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Thoughts on the Flu Shot

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Posted 10/3/2007 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
I work in an office where I come into contact with a lot of people. Should I get the flu shot?
Posted 10/3/2007 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
well i have a thing about vaccinces, i think that as a general rule they are a bad idea. But, if you are back up to having a regular immune systemn then you can get one. If you have something like UC, or are on a immuno suppresant you should not have one. i can;t remember if you have chrons or had UC. If it's chrons, you probably shouldnt' get one.
I think that washing your hands and cleaining off items like doorknobs and phones is the best way. Just my opinion though
Posted 10/3/2007 9:05 AM (GMT 0)
I get a flu shot every year through work (they figure it's best to offer flu shots rather than have people off sick :) ). I would recommend getting it. It's a tiny needle and much better than days feeling horrible with the flu.
Posted 10/3/2007 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, people taking immunosuppresants are the ones that need to get the flu shot because they're at high-risk for complications if they get the flu. Our son is on 6MP and gets his flu shot every year. The thing they shouldn't get is the nasal form of the flu shot which contains a live virus. The regular flu shot contains a dead virus.


Posted 10/3/2007 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Personally, I am against most vaccinations. However, you might want to do some reseach on side effects, benefits, and the cons of getting the flu shot. My father-in-law got his shot last year and he became very ill. He was sick for 2 weeks. He said it was not worth it and did not get a shot this year. There are many ways to help prevent getting the flu...take vitamins, proper hand washing, sanitizing your work area, and such. I would commit to those practices before I would subject my body to a live virus.

just my 2-cents...
Posted 10/3/2007 3:54 PM (GMT 0)

Amey

 

I understand your concerns about different vaccines; however, the flu vaccine is a dead virus and you can't get the flu from it. Side effects from the flu shot can be aches and a low-grade fever; but those are just that - side effects. Now if somebody gets the nasal form, that's another story - it's a live virus.

If people only knew or could see how many people die each year because of the flu and/or pneumonia, I'm sure they'd be more prone to get the shot and save lives - possibly their own.

Posted 10/3/2007 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
I work in an ER and am offered the flu shot every year. The flu shot does not protect against every strain of flu, usually the most common. Every year I have gotten the flu shot, I've still gotten sick, but maybe have been spared from a different strain. No matter how much I wash my hands, I am always exposed to something. I am leaning more towards getting the shot this year because I worry about dehydration.
Posted 10/3/2007 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
my husband gets his every year, he works in an ER too. Like Amey i am against most vacciantions, and the flu vaccine does only protect against some strains, and the flu virus mutates constantly. I had been told, since i got sick not to get the vaccine, because of being on immunosuprresants, and when my son got his MMR i had to be very careful with that, it is a live virus. I think part of my thing against them is that my Dad got polio from the vaccine.
Posted 10/4/2007 1:20 AM (GMT 0)

Summerstorm

I'm shocked that your doctor told you not to get the flu vaccine because you're on immunosuppresants; that's why you need to get it. If you get the flu or pneumonia, your body is going to have a very hard time fighting it. Our son takes 6MP for Crohn's and the first thing his GI told us was to make sure that he gets a flu shot every year and a pneumonia shot when needed.

Posted 10/4/2007 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Last year was the very first flu shot that I have gotten.. don't know why I have been against it. I work at an office of about 60 employees, but never really got a horrible case of the flu. Last year, I got a flu shot for the first time ever and, I know it was just a coincidence, but I got a severe case of something right after. I ended up on a round of Flagyl - that was a first since my surgery in '84. Ended up getting an IV for dehydration for almost 6 hrs. Begged my dr not to make me go to the ER. As I so eloguently said, "there are sick people there and I don't want to catch anything else." So he agreed to do it at an outpatient infusion clinic adjacent to his office. I am still contemplating getting the flu shot this year. I would appreciate opinions on this too. Thanks.
Posted 10/4/2007 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
all my drs told me not to get it, my son's dr included. and our pharamicists.
Posted 10/4/2007 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
If you have problems with the shot, it could be an allergy or sensitivity to one or more of the components.

As stated above, it is not a live virus, and does not cause the flu.

If you got the flu anyway after receiving a shot, you survived the flu, or had less symptoms, maybe because of the shot. While the vaccine is not the exact flu that is going around in any given season, it is related, and still gives your body some ammunition to fight the latest mutation.

There are still many, many deaths in this country because of the flu, and it's usually the young, the old, and the sick, all because they are immune compromised.

I will continue to get my shot every year. I had the flu once, and it turned into viral pneumonia which almost killed me. It's very hard to treat a virus.
Posted 10/4/2007 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all of your thoughts on the flu shot. I think the best thing for me to do is to ask my GI what she wants me to do. She knows my history of Crohn's and that I'm currently not on any immunosuppressants, so I'll see what she thinks.
Thanks again!
Cecilia
Posted 10/17/2007 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
So, has anyone actually had any reactions to the flu vaccine this year? Still haven't gotten mine, but was thinking about making the appt today.....
Posted 10/17/2007 2:32 PM (GMT 0)

Peggy

We've given about 310 at our office and no patients have had problems. My son that has Crohn's got his. I still have to get our other son in; he has severe asthma.

Posted 10/17/2007 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I just came back from getting mine. Will let you know if I have problems.
Posted 10/17/2007 6:03 PM (GMT 0)

I"m on my way to get mine.  My dr., an internist, has told me that since being RX'd with CEBV I must have the yearly flu shot.  I've gotten every year, since Grant was a cadet.

Sandy B

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