Flu shot--your opinion on it?

Posted by stadler178 11 years, 2 months ago to News
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I was reading a news article that said younger people are getting more impacted by the flu this year. They encouraged everyone to get a flu shot. But the thing that I couldn't get was that on the CDC's website, they say only about 145 million (or less) of the vaccine is actually available for use. Maybe my numbers are off, but if I'm correct, isn't that less than half the U.S. population, which is more than 300 million people now? So if it's so urgent for everyone to get the vaccine, why have they only made enough for half of Americans? Any thoughts on this?

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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    At a nursing home I showed my 5- and 3-year-olds how I was following the diagram showing the use of handsanitizer. When we were done following the four steps, my 3-y/o, without a hint of awareness of the irony of it, licked the window next to the gel dispenser.
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  • Posted by freedomforall 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    " I think it's probably a wash for the general public."
    Except for the effects on cognitive functions. Voters need to be able to think rationally (a rare event these days.)
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  • Posted by $ Abaco 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Check your premises. Where have I heard that before? Why does your immune system "kind of suck" while you've been a regular taker of flu shots?
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  • Posted by khalling 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    do not under most circumstances touch your eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands first. don't hang out with little kids. yikes!
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    True, the flu vaccine is a prediction on what flu strains are going to be prevalent when "flu season" comes around. However, for those with less developed immune systems (the very young), and those with compromised immune systems (AIDS, the elderly, or those with other infections that have degraded their systems) the flu shot is a good prophylactic measure. For the rest of us who are healthy, no need.
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  • Posted by khalling 11 years, 2 months ago
    My sister -in -law, a medical doctor with a phd in micro biology says that there are so many strains of flu out there by the time the vaccine is developed and distributed the strains the vaccine was designed for have mutated. On the off chance it has a strain thats still out there she says elderly and health compromised. But if you 're healthy - no need.

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  • Posted by gonzo309 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I've not gotten a flu shot as an adult and won't get one. The people I know that espouse the use of the flu shot are sick more often than folks who don't. The last vaccine I received was in 1970-71 when I went to Spain and received a cholera shot that made me deathly ill. There was an outbreak supposedly and it was required for me to reenter the US. Within 15 minutes of getting the shot, I barely made it back to where I was staying before collapsing.
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  • Posted by WBD 11 years, 2 months ago
    Even if only 30 percent of the population get vaccinated it will slow the spread. The shot only protects against the 3 worst types circulating that year. Many people still get other types of flu and conclude the shot doesn't work. A co-worker of mine got the real thing last year and ended up spending a few days in the hospital. I always get mine.
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  • Posted by UncommonSense 11 years, 2 months ago
    When I was in the military, I didn't have a choice regarding the shot. It was always a 50-50 chance I got the flu anyway.

    I've been retired now for over 4 years. I haven't had a flu shot since. Incidentally, I haven't had the flu either. Coincidence? I will never get another flu shot. Just my .02
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