Flu Shots

[Pat-inCO]

Saw an advertisement on TV last night saying that is a REALLY good idea
to get your flu shot. The supposed doctor said you would NOT get the flu
from the shot. Yea. . . Right . . . Sure. :roll:

I was in the doctor's office yesterday for my annual "wellness" visit. My
doctor asked about the flu shot and I told her that I had not gotten a flu
shot is the last fifteen years. That said, I have several changes from when
I was in CO (9th grader around, SIL in LE, daughter that works with a
wide assortment of people) and as such I thought it a good idea . . . this year.
My doctor was pleased and I got that done. Today I have the flu.

I will stipulate that it is a mild case, but I have ALL of the characteristic
symptoms. The shoulder where I got the shot feels like someone hit me
there with a base-ball bat, etc. etc. etc.

If this is a "mild" case, I'm REALLY glad I got the shot. :roll:

HORSE FEATHERS!

 

[coach]

My wife got a flu shot last week and now has a nasty cold. Coincidence probably. I decided to get one this year. Never had one before but I did have the flu once a long time ago and not sure I could handle it again.

 

[gunman42782]

I have heard of and known many cases of people getting the flu shot and then getting the flu. I have never had one, and never will. I have only had the flu once in my life anyway, and that was probably 20 years ago.

 

[ChiefMuzz]

I didn't get the flu shot regularly until I worked in a hospital and had kids. The flu isn't a major concern with younger, healthier individuals. When I worked in the hospital it was mandatory as not to carry/infect anyone I came in contact with. For my young children, it's more of a concern. If you are very young, old or have other medicals conditions it's something you should strongly consider. Two year ago my otherwise healthy 40 year old Uncle with Type 1 DM got the flu. Within 3 days he was in ICU and his kidneys were shutting down. He made it out ok, but spent two weeks in he hospital because of it.

 

[redhawker]

Used to work at a hospital and it was mandatory for us to get the flu shot each year. Some years it worked, some years it didn't (but never FROM the flu shot, it was just those years where they guessed wrong on the strain of flu). I'm still here anyway. Since I'm retired I haven't got around to it yet this year but I probably will.

 

[Fox Mike]

Received a flu shot some many years ago and was sick for a week. Have never gotten another one. Can't see taking the chance of a recurrence. My COPD is bad enough, I don't need additional misery added to it.

 

[blackhawknj]

I have been taking Vitamin C for 20 + years, Linus Pauling was right. One mother I know put her kids on Vitamin C, said it's been years since they even had colds.

 

[pete44ru]

.

FWIW, although I had the flu a few times prior to my early retirement 14 years ago, I started getting annual flu shots + a pneumonia shot every 5 years for the past 14 years - I haven't gotten the flu (or pneumonia) since.

I never have any soreness or stiffness in my shoulder/arm from the shots - but my wife always does have a little.

IMO, the different reactions that various people have to injections/vaccines are most likely due to their own immune responses differing from other folks'.

People's immune system generally become less effective as they get older, however, (so far) there's no method to predict or determine this variation amongst individuals, and/or to predict/determine who will and who won't respond optimally to the vaccine.



.

 

[toyhunt]

One flu shot does not cover every strain of flu, even if they guess right for this season. I have gotten it for years, never got real sick from it,sometimes you do get a cold or sore shoulder, but better than a real flu.

 

[eveled]

I'm surprised you don't see people wearing masks in public here. It would be more effective than the flu shot. Seems common in China.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Received a flu shot some many years ago and was sick for a week. Have never gotten a other one. Can't see taking the chance of a recurrence. My COPD is bad enough, I don't need additional misery added to it.

I'm right there with you Fox Mike; They stuck me in basic (NO CHOICE) and I ended up with both bronchitis and later pneumonia. Thank GOD I was good friends with a medic while in Korea and my "flu shots" given with a ball point pen NEVER hurt and I never got the Flu either !!
I have consistently refused flu shots ever since 1967 and have never gotten the FLu; I DID let my Primary Care at the VA talk me into both varieties of the Anti-pneumonia shots; Thought that was good idea with my COPD.

