Do you or will you get the flu vaccine? For sake of argument let's assume that the vaccine correctly anticipates the circulating strains.
When I'm out and about, I com into contact with children, the elderly, and others who may have compromised immune systems. As long as I'm interacting with people, I get that shot.
Thank you! I have a nephew who has a rare developmental disorder who was unable to get receive vaccinations for many years, and may still be limited. He depends on herd immunity.
I need to have the flu vaccine because I'm elderly and an asthmatic. I know it won't always prevent the flu -- last year I got it anyway, but a relatively minor case. People my age die of the flu. I've got too much left to do to die for a silly reason like avoiding a shot.
I hear you. Smart lady! ♥
@CaroleKay Thank you. Right back at you. I just don't understand people who avoid it.
I totally agree!
I've been getting it every year for the past, I dunno, 40 years? Not sure when it first became widely available to the public at large, but not too long after that, I started getting it and I've done it ever since.
I get one every year now. Haven't been doing it for forty though!
@itsmedammit Keep it up!
Got mine months ago and will continue to get yearly. When I get the shot I don’t get the flu. Simple.
Despite the shot, I did get the flu during a couple of seasons. My immune system is not the greatest, and that crappy vaccine last year...
I get a flu shot every year and have every year for the past 20 years and will continue to do so. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I agree, especially at my age.
@itsmedammit OUR age my dear.
No but my reason isn’t an option. I’m TERRIFIED of needles. That said, I don’t get sicker than anybody else so...
Didn't think of that as an option for the poll! administering.
At my age, 81, I ge th ful shot just to be safe, although I am not sure how effective it will be against the current dominant strain. I guess that I am somewhat lucky, as I have not had the flu since 1953.
Wow, great immune system!
Having been sent overseas for the government I have been shot with about everything possible. Get the Flu shot every year and this year I got a cold about two months later. Since I have compromised lung capacity I take every precaution. This is the first cold I've had in twenty years.
Sounds like you've had a good run.
There are 16 different types of HA and 9 different types of NA, therefore, there are potentially 144 different subtypes of influenza A viruses. Among them, two subtypes of influenza A, H1N1 and H3N2, most commonly infect humans.
My doctor offered to give me flu shot saying that he had one so did his wife. I tried to strike up a deal with him. I told him that if he gave me 50% of what the pharmaceutical representative paid him to promote it then he could vaccinate me against the flu, he just smiled awkwardly.
I got mine at the grocery store.
@OwlInASack I know, it was intended for US members who will probably see the funny side of it.
Docs get nothing for pushing a flu shot. It would be far more lucrative for docs to let everyone get the flu and push Tamiflu. Flu shots cost about $10, tamiflu about $100 and an extra office visit.
@Green_eyes It was my understanding that doctors in the UK did not get paid for promoting drugs, however, after reading OwllnASack's comment above I decided to do some research on-line and it seems that nothing could be further from the truth. There are many published articles that address the payments made by pharmaceutical representatives to doctors in the UK.
@ASTRALMAX I don’t know about the UK but there is no kick backs for any vaccinations here in the US or Canada. The rules for the extreme kick backs that I used to see changed more than a decade ago but they were also on very high end surgical implants.
@Green_eyes Not to mention all the medical care/drugs/equipment if a patient gets hospitalized!
@itsmedammit We have the NHS (National Health Service) and contrary to the belief of some people, it is not free and is paid for by those who are in employment in the form of a regular weekly/monthly contribution that is taken from employees' salaries, it is called NI (National Insurance).
@ASTRALMAX Yes, I am familiar with it.
The doctors are guided more by the CDC regarding flu shots. Flu vaccines are not nearly as profitable as other drugs so I seriously doubt drug manufacturers are spending much time marketing them. They can make a lot of money treating flu, especially for hospitalization if they have a hand in medical device as well.
@OwlInASack They don't get paid to do that here either, in the US, or they aren't supposed to. There are all kinds of consulting arrangements though and I'm sure a few ways around. Things have gotten better over the years. And the companies don't like getting huge fines for rmisbehaving.
These vaxxers need to publish all their data never protecting process for profits to build up trust and safety common knowledge
I've been getting a flu shot for years. But, because you get the flu shot, doesn't mean you will not get the flu because there are continuously new strains out there. I believe it does however, help with it not being as bad as it could be if you didn't have it. What's crazy is that I work closely with about 12 of the same people on a daily basis. Two of us got flu shots. We've had many people come to work sick and/or call in sick in the past two to three weeks. Guess which ones haven't been sick yet? ??
Good for you!
I have been getting the shot for many years now and have gotten the flu twice in recent years despite the vaccine. I was more invincible when younger. Now I think it is safer to have the vaccine.
I got it for free at my job. Otherwise I wouldn't have.
I first started getting them at work, too, many years ago. Guess the company didn't want anyone to miss any more work than necessary. Sometimes I would get them from my doc, if I was there for something else anyway. I think it only costs like five or fifteen bucks.
I've never had one and have no plans on getting one.
I've also NEVER had the flu and haven't had a cold since 2005.
I've never called in sick to work (except for an accident/injury).
Sounds like you have a strong immune system. I used to be that way. Then I got old.
I got it this year and got very sick 2 days later. Dr. said it was unrelated to the shot. I wasn't sure if I believed him. It can take up to 2 weeks to be effective, so maybe I already had the flu.
The thing about the flu shot giving anyone the flu, or a milder version of it, is nothing but an old wives tale. It's simply not true.
I don't understand why people refuse to accept facts over oft-told falsehoods.
That's what the CDC would say and it makes sense to me.