What's your excuse? 5 top reasons for not getting a flu shot examined.

[mawilson 2,133]

1. Excuse: "I want to build natural immunities." (63 percent)

What's wrong with that?

When your body encounters a virus or a vaccine, it creates antibodies that help fight the disease, and the ability to call on those antibodies provides protection after the flu is gone. Vaccines result in the production of the same antibodies that an infection does without the substantial risks that come with disease.

BS

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

1. Excuse: "I want to build natural immunities." (63 percent)

What's wrong with that?

When your body encounters a virus or a vaccine, it creates antibodies that help fight the disease, and the ability to call on those antibodies provides protection after the flu is gone. Vaccines result in the production of the same antibodies that an infection does without the substantial risks that come with disease.

BS

Tell us the truth, then.

[Niels Bohr 72]

It's the truth. You don't experience symptoms if you get the vaccines.

Some symptoms are deadly, and some are not depending on how the body reacts. So, by eliminating the symptoms, it's much better than having your body build immunity during the infection.

In the case with bacteria infection, you try to avoid anti-biotics as much as possible because they adapt to the anti-biotics making them resistance to anti-biotics. You would use anti-biotics probably when the situation gets worse.

[mawilson 2,133]

1. Excuse: "I want to build natural immunities." (63 percent)

What's wrong with that?

When your body encounters a virus or a vaccine, it creates antibodies that help fight the disease, and the ability to call on those antibodies provides protection after the flu is gone. Vaccines result in the production of the same antibodies that an infection does without the substantial risks that come with disease.

BS

Tell us the truth, then.

They can't adequately produce a seasonal flu vaccine that matches the flu strain in circulation.

[The_Dude 1,142]

1. Excuse: "I want to build natural immunities." (63 percent)

What's wrong with that?

When your body encounters a virus or a vaccine, it creates antibodies that help fight the disease, and the ability to call on those antibodies provides protection after the flu is gone. Vaccines result in the production of the same antibodies that an infection does without the substantial risks that come with disease.

BS

Tell us the truth, then.

They can't adequately produce a seasonal flu vaccine that matches the flu strain in circulation.

It's Soylent Green that they are feeding you through the shot.

[Niels Bohr 72]

That is why a new vaccine is made every year.

[Jewel-8 21]

The excuses people in our nationally representative survey gave for not being vaccinated for seasonal flu were based on a mix of facts and fallacies. Here are the top five reasons people gave in our poll:

1. Excuse: "I want to build natural immunities." (63 percent)

Reality: This was the top reason respondents gave for not getting a seasonal flu vaccine last year. Among those who are unsure if they will have their children vaccinated this season, 69 percent said they wanted to build their children's natural immunities. That's somewhat understandable but misses the most important aspect of immunity—avoiding disease. When your body encounters a virus or a vaccine, it creates antibodies that help fight the disease, and the ability to call on those antibodies provides protection after the flu is gone. Vaccines result in the production of the same antibodies that an infection does without the substantial risks that come with disease.

"I can't imagine anything more tragic than a parent exposing their child to a disease and to subsequently have their child develop a life-threatening infection," says William Schaffner, M.D., chairman of preventative medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn., and president-elect of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. "Exposing oneself to a 'wild' infectious agent exposes you to a risk of potentially serious consequences. It may be a small chance but believe me, it's real. You don't know that your child, or you, won't be one of the people to develop a grave infection."

Schaffner says that immunity derived from infection might last longer. But influenza viruses change from year to year, so any protection you develop in one flu season may not be helpful in the next. That's why you need a seasonal flu vaccination each year.

2. Excuse: "I don't get the flu." (54 percent)

Reality: More than half of the respondents who skipped getting a flu shot last year said they just don't get the flu. And 62 percent of the parents who said they didn't plan to have their children vaccinated said it was because their kids rarely get sick. But that's largely the result of chance. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 5 percent to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year. You can go a number of years without getting the flu—and then you could get a bad one.

It's also important to know that the flu can cause a spectrum of infection. Some people get it without symptoms, while others "don't recognize it because it doesn't put them in bed," Schaffner says. So even if you don't have symptoms, you can spread it to others who may develop a serious illness.

And remember that very few people under 60 have immunity against this year's swine flu. "That's why a pandemic is a big deal," notes John Santa, M.D., director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. "Many more of us are vulnerable than usual."

3. Excuse: "I'm worried about side effects." (39 percent)

Reality: Side effects of the seasonal flu vaccine are uncommon and usually mild. The most common are pain or soreness at the injection site, aches, and mild fever. A small number of people may have a serious allergic reaction.

