Thank you, flu vaccine

mike_v_s · #1 09-15-2009, 05:46 PM

You and your propaganda machine convinced my wife to get her and out two children vaccinated. Now they have the flu. I had elected not to go for this very reason and now I'm more than likely going to catch it anyway. I appreciate it.

Mike

username n/a · #2 09-15-2009, 05:47 PM

Is it swine flu?

PaulNYC · #3 09-15-2009, 05:47 PM

The main indicator of if you'll get the flu is children

mike_v_s · #4 09-15-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username n/a

Is it swine flu?

No. I don't think you'll be able to have that legally injected into your family under the guise of prevention for another month or so.

Mike

RWP · #5 09-15-2009, 05:55 PM

Wow that sucks. Wonder if it was the shot or just coincidence? My entire family has gotten one every year for 10 years with good results.

MakiSupaStar · #6 09-15-2009, 05:57 PM

Yeah. As a teacher they offer this to me every year. Because I'm naturally lazy I don't always get it. I've since stopped doing it because every year that I take it I get dog sick.

mike_v_s · #7 09-15-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWP

Wow that sucks. Wonder if it was the shot or just coincidence? My entire family has gotten one every year for 10 years with good results.

I believe it was the vaccine. The Dr. told my wife to expect at least one of the kids to come down with a very mild/24 case of the flu in reaction to the vaccine. Well, they both did and it was full-blown. My wife caught it from them.

Mike

RWP · #8 09-15-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Yeah. As a teacher they offer this to me every year. Because I'm naturally lazy I don't always get it. I've since stopped doing it because every year that I take it I get dog sick.

As a teacher you are constantly exposed. That must suck. I think if I were in your situation I would wear a mask and rubber gloves all day, like this teacher.

Chunk-O-Funk · #9 09-15-2009, 06:12 PM

I didn't think it was possible to get the flu from the vaccination. Something about there not being actual live flu viruses in the vaccine.

I got my shot a few weeks ago, and so far so good. Although, my manager is sick as a dog. He got one too.

Hope you and yours feel better soon.

rcarraher · #10 09-15-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

You and your propaganda machine convinced my wife to get her and out two children vaccinated. Now they have the flu. I had elected not to go for this very reason and now I'm more than likely going to catch it anyway. I appreciate it.

Mike

Just recently went into the VA hospital for somethings, and they pushed and pushed for me to get the Shot. Told them I haven't had the flu since the last time I got the Shot. Twenty years or so. My girl friend went a head and got the shot, since she is asthmatic and it's supposed to be deadly in asthmatics. Now she's got it, and I am still doing just fine.....well, I don't have the flu anyhow.

SuperDuck · #11 09-15-2009, 06:22 PM

I felt pretty poopy after I got the flu vaccine last year. I figure I'll just not get it this year and take my chances. Why deprive the old and sickly of shots when I'm young and sickly?

Hawaii Islander · #12 09-15-2009, 06:25 PM

The CDC site gives good info on flu vaccinces and their efficacy in flu prevention. It clearly is not 100% effective (and they say so up front). Most people who develop flu-like symtoms after recieving the vaccine tend to have a milder case (but not always).

Here's some interesting reading from the CDC, for those who are interested.

Quote:

Does the seasonal flu vaccine work the same for everyone?
The seasonal flu vaccine is the single best way to prevent seasonal flu, and vaccination is the main tool used to protect people from seasonal influenza. A number of studies have shown that the seasonal flu vaccine works, but how well the vaccine works can change from year to year and vary among different groups of people. The ability of the seasonal flu vaccine to protect a person depends on at least two things: 1) the age and health of the person getting the vaccine, and 2) the similarity or "match" between the virus strains in the vaccine and those being spread in the community.

Vaccine effectiveness is not 100%, and some people can still get the flu. For instance, some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses might develop less immunity than healthy young adults after vaccination. However, even for these high-risk individuals, the seasonal flu vaccine still can provide protection against getting severe complications from seasonal flu.

How effective is the seasonal flu vaccine in the elderly?
Among elderly persons not living in chronic-care facilities (such as nursing homes) and those persons with long-term (chronic) medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), the seasonal flu shot is 30%-70% effective in preventing hospitalization for pneumonia (a lung infection) and influenza. In past studies among elderly nursing home residents, the seasonal flu shot was most effective in preventing severe illness and complications that may follow flu (like pneumonia), and deaths related to the flu. In this population, the shot can be 50%-60% effective in preventing hospitalization or pneumonia, and 80% effective in preventing death from the flu.

