Flu Misery and Myths or Get off Your Duff and Get a Flu Shot

fumento.com ^ | 10/9/2003 | Michael Fumento

[traditionalist]

"I once had a bird, her name was Enza!"
"I opened the window, and in flew Enza!"

Most nursery rhymes may say little to us about history and present dangers. But this one, dating back to the horrific flu pandemic of 1918-1919, reminds us that influenza is highly infectious and can fly across the country with the speed of a bird.

It's a reminder to get vaccinated against a preventable disease that reaps over 35,000 American lives a year.

[traditionalist]

This has been a public service announcement.

[Agnes Heep]

Great for people whose immunity isn't so good, for whatever reason, but since I'm not one of them I'll opt to take my chances with the flu.

[Tacis]

But, does a flu shot really work and protect me from getting the flu?

[discostu]

I'm with you, never had the flu so apparently my immune system has it figured out. When the flu figures out my immuse system I'll change tactics. Too many wierd side effects to the flu shot anyway.

[dead]

I like the flu. It's like a little mini vacation from work, except that you feel like crap prior to, instead of after, getting drunk.

[luckodeirish]

I like the flu. It's like a little mini vacation from work, except that you feel like crap prior to, instead of after, getting drunk.

ROFLMAO! I did not know there was anyone else who felt that way...

[blackdog]

I don't mean to sound smug here, but won't preventing over 35,000 deaths per year by getting a flu shot just increase the catagories of deaths from something else? The flu causes pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and liver/kidney problems, as well as blood sugar malaise in diabetics. These are all at risk groups of dyin from something.

I once added up all those afflicted with dreadful diseases in an issue of Parents magazine. After just five, the total exceeded the entire population figures of the united states. They were mental health problems, breast cancer, arthritis, nail fungus, and atsthma if my memory serves me.

[AppyPappy]

Doesn't that depend on whether you get drunk during the flu?

[expatpat]

My theory is that building up immunity to each year's expected flu strains will help when you get old and more susceptible.

[anniegetyourgun]

"...if my memory serves me..."

You forgot to add: Dementia

[aristeides]

Most years I don't bother to get a flu shot, but this year I got one. If SARS comes back, the fewer other respiratory diseases there are going around, the easier the medical community will find the SARS to deal with.

[freedomcrusader]

Interesting timing - I had already planned to go get mine this evening.

Oftentimes the flu causes no more than typical cold symptoms. For me, getting the shot once per year is worth it if it prevents one cold in my lifetime.

[dead]

Doesn't that depend on whether you get drunk during the flu?

Who doesn’t? You already have the day off and you’re just going to be sitting around watching TV all day anyway.

On flu days, I like dark rum in my hot cocoa.

[Xenalyte]

We had a helluva time convincing Xena's Mom that she needed a flu shot. It helped that they're injecting you with dead virus these days - XM got dog-sick from the live-virus shots of the '70s.

[Xenalyte]

Oh, man, that sounds good. Maybe with a little amaretto . . . I love that stuff.

[robjna]

i was out all last week with a killer flu, all i kept saying was , iwould gladly be back at work instead of this BS. 102 fever for days one morning i couldnt even lift up my head to grab the phone, started a week ago forom saturday and i am still not 100%.
knocked me on my ass, the olny saving grace was no stomach problems, but wow , i never got flu shots before, but now.......

[DumpsterDiver]

I'm with you, never had the flu so apparently my immune system has it figured out. When the flu figures out my immuse system I'll change tactics. Too many wierd side effects to the flu shot anyway.

I'll ditto what you two have said.

[wjcsux]

The only case of flu I have ever had has been the Brown Bottle Flu. Usually lasts 24 hours.

[sharktrager]

Of course, for those of us who get "flu like symptoms" in reaqction to the shot, there isn't much real benefit.

[AppyPappy]

Rock and Rye and lemon with a splash of soda. After the Bloody Mary's that is.