Flu shot? I have never had one before. Am I pushing my luck? It is free with my insurance. Pros? Cons?
0
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
9 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.
Yup, get em, especially if free.. They work, usually; and are not harmful if they don’t.
I’d worked within a petri dish of disease ..I mean a school.. where those refusing to be inoculated didn’t last long.. Now, in civilian life, and an ‘open air job,’ purposefully avoiding infected areas ..and having become an expert at avoiding what I can, I’ve been lazy about flu shots.. Maybe next season ~
Varn
Level 8
Jan 5, 2019
1
Been getting one annually for decades as they were free at work. I think my last bout of flu was in childhood. I like getting them around October (northern hemisphere) as I feel the antigen exposure can generate a nonspecific immune response as well as the intended specific one (agst flu), sort of like a jumpstart of the protective system right as we head into winter and its assorted maladies.
I have gotten a tad sore or achey for a day or two, but nothing that a low dose of Tylenol won't lick, if I even need that (rare).
For those afraid of mercury preservatives, go where the shot is drawn from a single dose via (currently mercury free in US) rather than multidose.
Zster
Level 8
Jan 5, 2019
2
I refused to get it for years after getting terribly sick in the military after the swine flu shot. About 10 years ago I started getting them, and knock on wood so to speak, seems to have lessened flu times.
Beowulfsfriend
Level 9
Jan 5, 2019
2
I've had the flu shot for over a decade. I've never had any symptoms at all from it. I'm trying to remember the last time I had the flu.
The flu shot only prevents against the most common strains for that season (and general location). Also, people often confuse colds and the flu - they are different illnesses.
Mofferatu
Level 7
Jan 5, 2019
3
I’ve been getting them for decades. My children are always vaccinated and never have gotten the flu either fortunately. The virus injected these days is inactivated and doesn’t have any of those side effects from many years ago. The flu vaccine takes a couple of weeks to kick in. During that time you do not have immunity to the flu so catching the flu is possible. This is where the myth comes from that people got the flu from the shot.
It’s quick and your best defense. Flu season is at its peak for the next few months.
Green_eyes
Level 8
Jan 5, 2019
4
They do, in general at least, work; though it's not unknown for a new strain of 'flu, which differs enough from the one your shot is intended to prevent, to appear and infect you.
One thing to watch out for: doctors and nurses will tell you that it's a complete myth that having a 'flu shot will give you mild 'flu-like symptoms for a few days. They are lying, and only tell you this to encourage you to have one. Arrange to take the following day off work.
Jnei
Level 8
Jan 5, 2019
1
Thank you. I don't usually have any problems with vaccines. This is good advice.
What are you talking about? Are you actually suggesting docs and nurses lie to their patients?? I'm a Nurse Practitioner in a hospitsl, I've gotten the shot annually since 2005. Never had more than a sore shoulder. We do NOT lie to our patients. But every day I admit people for inflenza who "don't believe in the flu shot."
Jnei:
@Emerald I've had a 'flu shot every year for more than 25 years. Many other people I know have one too. We're always told there will be no symptoms; most years, though by no means all, we get symptoms. And of course, medical practitioners do tell lies, albeit harmless ones intended to make a patient feel less worried - "this won't hurt a bit" is a common one.
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
Share this post
Categories
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.