Exhausted Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 This is not going to turn political. Flu Shots Are you getting one this year? Have you received one since the start of the season? I choose not to because I don't want to get sick during my busiest college semester. I don't know what the difference between military and civvie flu shots are, but the last one I got in the military screwed me up for a week. I would rather take my chances to H6D9, or whatever terrible disease is out there now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Never get them. Argue against it with my wife. Anything else I'm for but flu shots seem silly to me. Hey let's get me sick. No thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I'm not but it's more out of laziness. I really should, I've only had the flu once in my life but without exaggeration, I wished I was dead when I went through it. Can't describe how much it sucks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I don't usually get sick and I'm young, I don't usually get them even though I do work around a lot of people. Recognize the risk but I tend to do it the old fashion way--hand sanitizer, washing hands, cleaning, keeping my system clean by consuming alcohol etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 I've always wondered: is alcohol really good for cleaning your system of various viruses? I know my liver must be spotless Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 We get them - we've been healthy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheFlyingDutchman Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Are there actually completely healthy people that take them, except for people in the military? I only know of people who get them because of other health issues (asthma, diabetes type 1) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Always, I work in a filthy environment with very ill or dirty nasty people. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SBARC Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I've had a few flu shots over the years. One did give me mild flu like symptoms for a few days. I didn't vomit, but I was pretty well laid up in bed. I know in theory flu shots can't do this....but I was feeling the flu like symptoms shortly after getting the shot. Having said that....I've only had 1 bad reaction from a flu shot. I then avoided the flu shot for a few years....now I get flu shots when needed. I do not go out and get a flu shot each year and I do not avoid flu shots. But if the current flu shot is designed to fight a particular flu that is making people sick in my part of the world...then I happily get the flu shot. So I wait until flu season begins....then check out what flu is going around and if the flu shots covers the particular strain of flu that is in my area. If the flu shot does protect me from a flu strain that is a direct threat to me....then I happily get the flu shot. I work 6 nights a week at my real job, so I see the flu shot as a good way to avoid lost wages. I might point out my line of work puts me in direct contact with the general public. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 Does anyone else find it strange 3 Canadians said yes, and all Americans, and maybe others, said no? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I don't usually get sick and I'm young, I don't usually get them even though I do work around a lot of people. Recognize the risk but I tend to do it the old fashion way--hand sanitizer, washing hands, cleaning, keeping my system clean by consuming alcohol etc. Statistically people under 30 and people over 70 are at highest risk from influenza. We had two patients at our little 100 bed hospital die from flu complications last year alone, and both were otherwise healthy. I **always** get a flu shot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I've had a few flu shots over the years. One did give me mild flu like symptoms for a few days. I didn't vomit, but I was pretty well laid up in bed. I know in theory flu shots can't do this....but I was feeling the flu like symptoms shortly after getting the shot. Of course a flu vaccine can give you mild flu-like symptoms for a day or two. Most people don't get them, but some do. That means your immune system is doing its job. The fact that you say you were feeling symptoms shortly after getting the injection means that you'd already been exposed to whatever virus (*not* the flu, btw) you ended up suffering from well before you received the injection. The vaccine further taxed your immune system and you felt bad - probably worse that you would have with the virus had you not received the injection. But a day or two in bed is a ***long*** way from full blown flu. People just don't realize how deadly even "regular" influenza can be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Does anyone else find it strange 3 Canadians said yes, and all Americans, and maybe others, said no? Nope. Not at all. Anyone who works in health care would agree with me I'm sure... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I'm an American and I got a flu shot. My girlfriend is a public school teacher, and I figure she's exposed to all kinds of things, so I like to stack the odds in my favor as much as possible. Got a pertussis shot, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 (edited) The fact that you say you were feeling symptoms shortly after getting the injection means that you'd already been exposed to whatever virus (*not* the flu, btw) you ended up suffering from well before you received the injection. The vaccine further taxed your immune system and you felt bad - probably worse that you would have with the virus had you not received the injection. But a day or two in bed is a ***long*** way from full blown flu. The experience that influenced me the most was getting a flue shot on December 21, flying out on leave on the 23rd and getting sicker than I had ever felt from a flu while on the flight. I was out for 6 days, though the first 3 were the worst -- fever, exhaustion, heavy coughing, etc. I couldn't even sleep during that Christmas leave. Is there a difference in military vs civilian flu shots? This one just about killed me... Edited October 3, 2014 by Exhausted Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Does anyone else find it strange 3 Canadians said yes, and all Americans, and maybe others, said no? Canada does not have black helicopters and tin foil hats. Well a couple of each maybe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RiderFan Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I'm a Canadian and I've never had a flu shot as a civilian. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 After what I went through last year, I'll be getting one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 As a Canadian who owns a decal company.........You should do the JTF Black Griffons. Don't have a photo, black with grey roundels. No idea which airframe numbers. Looked cool and I just picked up a Belcher conversion for the UH-1N.....Oh and get your flu shot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bmccarron Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I've gone for a flu shot the last five years, and haven't had the flu. This despite having a daughter in university who is exposed to all manner of creepy crawlies, besides other students, from all over the world. Go Canada. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Liberator24 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Mandatory for all Baptist Health employees in Jacksonville. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve N Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 They're giving them out for free at work on Monday. It's my day off, but I may go over and get one. I usually do, and I've never had any kind of reaction. Mandie says she'll get one this year. She's a nurse, but for the past few years she's been on various meds that could cause interactions. When I was in the hospital a couple years ago, one of my nurses had to wear a mask when working with patients, because she hadn't gotten her flu shot yet. SN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 It was mandatory when I was in the military,I have had two since then,one right after my open heart surgery(along with a pneumonia shot and mega vitamin shot in my side) and on this past Tuesday.When I get the shot,I usually end up having major aches,feel sluggish,and get a 100+ temperature and oddly enough,when I get the shot,I end up getting the flu and I don't get the the shot I don't,go figure.This time around I got lucky and just had what felt like a softball shoved into my arm,which I can deal with,the flu I can't. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graves_09 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) With all due respect, getting medical advice from your buddies online is about the worst source of information. Ill go with the experts who say EVERYONE (with a few exceptions) should get vaccinated. http://m.cdc.gov/en/HealthSafetyTopics/DiseasesConditions/SeasonalFlu/forEveryone/keyFactsVaccine Edited October 4, 2014 by graves_09 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sebastijan Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I only had a flu shot once in my life and despite it, got the flu some 2 months later. I maybe caught flue 3 or 4 times in my life and that one was the worst! As I understand, vaccines are prepared based on data from previous season viruses and since they mutate, the vaccine itself is pretty useless. I perfer home brewed lemon brandy - works perfectly! :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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