A -swine flu vaccine developed in 1976 was associated with a greater—but still rare—risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a serious neurological disorder. An additional case of GBS occurred in 1 of every 100,000 people who were vaccinated against the 1976 swine flu. In comparison, for every 1 million people vaccinated with a typical seasonal flu vaccine, one person might develop GBS. Researchers are unsure why the 1976 swine flu vaccine appeared to have a greater incidence of GBS, but health officials don't expect the same to happen with this year's vaccine. Moreover, Schaffner says the vaccine's protection against illness and complications from the flu, which can also include GBS, far outweigh the risks. People who get an influenza infection are four to seven times more likely to develop GBS than those who are vaccinated.

GBS is more likely to develop in people who have already had the neurological disorder. If that's you, avoid the spray vaccine, which has a weakened live virus, and discuss with your doctor whether to get a shot. Pregnant women, small children, and people with underlying conditions should also avoid the spray vaccine, which can cause minor flu-like symptoms.

Finally, although research has failed to find convincing evidence linking the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal with autism or other health problems, mercury-free vaccines are available, so ask for one if you're concerned.

4. Excuse: "Medicine and other remedies can treat the flu." (34 percent)

Reality: It's true that antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), can be effective in treating the flu. But they're no panacea. If taken within two days of the onset of flu symptoms, they can make them less severe and shorten them by a day or so, but they won't make the flu go away. And like all drugs, they might cause side effects. So far the swine flu virus seems vulnerable to these drugs, though some seasonal flu viruses are resistant to Tamiflu. There's also a risk that relying on the drugs too much can lead to greater resistance.

5. Excuse: "The vaccine is ineffective." (26 percent)

Reality: It's true that influenza vaccines are generally not as effective as some childhood vaccines, like those for measles, mumps and rubella, which are nearly 100 percent effective. But they generally offer 70 percent to 90 percent protection against the disease for children and younger adults, those most at risk from H1N1. They offer less protection for older people, warding off the disease in about 60 percent of the healthy people in their 60s, depending on the match with the season's circulating viruses. The very old and infirm may get less protection, but the vaccine "virtually always provides partial protection," Schaffner says. It reduces hospitalizations from pneumonia and other complications by 27 percent to 70 percent, and deaths by up to 80 percent. Health officials expect the swine flu vaccine to be as effective.

The most important aspect of immunization is that everyone who gets vaccinated is less likely to spread the disease. "That may not be a benefit to you directly," says Santa from Consumer Reports, "but it is to your family and your community. And if you're a health worker, a teacher, or a child-care worker, your immunity could save children and families a lot of hardship, serious illnesses, and possibly lives."

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/medi...your-excuse.htm

My excuses:

1) Severe allergy to eggs. The flu shot is supposably incubated in egg shells.

2) I freak out when I see a needle. Ever seen the Heroin Bob in the hospital part of the Indie movie SLC Punk? Yep, kind of like that!!!

My 7 year old can handle needles much better than I can. Today he asked if he could get BOTH flu shots. Not that I'm bragging about how awesome he is or anything...

[Mags 112]

STOP QUOTING THE WHOLE ORIGINAL POST!

AAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

And btw, the syringes themselves don't hurt - it's the needles.

I know, I'm a smart #######.

[NickD 203]

Enjoyed my first flu shot given on a Friday in boot camp, shot up to 105*F fever, was taken to the base hospital and enjoyed a wonderful weekend with good food. Pulled out of it early Monday morning so wasn't phased back. Was around 2001 we got that bad batch of flu shots from England, no profit for making flu shots here, that place was closed down. With that shot had flu symptoms for six months. Following year, clinic had long lines for flu shots, picked the line with the prettiest gal, she jabbed me in my rotator cuff, the idiot, had a sore arm for three months.

So got on the net for the proper way to give a shot, no longer than a 3/4" needle, 45* angle, subcutaneously, six inches down from the rotator cuff and question if this was a good batch. If the nurse is not doing it correctly, correct her. But my doctors MA knows how to give a shot, no side effects, no sore arm, don't even feel it.

In the military, always had a shot reaction, but not as bad as the first time, so went for years without ever getting a flu shot, and never got the flu. But pressured now both by my doctor and the VA to get one every year so gave in. Good way for me to get the flu is to get a flu shot, must have grown an immunity to them, but never got the flu. Completely covered by my health insurance, but if I even had to pay 50 cents for one, I wouldn't get it.

