Question re: flu shots....

[dolo amber]

I've also never had one, and have really only had the actual flu like maybe twice. But what I'm wondering is this: I'm deathly, anaphylacticly allergic to all but like 2 known antibiotics. As such, I've very rarely taken any, and I get sick less than most anyone I know (SICK sick, not like stuffy nose or something.) Are flu shots or immunizations in general the same thing? I mean, same principal? Like, is it better NOT to get them and let your body build its own immunity?

Misunderestimator's thread reminded me I wanted to find that out, and where better to ask for medical advice than here? :D

[tjdee]

1. That's an opinion question--but America is WAY overmedicated.

I don't think anyone can say for sure which is better.

But in general Americans like medications. They like taking a pill and making it go away.

When my kid was younger I gave serious thought to whether she needed to be immunized--and I wussed out and she's up to date on her shots, but I'm still not convinced they were absolutely necessary.

on edit:
I should say, though, that obviously I'm glad that we don't have millions of people dying from polio, and that the instant there's a pill for HIV I will do all kinds of acrobatics.

[dolo amber]

2. I TOTALLY agree

American health care is all about the treatment, not prevention. Why? Because there's no money in prevention, silly... ;)

[ant]

4. to be fair

Immunization IS about prevention. When was the last time anyone here saw someone with polio? Kids today don't really need vaccines, but only because the kids before them had them. Unless we want these outbreaks to come back we need to keep up the vaccines.

That being said, I would agree that in other health care areas Americans are overmedicated and the establishment (insurance companies) tends to react rather than prevent. I also think Americans are too clean. All that anti-bacterial crap and nervous mothers disinfecting everything...we keep the light germs that could help us build immunity away AND make them resistant to the medicines we do have.

And all THAT being said, I've never had a flu shot (didn't even know it was an option until I was in my mid-20s), and I've never had the flu. I get maybe one cold a year, on average, but I'm not sure if that's above or below the average in the population.

[liontamer]

11. immunizations are about prevention not treatment

they are one of the rare exceptions in western medicine

[miss_kitty]

3. i have medical experience as a [s]pato[/s] Patient

so I feel eminently unqualified to offer you any type of medical advice whatsoever, so here goes. Iwould try to stay healthy the way the texas poster who works in the healthcare profession does. Handwashing exercise dgood food and an adequate amout of rest-

I personally think that the hyoe in hype in the tu run up to the shots and the subsequent shortages are a load of manufactured bullshit to herd people into manageable packs of panic stricken sheep. As a famous ghetto philosopher once suggested "don't believe the hype." Maybe this is part of the October surprise we've been waiting for
:smoke:

[Texasgal]

5. Well... I have just been told that I am self-centered

because I refuse to get a flu shot. That's a first.....

Here's my advice.....

If you are relatively healthy, eat well, practice good hygiene, than there is no real reason to get a flu shot. Here in recent days it has be widely reported that the flu shot serum is extremely low, even more reason to leave it to the folks who really need it.

The flu shot in general is a "dead" virus, it is not an antibiotic. It also doesn't ward off every strain of flu out there. If you have drug allergies and are not sure what type of serum is being used in your area, I would discuss this with your Doctor.

[miss_kitty]

9. you know Iwas never a sick person in my life

til the cancer thing. I haven't had a cold since then, and I just had a 6 month check up from the surgeon-and no reminder That I needed a flu shot or anything- i can't imagine anyone thinking some one else is self-centered for NOT taking a shot-I consider it generous-that leaves more for those he who think they need it-it really is the hygeine hygiene, and other sytuff, isn't it?

[NC_Nurse]

6. It's a non-issue at his point...

they are going to ration them to children, elderly, sick, and ER workers. They usually vaccinate all healthcare workers at UNC but my department is not getting them this year because of this perceived shortage. I think they're only vaccinating ER and ICU people. So they won't be bugging you to get vaccinated unless you are a toddler or an elderly person or have some chronic illness or immunodeficiency. Most of the vaccine here in NC was ordered from Chiron so they'll be scrambling to cover those people.

I usually skip the vaccine, last year I got it because the department I'm in sees 50 outpatients a day and I didn't get the flu but my hubby did...he was down for a week.

[dolo amber]

8. Oh, I have no interest in getting one

whatsoever...I was just curious if immunizations act in the same way as antibiotics by not allowing the body to build up its own resistance to things naturally. :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. Here's a fact sheet with CDC info

http://www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/factsheets/fsflu.htm

[liontamer]

10. no they are not the same thing at all

antibiotics kill living things . Vaccinations work by prompting your immune system to make antibodies. Antibiotics do not work on viral infections (viruses by some definitions aren't alive)