8filltheheart Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I'm curious how many of you that have the flu actually were vaccinated. (OK, more than curious. Worrying about my (big) baby and the flu he was probably exposed to last night.) All of my kids were vaccinated and so far we have avoided the flu (but not the stomach yuckies) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 My doctor said something a few years ago that really made sense: "You're a mom of three kids. You don't have time to get the flu." Ever since then I've gotten it if it's available. So far it's 50/50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 You left out an option... No, I didn't get the vaccine this year. Yes, I got the flu and it was (is) horrid. No, I will not be getting the vaccine next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdWTMer Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 No, I didn't get the shot; but my dh and oldest son did. They are usually the sicker ones in the family. I assumed that if they got the shots my other son and me would be just fine. Crossing our fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaid Dad Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Not vaccinated and no flu so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 You left out an option... No, I didn't get the vaccine this year. Yes, I got the flu and it was (is) horrid. No, I will not be getting the vaccine next year. :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Not vaccinated and no flu so far! This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I wouldn't get the vaccine, despite having the flu this year. I discussed this very topic w/ a pharmacist the night the first of us got sick, and it seems that the strain of flu that is running rampant (around here anyway) is NOT the strain in the innoculation. It's always a gamble, right? Doran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I read in the paper last week that the flu vaccine was only good for one of the three flu variations that have popped up this year. Not great odds! I don't get it because I don't like to overvaccinate. But I find it amusing that so many people think it will protect them from every variety of flu out there. People who develop the vaccine are really just taking an educated guess as to what will pop up this year. Some years they guess well, some years they don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisperlily Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Because of health issues, everyone in my family who is able gets the flu vaccine each year. DH and DS (age 5) can't have the vaccine due to an egg allergy. This year, the rest of us were immunized. Even with 4/6 immunized, ALL of us got the flu, and there was *no* difference in symptoms between the vaxed and unvaxed. My uncle was also vaccinated, and ended up in the hospital with the flu this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenKitty Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Not ever vacinnated and normally never get the flu. Though now that I type that who knows.:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Not ever vacinnated and normally never get the flu. Though now that I type that who knows.:rolleyes: Lol. Yes, I don't *usually* get the flu. ;) I don't know when the last time was -- many, many years. I guess I was "due". ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kat19 Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Normally I don't get the flu shot but did this year since I'm pregnant. No one else in my house got the shot but they haven't gotten the flu either :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafiki Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 You left out an option... No, I didn't get the vaccine this year. Yes, I got the flu and it was (is) horrid. No, I will not be getting the vaccine next year. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Dh and the kids all get the vaccine, I can't... egg allergy. I would if I could, though. My kids and I all have asthma and if I consider it worth the gamble. I'd rather pay for the shot than have one of them, or me, end up in the hospital even if it only protects me against a few strains... that is a few I won't get, anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 No vaccine -- no flu. Even if we *got* the flu we wouldn't get the vaccine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milseain Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicki Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I did not get the vaccine. My mom and sister both got the vaccine and both had the flu. About half of our family got the flu. We probably won't vaccinate next year. God bless, Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCoppock Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I get the flu vaccine every year and haven't had the flu in years. I work in the medical field and am exposed to too many bugs already. I need whatever help I can get. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siloam Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I got it all the years my kids were being born, and didn't get the flu. Because I hadn't gotten it, I skipped the next year and got hit hard a couple of times. This year I got the shot again, but still got a new strain. Then the kids got a second flu and that one barley touched me (I was the only one with a flu shot). I am sticking with the shot (also asthmatic) for the future. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Got the flu mist, but not the flu..thank goodness! :) They are expecting another wave of the flu in March..keeping fingers crossed we all stay well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancypants Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 No option for me this time. Normally we do get the flu shot and I am a big supporter of it (not that I think it always provides complete coverage). This year we didn't get in in time to do it. None of us has gotten the flu YET. I sure hope we don't but I'm not ready to make that my final answer until winter is truly over! