Do you feel that they are an absolute necessity for children, elders and other's who are immuno-compromised but perhaps not for a relatively healthy adult?
I understand the concept that the flu vaccine only protects against the type of flu that scientists believe will be the most prevalent during the flu season, but is it true that that the vaccine only protects you for two months if you opt to get it?
I'm just wondering if I should get it or not. I have not received a flu vaccine in a number of years and wondering if I should.
I have gotten a flu shot every year for 30 years except one time about 8 years ago and I was as sick as a dog for 5 days! I am never "out of school" as a school nurse, I couldn't stand it...being sick that is.:roll :roll
One--the flu shot does NOT prevent the flu but rather, limits the severity of the infection. Therefore, you might get the flu but it will be much milder than without the flu shot. Just remember what our school instructors taught us---WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Second--you absolutely will not get the flu from the flu shot. It is made from dead virus. If you became ill after a flu shot, in all probability, you were exposed to the virus BEFORE you received the shot.
Finally--flu shots for babies/small children are given in 2 doses. You pediatrician should have known this and explained it to you. (Shame on the doc! )
There is a vast amount of misinformation regarding flu shots. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves and our patients accurately.
I'll be getting my flu shot again this winter. Had the shot the last two winters, and although I still got sick, I could have gotten much sicker. I'd rather not take any chances. What harm can it do anyway?
I have not had a flu shot in years . I don't even remember their being offered last year at the Hospital I work at, yet THIS year they are pushing it.
I got them when I was in Home Health, but now I do not feel it would be a good thing to do after so much time WITHOUT them. I too have allergies, seasonal mostly, but also have ASTHMA, and it worries me.
I take so many natural antioxidants, I realy don't think a flu bug would DARE to bite me!!!
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.
The flu shot is given to an infant in two doses as each is a half dose so that the child can build immunities against the particular flu. It is not to get extra money. You might want to check some pediatric journals or do a literature research on the subject with peer reviewed studies. It is similar to the dividing of childhood vaccines into more than one injection.
I have twice in my life had flu shots--both winters I nearly died. I did not have a reaction to the shot--it was later in the winter that I got the flu. The first time was many years ago-I was 12 and the family doc was excited that there was this new flu shot out-my mom and dad and I all got it and we all got really sick-my temp was high and I hallucinated-saw snakes in the wall paper-my poor mom was trying to help me and was puking at the same time I was. The next time was the winter 68-69 and I got one at work got the flu later and then 6 weeks later got the flu again only worse-I remember the docs calling it ECHO II. I missed a lot of work that year. Never took it again-never been sick again-still think every year-should I get it? Now I heard that if everyone got flu shots and still got sick it would help with a quicker diagnosis to R/O SARS--has any one heard that? Plus just stopping the spread of it as mentioned in a previous email is a positive. I tell my self if I ever get the flu without getting the flu shot-I will definately try it the next year. I also wonder if I might have actually died those two times had I not had shots and got the flu anyway. Plus I am getting older and older so should I get it? A thought about it being winter-as mentioned in a previous reply-I think that affects me too-and I found this wonderful spot against the wall of my house that gets full sun and no wind about 11A-12 N each day in the winter and I go and sun there-I mean it can be in the 30's and I will sit there in sweats with shorts underneath and after 20 minutes I am nice and warm and peel off sweats and get sun on skin and I think that helps my immune system. I work evening shift so that fits my schedule.
I never get the flu shot. I had a professor for micro that worked for a company that made the vaccine. He said you should never get a vaccine unless it is out for 2 years... the flu vaccine is new each year. He said the virologists at the company he worked for, that made the vaccine, wouldn't give it to their family.
We all have professors that we felt were the best of the best, this one is mine!!!
OldBabeRN
2 Posts
I have gotten a flu shot every year for 30 years except one time about 8 years ago and I was as sick as a dog for 5 days! I am never "out of school" as a school nurse, I couldn't stand it...being sick that is.:roll :roll