Question about flus shots (see I even used USA terminology)

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M

Miri

Guest
#1
#1
Are they worth getting?

Ive never ever ever ever had flu in my entire life ever (I hardly ever get colds either)
and I've never had a flu jab.

Recently my work place circulated an email around offering vouchers for free flu
vaccinations. You just get one of these vouchers and go to a chemist to get jabbed and
wave the voucher to get it free of charge.

Is it worth getting? My aunt who I care for is 81 and she gets a jab every year.
People keep telling me I should get one too as if I got ill it would effect my ability to
look after her etc.

But are there any downsides? I've heard some people can feel a bit ill for a few days
after getting a flu shot.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#2
#2
If your health is poor it might be a good thing, as the flu can get quite bad for some people.
but....if it's not, there's not much point in them I'd say. The flu virus keeps changing, so the vaccines will have to keep changing too,

( note that I normally do tell people to get vaccines )
 
A

Adstar

Senior Member
#3
Jul 24, 2016
7,552
3,582
113
#3
Miri said:
Are they worth getting?

Ive never ever ever ever had flu in my entire life ever (I hardly ever get colds either)
and I've never had a flu jab.

Recently my work place circulated an email around offering vouchers for free flu
vaccinations. You just get one of these vouchers and go to a chemist to get jabbed and
wave the voucher to get it free of charge.

Is it worth getting? My aunt who I care for is 81 and she gets a jab every year.
People keep telling me I should get one too as if I got ill it would effect my ability to
look after her etc.

But are there any downsides? I've heard some people can feel a bit ill for a few days
after getting a flu shot.
Click to expand...
I am like you .. I never get the flue anymore so i don't bother getting flue jabs.. Your business probably wants to reduce absenteeism of it's workers due to them getting the flue, so it is understandable why they are pushing the vaccination.. The path of lest resistance would be to take a voucher from your employer and then find someone who would like to use it.. :) Because there is a risk that the employer will mark it down as a black mark against your name if you do not take a voucher..

I get offered a flue jab every year from my doctor's visiting nurse help.. I always say no.
 
A

Adstar

Senior Member
#4
Jul 24, 2016
7,552
3,582
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#4
Oh and PS: If a person is young and in good health then i believe they should avoid the flue jab for health reasons.. A flue can give your young and strong natural resistance system a good work out.. Making you over the years better at resisting the flue.. I do fear that if young people / kids take jabs like this then their natural resistance system will not get a good work out and they will become very vulnerable to the changing flue types in the future..
 
blue_ladybug

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
#5
Feb 21, 2014
70,892
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113
#5
The flu shot is made with a strain of the flu that it is supposed to prevent. That's why so many people get sicker with the shot, than if they didn't get it. Personally, I've NEVER gotten a flu shot and never will.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#6
#6
blue_ladybug said:
The flu shot is made with a strain of the flu that it is supposed to prevent. That's why so many people get sicker with the shot, than if they didn't get it. Personally, I've NEVER gotten a flu shot and never will.
Click to expand...
I don't think it causes flu, but I read some people can get mild flu like symptoms which
is the immune system recognising the inert strain and reacting to it.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#7
#7
It was rather funny that earlier this year, every person in my office (around 20
people) came down with flu like symptoms at some point and ended up taking
a few days off. It never touched me - super Miri. Lol
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#8
#8
Yup, that's the idea. If it has flu viruses in them they are dead or very weakened ,
some symptoms may occur since your body is after all learning how to fight the virus, and most symptoms of disease are really symptoms of the immune systems reactions.

It just seems a bit annoying to have to go get a jab every month or so :p
 
M

Miri

Guest
#9
#9
wwjd_kilden said:
Yup, that's the idea. If it has flu viruses in them they are dead or very weakened ,
some symptoms may occur since your body is after all learning how to fight the virus, and most symptoms of disease are really symptoms of the immune systems reactions.