Always some kind of 24 hour virus going on, use to get a lot of those with my kids in school, little b@stards bring home every disease known to mankind, no more kids in school.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

The excuses people in our nationally representative survey gave for not being vaccinated for seasonal flu were based on a mix of facts and fallacies. Here are the top five reasons people gave in our poll:

1. Excuse: "I want to build natural immunities." (63 percent)

Reality: This was the top reason respondents gave for not getting a seasonal flu vaccine last year. Among those who are unsure if they will have their children vaccinated this season, 69 percent said they wanted to build their children's natural immunities. That's somewhat understandable but misses the most important aspect of immunity—avoiding disease. When your body encounters a virus or a vaccine, it creates antibodies that help fight the disease, and the ability to call on those antibodies provides protection after the flu is gone. Vaccines result in the production of the same antibodies that an infection does without the substantial risks that come with disease.

"I can't imagine anything more tragic than a parent exposing their child to a disease and to subsequently have their child develop a life-threatening infection," says William Schaffner, M.D., chairman of preventative medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn., and president-elect of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. "Exposing oneself to a 'wild' infectious agent exposes you to a risk of potentially serious consequences. It may be a small chance but believe me, it's real. You don't know that your child, or you, won't be one of the people to develop a grave infection."

Schaffner says that immunity derived from infection might last longer. But influenza viruses change from year to year, so any protection you develop in one flu season may not be helpful in the next. That's why you need a seasonal flu vaccination each year.

2. Excuse: "I don't get the flu." (54 percent)

Reality: More than half of the respondents who skipped getting a flu shot last year said they just don't get the flu. And 62 percent of the parents who said they didn't plan to have their children vaccinated said it was because their kids rarely get sick. But that's largely the result of chance. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 5 percent to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year. You can go a number of years without getting the flu—and then you could get a bad one.

It's also important to know that the flu can cause a spectrum of infection. Some people get it without symptoms, while others "don't recognize it because it doesn't put them in bed," Schaffner says. So even if you don't have symptoms, you can spread it to others who may develop a serious illness.

And remember that very few people under 60 have immunity against this year's swine flu. "That's why a pandemic is a big deal," notes John Santa, M.D., director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. "Many more of us are vulnerable than usual."

3. Excuse: "I'm worried about side effects." (39 percent)

Reality: Side effects of the seasonal flu vaccine are uncommon and usually mild. The most common are pain or soreness at the injection site, aches, and mild fever. A small number of people may have a serious allergic reaction.

A -swine flu vaccine developed in 1976 was associated with a greater—but still rare—risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a serious neurological disorder. An additional case of GBS occurred in 1 of every 100,000 people who were vaccinated against the 1976 swine flu. In comparison, for every 1 million people vaccinated with a typical seasonal flu vaccine, one person might develop GBS. Researchers are unsure why the 1976 swine flu vaccine appeared to have a greater incidence of GBS, but health officials don't expect the same to happen with this year's vaccine. Moreover, Schaffner says the vaccine's protection against illness and complications from the flu, which can also include GBS, far outweigh the risks. People who get an influenza infection are four to seven times more likely to develop GBS than those who are vaccinated.

GBS is more likely to develop in people who have already had the neurological disorder. If that's you, avoid the spray vaccine, which has a weakened live virus, and discuss with your doctor whether to get a shot. Pregnant women, small children, and people with underlying conditions should also avoid the spray vaccine, which can cause minor flu-like symptoms.

Finally, although research has failed to find convincing evidence linking the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal with autism or other health problems, mercury-free vaccines are available, so ask for one if you're concerned.

4. Excuse: "Medicine and other remedies can treat the flu." (34 percent)

Reality: It's true that antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), can be effective in treating the flu. But they're no panacea. If taken within two days of the onset of flu symptoms, they can make them less severe and shorten them by a day or so, but they won't make the flu go away. And like all drugs, they might cause side effects. So far the swine flu virus seems vulnerable to these drugs, though some seasonal flu viruses are resistant to Tamiflu. There's also a risk that relying on the drugs too much can lead to greater resistance.

5. Excuse: "The vaccine is ineffective." (26 percent)

Reality: It's true that influenza vaccines are generally not as effective as some childhood vaccines, like those for measles, mumps and rubella, which are nearly 100 percent effective. But they generally offer 70 percent to 90 percent protection against the disease for children and younger adults, those most at risk from H1N1. They offer less protection for older people, warding off the disease in about 60 percent of the healthy people in their 60s, depending on the match with the season's circulating viruses. The very old and infirm may get less protection, but the vaccine "virtually always provides partial protection," Schaffner says. It reduces hospitalizations from pneumonia and other complications by 27 percent to 70 percent, and deaths by up to 80 percent. Health officials expect the swine flu vaccine to be as effective.

