Who's getting the H1N1 shot?

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I'm not saying my experience, is going to be like many other people's. I'm just saying that I've likely caught the virus already, and basically I've suffered no effects.

It is actually surprisingly common to have influenza and no symptoms - but for the people that do get symptoms it can be nasty. However, unless you get symptoms and are actually tested there's no real way to know whether you really did have the virus or not.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I'm not saying my experience, is going to be like many other people's. I'm just saying that I've likely caught the virus already, and basically I've suffered no effects.

Yeah... No.

My brother got it, and he was knocked back so hard he couldn't walk for a week.

[Ashartus]

Got my shot this morning (and my son got his 2nd dose); maybe a little bit of a sore arm, but no worse than the seasonal flu shot so far.

[FlamesAddiction]

I figured enough time had gone by to judge it fairly, so I got it today as well. Plus, other people from work were going. Arm is sore and feels cold and heavy.

No line up or wait either. They called my number before I could even sit down.

It feels good to know that I am helping to save the world from doom.

[Jonrox]

Just a few questions...

When people are going to the clinics to get their H1N1 shots, are they also getting their second shot for seasonal flu? Or is everyone content knowing they could contract and spread this equally deadly virus? You're being incredibly irresponsible if you're not... you could die, spread the virus to your whole family, who will then spread it to everyone they know, and they'll all die too.

I went and got my seasonal shot (in BC) and the doc told me he thought very few BC residents were also getting their seasonal shot because it costs $20. For every reason that people are getting H1N1 they should also be getting their seasonal shot. But it sounds like people in BC are willing to risk dying (if you believe the H1N1 hype, you would also believe the regular flu is deadly) at the expense of saving $20.

If you didn't get your seasonal shot, you fell for the hype and have still left yourselves exposed to the same risks you were trying to protect against.

Did you know the cost to the federal government for the H1N1 vaccination program is approaching $500 million? And that doesn't include the millions of dollars the provinces will be spending as well. Had this been well publicized before the program was implemented, I'm not sure support for the program would have been as high as it was.

And since this was an unexpected cost, what programs will be cut or taxes raised to pay for it? The money has to come from somewhere.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

Did you know the cost to the federal government for the H1N1 vaccination program is approaching $500 million? And that doesn't include the millions of dollars the provinces will be spending as well. Had this been well publicized before the program was implemented, I'm not sure support for the program would have been as high as it was.

And since this was an unexpected cost, what programs will be cut or taxes raised to pay for it? The money has to come from somewhere.

Um, you know we're running a deficit right?

If the government DIDN'T cough up the dough for this, there would be public outrage. It was an unforeseen cost, but definitely the right course of action for the government.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

... who will then spread it to everyone they know, and they'll all die too.

Why are you acting like an ass?

As for the question posed, here in Ontario you can't get the seasonal yet and it will only become available in late December or early January. Which is generally the REAL flu season.

Did you know the cost to the federal government for the H1N1 vaccination program is approaching $500 million? And that doesn't include the millions of dollars the provinces will be spending as well. Had this been well publicized before the program was implemented, I'm not sure support for the program would have been as high as it was. And since this was an unexpected cost, what programs will be cut or taxes raised to pay for it? The money has to come from somewhere.

I think the cost of NOT giving the vaccine would have cost more in lost wages and productivity.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

Just a few questions...

When people are going to the clinics to get their H1N1 shots, are they also getting their second shot for seasonal flu? Or is everyone content knowing they could contract and spread this equally deadly virus? You're being incredibly irresponsible if you're not... you could die, spread the virus to your whole family, who will then spread it to everyone they know, and they'll all die too.

I went and got my seasonal shot (in BC) and the doc told me he thought very few BC residents were also getting their seasonal shot because it costs $20. For every reason that people are getting H1N1 they should also be getting their seasonal shot. But it sounds like people in BC are willing to risk dying (if you believe the H1N1 hype, you would also believe the regular flu is deadly) at the expense of saving $20.
.

