Flu Shots are out!

[Breathe Jimbo]

others who can't get the flu vaccine - like my granddaughter who is allergic to eggs.

My wife is very allergic to eggs. Our asthma/allergy doc was able to give her 4 baby flu shots (each 1/4 the normal adult dose), each a week apart, and she tolerated them just fine. She was required to wait around for an hour to make sure she did not have a reaction. If your granddaughter has an allergy doctor, maybe he would be willing to try dividing whatever is the normal dose for someone her age into four separate shots a week apart, with monitoring after each one.

[archangle]

But what of the fact that the herd immunity from flu shots lasts less than a year? If we make vaccination mandatory for everyone, or nearly everyone chooses to do it voluntarily, there will be fewer cases of the flu. But there will also be fewer people whose immunity does not depend on an injection. After a few decades of this, we'd have an immunologically naive population, but it's unlikely influenza would be eradicated. What then happens when the supply of vaccine fails or the scientists miss a highly contagious and virulent strain? While herd immunity to expected strains would be high, the herd would have relatively little immunity to anything that wasn't in the vaccine.

It seems to me that mandatory vaccination is a bit like putting out all forest fires as quickly as possible. This was the policy in the US for years, but it eventually lead to thousands of square miles of kindling and an epidemic of huge and uncontrollable fires. Do we need to make the same mistake with our own bodies?

Option 1) The vaccine that kills few if any people.
Option 2) The risk of naturally occurring flu that kills 40,000 people a year in the US.

Do you really think option 2 is a better choice because of some theory about short term vs. long term immunity in the population as a whole?

Once again, I'm not for mandatory vaccination, except in school children and some other special groups like health workers.

[BlackSpinner]

But what of the fact that the herd immunity from flu shots lasts less than a year? If we make vaccination mandatory for everyone, or nearly everyone chooses to do it voluntarily, there will be fewer cases of the flu. But there will also be fewer people whose immunity does not depend on an injection. After a few decades of this, we'd have an immunologically naive population, but it's unlikely influenza would be eradicated. What then happens when the supply of vaccine fails or the scientists miss a highly contagious and virulent strain? While herd immunity to expected strains would be high, the herd would have relatively little immunity to anything that wasn't in the vaccine.

It seems to me that mandatory vaccination is a bit like putting out all forest fires as quickly as possible. This was the policy in the US for years, but it eventually lead to thousands of square miles of kindling and an epidemic of huge and uncontrollable fires. Do we need to make the same mistake with our own bodies?

I never said mandatory, I expect people to do their thing for the community. And so what that it doesn't last the whole year, most flus are seasonal. I will believe the CDC before I believe a poster on a board on how we will all be immunologically naive. Besides SARS happened and no previous flu immunity helped with that - and yes it was a big thing in Canada, we lost some big medical people through that.

[Muse-Inc]

...Every time I've gotten the flu shot I've gotten the flu...Conclusion: Flu shot gives you the flu.

Alshain, it's not the flu you got, it's a cytokine reaction, often called a cytokine storm. I have always had them from vaccines, any kind of vaccine...the joys of a hyper-reactive immune system *sigh* I keep my vit D levels in the mid 70s-80s (above the levels associated with diseases) and if I do get sick, plan to use the European Stoss protocol for viral and flu infections.

[cflame1]

I will get a flu shot... just have to find a place to get one first. Don't have a GP yet (just moved) and just got my insurance card.

[Muse-Inc]

Sometimes the local grocery chains feature a flu-shot day for minimal price...might ask at the pharmacy.

[codinqueen]

Kroger,Walgreen's, and CVS offer flu shots every year in your area. Publix might also. We moved away from Atlanta as Publix was expanding into Georgia. Watch your newspapers and look for signs in the lawn or on the doors of those stores. You could also call those places and inquire. Sometimes it is only certain days or hours, and sometimes you need an appointment for your flu shot.

[archangle]

Lots of Walgreens and other drug store chains have vaccines available every day. Check their web sites or call.

[ameriken]

A 30 year old man arrives at the pearly gates. A stunned St Peter looks at his logs and says to the man, "My my, you were not due for another 50 years. How in the world did you get here so fast?

The man replied "Flu".

[Pugsy]

I won't be getting the flu shot. Don't want it. I am not high risk.

[taberge]

I agree with Otter. My employer has made it mandatory this year and I am not happy. Not sure what they can do if I do not take it, but I plan to decline. Will let you know.

I don't know where you live, but I don't think that is legal in the U.S.

EDIT: There may be exceptions for certain professions like Healthcare workers. Not sure.

Correct! If you work in the health industry, like at a hospital, they give you a choice.
Vaccinate and protect yourself and the patients or don't vaccinate and choose not to work anymore.
And, it is all very legal.

[Goofproof]

I am high risk but won't be getting the shot. We used to be provided them at work, (so they could get more working hours out of us,) I never took the shots, instead I watched the people I worked with. It turns out they missed more work than the people that didn't take the shots.

Now at this point in time I am supposed to get the shot. so for two years my wife and I got them both types. in 5 weeks she came down with phenomena.
So much for the CDC and the For profit medical system, we will no longer be part of their game. Jim

We do Lab Ratting, we don't want to be the Rat.

[archangle]

Now at this point in time I am supposed to get the shot. so for two years my wife and I got them both types. in 5 weeks she came down with phenomena.

I know someone who got the flu shot and got hit by a truck 3 days later.

By the way, you should have gotten her a pneumonia shot.

[ozze_dollar]

Well I guess everyone is different and this forum is an illustration of that. I would urge you all to have a flu shot. Especially if you are over 65. You may not get a second chance if the flu hits you. Good luck to you all.

[Goofproof]

Now at this point in time I am supposed to get the shot. so for two years my wife and I got them both types. in 5 weeks she came down with phenomena.

I know someone who got the flu shot and got hit by a truck 3 days later.

By the way, you should have gotten her a pneumonia shot.

That's what I'm talking about, we did what was asked of us and got both, not going to do it ever again....... Got lucky out ran the truck, really in 2009 got a bigger truck. Jim

I tried hitting her with it, but she ran behind a big tree.