Flu Shot

[Burninator]

My girlfriend got the flu last year. It's not very fun. You are sick for a solid week, not just a day or two. Obviously it wasn't going to kill her, but being sick for a week is really crappy.

Getting a shot lessens the chance of you being sick for a least week, not to mention the other reasons for getting it. Totally worth it in my mind.

[Rerun]

I knew a girl who knew someone that caught a venereal disease from a toilet seat in a public washroom.

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by fotze

After all these years I still forget what the difference between the flu and a cold is? Maybe someone can give me a refresher.

projectile vomit?

[Lucifer]

As a type 1 diabetic, I always get the flu shot. That's my reason for getting it, otherwise I probably wouldn't.

Well, I probably still would, but it wouldn't be something I feel I need to get.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by fotze

After all these years I still forget what the difference between the flu and a cold is? Maybe someone can give me a refresher.

They are both viruses. But not much, usually the flu is worse than a cold and develop into something more complicated.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by fotze

After all these years I still forget what the difference between the flu and a cold is? Maybe someone can give me a refresher.

It's tough to determine if it's a cold or influenza when symptoms begin, but influenza's biggest indicator is fever and chills, as well as body aches that make around 30% (very rough number) confined to bed for up to a week, usually 3-10 days.

So they both start out the same with cough, nasal congestion and general weakness, but influenza symptoms will usually last longer, be presented with fever of around 38-39 degrees Celsius and the body aches and pains could end up being so severe that you can't leave the bed.

[MelBridgeman]

wash those hands and don't put them in your mouth

avoid people

problem solved

[Sainters7]

I usually get it, my whole family's the biggest band-aids from October-March, I need to become a coke dealer & move to the Cayman Islands I think..

And I find it usually works, never had any problems with getting sick right after or anything like some in here seem to.

[edn88]

Got mine today, and have gotten them for past decade. Sore arm is the only thing I feel. Have still gotten the flu in one or two of those years

[Canuck-Hater]

Originally Posted by vektor

A fellow nutrition enthusiast. I'm always trying to incorporate new things into my diet, if you don't mind me asking what are some of the essential foods in your diet that you would consider unconventional (i.e. not fish).

No secrets really, taking a dose of vitamins daily (C, B6, D, E, Multivitamins, Zinc, etc). Also eating foods that boost the immune system like Garlic, Avocados, Nuts, etc. Finally, lots of fluids and rest. I dont know if you can call that unconventional, but it seems to be working for me.

[vtec260]

I get it every year. I work with the public so I don't want to get sick and I don't want to give them flu as a carrier. It's H1N1 that I want to protect myself from, not as much as flu. Flu shot cannot give you flu, as previous mentioned.

People who hate needle shots and kids, ask for Flumist which is a nasal mist (this one is a live virus so only absolutely healthy person should get it) that gets shot into both nostrils as an inhalation.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I was talking to my gf who is a researcher in this field, and I remember her saying one of the problems is by having all these flu shots, flu strains are having their own evolution and it will be tougher and tougher for scientists to fight these flues as they evolve via evolution. In general, its probably better to saturate the flu's out there and people get sick once in a while, but we don't end up with Avian Flu.

I think you should ask your girlfriend about this again. I don't doubt she knows her stuff but it sounds like you have a misunderstanding about what she told you.

[Daradon]

I've heard this even from people who work in the field that some years they work great and some years, they don't work at all.

The reason being is that they're basically trying to figure out how the common strains are mutating before they even become prevalent. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they miss.

I get them most every year cause of my heart, (actually missed a few cause I was starting to wonder about their effectiveness) and I can say that seems right to me. Sometimes it really seems to make a difference, and other years, not so much.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by Daradon

The reason being is that they're basically trying to figure out how the common strains are mutating before they even become prevalent. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they miss.

What they actually try to do is to guess which strains of influenza developing in the hotspots (mostly in Asia) that will likely spread to the rest of the world and manufacture a vaccine directed towards those strains. Sometimes they guess correctly. Sometimes not.