I inquired about getting the seasonal flu shot and was told I didn't qualify.

[Jonrox]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I inquired about getting the seasonal flu shot and was told I didn't qualify.

You don't have to "qualify" for the seasonal vaccine. You can qualify to have it for free if you're a high risk individual, otherwise you pay for it. It's available to every citizen as long as you're willing to pay for it. If you want it, you can have it.

To Devil's... I don't mean to be an ass, I believe in flu shots and have got the seasonal shot every year since I was a kid. I was just hyping up the seasonal flu shot - it's extremely important that people get it. Just as important as getting the H1N1 shot - for every reason people are getting the H1N1, they should be getting the seasonal. Whether it's to avoid missing work, avoid giving the virus to at risk people, or just to not feel crappy for a week.

And I didn't say the cost of the program wasn't worth it... I just think Canadian support for the program may not have been what it was had it been well know that it would cost a half billion dollars.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

You don't have to "qualify" for the seasonal vaccine. You can qualify to have it for free if you're a high risk individual, otherwise you pay for it. It's available to every citizen as long as you're willing to pay for it. If you want it, you can have it..

It would have been nice for them to expalin that to me.

[Ace]

Just got the shot. I barely felt it when they injected me. Surprised since i heard on here how much it hurt.

Went to stampede and FYI - you get free parking if you just say you're going for the shot (wish I had known that at last nights game!). We literally had zero wait. Filled out a form walked to the nurse section sat down and we were done. I'm glad I never waited 4 hours 2 weeks ago.

I asked about the non-adjuvent vaccine and they are still only offering that to pregnant women, even though I thought I heard healthy Canadians were going to be offered it.

It's super efficient so if you're going to get it you need 20 min tops to be in and out (due to the 15 min wait period at the end)

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

Just a few questions...

When people are going to the clinics to get their H1N1 shots, are they also getting their second shot for seasonal flu? Or is everyone content knowing they could contract and spread this equally deadly virus? You're being incredibly irresponsible if you're not... you could die, spread the virus to your whole family, who will then spread it to everyone they know, and they'll all die too.

I don't think they're offering the seasonal vaccine at Alberta vaccination clinics (when they were it was free, and they may have it again after Christmas). However, it has been provided to pharmacies and doctor's offices, and you can get it there for a nominal fee (I got mine at a Safeway pharmacy). Unfortunately it's only the adult version that's available at pharmacies, so kids (who are probably the group that needs the vaccine most) can't get it right now as far as I can tell.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

Just a few questions...
Did you know the cost to the federal government for the H1N1 vaccination program is approaching $500 million? And that doesn't include the millions of dollars the provinces will be spending as well. Had this been well publicized before the program was implemented, I'm not sure support for the program would have been as high as it was.

And since this was an unexpected cost, what programs will be cut or taxes raised to pay for it? The money has to come from somewhere.

The economic cost of not vaccinating would be way higher (cost of treating people with flu and cost of people not coming in to work). That's why even before flu vaccines were free a lot of companies paid to have their staff vaccinated.

[Jonrox]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

The economic cost of not vaccinating would be way higher (cost of treating people with flu and cost of people not coming in to work). That's why even before flu vaccines were free a lot of companies paid to have their staff vaccinated.

I don't doubt it - and a lot of those costs are going to be incurred if people don't get their seasonal shots.

My main point is that I hope everybody still gets their seasonal flu vaccination. I've been following this thread for several weeks and there has been a flood of reasons why people should get the H1N1 vaccination - if you bought into the hype, you should get the seasonal vaccine as well. To not is hypocritical.

People have been giving reasons here like: it's a simple way to keep from getting sick/dying, you won't pass the virus to someone high risk, you won't miss work, you won't clog hospitals and doctor's offices, it's safe, etc... These are all reasons to get the seasonal shot as well - in addition to the fact we have a much longer history with the seasonal vaccine, meaning if anything it's safer than the H1N1 shot.

