Thoughts on Flu Shots

zudy · Oct 2, 2003

I get the flu when I don't take my flu shot, and I get the flu when I do. I have tried taking it early in the season, in the middle, and late. I really don't have any faith in them.

tonchitoRN · Oct 2, 2003

interesting thread. i hear that a flu shot was given in one dose. my pediatrician tried to get me to consent to 2 doses (different visits) for my baby. i refused the second dose because i could not find any info. that two doses were needed. i figured the md was trying to get more money out of me.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Oct 2, 2003

I don't take it. Never have gotten a "bad flu"... occasionally might get a 2-3 day "bug" but nothing severe. Have heard many ppl take the flu shot and immediately get "symptoms"... suffer through those and then STILL get the BIG FLU, regardless.

Nah... think I'll just keep doing as I always have.

karenG · Oct 2, 2003

hi

flu vaccine should last about 6mths. if you look at the stats, of the people who get complications from catching the flu, 50% of them are healthy adults. however think of the cost and the work load of vaccinating everyone once a year!! I have 1900 to give and its a thankless task!

in children it is recommended that initially they should be given 2 injections, 2mths apart. that counts as a primary course. they only need one injection each autumn then. if you want the references- I can find them!

flu season........ugh let me out of here!!

Karen

jax · Oct 2, 2003

I have it every year - and so far no flu. The thought of being sick for 1-2 weeks unable to work is too scary. It's definately one risk I don't want to take. I always get some sort of winter virus but fingers crossed no flu.

We're coming into summer down here in the beautiful subtropics where I live bye bye flu season. jax

colleen10 · Oct 2, 2003

Did a search and sort of answered my own question.

It says that flu season in the US is from mid-Oct/early November through April.

The vaccine starts to kick in in about 1-2 weeks after getting it.

It lasts 2-3 months, but peeks in effectiveness about mid way from that period.

So, if I get one now, I'll be protected for November and December when I am usually healthy. I don't know about anyone else but it's always those bugs that fly around in Feb. and March that get me. I think the depressing weather outside has to do with that too.

I don't usually get big nasty flus. Perhaps nasty colds, once in a blue moon a stomach virus. This will be my first year of clinicals so I figure I'm going to be exposed to all kinds of things anyway, it may not make much of a difference. I've got to build up my tolerance some how.

Katnip, RN · Oct 2, 2003

I had the flu once. I could barely function for a little over a week. For a couple of years I got the shot and did fine. Then, when there were such severe vaccine shortages, I stopped getting them, and have done fine since without it.

I guess I just got really unlucky that one time.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 2, 2003

I believe everyone who can tolerate the vaccine (not alergic to it, etc.) should get a flu shot -- not to protect themselves, but to protect others.

Each person who gets influenza helps to spread the disease throughout the community. As it spreads throughout the community, some people who can't afford to get it (elderly, babies, immunosuppressed people, etc.) will get it and become seriously ill. Many of these deaths could be prevented if the healthy adults who are spreading the disease throughout the community would have only gotten the vaccine.

Yes ... some people who get the vaccine also get the flu. However, the overall incidence is less when people get the vaccine -- and that decrease in the oveall incidence saves lives.

That's why international health officials all over the world works so hard each year to develop the vaccine and try to convince people to get it. When a high percentage of people within the population gets the vaccine, fewer people die.

I think it is everyone's responsibility to get the vaccine unless you have a good reason not to get it (e.g. and allergy, etc.)

Not just my opinion ... but the opinion of health experts all over the world -- backed up by the facts.

llg

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2003

We can get them free from Occ health but the last time they came around offering they said "Do you want a flue vaccination" and I replied "do you want to see my allergy list?" and they left in a hurry. I do not get vaccinated because of a list of allergies long than your arm some years I do get severe URTI some years I do not but is the URTI actually the "flu"? hard to tell.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 2, 2003

I last came down with the flu on Halloween night of 1992. Spent all the rest of that fall, winter, and much of the spring bouncing in and out of the ER with out-of-control asthma, took prednisone for 2 months and gained 25#, and felt like something the dog found under the house. I have gotten a flu shot every single autumn since then. I haven't been truly ill in all these years.

And that's all I have to say about THAT.

Whisper · Oct 2, 2003

I have been thinking about going for a flu jab, last year occ health were going around the wards, giving jabs to staff and students, but I haven't seen anyone yet this year.

I am struggling to make up the hours I mised when I was ill last week, I am hoping that the jab will help get me through without missing more hours of uni or placement.