The most important aspect of immunization is that everyone who gets vaccinated is less likely to spread the disease. "That may not be a benefit to you directly," says Santa from Consumer Reports, "but it is to your family and your community. And if you're a health worker, a teacher, or a child-care worker, your immunity could save children and families a lot of hardship, serious illnesses, and possibly lives."

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/medi...your-excuse.htm

I ain't skeeered of no stinkin' pig flu. Besides, if I get sick, the gov'mt will pay for it

[GabiandVi 34]

I do worry about what goes into a vaccine, but as the mother of a small child with asthma, especially as one who teaches and is therefore exposed to every contagion that comes along, I will be getting the shot along with my child as soon as she is symptom free. Both the seasonal and the swine.

As for building natural immunities, if you are not old or too young, you can get the mist which is a live strain, the same as the real thing.

[Sherri and Matt 1]

It's actually an intramuscular injection not subcutaneous. You also need a bigger needle on adults, 3/4 inch is too short. We use 5/8 inch on our little kids, adults should ideally have 1 1/2 inch, but a 1 inch will do if the person giving the injection knows what they are doing. Subcutaneous shots are given in the layer of fat under your skin, and they are absorbed more slowly than injections in the muscle. Influenza vaccine needs to be given in the muscle to be absorbed properly. And it does hurt, if it doesn't hurt going into the muscle, then it's being given wrong. It is possible though for the shot to be given so the needle really doesn't hurt. I would advise anyone that has the chance to get their shot from a pediatric nurse. Not only do we give injections all day long, we have moving targets at the best of times and as a result get really good at it. All the adults that work in the offices come to us to get their shots, and we give them to each other.

BTW, Matt has never had a flu shot before. Since I work in an extremely high risk area for catching flu and bringing it home to my family, I am insisting he be vaccinated. He of course started whining about it and I told him to do all his whining now and then man up, because if he refuses to get vaccinated and then catches influenza there will be NO laying about on the sofa whining!

Also note, the flu is NOT vomiting and diarrhea, people call that the flu but it is not correct. Influenza is respiratory. Fever, body aches, cough, runny nose, sore throat. It's the cough that kills people. Way more people are killed every year by seasonal influenza then have been killed by swine flu.

Edited October 5, 2009 by Sherri and Matt

[Rhiannercakes 14]

I had the flu shot for 18 years, I had enough of it.

Not to mention I think they screwed up the strains last year, here in Canada anyway.

I also heard that there was a study in Canada based on Canadians that if you get one flu shot, you're more likely to get the other flu aka H1N1. And vice versa. It's some phenomenon in Canada apparently.

So no flu shots for me thanks.

Edited October 5, 2009 by Rhiann

[NickD 203]

It's actually an intramuscular injection not subcutaneous. You also need a bigger needle on adults, 3/4 inch is too short. We use 5/8 inch on our little kids, adults should ideally have 1 1/2 inch, but a 1 inch will do if the person giving the injection knows what they are doing. Subcutaneous shots are given in the layer of fat under your skin, and they are absorbed more slowly than injections in the muscle. Influenza vaccine needs to be given in the muscle to be absorbed properly. And it does hurt, if it doesn't hurt going into the muscle, then it's being given wrong. It is possible though for the shot to be given so the needle really doesn't hurt. I would advise anyone that has the chance to get their shot from a pediatric nurse. Not only do we give injections all day long, we have moving targets at the best of times and as a result get really good at it. All the adults that work in the offices come to us to get their shots, and we give them to each other.

BTW, Matt has never had a flu shot before. Since I work in an extremely high risk area for catching flu and bringing it home to my family, I am insisting he be vaccinated. He of course started whining about it and I told him to do all his whining now and then man up, because if he refuses to get vaccinated and then catches influenza there will be NO laying about on the sofa whining!

Also note, the flu is NOT vomiting and diarrhea, people call that the flu but it is not correct. Influenza is respiratory. Fever, body aches, cough, runny nose, sore throat. It's the cough that kills people. Way more people are killed every year by seasonal influenza then have been killed by swine flu.

How many times have you heard in medicine to get a second opinion?

"o·pin·ion (…-p¹n“y…n) n. 1. A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof:

Seems to be opinions on how to administer a flu shot. My doctors MA normally does not give flu shots, but I asked my doctor who is good at it, she uses the subcutaneous method, and is of the OPINION that vaccine is still getting into your bloodstream. Even suggested by one poster, mild exposure to the flu can also result in your body developing an immunity to the flu. Perhaps all that is required is a vaccine administered by a nasal spray, still gets in your blood stream. Had deep intramuscular injections already with a sore arm for a day or two.

Really the only thing I believe it's safe to assume on this subject, medicine is more of an art than a science. Certainly enough different opinions on this subject.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

NO EGG WHITES FOR ME!