Did you/ will you get a flu shot this year?

[LaraMN]

The only person in our family who's had one at this point is JackMN, since he's assumed to have a compromised immune system. I'm contemplating whether I should try to get everyone else in my family in for a shot, as well.

[NMDemDist2]

1. I got mine a couple weeks ago

I get one every year since I am prone to bronchitis and work with the public.

Hubby doesn't as he's allergic to feathers so doesn't tolerate the shot well. He usually gets the flu, I usually don't.

If you have someone in your household who has a compromised immune system it's probably a good idea for you all to get one. Less chance of you bringing home nasty germs.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Meh, I'm young and in (reasonably) good health ...

might as well leave the flu shots to people who need them most.

[Deep13]

11. I don't think they are in short supply.

Of course, it's up to you. If you get one you might avoid passing the flu to someone who is in fragile health. Just a thought.

[SteppingRazor]

12. Not a chance. When I get sick, I regress to about 5 years old or so...

I sit in my room with a blanket around me, don't leave for several days, and whine to anyone who will listen -- and even those who won't. No chance of me infecting anyone else. Although, if they're readily available, maybe I'll get it done. Been meaning to go to the doctor anyway.

[ThomCat]

3. I should have had one already.

I've always been on the priority list to get one because of prior respitory health problems. But this year for some reason the nurses at my doctor's office just dismissed me and say "you're not old enough. Call back at the end of November."

[flamingyouth]

26. My doctor's office always seems to get them really late too.

I usually go to the pharmacy to get them. They're only $10 there anyway and I can get it in early October.

[ThomCat]

29. I need to look around to see where I can get one.

I hear they're going to $20 here in NYC.

[flamingyouth]

32. I just checked and they're $30 where I normally get them.

Oh well - beats getting the flu and ending up with bronchitis for six weeks afterward. :yoiks:

[lizerdbits]

4. Probably a good idea

if you're living with someone who's compromised. We had to get it at work since we are going to be doing some Influenza work. Advantage is it's free and they come on site since there's 20-30 people getting it.

[MissMillie]

5. I think I was on vacation from work when my employer offered it

I won't make a special appointment w/ my doctor to get the shot. I think I do have a physical exam scheduled for the first week of December. Think that will be too late?

[Roon]

6. I got mine last tuesday. eom

[azmouse]

7. I've never had a flu shot.

I've never had the flu either.

[Deep13]

8. Got one yesterday. n/t

[LeftyMom]

9. Nope. It's cultured on eggs, and anyhow I'm quite healthy so there's not much point.

There's nobody in my home or at my job who is at all fragile, either.

[SacredCow]

10. I've never had one, myself.....

I mentioned it to my primary care doctor last year, and he didn't seem to think it was necessary. Normally, he's pretty aggressive so for him to be on the fence about something spoke volumes to me.

But I guess it depends a lot upon one's individual situation....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. My dear Lara!

Yeah, both me and my husband got them...

We're of the age when you're supposed to!

But I would even if I weren't as old as I am!

Anything to avoid getting sick, is what I say...

:hi:

[SKKY]

14. I'm in the Navy, so it's not an option.

I suppose the rest of my "dependents" will get them as well. Sergio will almost certainly get one- the winter takes a toll on the little guy.

[LaraMN]

15. Awww! Does Sergi get the chronic runny nose?

Jack's nose is a faucet from about October through March.

[SKKY]

16. Yep. It starts right around Halloween...

...and doesn't end until just before the Kentucky Derby. And considering the fact that we're in southern Spain, I can only imagine with it would be like in MN- it's like a gulag compared to here.

[LaraMN]

19. Yeah. It's gross x 10.

He wants to blow his nose by himself, but all he does is smear snot around on his face.

God, it's disgusting.

:puke:

[SKKY]

20. Sergio likes to come up to me under the guise that he wants to "snuggle"...

...that lasts until he empties all 6 liters of snot onto my shirt/sweater/or whatever I'm wearing. And of course, he does it when I'm watching something important and don't notice it until I need to go to the store for something. Little freak!

[LaraMN]

21. Bwahaha!

Jack used to try to use my hair. I broke him of that REAL quickly.

