Who's getting the H1N1 shot?

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

It appears to me that for many people anything less than dying is all good. Considering how many co-workers of mine were out two weeks sick as a dog, I would think people would WANT to avoid that. I quite stand corrected.

You don't seem to understand that it's possible to factor in the possibility of getting sick into the equation and still decide that the shot is not worth it, regardless of your chance of dying. If you react poorly to shots and always get flu-like symptoms for a few days after getting one, then it becomes a question of whether you want to take a 100% chance of being somewhat sick vs. an unknown chance of being really sick.

Plug 10% into that unknown chance, and it starts looking like a bad bet. Plug 60% in, and it starts looking good. Either one *could* end up accurate across the entire population, but taking a considered risk to get the ultimate payoff of not getting sick AT ALL is perfectly rational behaviour. Only the fanatic believe otherwise - it is NOT always the smart thing to minimize risk, risk simply should be proportionate to reward.

As far as crowd immunity goes, the miniscule decrease in effectiveness of the vaccine over the whole population by one person deciding not to get it is not even quantifiable. It might be an argument against trying to convince other people not to get the shot and to proselytize that message, but as far as affecting what an individual might do, it is irrelevant.

[Jonrox]

Originally Posted by HOOT

My favorite part of all this is so many people are calling other names for not getting the shot but if you ask them if they get the seasonal flu shot (which is just as deadly, if not more) every year they say no. So what makes this flu so special? Media attention.

I'm not getting the shot and probably never will. Does that make me irresponsible? Nope.

So true.

I'd like to know the reasons that people who got the H1N1 shot haven't got the seasonal shot (or didn't in the past). For every reason I've read in this thread from the pro-H1N1 folks, the same reasons are valid for getting the seasonal shot.

I only got the seasonal shot (as I do every year) and have up to now also enjoyed a "magic immunity" to H1N1 (I'm being overly paranoid with the lack of history there is for this shot).

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

So true.

I'd like to know the reasons that people who got the H1N1 shot haven't got the seasonal shot (or didn't in the past). For every reason I've read in this thread from the pro-H1N1 folks, the same reasons are valid for getting the seasonal shot.

I only got the seasonal shot (as I do every year) and have up to now also enjoyed a "magic immunity" to H1N1 (I'm being overly paranoid with the lack of history there is for this shot).

The only reason I got the H1N1 vaccine is because it was so convenient. No line-up or wait. No appointment or anything.

I don't have a family doctor and don't have time to sit in a walk-in clinic waiting room (with a bunch of sick people) for 4 hours after work. If you want to make sure you get the flu, go sit in one of those rooms for a few hours.

Maybe I'll end up getting it at some point.

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

So true.

I'd like to know the reasons that people who got the H1N1 shot haven't got the seasonal shot (or didn't in the past). For every reason I've read in this thread from the pro-H1N1 folks, the same reasons are valid for getting the seasonal shot.

It's like people don't read what is put in front of them. This has been said countless times.

The H1N1 flu virus is a new strain of pandemic influenza which is different than the seasonal flu. People have no natural immunity to protect against this virus. The H1N1 flu virus emerged in April 2009 and surveillance of its spread shows that it is affecting more young and healthy people than the regular seasonal flu, which normally affects seniors and young children. People with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women may be at a greater risk for severe illness.

The normal seasonal flu's are variations that we've seen before. At some point most of us have been exposed to some variation of it and thus won't get (odds) too sick.

So no, get vaccinated for the H1N1 was quite different than seasonal flu regardless if it didn't become the next plague.

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by Wookie

It's like people don't read what is put in front of them. This has been said countless times.


The normal seasonal flu's are variations that we've seen before. At some point most of us have been exposed to some variation of it and thus won't get (odds) too sick.

So no, get vaccinated for the H1N1 was quite different than seasonal flu regardless if it didn't become the next plaque.

i hate plaque too.

[zuluking]

I'm with jammies on this one. Everyone applies their own level of risk tolerance to every situation. In many situations, however, everyone's risk tolerance is capped by the LAW, so the drunk driving analogy does not fit this discussion.

The person with a really low risk tolerance will always look at the person with a really high risk tolerance as foolish, because, within their paradigm, that pretty much is the definition of 'foolish.' Of course, vice versa, in the eyes of the high risk person, the low risk person is a paranoid grandmother.

Proper care and attention can go along way to avoiding the flu and for some that is enough to mitigate the risk. Totally fine. For others, it's the vaccine - fine, too....ya paranoid grannies!

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by BurningYears

i hate plaque too.

That too

[kevman]

Originally Posted by onetwo_threefour

Irresponsible, because the idea is to get that magic 'herd immunity' which results from having a very high proportion of the population immunized. If we don't get a high enough proportion immunized, then everybody is at higher risk, because the virus continues to circulate more widely through the unvaccinated segment of the population.

Well since you're going for the 'herd immunity' why not make it unlawful to not get the shot? While we're at it why not make it unlawful to not get the seasonal flu shot? Just think we could make it mandatory for every resident in Canada to get a flu shot every year... Think of the super herd of immunity!

[Ducay]

Got the shot last night after work on a whim; and holy moley, my shoulder is MIA today.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I'm not equating "not getting the vaccine" with "drunk driving"... I'm asking where the logical difference is... In both cases the action (or inaction) leaves you open to risk and risk to others, but getting the vaccine or calling a cab is inconvenient, but has considerably less risk.

