Community Chat

[LilacTree]

I heard a news report just yesterday that the flu vaccine is not going to work this year.

I would suppose they didn't ""guess"" right when they formulated the vaccine for this year.

I have never gotten a flu shot.

[dooBdoo]

On 12/5/2014 Ford1224 said:

I heard a news report just yesterday that the flu vaccine is not going to work this year.

I would suppose they didn't "guess" right when they formulated the vaccine for this year.

I have never gotten a flu shot.

Hi, Ford! I think the news is being a bit misconstrued. I think this (Reuters news) sums up the actual situation:

~

"On Wednesday, the CDC sent an advisory to doctors noting that one component of this year's flu vaccine was only partially protective against the predominant flu virus, known as influenza A (H3N2), which has mutated since the current flu shots were made. . .

. . .Frieden encouraged people who have not been vaccinated to get a flu shot because it could still offer partial protection against the mutated H3N2 virus and good protection from other strains that might become predominant later this year. CDC testing shows the vaccine offers good protection from about half of the H3N2 flu strains circulating, as well as H1N1 and influenza B strains. . ."

~

(from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/04/us-usa-flu-cdc-idUSKCN0JI22G20141204)

~

I always get the vaccine, never have had any side effects (even though I have lots of allergies and tend to be sensitive to meds), and haven't had the flu since I started the yearly shots.

[NoelSeven]

On 12/5/2014 dooBdoo said:

On 12/5/2014 Ford1224 said:

I heard a news report just yesterday that the flu vaccine is not going to work this year.

I would suppose they didn't "guess" right when they formulated the vaccine for this year.

I have never gotten a flu shot.

Hi, Ford! I think the news is being a bit misconstrued. I think this (Reuters news) sums up the actual situation:

"On Wednesday, the CDC sent an advisory to doctors noting that one component of this year's flu vaccine was only partially protective against the predominant flu virus, known as influenza A (H3N2), which has mutated since the current flu shots were made. . .

. . .Frieden encouraged people who have not been vaccinated to get a flu shot because it could still offer partial protection against the mutated H3N2 virus and good protection from other strains that might become predominant later this year. CDC testing shows the vaccine offers good protection from about half of the H3N2 flu strains circulating, as well as H1N1 and influenza B strains. . ."

(from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/04/us-usa-flu-cdc-idUSKCN0JI22G20141204)

I always get the vaccine, never have had any side effects (even though I have lots of allergies and tend to be sensitive to meds), and haven't had the flu since I started the yearly shots.

Thanks for posting the real scoop on it, dBd

I think we all knew there's always a possibility of mutation or another form of the virus taking over, and the fact that millions of vaccine aren't created overnight, they go on the information available at the time of production.

[LilacTree]

~

[LilacTree]

On 12/5/2014 dooBdoo said:

On 12/5/2014 Ford1224 said:

I heard a news report just yesterday that the flu vaccine is not going to work this year.

I would suppose they didn't "guess" right when they formulated the vaccine for this year.

I have never gotten a flu shot.

Hi, Ford! I think the news is being a bit misconstrued. I think this (Reuters news) sums up the actual situation:

~

"On Wednesday, the CDC sent an advisory to doctors noting that one component of this year's flu vaccine was only partially protective against the predominant flu virus, known as influenza A (H3N2), which has mutated since the current flu shots were made. . .

. . .Frieden encouraged people who have not been vaccinated to get a flu shot because it could still offer partial protection against the mutated H3N2 virus and good protection from other strains that might become predominant later this year. CDC testing shows the vaccine offers good protection from about half of the H3N2 flu strains circulating, as well as H1N1 and influenza B strains. . ."

~

(from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/04/us-usa-flu-cdc-idUSKCN0JI22G20141204)

~

I always get the vaccine, never have had any side effects (even though I have lots of allergies and tend to be sensitive to meds), and haven't had the flu since I started the yearly shots.

I did get the pneumonia shot and was going to get the shingles shot, but the doctor did not recommend that for me, since it would probably give me shingles because of my autoimmune issues, and the fact that I've had shingles before on my scalp.

I don't go out much, mostly to a doctor or the dentist (last visit until spring coming up on the 10th). When I do, summer or winter, I wear gloves and a scarf that I pull up over my mouth and nose, and no one notices. That has served me well for twelve years now.

As you know, DooB, I'm not a big fan of meds.

[Fona]

NoelSeven: My doctor does know that a number of other flu shots are available, including those without preservatives, and he and I discussed that fully just last week. The high dose shot dates back only to 2011 when the FDA allowed it to be released early, even though it had a few years of trials still to go. Because the high dose shot is fairly new and still in the trial stage, it is not known with certainty that my side effects were caused by the preservatives. Apparently if you have ever had a bad reaction to any vaccine then it is best not to have a flu shot of any kind (I have heard and read this from a few sources) because even a mild regular shot could cause worse side effects than those I had for over a year with the high dose shot. I would not wish those side effects on anyone.

[brewhaha]

No one can ever call you a fluzy.

[kittymomNC]

I think just the fact that there are different substances in a vaccine, in addition to the killed or weakened virus, is problematic for many. Even though the killed virus itself might not make you sick or cause reactions, the other substances may.

I've never had a reaction to a flu shot, but I did have a reaction to a cortisone shot that perplexed the doctors. I had had cortisone shots before, a couple of times in one knee and once in my shoulder for bursitis, and had no problems. Then the last time I had one in my knee, I wound up at the Urgent Care with an allergic reaction. Now they're afraid to give me a cortisone shot again because they're not sure what caused the reaction... the cortisone or the other substances in the shot.

Then I had a bad reaction to a yellow jacket sting, went to Urgent Care and was put on that 6-day course of Prednisone, which I had also taken previously with no problems. I then had an allergic reaction to that and wound up back at the Urgent Care! Now they think the cortisone in the shot I mentioned previously is what I had a reaction to, because both cortisone and Prednisone are steroids. ????? ????

So while I fully believe that everyone who can should get a flu shot, I also can understand why some people are afraid to get them. It makes me a little nervous whenever I get mine, because I don't know if I'm going to have a reaction this time!

[NoelSeven]

On 12/5/2014 Fona said:

NoelSeven: My doctor does know that a number of other flu shots are available, including those without preservatives, and he and I discussed that fully just last week. The high dose shot dates back only to 2011 when the FDA allowed it to be released early, even though it had a few years of trials still to go. Because the high dose shot is fairly new and still in the trial stage, it is not known with certainty that my side effects were caused by the preservatives. Apparently if you have ever had a bad reaction to any vaccine then it is best not to have a flu shot of any kind (I have heard and read this from a few sources) because even a mild regular shot could cause worse side effects than those I had for over a year with the high dose shot. I would not wish those side effects on anyone.

Fona, we don't have to take the high dose and it's been made public that it's not for everyone.

If someone has an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine, it's to a specific ingredient, not the dead flu virus. The only ingredients I've heard of causing an allergic reaction are Thimerosal or egg product. There are flu vaccines available without either one of those two ingredients.

I strongly believe in knowing the facts about this, but if you're still worried, of course don't get the vaccine.

[colliemom4]

I only know one person that said the shot made them feel very ill.