Because persons aged 65 years and older are at high risk for serious complications from seasonal flu, it also is important that people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications get a seasonal flu vaccination.

How effective is the seasonal flu vaccine in children?
Because children younger than 5 years of age are at increased risk of severe flu illnesses, children 6-59 months and the household contacts and caregivers of children 0-59 months are recommended to get the seasonal flu vaccine every year. Children younger than 6 months of age are most at risk for having complications from seasonal flu. However, they are too young to get the seasonal flu vaccine. To protect these infants, it is very important that their household members and out-of-home caregivers be vaccinated against seasonal flu.

The seasonal flu vaccine can prevent 66% or more influenza infections in young children, with even higher estimates for older children, when the vaccine strains are well-matched to the flu viruses causing illness. Vaccinating close contacts of children can also help decrease children’s risk of getting the flu.

Besides vaccination, how can people protect themselves against seasonal flu?
Getting the seasonal flu vaccine each year is the best way to prevent seasonal flu. Antiviral drugs are an important second line of defense against the flu; these drugs must be prescribed by a doctor. In addition, good health habits, such as covering your cough and washing your hands, can help prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses.

For information about selecting the viruses in the seasonal flu vaccine, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals...on/virusqa.htm.

hbarcat · #13 09-15-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWP

I think if I were in your situation I would wear a mask and rubber gloves all day, like this teacher.

That's a really nice looking mask. I wonder what her face looks like underneath it.

Hawaii Islander · #14 09-15-2009, 06:34 PM

Point of info:

Vaccines initiate an immune response to the virus' (antigens) via a primary antibody response. This basically primes the immune system to respond rapidly and vigorously to a second antigen (flu virus) exposure later on.

The initial antibody response to a vaccine can produce flu-like symptoms. It will provide a better response against the actual flu virus later on. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against H1N1 or other variants of the seasonal flu.

mike_v_s · #15 09-15-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawaii Islander

Point of info:

Vaccines initiate an immune response to the virus' (antigens) via a primary antibody response. This basically primes the immune system to respond rapidly and vigorously to a second antigen (flu virus) exposure later on.

The initial antibody response to a vaccine can produce flu-like symptoms. It will provide a better response against the actual flu virus later on. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against H1N1 or other variants of the seasonal flu.

As much as I'd like to think this is iron-clad information from the CDC...I'm staring at 3 people whose "flu-like symptoms" look suspiciously like "all out flu". Both doctors said the same thing. In my wife's case, the only thing this has prepared her for is a near death experience and possibly toughened her mentally to the point where she thinks that walking into oncoming traffic is a decent way to get rid of flu-like symptoms.

Mike

Happynoj · #16 09-15-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbarcat

That's a really nice looking mask. I wonder what her face looks like underneath it.

Damn. I was totally going to make that joke.

newbold · #17 09-15-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWP

As a teacher you are constantly exposed. That must suck. I think if I were in your situation I would wear a mask and rubber gloves all day, like this teacher.

Well color me Van Halen.

jaywa · #18 09-15-2009, 07:32 PM

I have never gotten a flu vaccine, for this exact reason. And don't intend to this year. I've talked to too many people who say the "cure" is worse than the disease. Eff the U.S. Govt. for trying to propagandize me into what I should or should not put into my body anyway.

Tama · #19 09-15-2009, 07:35 PM

I never get flu shots Mike.
I figure my immune system needs to do it's thing and I don't need it considering I don't get sick too much.

You know, I gotta wonder what it does to our collective immune systems to have so many ways to avoid germs & such?

I mean, back in the day people had good immune systems because the system was forced (so to speak) to do it's job.

I may be wrong, but unless someone is vunerable I think it's better to leave well enough alone.
Cheers, Dave

Hawaii Islander · #20 09-15-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

As much as I'd like to think this is iron-clad information from the CDC...I'm staring at 3 people whose "flu-like symptoms" look suspiciously like "all out flu". Both doctors said the same thing. In my wife's case, the only thing this has prepared her for is a near death experience and possibly toughened her mentally to the point where she thinks that walking into oncoming traffic is a decent way to get rid of flu-like symptoms.

Mike

The info from my post that you quoted can be found in any virology, immunology or cell biology textbook. It's not government based info.

BTW: If you get vaccinated after or just before exposure to the flu virus, the vaccination isn't going to do any good, but that's just the "luck of the draw".

Also, H1N1 is already out and about and infecting people in significant numbers even though no vaccine for it is currently available (although it will be available early next month).

If infected, there is no way of telling which flu type(s) you and your family came down with for sure, unless you are tested.