or why you should get a flu shot.
Flu season is coming, and hopefully this year's outbreaks will be preceded by a robust flu shot season. Here are the 2 most commonly cited reasons why my patients decline the vaccine:
- I always get the flu from the flu shot. While some people notice fluish sorts of symptoms such as mild fever and muscle aches after receiving the shot, the inactivated viral particles which comprise the vaccine cannot cause disease.
- I never get the flu. Well, lucky you. Remember, however, those who await your arrival back home. Perhaps you generally don't get the flu, but if you with your hardy immune system pick up a mild case while in close proximity with the coughing public, that young child, elderly grandma, or chronically ill spouse could be vulnerable to an amplified version of same with devastating or even fatal results.
9 comments:
Many staff members at our hospital refuse to get a flu shot even though it means they are not allowed to work if we have an outbreak. (unless they take Tamiflu) We have had 2 patients admitted to rehab in the past 2 years who developed Guillain Barre syndrome after the flu shot. That has deterred even more staff. I know the benefits outweigh the risks for the majority, but there are risks documented. I do get a shot every year. They are free to everyone in this province.
Being a teacher of young children, I always get a shot. But I have not gotten one yet this season.
My husband is home sick today, and I think he has the flu. I know it seems awfully early, but he's achey and sore throaty and has that awful fatiguey thing going on--sure seems like the flu to me.
We get ours! Good & timely post.
I am considered "elderly" I guess, though in Florida 66, soon to be 67, isn't considered old. But I do have myasthenia gravis, which sometimes leads to breathing problems, and I have a beautiful little granddaughter who has cystic fibrosis. Will I get a flu shot? You bet, because I don't want to do anything that would put her in jeopardy. In fact, she will get a flu shot too.
I get a yearly flu shot--my community college offers it at low cost to professional staff. Considering how unhealthy my students are, I GET THE FLU SHOT!
I always get flu shots, and now, so does mr. kenju. We had pneumonia vaccines too.
I don't get a flu shot ..2 reasons, the first is, I reacted to every flu shot I ever got. (at the site .. last one was pretty severe)
The second is, with myasthenia gravis and lupus, I take immunosuppressants and the jury is out .. some docs (mine included) say do not take flu shots with those ..best case scenerio is no immunoresponse to the flu shot. (in other words, it won't work) worst case it to have a bad immune reaction to the shot because of the medications I'm on for the autoimmune diseases.
Some doctors feel the risks outweigh the benifits.
If I hadn't reacted so badly before ... I'm not sure how my docs would feel. My mother is allergic to eggs, so they are guessing there is something hereditary in my reaction to the flu shot. Therefore, not worth the combined risk.
The rest of my family MUST get a flu shot to protect MY suppressed immune system.
Thank you for this Dr. Paley!!
As someone who suffers from an egg allergy - I cannot get the flu shot. So I sort of depend on the people who CAN get a flu shot to do so to protect me and those like me!
You don't have to tell me twice...I had the flu twice in my life and it was horrendous. Time to get our shots!
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