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Never vaccinated and only a handful of mild cases in the last 20 years. Never been terribly sick. However, dh used to get very sick. Now gets vaccinated and is much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Should have polled those who are healthy and didn't get either :) Mom called just 2 days ago. She was vaccinated, and got the flu really badly. Dr. said this year's vaccine is not the majority of strain of flu going around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melora in NC Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I clicked "yes" for having the flu, but actually it is both my poor dc who have it. (We finally went to the doctor today, but they've been sick since Monday!). I sort of wish we'd gotten the shot, but I'm also kind of glad we didn't, since I've heard that it was only about 40% effective this year. If we Had gotten the shot and the dc had gotten flu anyway, dh would probably never have let them get the shot again! I've read that next year's shot is supposed to be better, and we will definitely plan to get it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee in NC Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 No vaccine, no flu. Dh did get the flu about 5 years ago, but no one else got it. When dh was in the Army, he had to get the flu shot every year. Every year after spending all day in a hot building with 100s of other guys waiting to get flu shots, he would get very, very sick. Not with the flu (the vaccine isn't alive), but very sick nontheless. Now he wouldnt' get one for anything!:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basketmaker Amy Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Same for our family! Hopefully we'll keep it that way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Not vaccinated and no flu so far! Same here. I used to get the vaccine when I was practicing medicine, because I thought it would be terrible to get a preventable illness and then pass it on to someone very sick (cancer/AIDS). But since I left I haven't had the vaccine. I've never had the flu in my life. I'm sure I'm going to regret saying that. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristineIN Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Never have had the vaccine, I've not had the flu the past few years, this year dd did get a mild case, but no one else got sick and that was a few weeks ago. Kristine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 No vaccine, no flu. I had a very bad reaction to a flu shot about 15 years ago - arm swelled up like a balloon. My dh is required to get a flu shot (he's in healthcare) but we haven't had the flu here in years. (Of course, now that I type this, we'll probably get it!) My dh did get us some oscillococcinum (homeopathic flue med.) just in case. Never used it though, so I don't know if it is effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiddenJewel Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 No vaccine, no flu. I had a very bad reaction to a flu shot about 15 years ago - arm swelled up like a balloon. My dh is required to get a flu shot (he's in healthcare) but we haven't had the flu here in years. (Of course, now that I type this, we'll probably get it!) My dh did get us some oscillococcinum (homeopathic flue med.) just in case. Never used it though, so I don't know if it is effective. I have used Oscillococcinum with 2 dc and it has worked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I didn't get a flu shot but didn't get the flu. My kids did get a flu shot because my youngest has been hospitalized two different winters with RSV. So...whatever helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly IN Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 for me! Dh and kids did get a mild flu. We do not do flu shots at all. We are not comfortable with what it is in it. The last time we all got the flu shot we all came down with it, the worst flu bug we ever got. So we prefer to get the real thing than what it is in the shot. If we get the flu really bad we still wouldn't get the flu shot. Nope!! We take vitamin C. High dosages of them. I haven't got the flu for the past 10 years. My kids and dh do get a mild form of one every year. I think they are not taking enough vitamin c though. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet in WA Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I'm curious how many of you that have the flu actually were vaccinated. (OK, more than curious. Worrying about my (big) baby and the flu he was probably exposed to last night.) All of my kids were vaccinated and so far we have avoided the flu (but not the stomach yuckies)I couldn't vote because you didn't allow more than one choice. Over the years, I've had several experiences with flu and the vaccine. Some years, we get vaccinated, most years not. We've never gotten the flu when we've been vaccinated, but we hardly ever get it when we're NOT vaccinated either. But in the years that we DO get the flu, I always swear we'll be vaccinated the next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Not vaccinated and no flu so far! us too :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justme Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I couldn't vot because my option was not on the poll: no vaccine, no flu in as long as I can remember and never going to get the vaccine, whether I get the flu this year or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookieMonster Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Not vaccinated - no one in our family - and no one got the flu. None of my children have ever gotten the vaccine, none have ever gotten the flu. My dh and I have never been vaccinated and we've gotten just a handful of flus in our lifetimes (3 decades). Don't really see the point.