Do flu shots work?

LikeAnOcean
LikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
edited December 2007 in All Encompassing Trip
I never had one until today. My mom gave me a coupon, so it ended up being only like $20, so I said what the heck. I work with the public and deal with sometimes hundreds of strangers in a day, so it seemed like a good idea..
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • Indian Summer
    Indian Summer Posts: 2,296
    I've gotten one every year for the past 5 or 6 years, and haven't gotten the flu...So I say yes. But I also take other precautions during the winter months.....Get plenty of sleep, take vitamin C and echinacea, wash my hands more frequently....stuff like that probably helps a lot too.
    "It's all happening"
  • DaytimeDilemma
    DaytimeDilemma Posts: 2,008
    Yes.
  • Enkidu
    Enkidu So Cal Posts: 2,996
    I had mine today. My husband said he's not having one this year. So... we'll see. (I haven't had the flu since I've been getting flu shots.)
  • RolandTD20Kdrummer
    RolandTD20Kdrummer Posts: 13,066
    I've never got a vaccine shot for anything ever in my lifetime. Only had the flu once or twice...was no big deal either.

    I think it's all bullshit to make money.
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

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  • pearljamjen
    pearljamjen Posts: 13,578
    My mom got a flu shot a few weeks ago. Since Sunday, she has been laid up with it, not able to eat anything except jello (well last night she finally had some toast). Not fun.

    I've never had a flu shot, and touch wood, don't get the flu very often. But I know some people who swear by them.
  • justjoshingu
    justjoshingu Posts: 538
    yes. they do. but they really help people more at risk. kids, elderly, health care workers. however the more people that have them the less likely other people are to get sick. its called "herd immunity" you have 5 people in an office. 4 got the shot. whats the likely hood the 5th will? not as likely. why do people get sick when they get the flu shot? 1. some people do get sick from the shot. some people were sick before the shot. i know some people would be skeptical saying "what is the likelyhood that someone would get sick at the same time they had the shot"? well, its called flu season because your chances to get sick are higher. but like i said people can get sick from them, but only if it is a live strain shot. you cant get sick from the the shots that are made from the parts of the virus.

    now. that being said, if you dont want to get a shot, and dont want to get sick, theree is 1 thing that helps more than anything. Proper hand washing. with warm, soapy water, rubbing your hands. PROPER hand washing. not touching your dirty dirty hands to your eyes, nose, mouth etc. not just washing your hands after dealing with a sick person, because when a person is most infectious is in the beginning, when they might not even be showing symptoms. PROPER HAND WASHING. ...
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  • QuarterToTen
    QuarterToTen Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 3,651
    RolandTD20Kdrummer wrote:
    I've never got a vaccine shot for anything ever in my lifetime. Only had the flu once or twice...was no big deal either.

    I think it's all bullshit to make money.

    do you live in the US? how were you able to attend school?

    i've never taken a flu shot.
    Nice shirt.
  • prism
    prism Posts: 2,440
    pearljamjen wrote:
    My mom got a flu shot a few weeks ago. Since Sunday, she has been laid up with it, not able to eat anything except jello (well last night she finally had some toast). Not fun.

    I've never had a flu shot, and touch wood, don't get the flu very often. But I know some people who swear by them.

    that sounds like she has viral gastroenteritis. which alot of people call "the stomach flu" it's kinda silly that they call it that since it's not caused by a flu virus. http://www.medicinenet.com/gastroenteritis/article.htm

    it's the flu (influenza) virus a respiratory illness that people get the flu shot for.
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  • prism
    prism Posts: 2,440
    to the OP, yes flu shots do work.

    in '96 I got the flu, it turned into pneumonia, i ended up in the hospital for a week.

    every year since i've gotten a flu shot and haven't gotten the flu since then.
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  • Rygar
    Rygar Posts: 8,711
    The problem is (or so I'm led to understand) that this year's vaccine is only 1/3rd useful, as two of the three strains of flu it vaccinates against have long since mutated anyway.
  • wolfbear
    wolfbear Posts: 3,965
    The flu shots work against the strains that they are meant to work against, but can't protect against them all. I've gotten a flu shot every year since the mid 80's (when I had the flu, was sick for two weeks and wanted to die) and haven't gotten it since. So, I'm sold. At least it's some protection. :)
    "I'd rather be with an animal." "Those that can be trusted can change their mind." "The in between is mine." "If I don't lose control, explore and not explode, a preternatural other plane with the power to maintain." "Yeh this is living." "Life is what you make it."
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    I think it's meant for young people, old people, people with weak immune systems, and health care professionals.

