To Flu Shot or Not to Flu Shot?

[jezzilee]

What is your take on vaccinating against the flu? I was picking up a prescription at walmart pharmacy and the friendly pharmacist asked if I had had a flu shot...I hadn't but I do get them every year. I had some time to kill before my appointment so YaY! I'm innoculated!

Do you flu shot? Had a bad experience with a flu shot? Or do you not believe in vaccinations. ..

 

[Wrong Element]

I get them, because why not? I had the flu once, and though it was relatively mild as flus go, the experience instilled in me a deep desire to never go through it again. Anything I can do to lessen the odds is worth it. Plus, there's an elderly person in our home, so it's especially important to reduce exposure.

 

[BotanyBoy]

I don't.....I just wash my hands and dodge sneezes/coughers like it's Z day.

I might occasionally catch some crud but I don't think I've had the flu in a very very long time.

Having kids that go to the county disease pit/exchange (school) though might change that...

That being said from my time in the military I've had every vaccination out there and then some as of 08'.....flu shots every month for 8 years....typhoid...small pox...anthrax...all of them. Shit, could have had myself and Ebola vaccination too if I had stayed long enough to get another deployment to Africa.

 

[BabblingBrooke]

I used to get them every year, never had a bad response. I forgot the last two years, didn't have a bad response. I don't know yet what I'll do this year...but it's December so I should definitely think about it.

BotanyBoy's right about hand washing and just avoiding the germs. Simple steps to stay mostly healthy from this stuff.

 

[wildchild24143]

I get them every year, never has a bad experience.

 

[RobDownSouth]

What is your take on vaccinating against the flu? I was picking up a prescription at walmart pharmacy and the friendly pharmacist asked if I had had a flu shot...I hadn't but I do get them every year. I had some time to kill before my appointment so YaY! I'm innoculated!

Do you flu shot? Had a bad experience with a flu shot? Or do you not believe in vaccinations. ..

Never had a bad experience with a flu shot...maybe a day or two of psychosomatic weakness.

I did go 3 or 4 years without a flu shot....then I got the flu one year.

NEVAR AGAIN. Yuck.

I was weaker than an Ishmael political argument for over a week.

 

[doowdniw]

I get one every year. Next year I'll get one for shingles and for pneumonia, too.

 

[OralDave]

No bad experiences for me, and I get one every year. The shot doesn't protect against all strains of flu-- last December I got awfully sick despite the shot.

 

[evesdream]

Have never taken it and never much been interested in doing so. Part if the reason is that I don't want to deal with any side effects. I might feel differently if I were living with kids or someone elderly.

I don't remember ever getting the flu, though I've experienced bad colds.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

I don't think the shots are particularly important for young people except to whatever extent they help curtail the spread of infection to others. I too had a bad experience once years ago, and said "Fuck that" forevermore.

Now that I am quite a bit older, I've reconsidered. At my age, it is more important to get it done.

But I still haven't had mine this year.

 

[anchoredinocean]

I started this year for the simple fact that I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and barret's esophagus, which means I need to try to puke as less as possible so my skin cells don't go all cancerous on me. Well, if they haven't already.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

My understanding is that it has a diminished return if you have been getting the shots for the to last several years.

I have never had one.

 

[PeteHulbert37]

Never! I haven't had the flu in over 15 years. Ain't happening!

 

[Misshotndeep]

It's to late now but everyone should get their flu shots unless they are allergic to eggs or have had a reaction to it in the past. The flu shot does not cause the flu. The elderly, those with chronic conditions and children are most likely to get it. Those three groups are also most likely to die from it. If you care for anyone or are in close constant proximity to one of those three groups then you should get it as well. Plus by not getting it you give it an incubation home to grow stronger and mutate into something that is less likely to be vaccinatable. Look at the re emergence of polio. Un necessary loss of life on that one.

 

[jezzilee]

I get them, because why not? I had the flu once, and though it was relatively mild as flus go, the experience instilled in me a deep desire to never go through it again. Anything I can do to lessen the odds is worth it. Plus, there's an elderly person in our home, so it's especially important to reduce exposure.

I have never had a ad experience. My ex husband got sick a few days after he got his one year and decided to never get another.

I don't.....I just wash my hands and dodge sneezes/coughers like it's Z day.

I might occasionally catch some crud but I don't think I've had the flu in a very very long time.

Having kids that go to the county disease pit/exchange (school) though might change that...

That being said from my time in the military I've had every vaccination out there and then some as of 08'.....flu shots every month for 8 years....typhoid...small pox...anthrax...all of them. Shit, could have had myself and Ebola vaccination too if I had stayed long enough to get another deployment to Africa.

Did you feel like a human pin cushipn?

I used to get them every year, never had a bad response. I forgot the last two years, didn't have a bad response. I don't know yet what I'll do this year...but it's December so I should definitely think about it.

BotanyBoy's right about hand washing and just avoiding the germs. Simple steps to stay mostly healthy from this stuff.

I go through gallons of hand sanitizer every month. In my job, it is a neccedsity. I also take other precautions that label me OCD with my coworkers

I get them every year, never has a bad experience.

I think, back when flu shots first really took off there was way more controversy and the media really used any and every adverse reaction to sensationalized the dangers behind it.

 

[MaryanneB]

As a nurse, I had every vaccination and yearly blood work for titers on things like hepatitis. Some were required and others made sense. You can imagine what we were exposed to over the years.
I've never had a problem and will keep up the yearly thing.

 

[pink]

I usually do get the flu shot. I'm sure I will this year.

 

[jezzilee]

Never had a bad experience with a flu shot...maybe a day or two of psychosomatic weakness.

I did go 3 or 4 years without a flu shot....then I got the flu one year.

NEVAR AGAIN. Yuck.

I was weaker than an Ishmael political argument for over a week.

I get one every year. Next year I'll get one for shingles and for pneumonia, too.

My mother had shingles...then she had them again. They say once you have had them you should not get them again. Some people are just that unfotunate. She has had them 5 times and the shot doesn't help!

No bad experiences for me, and I get one every year. The shot doesn't protect against all strains of flu-- last December I got awfully sick despite the shot.

It sucks when you actually get the flu even though you had the shot!

 

[pink]

I wish they would make one for the cold. I need it right now.

 

[itotia]

I've had to have it, due to taking a steroid inhaler thanks to a chest infection. Steroids are immunosuppresants so, naturally, I am going to need something to keep the main big winter nasty at bay.

 

[Aphro]

The one year that I got the shot, THAT was the year I got the flu about two weeks later. Never had it since, and while I have had colds, never had flu again.

 

[Misshotndeep]

The one year that I got the shot, THAT was the year I got the flu about two weeks later. Never had it since, and while I have had colds, never had flu again.

How do you know the difference?
I mean I know how, but how do you know the difference?

 

[Liar]

Never had one. Mainly because I keep forgetting about it.

 

[RjThoughts]

I get one every year because of the diabetes
I get the pneumonia shot because I've had 5 cases of it

 

[jezzilee]

I wish they would make one for the cold. I need it right now.

Feel better pink!