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Flu shots: Worthwhile or a waste of time?
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1) Saw the video - her problem is psychologic, not neurologic
2) Any vaccine presents your body with a key part of/or attenuated (weakened) version of a virus or bacteria so your immune system can develop a cellular and/or humoral (antibody) memory. If your body encounters a pathogen to which you have been immunized, you have a "head start" on defeating it (often before clinical symptoms).
3) Every year, influenza changes slightly (antigenic shift) necessitating a yearly change in the composition of virus proteins (this year's seasonal vaccine has 2 A and 1 B strains). The seasonal vaccine is a best guess of the likely strains that will be seen in the next year (based on previous circulating strains and surveillance, primarily in SE Asia)
4) Occasionally influenza undergoes a more significant genomic reshuffling (antigenic shift) that makes it so different than recent strains there is less native immunity in the population. This is what happened to H1N1. Interestingly, similar strains have been seen in the past, and this probably explains why older individuals don't seem to be as susceptible.
5) H1N1 presented AFTER this year's seasonal vaccine was incubating, necessitating a second vaccine. The methodology of preparation of H1N1 vaccine is identical to that used in the yearly seasonal vaccine. In fact, it likely would have been a component of this year's seasonal vaccine had it manifested itself a few months earlier.
In the vast majority of cases H1N1 influenza is milder than the seasonal influenza. A mild cold, +/- GI symptoms, and a fever of 102-103 F for 40-72 hours. And it is currently VERY widespread. However, the susceptibility and death rates in youth is alarming. You generally know within 48 hours if someone is going to have a severe case (fortunately this is not common)
Vaccines are NOT 100% effective (just as wearing a seatbelt is not 100% effective in preventing death in a crash). However, good data suggest vaccines do save lives and prevent hospitalizations. I get a yearly influenza vaccine shot, and I received the live attenuated nasal H1N1 vaccine. I did this less for myself than those I could possibly infect.
But, to each his own.
2) Any vaccine presents your body with a key part of/or attenuated (weakened) version of a virus or bacteria so your immune system can develop a cellular and/or humoral (antibody) memory. If your body encounters a pathogen to which you have been immunized, you have a "head start" on defeating it (often before clinical symptoms).
3) Every year, influenza changes slightly (antigenic shift) necessitating a yearly change in the composition of virus proteins (this year's seasonal vaccine has 2 A and 1 B strains). The seasonal vaccine is a best guess of the likely strains that will be seen in the next year (based on previous circulating strains and surveillance, primarily in SE Asia)
4) Occasionally influenza undergoes a more significant genomic reshuffling (antigenic shift) that makes it so different than recent strains there is less native immunity in the population. This is what happened to H1N1. Interestingly, similar strains have been seen in the past, and this probably explains why older individuals don't seem to be as susceptible.
5) H1N1 presented AFTER this year's seasonal vaccine was incubating, necessitating a second vaccine. The methodology of preparation of H1N1 vaccine is identical to that used in the yearly seasonal vaccine. In fact, it likely would have been a component of this year's seasonal vaccine had it manifested itself a few months earlier.
In the vast majority of cases H1N1 influenza is milder than the seasonal influenza. A mild cold, +/- GI symptoms, and a fever of 102-103 F for 40-72 hours. And it is currently VERY widespread. However, the susceptibility and death rates in youth is alarming. You generally know within 48 hours if someone is going to have a severe case (fortunately this is not common)
Vaccines are NOT 100% effective (just as wearing a seatbelt is not 100% effective in preventing death in a crash). However, good data suggest vaccines do save lives and prevent hospitalizations. I get a yearly influenza vaccine shot, and I received the live attenuated nasal H1N1 vaccine. I did this less for myself than those I could possibly infect.
But, to each his own.
Would you also stop eating pizza from your favorite place if once, after having a slice, and man got into his car and got into an accident in his way home?
The two scenarios are equally absurd.
Isn't that all the more reason to wash your hands and not sneeze on people.
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally not seeing how you can't do both.
Isn't that really how the flu is spread in the first place. People not being considerate of others and not being cleanly. Amazing how far washing your hands can go.Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally not seeing how you can't do both.
Sure, in a black and white world where only polar extremes exist. Get a flu shot or your entire family will die.
See how the polar extremes thing doesn't really work in this discussion?
The one year I did get a flu shot I got really sick. I haven't gotten one since. That's just my luck though. I wouldn't freak out if you didn't get one. Good luck.
There is a lot of money to be made by flu shots. Oh, and they are completely safe.
Yes, but there is far more money in people getting sick/dying from influenza (bwah-hahahahaha). And nothing in life is COMPLETELY safe.
No Flu Shot History
One thing to think about is that it is normal for your immune system to deal sickness once in awhile. Plus additional ways to strengthen your immune system such as exercise and diet. You will enjoy a healthy life and probably not get sick anyways.