Well since you don't believe there is a logical difference between driving drunk and not getting a flu shot when it comes to endangering the lives of others are you suggesting that it should be illegal to not get a flu shot? Better yet since you can go to jail if you kill someone while driving drunk why not jail those that have passed on the h1n1 virus? If I get h1n1 and accidentally pass it on to a high risk individual and they end up dying, surely I should be held responsible!?

Am I reaching? Of course I am, but in my opinion suggesting I must get the shot to protect others is also a reach...

[Calgaryborn]

If CP's poll is any indication of what the average Canadian has decided to do I would suggest there is no way H1N1 will all but disappear like polio did. To suggest my personal choice not to get the vaccine makes a difference is silly. Again I've heard of isolated cases but, no mass epidemic. With so many not vaccinated one would expect at least some evidence of what the WHO said would take place.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Wookie

It's like people don't read what is put in front of them. This has been said countless times.


The normal seasonal flu's are variations that we've seen before. At some point most of us have been exposed to some variation of it and thus won't get (odds) too sick.

So no, get vaccinated for the H1N1 was quite different than seasonal flu regardless if it didn't become the next plague.

Then why is there a seasonal flu shot? Just for fun?

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Then why is there a seasonal flu shot? Just for fun?

After your approx. 50 posts in this thread you should know. If not, I wonder if you even read half this thread? Which if that's the case makes me wonder if you're just here to be a pest? If you really want to know simply look it up yourself.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Then why is there a seasonal flu shot? Just for fun?

The seasonal shot is pretty important too. For the elderly getting any flu can be pretty serious, which is why it is recommended that they get it. Unfortunately it's only about 60% effective in the elderly, which is why people coming into contact with the elderly are also encouraged to get it. For the rest of us, the chance of dying from most variants of influenza is pretty negligible, but it still really sucks to have it. Back when we had to pay for the seasonal vaccine a lot of companies either reimbursed employees for getting it or brought in a nurse to vaccinate their staff because the cost of vaccinating employees is way lower than the cost of having employees off with the flu (even when factoring in that maybe 10% of the working population at most gets it in a regular year). Now the province makes it free for everyone for the same reason - the costs of the vaccination program are less than the economic and health care system costs of the vaccination.

This year is a bit of an oddity because so far almost all of the influenza out there has been H1N1. If that holds up, then maybe the seasonal flu vaccine won't be much use this year. However, since flu season is really just starting (it usually peaks in January or February), it's possible the other strains could start to appear. Personally I got the seasonal shot because I spend a fair amount of time around people who are pretty high risk for complications from seasonal flu, but for a lot of people there might not be as much benefit as usual from the seasonal flu vaccine this year.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Wookie

After your approx. 50 posts in this thread you should know. If not, I wonder if you even read half this thread? Which if that's the case makes me wonder if you're just here to be a pest? If you really want to know simply look it up yourself.

You're right to assume I didn't read all of 68 pages of thread because there was too much "Get the shot or you will DIE!11!!!" type posts at the start of this flu coming out.

I'm not here to be a pest. Or am I a pest because I don't believe the hype and won't be getting the shot?

edit: Ashartus thanks for the reply. Much better than a response of "look it up yourself" type response.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

This year is a bit of an oddity because so far almost all of the influenza out there has been H1N1. If that holds up, then maybe the seasonal flu vaccine won't be much use this year.

While I agree with the rest of your post, I need some backup for this statement, or else I'll call shens

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by Ducay

While I agree with the rest of your post, I need some backup for this statement, or else I'll call shens

The latest data (week ending Nov 28) from Public Health Agency of Canada laboratory surveillance: "This week, a total of 1,915 specimens tested positive for influenza (all A) and 99.9% of the positive influenza A subtyped specimens were Pandemic (H1N1) 2009."

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/.../index-eng.php

[RubberDuck]

Originally Posted by HOOT

You're right to assume I didn't read all of 68 pages of thread because there was too much "Get the shot or you will DIE!11!!!" type posts at the start of this flu coming out.

I'm not here to be a pest. Or am I a pest because I don't believe the hype and won't be getting the shot?

edit: Ashartus thanks for the reply. Much better than a response of "look it up yourself" type response.

You're being a pest becuse you keep asking questions that many people have already provided answers to including credible medical evidence to back them up.

You're being a pest because you seem to do nothing but take pointed jabs at anyone who doesn't agree with you and really contribute nothing of importance at all.

For the record, I haven't got the shot but seeing as I HAVE read through this thread, weighed the information I've gained from it and seen that one side seems to provide nothing more than opinions as opposed to facts, I will be getting it as soon as I have time.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by RubberDuck

You're being a pest because you seem to do nothing but take pointed jabs at anyone who doesn't agree with you and really contribute nothing of importance at all.

Thanks I'll keep that in mind.

There is always the ignore feature. I don't make people read what I post.

[RubberDuck]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Thanks I'll keep that in mind.

There is always the ignore feature. I don't make people read what I post.

You asked. And you're welcome.

We got your point, and then we got it again and yet again and then again and......do you get mine?

Wouldn't you rather be considered a contributor to this site rather than aspire to get on as many ignore lists as possible?