Flu Shots

[catnapper]

I got mine on Friday and hubby goes tomorrow for his.

I feel invincible already ;)

[Edwina's Secretary]

Will get mine on the 16th. Years when I have not gotten a flu shot I have always had some kind of URI. Last year I went back to having one. Not even a cold!

[Genny]

I haven't gotten one since I don't know when. I HATE needles...they scare me :eek: seriously...

[Medusa]

I haven't had a flu shot in probably 35 years, no flu either. The one and only time I did get a flu shot, I had an immediate reaction and became so sick that I had to call my husband and have him come and get me. So no flu shot for me, thanx.

[sparks19]

hannah can't have the flu shot

so brian and I are both going to get ours. but haven't gotten it yet

[blue]

I dont think I have ever gotten a flu shot, unless I got one while at MCRD SD with all the other shots they gave us. I am not getting a regular flu shot or a swine flu shot anytime in the future.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

I got mine on Thursday. If there's one good thing about working at a children's hospital it's the fact that they're all-too-happy to vaccinate you for whatever is going around. I don't work with patients but I am around a lot of them in the cafeteria. Can't take any chances since this is a cancer-focused hospital and some kids are on chemo and such. In fact some of the leading flu specialists in the world work at this very hospital.

Should get my swine flu vaccination in a couple weeks.

[Trinityagain]

I have diabetes so I get one every year, this year it is going to be this Wednesday. And I will be getting the swine flu shot when it is available as well...

[Laura's Babies]

I use to get them when Mama was alive when I took her to get hers, that was the only time I ever got them. I have never had the flu and usually do not catch everything that goes around. I avoid being around people that are sick when I know they are sick. During the worst of the flu season, I only go to town no more than once every week to 10 days to avoid exposure.

[pomtzu]

My doctor was out of them already when I was in a couple of weeks ago, but I am on his list to be called when he gets more in. With my compromised immune system, I manage to catch everything that comes down the pike, so I'll take no chances. I won't get the Swine flu vaccine however.

The one year I got the pneumonia vaccine, I caught pneumonia about a month later. I never had it before, and have never had it since, so even tho I'm due for another, I think I'll skip that one too. :eek:

[Taz_Zoee]

I have never gotten a flu shot. Not even when I worked with children. I haven't had the flu in years either. I can't even remember the last time I had the flu.
I tend to not get sick.........ever. But boy when I do get sick I am down for the count!!! The last time I was really sick was February of 2005. I've had a cold here and there, or a 24 hour bug (while on a motorcycle trip, that was FUN). I am very scared of the flu nowadays. With my friend passing away from the H1N1, it makes me realize it could happen to anyone. And could be ANY flu, not just the swine flu.

[catnapper]

I figured on getting one since I've already gotten bronchitis - been suffering for two weeks with it. I got the flu shot last year for the first time in about 10 years, and last year was the first year that I didn't get sick... no flu, no bronchitis, no strep throat. Nothing except a few sniffles. It was wonderful. So I figured I might as well try it again this year. The doctor said it strengthen your immune system.

In the meantime, my coworkers have been Lysol-ing the phones and counters like crazy. The manager keeps pumping sanitizer into everyone's hands.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

I just got mine about a week or so ago.
Glad I did it! And I too am not a huge fan of needles- but this one DID NOT hurt- I swear!
I really had to toughen up this last June when I was in the hospital though- 2-4 pokes a day!:eek::(

[Sirrahsim]

The boys and I will be getting ours as soon as the base starts offering them to dependents. Should be within the next few weeks.

[JenBKR]

I don't think I have ever had a flu shot, at least not that I can remember. I can't remember the last time I had the flu either. I had never heard that it can strengthen your immune system though...kind of making me think I should get one.

[gemini9961]

I have never gotten the flu shot and don't plan on it either. I'll reduce my risk/exposure by cleaning my hands and staying away from others who are sick. Hubby got the flu shot last year and was sick more often than other times when he didn't get the shot. Needless to say he's not getting one this year.

[Freedom]

Dad and I both got the seasonal shot already. Still waiting for the H1N1 to become available.

[lizbud]

I am very scared of the flu nowadays. With my friend passing away from the H1N1, it makes me realize it could happen to anyone. And could be ANY flu, not just the swine flu.


Wow, I just posted about a Indy man who almost died from H1N1 flu.
They had to induce a coma to keep him from dying.:(

Indy got the first batch of the vaccine & are already beginnig to give
it out to Hospital workers, pregnant women & small kids.

[Asiel]

Nope, I've never had one and don't plan on ever touching those shots. I've seen too many reactions from others to even be tempted.

[Taz_Zoee]

Wow, I just posted about a Indy man who almost died from H1N1 flu.
They had to induce a coma to keep him from dying.:(

Indy got the first batch of the vaccine & are already beginnig to give
it out to Hospital workers, pregnant women & small kids.

Yeah, they enduced my friend into a coma as well, but it was too late. He passed away on June 9th. So its been a while. Way before a vaccine was even talked about.

