I guess I’m lucky, I’ve never had the flu in my life and I’ve only gotten a flu shot 3 times in my life, this year I did not. Funniest part is I work in pharmacy.
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The Flu is Killing Up to 4,000 Americans a Week
- Thread starter oldhifi
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Your opinions warrant dismissal. You're welcome to wallow in your lack of knowledge on this issue. The problem is, there are other people here who probably read your posts about Apple or other subjects and trust you. For you to violate that trust and post markedly FALSE information is dangerous and a violation of that trust. It is important that someone point out that the foundation of your opinion is false in order to prevent you from causing real harm.
I feel like there is a lot of misinformation spreading here. There’s a lot of poor medical information on the internet.
Drug companies make little money off of vaccines relatively speaking. Yes, their prices have gone up but so have just about every other drug on the market. Viruses, especially the flu virus, are extremely complex. The flu virus has an incredible ability to mutate making it difficult to make a 100% successful vaccine. And if they did make a near 100% successful vaccine, you could bet it would be a blockbuster that they could make tons of money on. That said, even a 36% reduction in flu cases is significant. The reduction in mortality and hospitalization is even more signficant. Healthy people, especially this season, are also succeptable to the flu.
And no, the risks of a vaccine do not outweigh the risks of the flu. That’s absolutely not true.
Besides, I’m sure everyone here has complained about their health insurance costs. Spending tens of thousands of dollars per head on preventable/minimizable disease is doing the system no favors.
And the Flu this year is that bad. Statistics show this. The media frequently blows things out of proportion- such as swine flu, but this is indeed a very bad flu season.
As a PharmD, if someone asked me if they should get a flu shot, I would say yes. And I work in a hospital, I have no incentive to tell people to get a flu shot.
Drug companies make little money off of vaccines relatively speaking. Yes, their prices have gone up but so have just about every other drug on the market. Viruses, especially the flu virus, are extremely complex. The flu virus has an incredible ability to mutate making it difficult to make a 100% successful vaccine. And if they did make a near 100% successful vaccine, you could bet it would be a blockbuster that they could make tons of money on. That said, even a 36% reduction in flu cases is significant. The reduction in mortality and hospitalization is even more signficant. Healthy people, especially this season, are also succeptable to the flu.
And no, the risks of a vaccine do not outweigh the risks of the flu. That’s absolutely not true.
Besides, I’m sure everyone here has complained about their health insurance costs. Spending tens of thousands of dollars per head on preventable/minimizable disease is doing the system no favors.
And the Flu this year is that bad. Statistics show this. The media frequently blows things out of proportion- such as swine flu, but this is indeed a very bad flu season.
As a PharmD, if someone asked me if they should get a flu shot, I would say yes. And I work in a hospital, I have no incentive to tell people to get a flu shot.
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If by "bad:, you mean in comparison to smallpox and polio vaccines, then I agree with you. If by "bad" you mean it doesn't work, then you are flat wrong. This year's vaccine has the two predominate influenza A strains that are circulating, including the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus (a descendent of the Spanish flu virus) and the H3N2, which is killing at an extraordinary rate.
You have NO CHANCE of getting the flu from the vaccine. It's completely inactivated and not infectious.
The unfortunate reality is that there are hundreds of strains of influenza viruses. The scale of production is such that the strains necessary for vaccine production have to be made nearly a year in advance. We have a global capacity of about 200 million flu vaccine doses per year using eggs (and even less than that using cell culture). If an avian influenza virus directly jumps, we will be in serious trouble because those viruses kill the eggs before they generate enough virus for vaccine production. In other words, there will be almost no intervention for preventing a global pandemic that would exceed the number of deaths from the 1918-1919 Spanish flu pandemic that killed 20 to 50 million people worldwide.
