Who's getting the H1N1 shot?

[Jonrox]

Originally Posted by Rerun

If you don't get the H1N1 vaccine you could die.

If you get the flu because you did not get the vaccination, you may not die, but you could possibly spread it to someone else who does die. If you cause someone else to die, may you rot in ****.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, "The flu affects 10-25% of Canadians each year. While the majority who become sick will recover, the flu results in an average of 20,000 hospitalizations and 2,000 to 8,000 deaths in Canada each year."

I hope that you've always been such a huge supporter of flu shots in your lifetime and have gotten one every single year. Because if not and you have ever had the flu, not only are you lucky to be alive, but you may have killed someone. The mortality rate of H1N1 is similar to, if not lower than, the seasonal flu.

The fear-mongering being spread this year is out of control. I don't remember reading up to 8,000 newspaper articles any year over the past several telling me about all the people who died from seasonal flu.

Being slightly more at risk than most people, I get flu shots yearly. But I don't judge people who don't want one for whatever reason. If somebody would rather run the risk of being sick for a week, than expose themselves to the purported risks of vaccinations (or go wait in line somewhere with hundreds of people that are at higher risk and already more likely to be sick with something I could catch), that's totally cool with me.

Everyone just needs to chill out.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Well if you are out there pushing your nonsense on people, and then insulting them for disagreeing, Hells' Angel or not the angry mob would get you.....
I wish I had a picture of an angry mob to illustrate this for you.

I think I saw a good one in witch thread. Let me go look.

EDIT: Yep. Here it is....

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

I hope that you've always been such a huge supporter of flu shots in your lifetime and have gotten one every single year. Because if not and you have ever had the flu, not only are you lucky to be alive, but you may have killed someone.

No... I will admit that in the past I have not gotten a flu shot every year. I have always supported them but I've been lazy and not gotten one every year. I took my chances. .... I guess I also took chances with other peoples health too, by not getting the shot. My bad. I hope nobody became seriously ill because of my past negligence. If they did I'm sorry. I was stupid, ignorant, foolish, and selfish.

However, as I've gotten older and seen the effect that serious illness has on some people, I've perhaps gotten a little wiser (or at least I hope so). I now get my flu shot every year. I try to do my part to protect myself and those around me. .... also, hopefully, I am easing the burden on the Alberta health care system, which frankly I believe is pretty close to the breaking point as it is, without the H1N1 pandemic thrown in to make everything even more of a cluster######.

[joe_mullen]

Originally Posted by Canuck-Hater

As it stands im just taking vitamin D3 everyday to help my body's immune system, washing my hands frequently. That should be good enough.

I'm not sure vitamin D3 has ever been proven to help immune system function. It will likely make no difference.

[Shazam]

Just setting aside the whole "THE FLU WILL KILL YOU!" rhetoric, getting the flu can be brutal. Yeah, sometimes it's mild. But the one time I got it, it was horrible.

Think of the hardest workout you ever did. Multiply it by 6. Then imagine your balls getting kicked in repeatedly over a few hours.

The flu is worse.

Just try to think of the lost work hours you'll have.

[joe_mullen]

While the H1N1 vaccination is meant to decrease preventable deaths, it is also meant to decrease the significant strain (which we are already starting to see) on the health care system. Vaccines save money. While 400 deaths may not be "much", a sudden influx of unexpected very ill patients will overwhelm ICUs, clog up the ER and overwhelm family docs offices.

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Just setting aside the whole "THE FLU WILL KILL YOU!" rhetoric, getting the flu can be brutal. Yeah, sometimes it's mild. But the one time I got it, it was horrible.

Think of the hardest workout you ever did. Multiply it by 6. Then imagine your balls getting kicked in repeatedly over a few hours.

The flu is worse.

Just try to think of the lost work hours you'll have.

or the increased xbox playing! wait bad things umm not being able to go to a flames game. although im not planning on getting the shot

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by joe_mullen

While the H1N1 vaccination is meant to decrease preventable deaths, it is also meant to decrease the significant strain (which we are already starting to see) on the health care system. Vaccines save money. While 400 deaths may not be "much", a sudden influx of unexpected very ill patients will overwhelm ICUs, clog up the ER and overwhelm family docs offices.