 

[gramps]

The flu “shot” is a dead virus, that causes the body to develop antibodies against the virus. The immune system going into high gear is what causes the flu like symptoms, whether from vaccine or virus. The intranasal is an attenuated LIVE virus. I have steadfastly refused the flu vaccine, because many years it is a poor match. I have been in the medical field for 50 years, I have an active immunity(secondary to exposure), and don’t need to add a passive immunity on top of it! Taking vit D boosts the immune system, as does vit C. Get plenty of sleep, wash your hands, and GOOD LUCK!
gramps

 

[exavid]

I usually get the flu shot but really haven't had much reaction to them. A friend of mine got his shot this year about the time I did and was pretty sick for a couple of days. I suspect if you get sick with the shot it might indicate you didn't have much resistance to the disease to begin with.

 

[Ka6otm]

The flu “shot” is a dead virus, that causes the body to develop antibodies against the virus. The immune system going into high gear is what causes the flu like symptoms, whether from vaccine or virus. The intranasal is an attenuated LIVE virus. I have steadfastly refused the flu vaccine, because many years it is a poor match. I have been in the medical field for 50 years, I have an active immunity(secondary to exposure), and don’t need to add a passive immunity on top of it! Taking vit D boosts the immune system, as does vit C. Get plenty of sleep, wash your hands, and GOOD LUCK!
gramps

This is the truth. There's no way you got the flu from a flu shot.

I got the flu every year without fail because I worked in close proximity to a lot of people who had kids and some of them were sick all the time. Started getting flu shots because the new wife asked me to around 1983 and have gotten one every year since then.

Haven't had the flu since I started getting the shots. I do, however, stay away from sick people, don't put my fingers around my eyes, nose or mouth when out and about and wash immediately when I get back home.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
I have been getting a flu shot every year for longer than I can remember.
The worst effect I ever have had is a small sore spot at the injection site for a day or so.
I have never had the flu and haven't had a serious cold in decades.
My wife claims she got the flu from a shot years ago and will not get a flu shot anymore.
She gets several bouts of flu like symptoms every year but refuses to go to the doctor.
I guess you could say she is hard headed and stubborn...and you would be correct.

 

[SamV]

If there is a remote chance of avoiding the flu, I will get the shot. I am glad so many of you seem to have a super immune system and never get sick. My sister has never had a flu shot and doesn't seem to have caught it. I have had the flu a couple of times and was very ill. Plus I developed secondary infections like pneumonia, sinus and ear infections.
I will take any immunization that will improve my chances of good health.
Next up on my list, shingles vaccine and pneumonia vaccine.

 

[exavid]

After retiring from the FAA in Juneau I drove school buses for five years. The first year was bad, I came down with colds and crud just about all year. Each year thereafter I had less and less. By the time I left Juneau I didn't catch another cold for about five years. May be I should have hung around a school yard to keep up my immunity.
Living in Southern Oregon the smoke is so thick from fires in the summer I could probably have pneumonia again without even noticing it.

 

[Pat-inCO]

There's no way you got the flu from a flu shot.

Boy I'm glad you are the expert. I am one of three people, that I know of,
that came down with something, the day after getting the shot.

The other two told me that they were knocked to their knees the first day,
felt a little better the second day, and were fine by day three. I'm in the
middle of day two and it is not near as bad as day one.

If three of us have the EXACT same reaction to the flu shot, what the
(BLEEP) else is it? :roll:

P.S. Each of us went to a different location to get the shots. :shock:

 

[ChiefMuzz]

I'm surprised you don't see people wearing masks in public here. It would be more effective than the flu shot. Seems common in China.

That, much like taking excessive amounts of Vit C is fairly non effective. Those masks have a short effective time. They are not designed to be worn for hours or for multiple uses.
Most Vit C people take is far and above what their body can process. Most ends up in the toilets. You want a healthy immune system, get adequate sleep, exercise and 5-7 servings of fruit and vegetables every day.

 

[Ka6otm]

There's no way you got the flu from a flu shot.

Boy I'm glad you are the expert. I am one of three people, that I know of,
that came down with something, the day after getting the shot.

The other two told me that they were knocked to their knees the first day,
felt a little better the second day, and were fine by day three. I'm in the
middle of day two and it is not near as bad as day one.

If three of us have the EXACT same reaction to the flu shot, what the
(BLEEP) else is it? :roll:

P.S. Each of us went to a different location to get the shots. :shock:

Total coincidence. You really shoot educate yourself before pontificating on the board. It keeps you from embarrassing yourself like you just did.

Sigh.....I did it for you. Here's a link.
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/10/17/doctors-flabbergasted-that-half-of-parents-think-flu-shot-causes-the-flu-its-impossible/23563742/

Doctors 'flabbergasted' that half of parents think flu shot causes the flu: 'It's impossible'

And a last one from the Center For Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm

Can a flu vaccine give you the flu?