There's really no controversy among the scientists and medical personnel who work in influenza public health. Here's why you should get the vaccine, even if you still end up getting the flu despite vaccination:
- It will likely reduce the severity of your disease, perhaps even saving your life
- It will likely reduce the amount of virus you will shed, thus reduce the risk that you will transmit it to someone else
- It will likely shorten the duration of your disease
Your position is selfish. You are taking advantage of those of us who vaccinate, thereby reducing the chance that you will contract it.
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Can you tell us where you do your "research" into flu vaccines?
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(Sorry for resurrecting this post)
I think you'e post about doctors not making money is msiplaced. In the UK a flu shot would cost £5 which is $6,77 ish dollars at todays FX rate. (I suspect most people in the UK don't need to explicitly pay anyway, those deemed at risk get it free, a lot of businesses pay for employees).
So - who is taking that extra $110?
Well, flu season is upon us once again and two recent reports are frustrating and encouraging.
First, the bad news is that last year's flu season killed a significantly larger number of Americans (80,000 vs the typical ~40,000) and this was principally due to people not getting vaccinated. The H3 flu virus that was the big killer is still circulating this year and the current vaccine is formulated with this strain. So, get your flu shots - it's not just about you, it's about interrupting transmission to those who have poor immunity (elderly, very young) and underlying medical conditions (e.g., heart disease, lung disease).
The good news is, a new drug has been approved by the FDA: Xofluza. This is a new class of antiviral the interfere's with the virus' ability to make its own proteins and prevents the virus from disrupting the cell's ability to make its proteins. What's remarkable is that it's a pill taken one time and knocks out the virus.
First, the bad news is that last year's flu season killed a significantly larger number of Americans (80,000 vs the typical ~40,000) and this was principally due to people not getting vaccinated. The H3 flu virus that was the big killer is still circulating this year and the current vaccine is formulated with this strain. So, get your flu shots - it's not just about you, it's about interrupting transmission to those who have poor immunity (elderly, very young) and underlying medical conditions (e.g., heart disease, lung disease).
The good news is, a new drug has been approved by the FDA: Xofluza. This is a new class of antiviral the interfere's with the virus' ability to make its own proteins and prevents the virus from disrupting the cell's ability to make its proteins. What's remarkable is that it's a pill taken one time and knocks out the virus.
flue shot
there are different levels. at risk peeps can qualify for the upgrade
a pneumonia vaccination is available.
typically I was never to keen on the flu vaccinations but seems mid December last few years i have consistently had moderate winter lung infections. Last year was bad. I became sick just at the time when we were moving to the new house.
It got bad.
A neighbor gave me a xmas gift, even gift wrapped, (13) pills he stole from work targeted to my situation. I was done with the crud in 3 days. I love the technology.
the neighbor insisted I get the vaccinations this year
there are different levels. at risk peeps can qualify for the upgrade
a pneumonia vaccination is available.
typically I was never to keen on the flu vaccinations but seems mid December last few years i have consistently had moderate winter lung infections. Last year was bad. I became sick just at the time when we were moving to the new house.
It got bad.
A neighbor gave me a xmas gift, even gift wrapped, (13) pills he stole from work targeted to my situation. I was done with the crud in 3 days. I love the technology.
the neighbor insisted I get the vaccinations this year
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Glad I don’t have these problems.
Haven’t got any shorts since I was a kid.
Don’t need it. I never get sick.
I hang with the right minded people.
Keep my mind and awareness sharp. Meditate daily.
Practice yoga regularly.
I live healthy, and cure myself when I go through stuff with natural herbs and such.
Stay away from all kinds of meds. Don’t like chemicals.
But I’m glad they exist for those who needs it.
I don’t now. Who knows when I get 100ish
Haven’t got any shorts since I was a kid.
Don’t need it. I never get sick.
I hang with the right minded people.
Keep my mind and awareness sharp. Meditate daily.
Practice yoga regularly.
I live healthy, and cure myself when I go through stuff with natural herbs and such.
Stay away from all kinds of meds. Don’t like chemicals.
But I’m glad they exist for those who needs it.
I don’t now. Who knows when I get 100ish
Have you heard of herd immunity? Virus and bacteria don't have auras.Glad I don’t have these problems.
