The Flu Shot

[RockaFowler]

Is anyone else wondering why the media is making such a big deal about Flu Shots? I have never taken a Flu Shot and never goten the Flu. They are scaring seniors and others. Again, the Media is blowing this out of proportion.

[RivetJoint]

1. The flu kills thousands

of people each year. It's not a scare tactic.

[RC]

2. And America has outsourced the manufacturing

of the vaccine because they can not make an exorbitant enough profit on it here. Don't people matter any more?
Oh, it is a scare topic. People get sick and die from the shots also. The shots are almost a year behind the active strain.

[Nobody]

3. I get the flu every year

But last year I had my first ever flu shot and didn't get sick. I can't afford to get sick, I have no benefits at my work. None. Not even paid sick time. I get sick, I either come to work and infect everybody else or I stay home and hope I recover fast enough to make enough money to pay my heating costs.

Either way I lose.

But Wed night George Bush was telling me not to get a flu shot. Fine. Let him pay me some sick time when I'm running a fever of 102 because the company I work for won't.

All that being said, I do think that the highest risk people should get their shots first. But Boy George showed just how much he doesn't give a shit about us poor working folks when he didn't even bother to talk about ways to GET MORE VACCINE!

(on edit: I'm so pissed at the Occupant of 1600 that I'm making typos all over the page)

[REP]

4. 36,000 People A Year in the US Die from The Flu Each Year

That's with a normal supply of flu vaccine.

I'm in super-ultra-high-risk group, and I'm not elderly. It's not a scare tactic.

[sbj405]

5. Flu season is becoming an annual story

If you remember last year, it was that the flu shot was the wrong strain or something. While the flu is a very serious thing for the high risk groups, I think the media attention drives others that wouldn't normally get one to try and get one this year.

[Kellanved]

6. the flu is no joking matter

The Flu can be lethal for elderly people and young children and can cause heart damage (among other things) even for young and healthy people. Also, it knocks one out for two weeks - even a small or mid-sized flu epidemic can be a problem for the economy.

Anyway, the whole "risk group" argumentation is totally beside the point. If enough people are vaccinated, an epidemic can't form. So the fact that you did not get the flu might very well be because other people did get the shot.

[RC]

8. Wouldn't a better course of action

be to stop it at the source? How many years have they been playing catch-up with the latest strain? Every year the same thing. They know the source. Fix that.

[RivetJoint]

9. What?

Wipeout all of East Asia?

[indepat]

7. Did not some 20-40 million die worldwide from the flu during the WWI

era? Who can say a similarly virulent flu strain will not strike again?

[NewJeffCT]

10. I try to get one every year - the one year I did not, I got the flu

The one year I did not get a flu shot in the last 10 was the 1 year I got the flu.

At least my 20 month old daughter can get one this year.

[Kellanved]

11. FWIW: I did not get one last year

As I was told that the 2003 shot did not include anything that wasn't covered by the 2002 vaccine already. Even this year the shot doesn't look much different: the Fujian is AFAIR related to the Moscow strain, so the old vaccine should be effective.

2002:
an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
an A/Moscow/10/99(H3N2)-like virus*
a B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus

2003:
an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
an A/Moscow/10/99(H3N2)-like virus*
A B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus**

2004:
an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
an A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2)-like virusa
a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virusb

[Bridget Burke]

12. It's a real problem.

From the number that die every year, it's evident that all those who really need the shot don't get it even in "normal" years.

One reason you haven't gotten the flu is the others around you who got the shot. If this is a bad year, you'll be more exposed than normal. A flu victim is contagious before any symptoms appear.

[blondeatlast]

13. I'm in 3 risk factor groups and I have a school-age child; this is DEADLY

serious business to me.

I envy people like you who are healthy--and I hope for your sake you never see what life is like when you do have to worry about such things.

I'm damn scared about this.

[Skittles]

14. because it IS a big deal

you don't seem to understand - FLU KILLS. Lots of people need that shot and they are having to go through hell and high water to get it. The more people who don't get the shot, the more people get the flu then THOSE people give the flu to OTHERS. It's a national health issue and deserves a lot of press.

[psychopomp]

15. A few years back

when I was about 29, I got the flu and was laid up in the hospital for three days. I have had it once since then and it wasn't so bad, but influenza is nothing to discount short shrift.

[Elginoid]

16. I already got my flu shot...

I have an immune system disorder, and my doctor insists that i get one.

[curse10]

17. I'm gonna be pissed if I don't get my shot

When I get the flu I'm always down for the count for at least two weeks. I cannot handle being that sick.

[DemOverseas]

18. The point is......

Why was the flu vacine made by a lab in Great Britian? Bush is so scared about Canadian medicine for the elderly but Great Britian is OK? And did I hear something about additional flu vaccine coming from Canada to make up for this shortfall? I think those who need the vaccine should be getting it and Bush should have kept his trap shut telling folks not to get it. He is not a doctor...damnit!

[flamingyouth]

19. It's a big deal for me and for my parents

My parents are over 60 and not in the greatest of health, and I have asthma and am in a high-risk group.

The flu kills many people each year. Talk about homeland security - you'd think this nation could get a freaking flu shot available to people. I didn't get one last year and was very, very sick with the flu. Luckily I didn't get pneumonia.