No, flu vaccines cannot cause flu illness. Flu vaccines given with a needle (i.e., flu shots) are currently made in two ways: the vaccine is made either with a) flu viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ (killed) and that therefore are not infectious, or b) using only a single gene from a flu virus (as opposed to the full virus) in order to produce an immune response without causing infection. This is the case for recombinant influenza vaccines.

 

[Rancher Will]

I too have an opinion, as does my children, grand children and great grand children.

Back in the 1950's, into about 1962, every year when our children started back to school, our family always came down with colds. I was County Undersheriff at that time and friends with one of the old doctors in the county. One day, having lunch with my friend the Doc, me suffering with a cold, I halfway joked with the Doc, telling him that "all the doctors brag about having wonder drugs but never cure a common cold".

The Doctor told me that that there is no cure for colds but there had been a prevention for years if we just pay attention. He told me that if I would just take 1000mg Vitamin C each day, and any day when I felt "down or a little weak" take even two or three, I would not get a cold. We discussed it and I thought he was "pulling my leg". But, with his insistence, I agreed to try it.

That day I bought a bottle of Vitamin C. My wife, all of our kids, and I began taking Vitamin C. It has been nearly 60 years now. We all still take Vitamin C, and not one of my family has ever had a cold or the Flue since that visit with my friend Doctor. And we have never had a Flue shot.

 

[jimbo1096]

Got mine two weeks ago, will also get my pneumonia booster later. Only issue was a slightly sore bicep for a day and then all back to normal. Of course I normally feel like crap so maybe I wouldn't notice a mild case of the flu-----

 

[ronto]

I never had a flu shot nor do I want one. Kept my immune up with mega doses of vitamins C and D plus some others including probiotics and I don't even get a common cold.

 

[Goldstar225]

I had the flu once back in my early 20's, don't want it again. I've been getting an annual flu shot for decades now. I haven't had the flu in all that time and haven't had flu like symptoms after getting the shot. I realize that there are hundreds of flu strains and the selection of the vaccine is a "best guess" by the CDC but an ounce of prevention.....

 

[Big Old Boy]

Yep same here get the shot every year and haven’t had the Flu in forever.

 

[RSIno1]

My employer offers free flu shots every year. Been getting them for the last 20 years at least. Had a mild case of the flu 3-4 years ago. First time in all those years. Got the shot this year too. I heard on the news a few days ago a baby had died of the flu - first one for this season.

 

[pete44ru]

I heard on the news a few days ago a baby had died of the flu - first one for this season.

And the baby that died wasn't inoculated/vaccinated :shock: - IDK if it was because the parents didn't believe in preventive medicine; or they do, but thought the baby too young for meds. :roll:

In any event, a sad occurrence, in deed.


.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Back in the 1950's, into about 1962, every year when our children
started back to school, our family always came down with colds. I was
County Undersheriff at that time and friends with one of the old doctors
in the county. One day, having lunch with my friend the Doc, me suffering
with a cold, I halfway joked with the Doc, telling him that "all the doctors
brag about having wonder drugs but never cure a common cold".

8)

I had a similar "epiphany" during a cold/flu episode around '68. One of the
managers where I worked saw me in early and asked why. I told him I
had one thing to complete then I was going home sick. What he said, and
I've seen it work with many, many others, was 250mg of Vit "C". Two to
start with and then one per hour, with eight ounces of water each time.
You spend a lot of time running back and forth to the piddle pot, but it
will normally kill a cold or many other flu like symptoms in six or so hours.

P.S. The manager gave me a small hand full of 250mg C, and I went
home at the normal time feeling quite well, thank you.

 

[Daveboone]

Every year there are at least several strains of the flu going around, it is a mutating virus. The shots are based on a best guess as to which will be most prevalent, so it is entirely possible to still get the flu.
A lot of people get nasty colds and call it the flu. There is nothing / no shot to prevent a cold Best way to differentiate them: no fever, no flu. I work In the health care field, (home care RN) so I always get my shot, my main goal to set the example and decr. my risk to patients.

The shot is good, but next: good handwashing, avoid crowds, for at risk folks avoid school age kids like the plague. Family folks need to indoctrinate kids into the frequent handwashing routine, no sharing habit (bottles, food, cups, etc.)

 

[caryc]

It's amazing how many people have medical degrees but don't practice medicine. They get some "reaction" after getting a flu shot and right away, "it's the flu". No need to go to some "other" doctor who actually practices medicine, it's the flu.