Question about flu shot

[ams3651]

Im my opinion, the flu shot helps. My son has Epilepsy and is required to get it. Now he still gets all the colds the other kids get, and so do I

but having the flu could land him in the hospital and once did for 3 days when he was 3. I get it because Im his sole caretaker. I think its one of those preventative things that if you choose not to do and you get the flu, you would have wished you had it. But as said, its never 100% effective.

just wanted to add, as for the needle, I wouldnt be concerned for a moment about his momentary pain from the injection if it will help him. But my son has been stuck so many times since he was born that it doesnt really bother him. He just has to see what they are doing and he is fine with it. And as adults we have to learn to put up with needles from time to time.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Are you possibly referring to Tamiflu? (or the generic equivalent?) I am allergic to pneumonia, tetanus, and influenza vaccines so my dr. makes sure I have a current scrip for Tamiflu just in case I'd need it quickly.

Yep, that's what it was. I don't think it was the generic.

I can't get the flu shots myself either, I'm allergic to eggs. My doctor doesn't care though

 

[breezy]

I am diabetic and so the doctor advises me to get the flu shot each year. I have gotten influenza twice. Once when I hadnt been vaccinated and once after getting vaccinated. My experience was if you do get sick after the shot it was much LESS severe than when I got it without a vaccine. True influenza is nothing to fool around with. The pain in my hips and spine was so severe that even air moving over my skin was torture. My feeling is that if your at risk due to chronic health issues it is an excellant idea, if your basically healthy,eat well and get proper sleep chances are your not as at risk for the flu and can probably skip it. Just my 2 cents worth
best wishes

 

[The Chicken Lady]

DH and I get flu shots every year because he takes a medicine that affects his immune system.

We've never gotten the flu while having flu shots.

I work in a school, and I wouldn't want to be there without having had one. Even high school kids have low cleanliness standards.

 

[Southernbelle]

Today was the first day of school for my elementary aged kids and the school is holding it's first ever flu clinic. With parental permission, they will administer the Flumist nasal vaccine for the "regular" flu, not the H1N1 flu. Our insurance covers it 100% and I wasn't sure if I wanted to have it done or not.

Isn't the nasal vaccine a live virus?

 

[skeeter03]

The thing with flu shots is that they are guessing what flus might happen over the year and then shove them in you - chances are you probaly wont even get that flu but another one. And you still can get a flu that they have vaccinated you for but your symptoms will be milder.
every year they tell my dad to get the flu shot as he is highrisk immune wise and every year shortly after getting it the poor man has to spend a week in bed getting over it so really????
I think you should only get it if you have a low immune system or other medical reasons.

 

[beak]

I've been getting it for 12 years now and haven't had the flu in that time. I must add that I am fastidious about washing my hands and I only kiss my children on the forehead. This annoys my mother because they always present their forehead when it's kiss time. I'm hoping my daughters will continue the practice with their boyfriends. My wife does get kissed on the lips but I use a piece of saran wrap between us. She lets the kids kiss her on the lips and is constantly sick. No she wont kiss me with the saran wrap.

 

[briteday]

I work in a school and so I get the flu shot each year. The kids are little walking germs. I've also had the "real" flu once and landed in the hospital for a few days due to dehydration.

Besides not being able to eat or drink I was achy and more tired than I have ever been in my life for the next six weeks. I couldn't cook a meal, load the dishwasher, and forget going grocery shopping. I have never called my mom to come to take care of anything but I did that time.

Also, on the timing of the shot...I know a lot of the schools back east are starting already. And the kids are already getting sick from what I see on the news. The flu shot is really only effective for 5-6 months so I prefer to get mine in Oct or Nov to cover our Spring flu season which is more likely out west. If the kids are already getting sick in school I would probably go ahead and get the shot (or Flumist nasal spray) now.

And my last bit of advice having worked in the medical field most of my life...get the waterless hand sanitizers and keep them everywhere. I keep one in every car (think about all those little kids who put their mouths on the handles of the carts...ewwwww), at every entry door to the house, in my purse, on my desk, lunch bags... Studies have shown that even if you properly wash your hands (even with "anti-bacterial" soap) you are only about 70% effective against viruses on your hands. And by the way, it's the friction of rubbing your hands together, not the soap, that actually washes the particles away. However, hand sanitizer is more than 94% effective.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Yes, it's a weakened live virus. The hospital I work at won't let you work for a week or two if you take the mist.
My opinion is that the flu shot is well worth it. There's a lot of misconceptions about the flu. Most people say they had the flu without really knowing what they have(colds, allergies, food poisoning etc). The real Influenza is a serious life threatening disease. 30,000- 40,000 die every year in the US, from the flu. Remember that not taking the shot is not just a slight risk to you, it is risking that you will take it to your coworkers, family, neighbors who it might not be at a slight risk. This makes you the "Typhoid Mary" and everyone else the "canary in the coal mine."

Imp- I have always gotten a flu shot. I have never had the flu. But I have had to tell friends goodbye that got it.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Well, his appointment is for November, and they said they don't even have it now. It seems like most places get the vaccines about that time, so I'll have to wait.

Was there an answer to the 'live bacteria' in the nasal spray? I'll check and see if the h.d. can do that instead.

So are the chances pretty slim that he'd actually get sick from the vaccine?

ETA: Thanks Imp, looks like that question got answered!

ETA again: I personally have never got the flu shot (can't, allergic) and have also never had the flu. My son, on the other hand, seems to pick up just about everything around him, though he did miss the strep throat that was going through his preschool class the same time the flu was.