damn flu

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Well in my case, it's not a stomach bug but flu-like symptoms (headache, body ache, light-headedness) the day after getting the shot. Twice. Hard to imagine that being a coincidence. I still get it. But I'm confident the feeling crappy part is due to the shot.

Thats a natural reaction to Uranium-enriched Mercury. They dont want you to know thats what in those shots but I can see through their Lizard-Man facade!

[Fuzz]

Seems I've picked up the plague just before the holidays. Yay me! Ugh. Actually, feels more like a cold, I hope.

[CaptainCrunch]

2 weeks later and its better, but man I'm still hacking and stuffed up like crazy.

[Tiger]

The flu shot has shown to be very ineffective in recent years and recent studies have shown that serial flu shots (getting it every year) has been linked to an increased percentage of getting the flu. I get people's getting vaccine for most things but I don't get people's faith in flu shots even in good years it's 50 50 so it could never even get to herd immunization if everyone got it. People who got the big h1n1 from the 09 scare were even less likely to get future flus. But yes the flu sucks, but if youre going to question the value of a vaccine this would be the one to question at least.

[4X4]

I know I should totally trust what people say on the internet, but maybe for something like this, links to these studies or some other evidence would be prudent.

[Tiger]

As requested

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-persp...ffects-2014-15

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/serial-...hers-1.3147903

I'll have to find other papers I've read, I've tried to look at research on both sides as its effectiveness is something that interests me and there seems to be really lacking data for or against.

For being open. I guess I would have to say I'm against it but want more info, I've even volunteered for flu shot and immune response studies to learn more but I've never been picked

[Fuzz]

If I have a 50% less chance of getting knocked down by the flu for 2 weeks just by taking 10 minutes to go get a shot, I have trouble seeing how that is not worth it. Obviously the flu vaccine is hit and miss, but even at 20% I'd still get it.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

If I have a 50% less chance of getting knocked down by the flu for 2 weeks just by taking 10 minutes to go get a shot, I have trouble seeing how that is not worth it. Obviously the flu vaccine is hit and miss, but even at 20% I'd still get it.

Some people get sick from the shot. I've gotten the shot, got a minor cold/flu the next day. Then a month later got the real flu. I'm out. Screw the herd.

This year I really tried to improve my overall health with immune oriented vitamins and supplements. So far so good. First year ever without my labour day/back to school cold, bronchitis in November with a three month cough to boot and a Christmas flu. I guess the real test will be a house full of buggy people coming up. But it's already been a remarkable difference from the status quo.

[Erick Estrada]

If the flu shot was everything it's cooked up to be why do I never get the flu? Ever? I've counted three people this morning staying home sick because of the flu and I know for a fact the guy in the cubicle next to me that's home today got a shot. I don't think I'm an outlier as it's really only a matter of getting a little exercise, washing your hands regularly (probably the single best thing you can do), and eating relatively healthy (I still love my burgers, pizza, etc but I eat an apple, banana, etc every day).

[SportsJunky]

The anecdotal evidence is everywhere!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If the flu shot was everything it's cooked up to be why do I never get the flu? Ever? I've counted three people this morning staying home sick because of the flu and I know for a fact the guy in the cubicle next to me that's home today got a shot. I don't think I'm an outlier as it's really only a matter of getting a little exercise, washing your hands regularly (probably the single best thing you can do), and eating relatively healthy (I still love my burgers, pizza, etc but I eat an apple, banana, etc every day).

The flu shot does not work 100%... everyone knows that. There are also hundreds of other things that can make someone sick and give flu-like symptoms that aren't the flu. People just tend to self-diagnose any illness with those symptoms as a flu.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Some people get sick from the shot. I've gotten the shot, got a minor cold/flu the next day. Then a month later got the real flu. I'm out. Screw the herd.

This year I really tried to improve my overall health with immune oriented vitamins and supplements. So far so good. First year ever without my labour day/back to school cold, bronchitis in November with a three month cough to boot and a Christmas flu. I guess the real test will be a house full of buggy people coming up. But it's already been a remarkable difference from the status quo.

Supplements and vitamins have no peer reviewed evidence that they work while the flu shot has evidence it works sometimes.

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

If I have a 50% less chance of getting knocked down by the flu for 2 weeks just by taking 10 minutes to go get a shot, I have trouble seeing how that is not worth it. Obviously the flu vaccine is hit and miss, but even at 20% I'd still get it.

what about recent years where the flu shot has a net negative value taking it year over year? basically studies show that taking vitamin D could give you the same protection.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by GGG

Supplements and vitamins have no peer reviewed evidence that they work while the flu shot has evidence it works sometimes.

So?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Tiger

what about recent years where the flu shot has a net negative value taking it year over year? basically studies show that taking vitamin D could give you the same protection.

From your link

"The effect of prior vaccination on VE is something we've been looking at but we still don't really understand the effects," he said. "The people who get vaccinated every year, they still get a significant benefit of vaccine. It varies from year to year, but on the whole, people who get vaccinated every year have less flu than those who don't."
He advised particular caution in judging the suggestion that people who were vaccinated 3 years in a row had a higher risk of infection in 2014-15 than their unvaccinated peers.
"That's a message we'd like to be really cautious about, any suggestion that there was a negative effect. I think the consistent results between US and Canada are the low VE with the drifted strain," he said. "The negative effects we did not see in the US."

So until they change the recommendation, I'm going to continue to get it. Not just for me, but to protect those close to me who the consequences of getting the flu could be much worse.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

The anecdotal evidence is everywhere!

Actually if you research everything I said can be backed up. Only 5% of the population washes their hands properly and I'm evidence of the effects of being in that 5%.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Tiger

As requested

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-persp...ffects-2014-15

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/serial-...hers-1.3147903

So it's better to go every other year?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Some people get sick from the shot. I've gotten the shot, got a minor cold/flu the next day. Then a month later got the real flu. I'm out. Screw the herd.

This year I really tried to improve my overall health with immune oriented vitamins and supplements. So far so good. First year ever without my labour day/back to school cold, bronchitis in November with a three month cough to boot and a Christmas flu. I guess the real test will be a house full of buggy people coming up. But it's already been a remarkable difference from the status quo.

Jeez. Sounds like getting honked at in traffic will get you sick. You should probably get the flu shot AND take the vitamins. Why not? It's free, and as long as Canadian doctors are recommending it, it's very likely a good idea.

I appreciate the links Tiger provided, and maybe once they make a conclusion, they will modify their recommendation for flu shots, but until then, the recommendation is to get it. I guess I'm one of the herd, but I trust Canadian doctors and medical science. Just because some people that get sick 10 times a year, every year, still get sick, doesn't mean the shot is useless. How do you know that you're not avoiding a second annual flu by getting the shot? I digress. I like the 0 people queue when I go, and I like decreasing my chances of getting that seriously crappy illness. To each his own.

[Tiger]

another group that I forgot as I haven't read there stuff in awhile is the cochrane group. They have a good reputation of doing meta studies, I know people complain because they eliminate a lot of studies due to bias and poor methodology so it eliminates like 70% of studies according to the above link, stating only 10% of studies have good methods. Sorry if I come off as anti-vacc as I am really not (I've got every other vacc), I'm just conflicted about is the flu shot worth it

[Izzle]

BUMP!



It's that time of year where they ask you to get your flu shots. Anyone else getting theirs?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...open-1.4367453