I agree. The main concern with influenza isn't the number of deaths (though the more deaths we can prevent the better - unless you hate people I suppose). For every person that dies several will end up in ICU, a bunch more will either be hospitalized or take up the time of doctors and other health care professionals, and about 1000 will get sick.

I don't even think the health care costs are the big cost though. All those sick people will be for the most part unable to work for about a week (on average). In many cases other people will be staying home to look after them (e.g. if kids are sick one of their parents will end up taking a week off work). Based on previous pandemics, a lot of experts are suggesting that workplaces should brace for ~30% absenteeism at the peak period (a combination of people being off sick, people taking care of sick family, and people who stay home out of fear). That will have a huge effect on a lot of businesses - some may not even be able to operate. The economic costs could be quite significant - and probably at the worst time possible when we're trying to get out of a recession.

That's why the government considers it worthwhile to pay for a mass vaccination program - between health care costs and economic costs there would be a major hit on government finances from a full-blown pandemic.

The handling of the program has of course been a joke. I think it should have been limited to high risk groups and people living with or caring for high risk individuals for the first couple of weeks, then opened up to the public, since it is the high risk groups that are most likely to get the serious form of the disease. The combination of a free-for-all at the clinics and the media overkill causing some people to panic has led to the mess at the clinics, with people getting downright rude in the lineups from what I've heard (for example people taking their kids to the bathroom during their multi-hour wait not being let back in the line).

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I suspect that 99% of those people also had underlying health complications.

Actually - 90%

In that province (Ontario), the average age of those who have died from H1N1 is 55, and nearly 90% of those who have succumbed to the virus had a pre-existing health condition.

The H1N1 flu virus affects younger people more, officials say, but most experience few complications from the disease. A number of ‘‘priority groups’’ has been identified nationally who should get the vaccine first, but preteen and teenaged children are not among them.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/b...bout-h1n1.aspx

I'm waiting so all the priority people get immunized first, but when available I will definitely be immunized.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by BurningYears

or the increased xbox playing! wait bad things umm not being able to go to a flames game. although im not planning on getting the shot

I hate responding to puerile posts, but your hands will hurt so much that you won't be able to hold the controller.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I'm waiting so all the priority people get immunized first, but when available I will definitely be immunized.

Thank you. I appreciate it (I have diabetes) and my elderly mother appreciates it.
Very poor planning on part of the provincial government. As I was standing in line Monday I was thinking that there were probably a wack of people in line with me who really didn't need to get vaccinated immediately and it would be much better if there was some sort or triage system set up where there were 2 different lines.... one for high risk candidates (and those who live with high risk candidates) and one for everyone else.

But still, it is important that as many people get the vaccine as possible... you know .... herd immunization to protect us from those that refuse to be vaccinated.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Rerun

It'll be interesting to see, 6 months down the road, how many CP members got the vaccination (right now we are running at 47.52% saying they will not be getting the shot). I suspect that a lot of the no's will change their minds.

If one of the options in the poll was; "No, but I may change my mind at some pont", then I would have chose that as my answer.

I think it's the way a lot of people feel. They want more information on both the vaccine and the virus before they rush out and get the vaccine.

Of course, by the time the high risk people actually get the vaccine at the rate things are going now, it might not matter as the peak season for it will be over.

[Dion]

H1N1 Clinic Lines Moving Quickly In High River

When the first clinic for H1N1 vaccines opened in High River on Wednesday the line stretched out the doors of the Memorial Centre and down Macleod Trail. People started lining up as early as 8:30 a.m. for the clinic, which opened at 9 a.m.

Later that day it was a different story. In the foyer, people were filling out their forms and proceeding into the clinic in minutes. Once inside the wait averaged between half an hour to an hour, a far different scenario than has been seen in Calgary and Okotoks.

Chad and Suzie Turner drove from Okotoks to get their four children immunized and said they were "very impressed."

"It only took about 45 minutes, basically in and out," Suzie said. "It was very efficient, the shots themselves took about 10 minutes for all six of us. The nurses just finished one family and moved on to the next."

The clinic ran Wednesday and Thursday and will run again on Nov. 4, 5, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, Dec. 3, 7 and 10 at the Memorial Centre. The Nov. 4 clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the remainder will be from noon to 6 p.m. There will be one held at Sheppard Family Park on Nov. 12 from noon to 6 p.m.

http://www.highrivertimes.com/Articl...aspx?e=2154711

[pylon]

Just some feedback about the actual shot, and side effects.

