Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Flu vaccine

Have you gotten your flu vaccine yet?

It always astounds me that people can believe there are so many good reasons not to get a flu shot.

(The myths debunked)

21 comments:

  1. I'm not getting it because I'm pregnant, and all the two previous seasons I got it I came down with an awful respiratory bug of some sort that lasted for weeks, while otherwise I usually have a less than one week bout of coughing and sore throat. I know it's probably safe, but with my weakened immune system and bad history of flu shots, definitely skipping it.

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    Replies
    1. Well, look at the evidence on flu shots in pregnancy:

      http://www.redwineandapplesauce.com/2013/10/28/setting-the-record-straight-dubunking-all-the-flu-vaccine-myths/#pregnant1

      Being pregnant puts you at higher risk for flu complications.

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    2. I agree with anon below that you really could have done better with your reference. It took me less than 30 seconds to find this reference:

      http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

      Having a weakened immune system because of pregnancy is one of the major indications for getting the vaccine.

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    3. Was the anon below talking to me... I thought he/she meant the stupid 11 reasons post?

      The link I gave above had 5 pertinent references (see its hyperlinks). The second one points to the cdc site you just listed.

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    4. I was referring to the person who wrote that blog post.

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  2. I've never gotten one before the hospital I work at made it mandatory a few years back. I really wasn't for it until my roommate (who never washed her hands) tested positive for the flu! I was so relieved I got the shot, I try to encourage my family to get one. P.S. I like how the link you posted has absolutely no references to support their claims -_-

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  3. I'm asthmatic so I've gotten the flu vaccine every single year since I was a child. Since I started getting the vaccine probably 25 years ago, I've only gotten flu once and it was terrible and exacerbated by the fact that I was in college in the winter and had to walk pretty far to get to my classes. I will continue to get it every year, though I'm a bit behind this year. My children just got vaccinated today, actually.

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  4. A friend of mine got the flu while pregnant. She got pneumonia, ended up on a vent, had the baby at 23 weeks and the baby didn't make it. She was totally healthy before with no chronic medical problems. Probably got the flu from one of her students,. Can't imagine not getting the vaccine. -Liz .T.

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  5. Thanks for posting this public service message, Fizzy! Hopefully pregnant poster has a change of heart and decides to get her vaccine.

    - A different anon

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  6. Agreed. It just baffles me how people can still claim that the vaccine is bad. Science, y'all.

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  7. I got mine last month.

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  8. I got my flu shot! When I went to get it a 3 or 4 y.o. kid in front of me in the line at Walgreens coughed directly in my face (his head was over his mother's shoulder, she turned at just the wrong time) and lo and behold, I ended up with a nasty URI a few days later. Pretty sure things like that are why people think they get "the flu" after they get a shot... Still, totally worth it! I've gotten a flu shot every year for 18 years now...

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  9. Fizzy - While I agree completely with your public service endeavor, I doubt that you will change the minds of the Chicken Littles who prefer to believe in junk science and conspiracy theories. Once someone has the flu - the real flu, not a bad cold - they understand that they never, ever, want to that sick again. I vividly remember each episode of the flu that I had in the days before vaccines: high fevers with bone-breaking chills, body pain, and the suffocating feeling that the you are drowning. If you are in early pregnancy and get the flu, as I did some 30 years ago, you can take nothing but acetaminophen. Nothing. No decongestant, no cough med, no aspirin - nothing. Not the greatest memory of my first pregnancy. Ever since the vaccine came out, I am first in line with my sleeve rolled up. Tricia

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  10. Jenny M. and Michele B.November 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM

    As proud members of the American Flu United (A-FU), it's people like you that are the problem. Viruses have been on Earth for longer than humans have, and are entitled to the same rights of life, liberty, and a decent proteolipid coat. Flu shots are part of the New World Order to convince people that good health is something to aspire to, when in fact Viruses are our rightful lords and masters. Plus, the shots cause autism.

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    Replies
    1. Ummmmmm, inspite of my wacko reply....are you for real?

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    2. Jenny M. and Michele B.November 7, 2013 at 6:45 PM

      Of course. American Flu United has chapters across the country. If you walk down any street long enough, sooner or later you'll hear someone shout our initials: "A- FU!"

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  11. If I get the flu, it helps me lose weight...not the most healthy way, but it's a jump start. (And I am already losing). about 15 lbs to go. I know you are skinny, skinny, Dr. Fizzy, so this will make absolutely zero sense.

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  12. And those of us who can't get the vaccine because of medical issues NEED y'all with working immune systems to get the flu vaccine. And all the others too.

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  13. Thank you! I'm in medicine, and I voluntarily get vaccinated every year for my patients. Fortunately, my hospital FINALLY made the flu shot mandatory. This year marks the first time ever that my husband got it because he's the primary caregiver for our two month old. What frustrates me the most is when other health care providers say things like, 'The flu shot gives me the flu.' Idiocy.

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  14. That post looks well researched and exhaustive!

    Here's a shorter one that Hopkins did on the same subject that I like.
    http://podblog.blogs.hopkinsmedicine.org/2012/02/24/no-excuse-for-not-immunizing/

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