Haven’t got any shorts since I was a kid.
Don’t need it. I never get sick.
I hang with the right minded people.
Keep my mind and awareness sharp. Meditate daily.
Practice yoga regularly.
I live healthy, and cure myself when I go through stuff with natural herbs and such.
Stay away from all kinds of meds. Don’t like chemicals.
But I’m glad they exist for those who needs it.
I don’t now. Who knows when I get 100ish
Herd immunity is great, and a reality, for sure. And no, I haven’t investigated if bacteria’s have auras.
Sorry if I came off a bit dismissive. I just got the impression your post was blaming people who got sick for a poor mental attitude. Fact is of course being in a depressed mood or under stress does make one more vulnerable and I certainly approve of sports like yoga and meditation (as well as nutrition) not remain healthy.
I was in a snarky mood this morning.
It’s ok.
No, and I’m not blaming anyone. Free will is however given to us as a gift of life.
And I know for sure that stress or crises can get to us. Probably one of the reasons why I early took another path to understand my internals and how it’s connected to my well being and health very early in life.
Evolving our own consciousness is way more interesting then relying on other peope’s answers to our own questions, however.
I got my flu vaccination a couple weeks ago at the local grocery store. I’ve been urging my wife to do the same.
I got the flu shot after a doctor's appointment last week. I know it's not always that effective, but I see no issue with getting it.
I'm not saying it should be a crime to not get the flu shot, but there should be repercussions for those that "choose" not get a flu shot. They shouldn't be allowed to attend public crowded events where little kids or elderly might be present unless they wear a face mask: no admittance to public events (high school basketball game, middle school play, etc.), no access to optional after school activities, no access to public transit, no access to the library or town hall. Also, people who don't get the flu shot without a valid medical reason not to should pay higher health insurance premiums for causing greater expense to the rest of us.
My mother is elderly, with advanced Alzheimer's and a compromised immune system.
I was away last year, waking abroad, but whenever I am home for any extended period of time - as I am just now - of course I get the jab, and have been advised to do so for the past decade or so.
I was away last year, waking abroad, but whenever I am home for any extended period of time - as I am just now - of course I get the jab, and have been advised to do so for the past decade or so.
Get the flu vaccine before it is too late. My wife's coworker always thought "I'll get the flu shot when I get the flu" and "I don't need the flu shot".Glad I don’t have these problems.
Haven’t got any shorts since I was a kid.
Don’t need it. I never get sick.
I hang with the right minded people.
Keep my mind and awareness sharp. Meditate daily.
Practice yoga regularly.
I live healthy, and cure myself when I go through stuff with natural herbs and such.
Stay away from all kinds of meds. Don’t like chemicals.
But I’m glad they exist for those who needs it.
I don’t now. Who knows when I get 100ish
Guess what? He got the flu. Guess what else? It caused him to have heart failure.
The next time he gets the flu will likely kill him now. He gets the shot. Saddest part is his heart only runs at 20% now.
Thanks for your concern, I’m sure you mean well.
Unfortuntate for your wife’s coworker.
But you don’t get me, I don’t get the flu. And I’m not your wife’s co-worker.
I also live in Sweden, and sure there’s some who take flu shots here too.
But I certainly haven’t heard of any epidemic.
So I will happily continue to enjoy my good health totally shamelessly
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Sweden had an epidemic of flu B last year. Killed an unusually high number of elderly people.
That was last year, and elderly people.
I didn't see any warnings, headlines then. And certainly not this year.
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Uhh, the flu season is just starting for this year. No one can predict the future, but what is clear is that a lot of people worldwide, including Sweden, are going to die from influenza, particularly the elderly and the very young and those with comorbidities. Getting the vaccine reduces the chance you'll get flu and then pass it on to someone else, whom it might then kill. You know, like your grandmother or some other elderly person you may or may not care about. The vaccine does no harm, but it certainly does some good. It's part of being a good citizen.
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