I got the shot in Tuesday. I am spooked by this thing since five people I know got H1N1 and two are currently in ICU, and one on a resperator. My mother has a very weak immune system, and I can't risk her getting it, she would likely end up in the ICU as well. Since I visit her once or twice a week, I figured it would be prudent.

Now I don't have huge vaccine experience since this is the first I've had in about 13 years but man, did that shot kick me in the ass. For two days I was:

- unexplicable confusion (almost like just before getting drunk).
- chronically tired.
- massive headache
- had that "coming down with a bad cold/flu feeling" stiffness / aches
- and he localised area in my shoulder was really 'hard' and very, very sore. Like when a buddy slugs you in the shoulder.

I got home from work on Wednesday (had the shot on Tues) went to bed at 9, and slept until 4:30 the next afternoon. I have never been out that long in my life. Good thing I had Thursday off.

All I can say, whatever is in this thing, it is potent, and be prepared for the side effects if you get it. Other people I know are reporting similar things, especially the headache / malaise / confusion.

Just thought those who haven't gone yet would like some feedback forewarning. You may want to take a day off after you get it.

[Finner]

Yes the side effects can be pretty bad. My girlfriend and I got the shot yesterday. I was fine, but she was very sick last night and slept until 8pm today.
Fever, dizzy and shaky, nausea, muscle soreness and weakness, lots of pain - head, even ears. It it pretty much better tonight though and we're glad we got the shot over with.
Maybe it's because it's a new strain and we don't have any immunity to it. Most people seem to get away with just some soreness though.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by pylon

Just some feedback about the actual shot, and side effects.

I got the shot in Tuesday. I am spooked by this thing since five people I know got H1N1 and two are currently in ICU, and one on a resperator. My mother has a very weak immune system, and I can't risk her getting it, she would likely end up in the ICU as well. Since I visit her once or twice a week, I figured it would be prudent.

Now I don't have huge vaccine experience since this is the first I've had in about 13 years but man, did that shot kick me in the ass. For two days I was:

- unexplicable confusion (almost like just before getting drunk).
- chronically tired.
- massive headache
- had that "coming down with a bad cold/flu feeling" stiffness / aches
- and he localised area in my shoulder was really 'hard' and very, very sore. Like when a buddy slugs you in the shoulder.

I got home from work on Wednesday (had the shot on Tues) went to bed at 9, and slept until 4:30 the next afternoon. I have never been out that long in my life. Good thing I had Thursday off.

All I can say, whatever is in this thing, it is potent, and be prepared for the side effects if you get it. Other people I know are reporting similar things, especially the headache / malaise / confusion.

Just thought those who haven't gone yet would like some feedback forewarning. You may want to take a day off after you get it.

Not to say pylon is fearmongering or anything a long those lines, but I got the shot on Tuesday and other than the very isolated pain in the arm (feeling like a charley horse), I had no side affects at all. I was working the next day and haven't had any of those. So I'm not sure if I'm the majority or the minority but just something to keep in mind.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Not to say pylon is fearmongering or anything a long those lines, but I got the shot on Tuesday and other than the very isolated pain in the arm (feeling like a charley horse), I had no side affects at all. I was working the next day and haven't had any of those. So I'm not sure if I'm the majority or the minority but just something to keep in mind.

Good point, I don't want to scare people off, I still think it is best as many people as possible get vaccinated. I just wanted to share my experience with it, so if someone does feel like a giant bag of dog crap after, that its not unusual. Of the people I know who got it, it seems to be a split of what you are reporting, and what I went through. I should have added that as of Friday, I felt perfectly fine, just a bit of a sore shoulder now.

[metallicat]

Ok, I have a few questions.

Right now, I'm not planning to get the shot. That could change. If I happen to get the flu, what am I supposed to do? Just stay home and deal with it how I normally would with the normal flu?

I ask these question without having read most of this thread. I'm not going to read 700+ responses, when it seems a lot of it may just be bickering back and forth.

[wooohooo]

Oilers_fan

I believe so yes. Stay home, rest lots, drink lots of liquids.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Oilers_fan

I believe so yes. Stay home, rest lots, drink lots of liquids.

But there's no need to rush to a doctor if I suddenly get the flu? Can they even do anything for you once you get it, if you do indeed contract H1N1?