Health Discussions

Get out the chicken soup!

I haven't had the flu shot because I'm allergic to eggs.

I'm glad you can't catch THAT virus from the PC.

Haven't gotten mine yet, but plan to this month.

I usually get it at work because I am a health care professional, but, they already ran out at my hospital and the flu clinic doesn't even start until next Monday.  Maybe I'll take my chances and skip it this year.  All the discussion over the Swine Flu vaccine has me questioning the value of the shot.  I am sure I won't be getting the Swine Flue vaccine unless they make it manditory at my job.

Nope because I've been sick (not the flu) and don't want to compromise my immune system anymore right now until I get over all this.  I usually get it each year and manage to avoid the flu.  The H1N1 vaccine just made it here in the nasal spray for children.  More to come soon they said.  You have to get BOTH vaccines to be covered for regular flu and the Swine Flu (H1N1).

No. You won't be sure to get it. My son had it, and I went and got him from college as requested and good. I did not get swine flu. His brother did not. We were very careful about hand washing etc.

Nah. I never get the shot. My father got really sick every time he got one and I am such a carbon copy of him that I know I will too. I'll chance it.

Although my kids get it, I'll be honest - I only get it for myself if it's free. I just had my first regular flu shot since college last year in a free drive-thru clinic. I just took my kids, loaded them in the car and waited around for about 90 minutes. It wasn't that bad, really.

I was hit REALLY hard with the flu in Feb. 2008 - knocked me out for around 2 months. I didn't want that again.

I always get the regular flu shot every year. I won't be getting the H1N1 flu shot though. 

Got it...

Nope. I've never had one and don't plan to start now.

My daughter and children were vaccinated because she has a son with asthma. They got the shot to protect him.

I got my seasonal flu shot two weeks ago. No problems to report.

--Bob

We have talked about it, but I doubt I will waste the time. I'm pretty careful to wash hands and take other precautions. That, and a strong immune system, convince me that I don't need to bother.

I will get neither the regular influenza or the H1N1 influenza vaccinations.  I've never gotten a flu "shot" and I've been fine for many years.  The H1N1 vaccination frightens me due to the mercury and squalene that it contains... Squalene has been linked to Gulf War Syndrome and autoimmune issues.  No thanks!

I got my shot a couple of weeks ago as I do every year because I have COPD however my son, who works in Emergency Management for the Air Force, told me not to get the H1NM1 shot because it makes more people sick than it helps.  He also said that it is very similar to the regular flu shot.  I got a big old lecture about it from my 24 year old son and since I was in that field and I am the one that got him the job I believe him.  If you clinic does not have anymore then see if your local Walmart and such are still giving them.

The news reported yesterday that the swine flu is to peak this week- long before most people have been vaccinated. Interesting...

I hadn't heard that.  The last report I heard had the Swine Flu peaking sometime in February along with the seasonal flu.

I heard it on one of the network news programs. I can't remember which one.

The NY Times reported last month that the swine flu would peak this month as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/12/us/12flu.html?_r=1

Last week there were 5,000 diagnosed cases of flu in the US.  Last year at the same time there were 7.  Yes, seven!  I'd prepare myself for a long tough flu season.  I'll be taking both shots this year.

Rudi, could some of the increase (I said some not all) be due to the media hysteria about swine flu and the fact that more people are going to doctors and ERs for symptoms that they normally would have stayed at home in bed with? 

I'm sure some of it could be the attention it's getting from the media.  But we're talking about a quantum leap in reported cases.  Having watched this flu rip through my daughter's camp this summer (when flu is generally dormant), I'm convinced that we have a serious health problem on our hands.

RudiXeno said…

Last week there were 5,000 diagnosed cases of flu in the US.  Last year at the same time there were 7.  Yes, seven!  I'd prepare myself for a long tough flu season.  I'll be taking both shots this year.

---

Could that be the swine flu peaking they were talking about? The regular flu is supposed to peak in January or February.

I do not receive any flu shots.

From the reading I've done, there's nothing to suggest that Swine Flu will peak any earlier than the seasonal flu.

I work for a state health department and we are given our seasonal flu shots for free.  They ran out initially, but just got a new supply and I got my shot this week.  Today we received notice that the main office of the agency where I work had received a LIMITED supply of the H1N1 vaccine (the flyer said "vaccine" NOT "flu mist") but that it was only available for pregnant women.  As pregnant women and young kids are apparently the ones being targeted by H1N1, that is who they are hoping to vaccinate first.

The CDC has changed the way the flu is reported now [since August 30] and lump ALL flu together instead of separating the swine flu virus from other strains of the flu so any data will be an accumulation of all flu strains.

An article in the Los Angeles Times surfaced today that says two Purdue researchers studying the swine flu statistics of the May-August summer season say that the swine flu will peak this month [around Halloween].

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-swine-flu-health22-2009oct22,0,7785040.story

In another article discussing past flu pandemics it states, "In that case, there was an early wave of the disease about September and October, "like what we are seeing here. They had another big wave after the first of the year. And so I think that as vaccine becomes available," it is important to vaccinate as many people as possible."

http://www.latimes.com/news/health/la-sci-swine-flu22-2009oct22,0,3172233.story

There are predictions of a second or third wave of the virus to appear next year. So far, the virus has been very mild but researchers admit that even they can not adequately predict what the virus will do in the future.

I will never take another flu shot by no means. everytime i take one i end up getting the flu. no flu shot for me

There has been a lot of media hype about the Swine flu and it has left many confused and in their minds lumping the two flu vaccinations together.

The President signed a bill Friday night declaring the H1N1 flu a National Emergency opening the doors for medical facilities to waive federal guidelines in treating the illness. 1,000 deaths have been reported in the US and 5,000 deaths worldwide. When these deaths are compared to the 24,000 total deaths of the 2008-09 regular flu season one must wonder why.

The Swine flu is predicted to come in waves. This one is at the peak [according to researchers at Purdue] but there are some who are expecting a second wave some time this spring. The regular flu season will soon be underway. While no one can predict what the flu virus will do, one thing is sure and that is that there is widespread confusion, fear and paranoia.

Time will yield the answers but by then it may be too late.

Your last point is probably reason enough to consider the swine flu an National Emergency.  There is no substitute for preparedness.

It is simple as this people, DO NOT GET THE FLU SHOT. Or any vaccination for that matter. The shots have harmed more people than the disease ever will. See link:  youtube.com/watch?v=mSCgc7nFDxM&feature=related

do you know that when the shot ws given to soldiers in the 60's (yes it had been around that long, epidemic huh) that most of them now have neurological problems. it is awful

do you know that the cdc and the national government has set up a fund to compinsate individuals who have been harmed by vaccinations?

People, do your research and do not believe what they tell you on tv. by the way who pays for those programs... the commercials. and what are most of the commercials that you see....drug commercials. Hmmm, i wonder who benifits from the sale of the vaccines.

My daughter was vaccinated along with her kids because she has a son with a compromised immune system. They needed to risk the shots for him. If I lived nearby or saw him often I would do the same but I don't. So...

I'm not getting one.  If I die of swine flu you have permission to chisel "I told you so!" on my headstone... LOL