Flu Shot History
If you already had been taking flu shots every year, chances are you won't be able to stop taking the flu shot so you might as well continue since your immune system won't be able to handle any real sickness on its own. You will be dependent on drugs to survive. Sorry.
One thing to think about is that it is normal for your immune system to deal sickness once in awhile. Plus additional ways to strengthen your immune system such as exercise and diet. You will enjoy a healthy life and probably not get sick anyways.
Flu Shot History
If you already had been taking flu shots every year, chances are you won't be able to stop taking the flu shot so you might as well continue since your immune system won't be able to handle any real sickness on its own. You will be dependent on drugs to survive. Sorry.
I find the whole thing rather paranoid. I won't be getting this shot. It freaked me out when it hit last year, but now it seems that it's much ado about very little. I rarely get a cold, I'm not worried about this.
I am amazed that so many of the self-professed "enlightened" are so very wrong or confused about this. Maybe it's information overload, what i call a "google-loop", where the searcher cannot distinguish between fact and fiction or is led astray or maybe frightened by a single sentence like "I got a flu shot and got sick for the first time EVER in my ENTIRE life!" or even by nut-jobs with some nut-job agenda.
I got mine (the inactivated H1N1 and seasonal shots).
I have to say that though it is troubling to see so many people who are nervous/opposed to the vaccine, it has allowed me a great opportunity.
I am interning at a local free clinic which serves homeless people. Because so many people haven't been getting the free H1N1 vaccine, I was able to secure a rather large supply for use on the homeless in Salt Lake City. We've been scrambling for 6 months now to prepare for H1N1 in our population of clients, making arrangements with local shelters for isolation areas etc. Now I've been able to spend the past two weeks vaccinating anyone and everyone involved with homeless service provision, as well as the homeless population.
The homeless are very receptive to the vaccine, which is good because I feel as though they are at higher risk than the general population. Many sleep in over-crowded shelters where infection could spread rapidly, and many have a host of co-morbidity's that could present serious problems if they were to contract H1N1 flu. It's been a great thing to be able to vaccinate this population, with the help of some awesome Medical and undergraduate health profession students, I've managed to deliver over 1,000 vaccinations in a weeks time.
Coincidentally we've only had one case of H1N1 so far this season that I'm aware of, that was on Thursday, and the person is now resting in an isolation area while they recover.
Here's a few news reports about our project. Donate if you like
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13591407
http://kcpw.org/blog/local-news/2009-10-19/homeless-clinic-opening-center-for-h1n1-patients/
Anyway, I have no worries about the H1N1 vaccine, I'm outside of the target age groups, but luckily I've been able to be vaccinated as a result of the job I have.
SLC
I have to say that though it is troubling to see so many people who are nervous/opposed to the vaccine, it has allowed me a great opportunity.
I am interning at a local free clinic which serves homeless people. Because so many people haven't been getting the free H1N1 vaccine, I was able to secure a rather large supply for use on the homeless in Salt Lake City. We've been scrambling for 6 months now to prepare for H1N1 in our population of clients, making arrangements with local shelters for isolation areas etc. Now I've been able to spend the past two weeks vaccinating anyone and everyone involved with homeless service provision, as well as the homeless population.
The homeless are very receptive to the vaccine, which is good because I feel as though they are at higher risk than the general population. Many sleep in over-crowded shelters where infection could spread rapidly, and many have a host of co-morbidity's that could present serious problems if they were to contract H1N1 flu. It's been a great thing to be able to vaccinate this population, with the help of some awesome Medical and undergraduate health profession students, I've managed to deliver over 1,000 vaccinations in a weeks time.
Coincidentally we've only had one case of H1N1 so far this season that I'm aware of, that was on Thursday, and the person is now resting in an isolation area while they recover.
Here's a few news reports about our project. Donate if you like
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13591407
http://kcpw.org/blog/local-news/2009-10-19/homeless-clinic-opening-center-for-h1n1-patients/
Anyway, I have no worries about the H1N1 vaccine, I'm outside of the target age groups, but luckily I've been able to be vaccinated as a result of the job I have.
SLC
Lot of misinformation here. Vaccines do have some risk, but a lot of you don't seem to understand how they work. Funny how so many people will ingest over-the-counter immune stimulating supplements without much thought. They have had much less testing and oversight.
And also lots of paranoia. So far we've had 1,000 swine flu deaths in the last year vs 36,000 regular flu deaths per year.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjdCHrP82YTFser5vD6CzTK1az6wD9BH1V280
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm
That doesn't warrant the paranoia about swine flu we've been seeing.
Auto deaths are much higher as well, and people still drive.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_deaths_are_caused_by_car_accidents_a_year
So much of this swine flu is media hype scaring the people into thinking they will die tomorrow if they don't get the shot. If anything the media and government are the ones creating mass hysteria. Why don't they get this excited every flu season.