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.

[citizenK]

For a normal flu season, I agree with the statement - the flu shot is great for people whose immunities are compromised. However, you never know how bad an outbreak will be. An epidemic of proportions to the 1918-1919 outbreak will not discriminate even against those who are "not one of them" in the "not so good immunity" category.

For people in general good health, a flu shot during a normal year will keep you from missing work or other important activities.
A flu shot during an epidemic (or pandemic) season like 1918-1919 will probably save your life.

[Held_to_Ransom]

I am with you too. I know too many people who have messed up their immune systems by playing with them too much, self included. Mine is strong, it just considers any form of penicillan to be a good reason to go to war on itself. I prefer God's natural method.

[freedomcrusader]

Impossible to tell for sure whether you've never had the flu as oftentimes it may not be much different symptomatically from the common cold.

[beaversmom]

I always liked getting the flu when I was younger--not because of how I felt. I hated that part but because the scale would say I was a few pounds lighter afterwards.

[blackdog]

I beat dementia with denial. Now does anyone know if McGovern beat Nixon? The television seems to be on a strange channel, covering news in some strange land.

[twigs]

Every year a different strain seems to be the most virulent and researchers try to identify the strain that will likely cause the most harm and they protect from that. So, yes, you could still get flu even if you get the shot, but the shot considerably lessens your odds of getting it. But sometimes the shot itself can make you sick. My 18-year-old has asthma and she got it several years in her early teens. Every time it made her sick, from fever to severe abdominal pain. The side effects changed every year. Finally she refused to take them. She's been fine without it. But older people should consider getting it.

Apparently this year is going to be worse than usual. My mother's doctor had her takes her earlier than usual because it had already hit in Australia and is causing concern.

[discostu]

None of the colds I've ever gotten had anywhere near the symptom list of the flu. So if I've ever gotten the flu it was a really wimpy case that didn't cause the body aches you normally hear about and was done in 3 days.

[Prime Choice]

I'll pass. Too many weird side-effects from flu shots.

Reminds me of the dreaded Swine Flu predictions from 20 years ago. When the vaccinations rolled around for that, enough people died as a result of the vaccines that I figured I'd take my own chances.

If the Good Lord sees fit to take me out of production with the flu, then so be it.

[traditionalist]

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.

So you'd rather risk missing a week of work and infecting someone who could get severly sick than get a prick in your arm?

You're being irrational. There's no downside to a flu shot. Only upside.

[webstersII]

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

Only if you get last year's flu. The vaccine generally doesn't cover the latest and greatest incarnation of the virus.

[traditionalist]

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

I greatly reduces your chances.

[freedomcrusader]

So if I've ever gotten the flu it was a really wimpy case that didn't cause the body aches you normally hear about and was done in 3 days.

True.

[traditionalist]

Too many wierd side effects to the flu shot anyway.

There are no side effects. That is one of the myths exploded in this article.

[BlessedBeGod]

I've got the flu as we speak and so am home from work today.

You really had to rub it in, didn't you?

[anniegetyourgun]

LOL!

[discostu]

They always say this year is going to be worse than usual. It's the carbon copy story of every mid-November: Worst Flu Season Ever, I swear sometimes they just reprint last year's story. Then a month later we get the press' other favorite carbon copy story: Retailers Reeling From Plummeting Christmas Sales.

[anniegetyourgun]

Alright, alright...you've convinced me. If I die, I'm gonna blame you though.....

[traditionalist]

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

This is a flu shot myth. The flu shot is physically INCAPABLE of making you sick because the virus in the vaccine is DEAD.

[webstersII]

A co-worker got the flu shot at work last year and he bugged me to no end about going myself. I told him I'd take my chances, thank you.

The result was that he got bigtime sick, was in the hospital for several days, and got Bell's palsy so bad he was out of work for 3 months. The left half of his face was so paralyzed he just drooled out of the side of his mouth. The doctor told him that he probably got an inflamed nerve in his neck (or shoulder maybe, can't remember) from the flu shot and it turned into something really nasty, the result of which it looked like his face was about to fall off.

There are potential risks to getting the flu and potential side effects from getting the flu shot. Some people get really sick. But it might be worth considering if you are old and infirm but if you are healthy it doesn't necessarily make sense.

[discostu]

Bulldada there are no side effects. A friend of mine passed out last weak after getting the flu shot, called the doctor and his answer: yeah that happens in some rare instances, most folks who have that side effect only pass out once though so if it happens again come right in. My wife got a couple of flu shots, huge knots on her arm and sick as a dog for two days after. There are possible side effects to EVERY immunization, anybody who says otherwsie is a damned liar. Now if they want to say side effects aren't as prevalent as some would say I'm willing to believe that, but if they're saying there are no side effects they should be sued.