For me, I'm not totally comfortable with their being little history with the H1N1 shot, so I opted to just get the seasonal shot again. I'm willing to run the risk of contracting H1N1 due to the lack of long-term history. But I've never had anything more than a sore arm with the seasonal shot.

I'm probably being overly cautious, but I'm ok with that for this year.

[mikey_the_redneck]

I don't get the seasonal flu vaccine either. Do you want to know how many days of work I have missed and how many times I have been to the doctor or hospital?

hospital - I havent been there since the motorcycle accident
sick days - I maybe missed a couple days in the last 5 years
doctor visits - I must be close to death to go to the doc, so none

Vaccines................you simply don't need them.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I don't get the seasonal flu vaccine either. Do you want to know how many days of work I have missed and how many times I have been to the doctor or hospital?

hospital - I havent been there since the motorcycle accident
sick days - I maybe missed a couple days in the last 5 years
doctor visits - I must be close to death to go to the doc, so none

Vaccines................you simply don't need them.

So.... because you didn't get sick, therefore no-one needs vaccines?

That's some air tight logic right there. Forgive me if I stick with the experts on this one.

[kirant]

Had mine done at the U of C on Sunday. I can see why people would talk about the pain. The 1 mL going through the needle takes probably x2 the time to inject the whole vaccine. The muscles kinda start to contract slightly in that time.

No complications from it though.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

It's not irrelevant in terms of putting things into perspective, not to mention the anaphylactic reaction is exactly the same whether it be caused by food, tylenol, perfume, H1N1 vaccine or whatever. No one ever said allergies weren't a potential side effect, in fact its clearly stated, and its the reason why you are supposed to wait around 15 minutes following your injection so that we can manage it.

Actually many people, even many in this thread have said there is "no reason not to get the shot". Very few people seem to know that there is possible side effects than can be as serious as death.
I agree on the perspective, but think it's been lost on both the side of debate. One side thinks the vaccine is population control, while the other thinks the flu is Armageddon.

People always freak out whenever they hear "side effects", without actually considering the very low probabilties, cost-benefit ratio and appropriate perspective.

People always freak out whenever they hear "pandemic", without actually considering the very low probabilties, cost-benefit ratio and appropriate perspective.

You're actually right in bringing up car accidents, in that people use those everyday despite the high risk of potential side effects, and yet this is never cause to not use the car in the first place.
Why is there a 60+ pages in this forum mentally masturbating over the extremely low risk of vaccination side effects (the overwhelming majority of which are minor), and not to vehicular side effects considering the huge statistical discrepancy in terms of risk and prevelance? Because many people lack the perspective.

Cars have a high value for their users that far outweigh the risks. Not everyone sees this high value in the vaccine, so although the risks are extremely low with the vaccine, the risk/reward ratio may be higher than your car example.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I agree on the perspective, but think it's been lost on both the side of debate. One side thinks the vaccine is population control, while the other thinks the flu is Armageddon.

I disagree. There are many people (I count myself in this group) who think there's been too much hype over H1N1--it's a bad flu, but it's probably not going to kill us all.

But it will kill some people. There's a very low chance I will be one of those people. Why wouldn't I reduce that chance to zero? Not to mention the herd immunity issue, which is significant.

It's all about balancing risk. A very small percentage of people will react adversely to the vaccine (so far I haven't heard of any cases, but that doesn't mean there aren't any.) A larger (but still not huge) percentage of those who contract H1N1 will die from the illness--and many of those will be in my age group.

I'm no statistician, but I'm virtually certain that the risks of not getting vaccinated far outweigh the very slight risk associated with getting vaccinated. I don't really see the down side.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

I disagree. There are many people (I count myself in this group) who think there's been too much hype over H1N1--it's a bad flu, but it's probably not going to kill us all.

.

Even the person administering it to me said she thought the danger of the flu was overhyped.