Mutation in the influenza virus is due to its highly error-prone transciptase. It's not possible to predict mutation because it's a random occurrence.

[Rubber Ducky]

My family and I went to get the flu shots yesterday. I didn't do it when I was single, but my wife is a supporter of the shots and now we get them every year with our kids.

We went to the Avenida clinic around 4:00 PM yesterday and there was no line-up. In and out.

And as mentioned, this year they have a nasal mist for the kids. The biggest problem with the flu shots every year for us was the kids recognizing where we were going and knowing that they were about to get a needle. The mist yesterday was amazing - no muss, no fuss. And they still got stickers from the nurse.

My arm hurts a little today, but other than that I feel normal.

[The Yen Man]

I'm not sure if I've ever had the flu before as I can't really tell the difference between that and a cold. I rarely get colds as is, and I don't think I've ever had it so bad that I fit all the flu symptoms, so I would guess I haven't had it before.

With that being said, I guess I'll assume I've never had the flu when I didn't go for the shot, but I've been getting the shot for the past 5 years or so, and I've never got it after either. So I have no idea how effective it is, but I just get it since it doesn't hurt to take another preventative measure.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by fotze

So you don't necessarily need to be puking out your ass?

Pretty sure that the flu has no symptoms that are similar to that.

Cold vs Flu

Little bit large.

Spoiler!

[JonDuke]

Health Canada suspends distribution of Novartis flu shots

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/health-...hots-1.1012745

Health Canada has asked Novartis, the maker of 20 per cent of the country’s flu vaccines, to halt distribution of two brands while they consult with European agencies about an odd finding.
Several European countries, including Italy, Germany and Switzerland, recently recalled the vaccines after seeing particles in them. The manufacturer had also reported during the summer that clumps of particles were discovered in the manufacturing process.
“It is a precautionary approach because the Europeans found something…these clumps or small particles not from outside but within the vaccine,” Dr. Paul Gully with Health Canada, said in an interview from Vancouver.
“They have obviously seen something so we are in the process of talking to them about what they saw and why we are doing what we are doing and I think in the meantime…it is prudent for us to do the same thing.”
The temporary halt of distribution involves two products – Agriflu and Fluad. The vaccines are produced in pre-filled syringes.
“We are at the beginning of the season...they are in the process of being distributed,” Gully said.
According to Health Canada, particles in vaccine vials are not uncommon and have no known impact on safety and effectiveness.
However, the agency said it issued its request to Novartis as a precautionary measure until a full review of the situation is completed.
"I don't think this means we have a big problem with the vaccine. It's a short-term pause to test things out,” Dr. Neil Rau, an infectious disease specialist, told CTV News.
"You worry that a story like this will make people think there is something dangerous about the flu vaccine, and that is definitely not the case. This is an abundance of caution.”
In a statement, Novartis maintains the vaccines are "safe" and that use in Europe so far has shown "no unexpected adverse events.”
European health officials expect to have their investigation complete in a couple of days.
“We want to get the info to health care providers and Canadians as soon as possible so we can then say there is no problem, no issue,” Gully said, stressing that Canadians should not avoid getting the flu shot.
“Please go forward and get immunized because any possible risk for the vaccine is infinitesimal and is far outweighed by getting the flu and what can be a really nasty disease,” he said.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is also recommending that health care workers in possession of Novartis vaccines refrain from using them until the review is complete.

[schteve_d]

I've never had a flu shot and I'm not sure I want to change anything as I haven't had the flu in years. I seem to get colds more frequently than most people I know and they tend to be less severe than other's colds but last longer. I consider that lucky I guess.

Not convinced I should change a thing.

The closest I've come in a long time was a few Christmas' ago when my entire family got the Norwalk Virus while visiting my Grandfather in the hospital. Don't recommend that for a good time!

As far as flus go, I would have to guess it's been at least ten years since I've had a bout of it.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by The Goon

Go get it at Safeway - they'll give you a coupon for 20 Air Miles if you spend $20 in the store.

This is exactly how I got mine. They announced you could get a flu shot and 20 air miles. 3 minutes later I was done and out of there.