diligent precautions to minimize our exposure.  

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No.  From what I understand, the flu shot is a "best guess".  It contains vaccines for the three strains of flu most likely to hit my area this year.  Last year we had a flu fiasco in this region.  Why?  Because "they" guessed wrong.  None of the flus that were in the vaccine hit this area.  The ones that did hit this area, noone was vaccinated against.

For those in high risk categories, it may be worth taking the chance the scientists got it right this year.  For me and my low-risk family of six, we'll take our chances.  We'll save the $150 in co-pays the shots would cost us.  Even if we get the flu, chances are we won't spend $150 in medicine treating it.  Plus, our bodies will produce natural antibodies to any flu we acquire, which will protect us in future years.