It just seems a bit annoying to have to go get a jab every month or so :p
Click to expand...
Every month! You don't do you? We just get one jab offered, I think it has more than
one strain. Maybe two or three.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#10
#10
That was just a random thing I said :p I dunno how often it is done, as I've never gotten one of those.
I do know the flu virus changes very fast though
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#11
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#11
I took one influenza inoculation in my twenties, and was sicker than a dog for a week. Never have even considered taking one since.
 
melita916

melita916

Senior Member
#12
Aug 12, 2011
10,456
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#12
i've never had the flu shot. i've only had the flu once, although i didn't go to the doctor to confirm it. it was more than the common cold, so i knew it was the flu.
 
Fenner

Fenner

Senior Member
#13
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
0
#13
I get the flu shot, I since the 1990's. My children also get the flu shot. My Husband refuses, a couple of year's ago none of us got it. My Husband got the flu, then we all got the flu. My daughter and I also ended up get pneumonia. She ended up in the hospital. I've had pneumonia at least 4 times in my life. I get the flu shot every year now.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#14
#14
I'm still non the wiser. Lol

Part of my thinks I should get it to protect my aunt who I look after, she has COPD,
but there again she gets a flu shot anyway.

And honest I hate shots in the arm ! :(
 
BruceWayne

BruceWayne

Senior Member
#15
Aug 7, 2013
3,694
357
83
Gotham City
#15
I've gotten it nearly every year for as long as I can remember and I've never gotten sick from it. Of course getting it does not mean that you won't get the flu, but even if you did, it could limit the symptoms. The shot only covers certain strains and it also takes a couple of weeks for the antibodies to develop and provide protection, but unless you're allergic to anything that's in the vaccine, I see no reason not to take it if you wish to protect yourself.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#16
#16
Miri said:
I'm still non the wiser. Lol

Part of my thinks I should get it to protect my aunt who I look after, she has COPD,
but there again she gets a flu shot anyway.

And honest I hate shots in the arm ! :(
Click to expand...
Well, if it is intended to protect her, then everyone that is in contact with her also needs to get it, or it will be sort of fruitless. (Pack immunity [? [not sure if it translates literally ] only works if a large enough group is immune)
 
Fenner

Fenner

Senior Member
#17
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
0
#17
I started getting it when I worked in a retirement home. I don't tell people how to live their lives but I Am pro immunization. If I could physically force my Husband to get a flu shot I would. In fact I'm getting my medical license so I can inject him legally with all immunization's while he's asleep.

I'm kidding, but I do wish he'd get the flu shot. Especially after that horrible year he infected us all with his horrible flu virus.
 
L

LiJo

Guest
#18
#18
Due to one of my children's health issue, my kids and I get the flu shot every year. None of us ever had any reaction or have gotten sick from the vaccine.
 
hornetguy

hornetguy

Senior Member
#19
Jan 18, 2016
6,945
1,563
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#19
Miri said:
I'm still non the wiser. Lol

Part of my thinks I should get it to protect my aunt who I look after, she has COPD,
but there again she gets a flu shot anyway.

And honest I hate shots in the arm ! :(
Click to expand...
You'd rather get poked in the bum?? I much prefer the arm.... leaves it a little sore for a day, but no big deal. Of course, I imagine my arms are considerably larger than yours...

I used to never get a flu shot, but I have been getting them for the past 3 or so years. Haven't had the flu, either.... coincidence? Who knows... I'm generally pretty resistant to most things anyway.

I had the flu about 30 years ago, and I actually thought I was dying... I couldn't move off the couch for three solid days, except to crawl to the bathroom to pee...fever, aches... I'm not a wimp about sickness, usually, but that time was the worst I've ever had.

I also tested positive for West Nile Virus a few years back... they said that I probably didn't have it now, but had had it sometime in the past. Reminded me of that one flu episode. Could have been West Nile, but I'm not even sure if it existed back then.

My doctor tells me if a person is going to be around small children or older adults, they should get the vaccine.... YMMV
 
hornetguy

hornetguy

Senior Member
#20
Jan 18, 2016
6,945
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#20
Oh... and I've NEVER had any flu-like symptoms after a shot.
 
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