    For the rest of us - it is not needed at all. A complete waste. I believe it is better to actually let my body get the flu every 3 or 4 years (about as often as I have ever had the flu) and fight it off itself. That builds immunity.

    Those are my beliefs - I have never had a flu shot and do not plan to start getting one for quite a few more many years.
  • g under p
    g under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,237
    For me no, for 2 years I took shots I got sick the years I didn't I was fine.

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  • wolfbear
    wolfbear Posts: 3,965
    aNiMaL wrote:
    I think it's meant for young people, old people, people with weak immune systems, and health care professionals.

    For the rest of us - it is not needed at all. A complete waste. I believe it is better to actually let my body get the flu every 3 or 4 years (about as often as I have ever had the flu) and fight it off itself. That builds immunity.

    Those are my beliefs - I have never had a flu shot and do not plan to start getting one for quite a few more many years.
    I generally believe this too. Not a fan of antibiotic soaps etc. But the flu is a little different. I was young and I truly wanted to die I was so sick. I'll take any precautions I can. :)
    "I'd rather be with an animal." "Those that can be trusted can change their mind." "The in between is mine." "If I don't lose control, explore and not explode, a preternatural other plane with the power to maintain." "Yeh this is living." "Life is what you make it."
  • prism
    prism Posts: 2,440
    aNiMaL wrote:
    I think it's meant for young people, old people, people with weak immune systems, and health care professionals.

    For the rest of us - it is not needed at all. A complete waste. I believe it is better to actually let my body get the flu every 3 or 4 years (about as often as I have ever had the flu) and fight it off itself. That builds immunity.

    Those are my beliefs - I have never had a flu shot and do not plan to start getting one for quite a few more many years.

    kids, old people and people with weak immune systems are more likely to have serious complications from the flu....not because they're the only ones that get it. health care professionals need it because they're more like to be exposed to it as well as expose it to others.

    woot so you get sick with the flu and feel like death -warmed-over for 10 days to 2 weeks so that you boost your immunity? you do realize that by doing that you've only built up your immunity for that particular strain of the flu virus? it doesn't build up your immune system for anything else
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  • brain of c
    brain of c Posts: 5,213
    flu shots work.

    hey.......n.
    d'oh!!!!!!

    http://www.myspace.com/brain_of_c
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    prism wrote:
    kids, old people and people with weak immune systems are more likely to have serious complications from the flu....not because they're the only ones that get it. health care professionals need it because they're more like to be exposed to it as well as expose it to others.
    Right, which is why it's very important for them to not get the flu - hence, why they should get the vaccine. I never said they were the only ones to get it.
    prism wrote:
    so you get sick with the flu and feel like death -warmed-over for 10 days to 2 weeks so that you boost your immunity?
    I have only ever felt that bad for a few days - every few years. I have never felt like that for 10 days to 2 weeks. Which is why there is no reason for me, or anyone else as healthy as me to get the flu vaccine.
    prism wrote:
    you do realize that by doing that you've only built up your immunity for that particular strain of the flu virus? it doesn't build up your immune system for anything else
    How is that any different than a flu shot that only protects you from the strain it has?

    Again, I don't have a need for a flu shot. I can't remember the last time I actually had the flu for any real length of time.
  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    aNiMaL wrote:
    I think it's meant for young people, old people, people with weak immune systems, and health care professionals.

    For the rest of us - it is not needed at all. A complete waste. I believe it is better to actually let my body get the flu every 3 or 4 years (about as often as I have ever had the flu) and fight it off itself. That builds immunity.

    Those are my beliefs - I have never had a flu shot and do not plan to start getting one for quite a few more many years.

    same here......my health is strong enough to withstand the flu if i get it...getting a shot that actually gives me the flu seems crazy...at least for me.....:)
  • prism
    prism Posts: 2,440
    brain of c wrote:
    flu shots work.

    hey.......n.

    hi c

    does that make you an artificial fruit drink? :p
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  • lalalalaaaaaaaa
    lalalalaaaaaaaa Posts: 2,445
    justjoshingu wrote:
    now. that being said, if you dont want to get a shot, and dont want to get sick, theree is 1 thing that helps more than anything. Proper hand washing. with warm, soapy water, rubbing your hands. PROPER hand washing. not touching your dirty dirty hands to your eyes, nose, mouth etc. not just washing your hands after dealing with a sick person, because when a person is most infectious is in the beginning, when they might not even be showing symptoms. PROPER HAND WASHING. ...

    Hold on...

    so what kind of hand washing should I do?

    ;)

    To the OP: I've never had a flu shot, and I've never had the flu. So I dunno if it really works or not.

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