[momcat]

Being diabetic I'm considered high risk and get it every year. My doctor put me on her priority list a few months ago so right now I'm just waiting for her office to call.

[kokopup]

I've never had a flu shot or any other vaccine shot in my life. I actually went through 6 years in the Navy without receiving a shot. I am allergic to the egg serum used in all such shots. I found out at an early age when I stepped on a nail. They scratch tested before giving me a tetanus shot and I had a severe reaction to the test, so I haven't had a shot since.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I've been getting one for years and so far so good.:) I just go mine on Saturday which was the first day that Kaiser officially started giving them to all of their members. My roommate got hers at Kaiser last Mon. because she was already there for a doctor's appt. and my parents got theirs the week before when they were at Kaiser for a doctor's appt. I love the fact that if you're a Kaiser member then they're free. For many years my boss has set up a day for a nurse to come to my work to give flu shots but if I got one there I'd have to pay for it.

[jennielynn1970]

I haven't had a flu shot in probably 35 years, no flu either. The one and only time I did get a flu shot, I had an immediate reaction and became so sick that I had to call my husband and have him come and get me. So no flu shot for me, thanx.

I feel the same way. The only times I've ever gotten the flu shot, I've gotten really sick, lost days of work, and then still got sick with URIs and the flu anyway. So... no shot for me.

[happylabs]

They offer the flu shot for free where I work and I have been getting it for a good 10 years. HOWEVER, this year I think I am going to skip it. Here is why:

I started going to a health and wellness coach about a year ago. I have high blood pressure and am overweight. I started eating healthy and lost about 25 pounds. THEN, the never-ending period from you know where started and I started eating badly again. The weight came back on and I felt pretty miserable all around. I just changed back to the healthy eating habits (I don't want to call it a diet because I want to do it for life) and I feel so much better.

Anyway, the health and wellness coach discourages the flu shot and encourages you to boost your immune system by eating right and taking herbs and vitamins.

You can read their articles about the flu and the flu shot at this website:

http://www.freshlife.com/

[luckies4me]

I have only gotten the flu shot once, and about two weeks later I got extremely ill. I don't think I've ever been that sick in my life! But for some reason this year I will be getting the shot, for my children's safety. We will see what happens. If I get sick this year I know it is the shot, as I am hardly ever sick. My son got the shot and he's been fine. However, I am staying away from the swine flu vaccine. Wouldn't touch it with a pole!

[wolfsoul]

No, I don't like vaccinations. I never get the flu (haven't had the flu in over 10 years), and already had the swine flu, so I'm not concerned anyways. I'll take normal precautions to keep Tyler safe (breastfeed, wash hands constantly, wipe down everything we touch, and stay away from sick people this winter).

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I've only had one flu shot in my life. It made me so sick I missed two weeks of work. No thank you for me! :love:

[pomtzu]

Staying away from sick people is easier said than done. Everytime you go out, you are at risk of encountering them without even knowing it - at the bank, the mall, the grocery store, at school, at work, virtually anywhere. And not all that are carrying the virus will necessarily appear to be sick.

If you're using the excuse that you're afraid of needles, think what could happen if you ended up with a really severe case of the flu that hospitalized you. You'd probably see more needles then, than you could imagine!

I can understand people who have had a bad reaction previously, or are allergic to eggs, not getting one. And even if you're not getting one because you've never had the flu - keep in mind that your immune system is constantly changing - and this might be the year of change - and the flu. You just never know!:(

I was never allergic to bug stings until once several years ago I got stung and had a terrible reaction. Same with my ex - he went for 40 some years without a problem, and then one sting nearly landed him in the hospital. He was covered in hives and looked like he had burns all over.

So just because you've been lucky so far, don't count on it being a positive and lasting thing. Go get your flu shot - please???;)

And like my doctor told me: you cannot get the flu from a flu shot! :p

[lvpets2002]

:) Tried the Flu shot one year & was sick for 3 wks afterwards.. So No No I will not ever get one again.. I am Not fond of Needles & for sure Not fond of something strange injected into my body.. Thats is just how I feel about this..

[wolfsoul]

I am allergic to the egg serum used in all such shots.
You know what is interesting -- this is the reason so many people are allergic to peanuts and eggs -- because they use it in the vaccinations. Your body builds up an immune response to the disease and in turn may also build up a response to the egg serum or peanut plant in the vaccine. I heard a rumor last year that due to the severity of peanut allergies they plan on not growing diseases on peanut plants anymore, and using egg serum in all of these.


And like my doctor told me: you cannot get the flu from a flu shot!
See everyone in my family who gets the flu shot every year, always gets the flu. I don't know why they bother, especially my mother and brother -- they've been getting the flu shot for the last 11 years and have still ended up with the flu each year (and soon after vaccination, while their immune system is down). They only throw so many strains into one vaccination, and most of them are last year's bugs -- chances are it might not be the strain you run into!