Flu Shots

[Incogneto]

I will never get a flu shot, becuase I have heard this story too many times. The shot GIVES YOU THE FLU!!!

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by fotze

OK I got a flu shot yesterday for the first time ever. I had a bit of a sniffle prior to the shot. Last night I think somone circulated cement through my nasal cavity and it flash set. I haven't had a cold this bad in 10 years (could be more I can't remember).

Either it is a hell of a coincidence and I was about to get a megacold, or the damn thing set me off.

What the hell? Anyone else have this reaction? or is it a coincidence?

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/0..._rare_syndrome

[Burninator]

It gives you a small dose of the flu so your body can build up a defense, so when the flu comes around at you full force it doesn't knock you on your ass. I'm sure someone who is in this field can explain it better, but that's how I understand it.

[Claeren]

It can not make you sick.

It could, i suppose, slightly reduce your immune response to other things for a very short period though... ?

I work for the health region and get one every year. I have never had or heard of a co-worker having a response of ANY kind beyond minor fatigue until this year when i think they must of hit a nerve or something (? who knows...) because my shoulder was numb and sore for 36 hours, and i could barely raise my arm above my head. But that is the only response i have ever had...

[troutman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the familyOrthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). In people, common symptoms of influenza are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.[1] In more serious cases, influenza causespneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly in young children and the elderly. Although the common cold is sometimes confused with influenza, it is a much less severe disease and caused by a different virus.[2] Similarly, gastroenteritis is sometimes called "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu", but is unrelated to influenza.

The effectiveness of these flu vaccines is variable. Due to the high mutation rate of the virus, a particular flu vaccine usually confers protection for no more than a few years. Every year, the World Health Organization predicts which strains of the virus are most likely to be circulating in the next year, allowing pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines that will provide the best immunity against these strains.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by fotze

OK I got a flu shot yesterday for the first time ever. I had a bit of a sniffle prior to the shot. Last night I think somone circulated cement through my nasal cavity and it flash set. I haven't had a cold this bad in 10 years (could be more I can't remember).

Either it is a hell of a coincidence and I was about to get a megacold, or the damn thing set me off.

What the hell? Anyone else have this reaction? or is it a coincidence?

Suck it up! You'll feel fine in a day. I get them every year and I feel indestructible.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by fotze

OK I got a flu shot yesterday for the first time ever. I had a bit of a sniffle prior to the shot. Last night I think somone circulated cement through my nasal cavity and it flash set. I haven't had a cold this bad in 10 years (could be more I can't remember).

Either it is a hell of a coincidence and I was about to get a megacold, or the damn thing set me off.

What the hell? Anyone else have this reaction? or is it a coincidence?

It's probably a coincidence. The injected shot contains killed virus, which can't make you sick. It does however, take 2 weeks for you to develop an immunity, meaning that if you were exposed to the flu in the interim, you're not immune yet.

The nasal mist vaccination CAN make you sick. It contains live, weakened viruses. It's unusual, though--generally it's only if you're immune compromised.

If you have nasal congestion and no fever, it's not the flu anyway--just a bad cold.

[Beefcake]

Originally Posted by fotze

What the hell? Anyone else have this reaction? or is it a coincidence?

Twice I've had a flu shot, and both times, I got the sniffles the day of, and a full fledged, bed-ridden flu within 48 hours. Perhaps also just a coincidence, but I'm not going to bother with them ever again.

Even the medical community has mixed opinions on them. My doctor insists that everyone should have one. One of my best friends, also a MD, doesn't get one himself and tells me not to bother.

[shoestring]

While you are getting the flu shot is there a bunch of other people there with the flu? Is everybody impeccably clean?

Quit hanging around with other humans; especially humans that have kids in school or know people that have kids in school.
Back to my cave.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by shoestring

While you are getting the flu shot is there a bunch of other people there with the flu? Is everybody impeccably clean?

Quit hanging around with other humans; especially humans that have kids in school or know people that have kids in school.
Back to my cave.

Agreed. Kids are like proletariat workers in the germ factory called school.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

I will never get a flu shot, becuase I have heard this story too many times. The shot GIVES YOU THE FLU!!!

Does the small pox vacine give you small pox? A dead virus maybe but it would not translate into small pox outbreak. Same as any other vacine. You will not come down with the flu by recieving the flu shot.

[Cheese]

its a cooincidence fotz....Ive been getting them for years with no side effects at all. You had to have the bug before the shot...as you mentioned you thought you had the sniffles.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Cheese

...as you mentioned you thought you had the sniffles.

And at my work on the consent form we sign it mentions to not get one if you think you may be sick, because getting the shot does weaken your immune system. Meaning if you are a little sick, getting the flu shot will allow that bug to become worse.

I suppose though; how could Fotze possibly find a moment when he isn't a little sick.

[Tiger]

I've actually read some reports on how many people get the flu with and without the flu shots and the numbers of the survey was actually the people who had the flu shot. If I can find it again i'll post it.

and circulating cement and having it flash set.... what an analogy, do you work in the oil services industry

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Does the small pox vacine give you small pox? A dead virus maybe but it would not translate into small pox outbreak. Same as any other vacine. You will not come down with the flu by recieving the flu shot.

The vaccine for small pox was made out of cow pox, so it is impossible to catch small pox from the vaccine (Vaccine is named after cow pox vacca meaning cow in latin I believe).

[Hemi-Cuda]

i've never had a flu shot and i don't think i ever will. unless you're a frail old man or woman i just don't see the point

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

i've never had a flu shot and i don't think i ever will. unless you're a frail old man or woman i just don't see the point

Same... I've never had a flu shot, and never had the flu. I guess I don't see the point, but I've never had it so I'm not sure what its like.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Same... I've never had a flu shot, and never had the flu. I guess I don't see the point, but I've never had it so I'm not sure what its like.

I'm guessing you don't teach. Since I started teaching, I've been sick every fall, at the end of November. Like clockwork. I'm hoping the flu shot works--I had one for the first time this year.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by Tiger

I've actually read some reports on how many people get the flu with and without the flu shots and the numbers of the survey was actually the people who had the flu shot. If I can find it again i'll post it.

1) But the people who get the flu shot are usually the most susceptable to it even with the shot.

2) For those talking about not getting the flu, a LARGE part of that is because the most common forms of the flu each year are slowed in their spread by the amount of people who got the flu shot!! you are just taking advantage of the benefit without participating yourself, which is very acceptable, but should not be confused with the flu shot itself not having an effect.

3) Combining the logic of 1 and 2; usually the worst flu's of each season are the ones that the shot did not protect against, which means while both you and the flu shot taker were protected from many flu mutations, you are both left defenseless against any remaining variations of the flu - so equal infliction numbers (weighted against the more-likely-to-be-frail flu shot takers) is not a surprise IMO.


As someone who works in a high risk area (hospital) i can tell you for sure that it works and every staff member here benefits because of it.


Claeren.

[photon]

I got it more so I don't catch/spread it from/to my kid.

I don't mind being down a few days, but sick kids are not fun and a sick wife is even worse.