He just learned how to open his bedroom door. It totally sucks. Now he keeps coming out after we tuck him in. He will climb a baby gate, and I don't want to lock him in, in case he needs to tell us his diaper is icky. Kids. *sigh*

[Phillycat]

17. No/no.

I work in a hospital (but not with patients). They are available to me whenever I want one. But I don't do it because it just SEEMS wrong. I know that's like the stupidest, non-scientific thing I could say, but I had one once and I had flu-like symptoms for a couple of weeks afterwards, and I rarely get the flu anyway, instead coming down with one NASTY cold in the middle of the winter that I get every year no matter what I do to prevent it....so, no. :)

[AirmensMom]

22. I got sick once,

REALLY sick, after the only time I ever had a flu shot. My doctor told me to never get another one. Harleydad never gets one and never has had the flu ... but that's pretty unscientific, too, isn't it? :shrug:

[Deep13]

34. "But I don't do it because it just SEEMS wrong."

I have a solution for you. Decide it does not seem wrong.

You may not see patients, but you probably come in contact with those that do. Flu victims are contagious for three days prior to the onset of symptoms. I read that in a book about the flu, but I forgot the title.

[Phillycat]

43. No, I really don't.

I work in administration, for a pathology dept that deals only with sterile glass slides. There is no possible transmission, except if I was walking through the halls in the hospital, and I get enough sick time that I don't have to come to work if I'm sick. :)

[Orsino]

18. Yes, I did. n/t

[tigereye]

23. yes, it seems to make a difference

and I'm almost at that magic age of 50... so I suppose that's more reason.

[ironflange]

24. I don't have much choice

As a diabetic, I am expected to get the shot every year, despite the fact that I've had the flu maybe twice in my entire lifetime. It's OK, though, I and my family get them for free because of that, and since Mrs. Ironflange teaches Grade 3, it's a good idea for her to get the shots. I sure don't like that friggin' long needle, though.

[flamingyouth]

25. I'm going to get one.

I have asthma and am having surgery next month so I'd rather not have the flu on top of it all.

Actually, thanks for the reminder - I think I'll try to get it today or tomorrow.

[Mojambo]

27. No. People get sick. It's part of life.

I see no reason to try and duck it.

[Deep13]

31. "I see no reason to try and duck it."

How about this: not getting sick.

It is only part of life because we cannot always avoid it. If a flu shot will keep me from being knocked on my back for ten days this winter, it seems like $30 well spend.

[Mojambo]

38. I subscribe to the George Carlin philosophy on this

"Your immune system is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets!"

[Deep13]

41. I wonder if that is actually true.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but that makes me wonder.

A vaccine provides protection by activating the immune system without actually causing illness. It is the same reason we never get chicken pox twice. Since flu is different every year, last year's immunity (whether from illness or vaccine) will be of limited usefulness this year.

I know that as far as common colds go, the damage they cause over a lifetime is cumulative. I seem to remember reading that the damage is to the central nervous system. Of course flu can lead to secondary infection, pnuemonia and, of course, being dead. I don't think anyone would volunteer to exercise his immune system if the pathogen in question was polio, smallpox or yellow fever.

I also know that part of the danger of a serious infection is damage caused to the body by the immune system itself. During the 1917 flu pandemic, a substantial minority of victims became pnuemonic. A fraction of those developed "acute respitory distress" or ARDs. In those cases the immune system went bezerk and attacked normal bodily tissue causing signs similar to bubonic plague. This is yet another example of the lack of planning in evolution. Something that usually works becomes destructive in extreme cases. Autoimmune disorders are similar in that they attack normal tissue for no obvious reason.

On the other hand, some medical experts have speculated that the reason we are so suceptible to infection and why we are suddenly so allergic and so asthmatic is because we never get dirty anymore. People used to live with farm animals and that gave our immune systems a regular work-out. This is why the spreading of disease by European expansion is so one-sided. Europeans had natural immunities from living with livestock that locals lacked.

[Mojambo]

45. Well, he's obviously taking it to comedic lengths, but I do wonder

If the excessive illness aversion, particularly in this country, doesn't tend to make us a little soft when it comes to fighting off these things.

To me vaccinations are like a boxer who takes on and destroys a 98 pound weakling in the ring. He does that for 4 or 5 years and then when a real opponent steps in the ring he's totally unprepared because he's been fighting these weak chumps all the time.