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrscopterdoc Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 didn't get the shot and have not been sick yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yslek Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Never had the vax; don't normally get the flu. (The one year I did get a bad flu, I was pregnant with L. Ended up getting secondary infections of pneumonia & pleuresiy, landed in hospital, and had baby 7 weeks early. I did wonder if I would've been better off had I gotten the vax.) Dh gets the vaccine every year, as he's in the Navy (& in health care). He gets the flu every year right after he gets the shot. :glare: To be fair, though, the shot is not designed to protect you from the flu. There are so many strains of it, that it would not be feasible. Every year they pick 3 strains of flu to put in the vaccine (so it's different every year). Dh told me the criteria once. I think it's the most common strain, the most deadly strain, and something else (last year's worst strain? I don't remember). So, you may still get the flu, but hopefully you won't get the most dangerous strain. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 There are no choices that apply to me. I've never gotten the vaccine, and I've had the flu twice. The first time I was 16, and the second time was March 2008. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieAir Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Never have gotten the flu vaccine and never will unless I'm in a high risk category. I don't get the flu any more often than those I know who regularly get the vaccine (including family members in high risk categories). Possibly less often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confuzzled Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Not vaccinated and no flu so far! Me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 For the last 5 years, my kids, dh, and I have gotten the flu shot and also NOT gotten the flu. However, dh and I did NOT get the shot this year and still, so far, no flu. Honestly, I think more people think "flu" when it really isn't the flu. I have had the true "flu" one time in my life and I thought I was dying. My now 9y/o had the flu ONE TIME in his life and I thought he was dying too. It is terrible stuff when it is the true flu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnetteB Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 We have never had a flu that there was a vaccine offered for. We don't get vaccines either. We did all get that nasty norovirus in January 2007, but there is no vaccine for it. Dil brought grandson over to us sick :( All the little bugs that get passed around morph constantly and there is no vaccine for them. Hand washing and staying away from sick people is the best defense!! We try to stay away from the dr. and dentist during flu season for that reason. The library is also an exchange of germs hotspot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 No, I didn't get the vaccine this year. Yes, I got the flu and it was (is) horrid. No, I will not be getting the vaccine next year. (((Abbey))), sorry you feel miserable. I typically have one bout each winter ~ usually right around the holidays ~ but so far I've not succumbed. I don't know of many people who've been sick either, come to think of it. I can't think of any circumstances that would lead me to get a flu vaccine, or to allow my children to be vaccinated for it, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 I was regularly getting flu vaccines from 2002 (while pregnant with Becca) up to last year. Never got the flu. Last year, the three of us (girls) got the FluMist and all got some mild form of it, which was still miserable. I will never get the FluMist ever again. :glare: None of us got the flu vax this year and I'm a little paranoid about it, but we're healthy so far (knocking furiously on wood). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 I have heart problems, so I got the flu and pneumonia vaccines. The CVS drugstore near my house just started what they call a Minute Clinic, so I got the shots while I waited for some prescriptions to be filled. So easy, and insurance paid for it. RC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 NOT vaccinated, NO flu, will NEVER get flu shots! For the reasons mentioned about the strains, etc., I don't think the flu shot is effective, nor do I really believe in vaccinations anyway. We take plenty of vitamin C and try to maintain healthy diets to keep our immune systems in working order just in case. And, because when my dad had cardiomyopathy, they pushed him to get a flu shot every year because having the flu and all the coughing and congestion would, obviously, be a problem for him. Well, the last winter he was alive he got his flu shot. Within 10 days he had a full-blown case of the flu. He never recovered. It sent him into full-blown heart failure and he died a few months later. I HATE flu shots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 I have not read all of the responses so forgive me if I repeat something. The flu mist is a live virus vaccine and can indeed give one a case of the flu. The flu shot is an inactived vaccine, which means the virus has been killed, and cannot give anyone the flu. Individual doses of the flu shot do not contain mercury; doses drawn for 10 dose vials contain mercury. We never got flu shots before this year and I never really gave it much consideration. We were all healthy individuals. The flu wasn't going to kill us. Last winter, however, ds5 developed a respiratory infection. He still suffers from residual asthma-like symptoms. We researched flu vaccine options and chose to vaccinate our whole family this year with individual doses of the flu stot. We felt the risks were low compared to the risk of our son catching the flu. We undestand, however, that the vaccine only protects against a few strains of the flu virus and that we are all still at risk of contracting another strain or a mild case of the strains we were vaccinated against. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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