Flu shot question (Page 2)

I'm not sure how many flu shots I've given over the last few years, more than a thousand for sure.  And I've only had to report 2 real adverse reactions, and they were just allergies/rash.  No guillian-barre and nothing severe.  Most people just get a bit sore within the following few hours, and that lasts for only a day or two. 

I have people claim they get sick when they get it, and while its true you can develop some mild flu like symptoms, it is mild.   Over the last 20 years or so, I don't recall the exact statistics (and I'm too lazy to look it up, check the CDC website if interested),  but somewhere like 80% of the formulations from year to year have been effective for that years flu. And even if you are young and in perfect health, the flu can take you out for a few weeks. Last time I had it, I was virtually unconscious for 2 days, felt absolutely terrible for a week, and was fatigued for at least 2 weeks after. 

Just get the shot. Even if you only get the flu once every 20 years, it is still worth it.  And just preventing the spread of it to others who could potentially die from it is worth it.   

Every single year since 1998 or so...along with varying numbers of doses of typhoid, yellow fever, small pox, anthrax, and probably a bunch of other things I don't even remember.  If they say I need a shot I just roll up my sleeve.  I stopped asking a long time ago.

I'm not dead yet.  And I've never had the flu or flu-like symptoms from the flu shot.  Come to think of it...I don't think I've ever gotten the flu in general.

texasgrrl - 2012-11-23 9:59 AM Well, I'm an RN (I know..I should not be having irrational fears! and my employer "requires" all employees to have the flu shot.  Even in nursing school it was required but I managed to squeak under the radar and not get  the shot.  I'm just worried I will be the "one in a million" person who gets Guillam-barre syndrome..I guess I should just relax..

Ahhhhh... "medical student's disease."  Fun stuff.

I was a completely healthy and strong 26-year old when I got H1N1, and it nearly killed me. I was hospitalized and missed close to a month of work. I haven't missed a flu shot since and have never experienced any negative side effects.

i don't get the flu shot for me.  i got it for my good friend who has a destroyed immune system as she goes through chemotherapy, i would hate to be the one who carried a flu virus and gave it to her.  i also got it for my nephew due to be born in january since he won't have any protection himself this winter.

i hate needles.  a LOT.  i had the flu a few years ago (swine flu and it was miserable) and still didn't get the shot.  but now that i'm going to be around people that truly need the protection, i felt that i had to get it.  i had no reaction at all (besides the ridiculous panic i get whenever i see a needle )

Only those that bother to read up on it do.  It's certainly better understood what's in them than any herbal remedy.

Basically its a steralized growth meduim (egg), de-activated virus strains (typically ~3 strains) and stabilizer.  The stabilizer, Thimerosal, has gotten a bad rap becasue its a complex molecule containing Hg (mercury).  The scientifically illiterate panic at the sound of mercury. But lets not be scientifically illiterate and run some numbers: flu vaccines contain 12.5 micrograms of mercury in the form of Thimerosal. A salmon steak or 6oz of tuna fish contain between 20 and 100 micrograms of mercury. So eat some trout instead of tuna and get the flu shot.

i actually have very severe asthma and have gotten the flu somewhat recently (in a year i did not get a shot), i'm actually a very high-risk flu shot candidate.  the last time i got a flu shot (2006) i did not get the flu.  i do get sick a lot, in general.  i'll do whatever i can to reduce the risk of infecting people that can't protect themselves. 

Just a clarification: the nasal mist flu vaccine is attenuated (live less virulent) virus.  There is a small chance that you can get the flu from the nasal mist, which is why it is not recommended for young children, people over 50, and high risk individuals.  For example, I have asthma, so I cannot get the nasal mist.