I think our immune system needs to be challenged and knocked to the canvas every so often.

Of course it just might be a little ridiculous of me to try and link immunology and combat sports now that I think about it!

Still, it does seem to make some sense.

[SarahB]

28. Good question.

I've gotten them for the past two years (no chronic health issues, but as a nurse, it's a good plan). I gave a vaccination to the patient several days ago and she had a life threatening reaction (I had to apply oxygen and give a fast epinephrine shot within minutes to keep her breathing). She was fine and I researched the incidence of anaphylaxis (1 in 10,000), but it pretty much scared the shit out of me. :(

[Mugu]

30. Not yet, but I plan to. nt

[redqueen]

33. Nah... can't afford it.

Frickin frick.

[TZ]

35. My company offers it for free

so yes I will get it Friday (I'm getting FluMist actually--no needles!). Actually I also read that people who are on long term aspirin therapy (which I am) should get a flu shot.....

[bigwillq]

36. No

and no. I never had one. If I am going to get it, I am going to get it and then I'll let fate take it's course.

[Digit]

37. Not yet, but will

I am getting a pneumonia shot, too.

[Zavulon]

39. I haven't had one since 1995, no intention of getting one this year either.

I fell for the "it won't make you sick" line once too often. I got sick immediately after all of my flu shots, and was sufficiently weakened to get sick again shortly thereafter.

End result: if I do not get a flu shot, I do not get sick during cold & flu season.

If I get a flu shot, I get sick twice during cold & flu season.

[Zoigal]

40. Got mine a couple weeks ago,

and husband got his this week.

Definitely believe in preventative medicine. p

[hedgehog]

42. I got mine several weeks back.

The advice has always been to vaccinate the circle around the vulnerable person. Elderly people don't always develop a full immunity, so anyone coming in contact with an elderly person is encouraged to get vaccinated. If JackMN is immuno compromised, I'm guessing the same advice would apply.

I'm nagging all my kids to get their flu shots. A couple of them are at college and can't afford to miss classes. A couple of them go to their grandparents' every week for dinner, so they need to protect them from exposure.

[Adsos Letter]

44. Flumist for me...

no needles and it seems to work...

:D

[TZ]

47. Thats what I'm getting tomorrow

I think the person who invented a needless vaccine is a saint!:thumbsup:

[Adsos Letter]

51. amen! seems to work too...nasty post-nasal drip, though...

:D

[av8rdave]

46. Got mine last week. Now have to get my daughter (diabetic, off at college) to get hers done!

[RebelSansCause]

48. i am so terrified of shots that i did not even get the one that is suggested for college

it's not a good idea but i did it anyway, so no.

[Raven]

49. I did, today. Painless but my arm hurts tonight. n/t

[TimeChaser]

50. Getting mine next week

The campus health center emails me about it ever year, recommending I get one because of my asthma.

[yellowdogintexas]

52. getting mine at work in a couple of weeks nt

[InvisibleTouch]

53. I would if I had a spare $25.

That's part of my heat money this year, though. If I stay warm enough, I'm not likely to get sick, so it works out either way.

[Jamastiene]

54. I did not and I don't plan to get one.

I hardly ever get sick, but when I do, it's usually not a cold or the flu. Even if I do get the flu, oranges and Theraflu are cheaper than a $25 shot.

[ptvet]

55. Nope

Last time was '91 in the Air Force. Made me sick...but they also gave me several other mystery shots.

On a strange and totally unrelated note. I'm not sure which one did it, but one of those shots caused me to hang out in too many bars and tell girls I was a pilot... :hangover: ;)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

56. Yes, definitely.

They offer them at work, so it's really convenient. Also, I got one of those really nasty flu strains years ago; thought I'd have to get better just in order to die. Don't EVER want to get that sick again.

[orleans]

57. i used to get them. now, i figure: fuck it. n/t

[RushIsRot]

58. I got one from the VA. I never miss a season. I remember all the

episodes of flu from my childhood and do not wish to repeat them. So far, so good!

[girl gone mad]

59. no/no

Still you and healthy, so I'd rather take my chances and build up some natural immunity if I do get it.