Are you ready for your flu shot?

The flu is starting to go around now, so I was glad I got my shot.

It's a myth that one can get the flu from a flu shot. What happens when one does get sick not long after having the flu shot is because they already have the flu virus caught from someone else, but the symptoms weren't showing as of yet. It takes 2 weeks before one gets the full coverage of a flu shot, so if one already has the virus that shot isn't going to help for that strain... but will help for the other strains.

With being caregivers, it is very important to have that flu shot. I would hate to pass on a flu virus to an elder, as one can have the virus and feel good not realizing they have the virus. Hug Mom or Dad, or kiss them, oops, now Mom or Dad could get the flu.

My parents had worked at a regional hospital at the front information desk for over 20 years... they got their flu shot every year.... not once did they get the flu. Same with me, I also do volunteer work at this same hospital. It is now mandatory for all Staff, volunteers, and vendors who come in on a regular basis to get the flu shot. There is major building going on, so all the construction workers need the flu shot. No shot, no work.

Angel, all I can say is... please don't stand next to me in a thunderstorm LOL.

staceyb, I agree, vaccines should be spread out more. The CDC has a schedule calling for 6 vaccinations at age 2 months. That's a sure fire way to make them sick. Then 8 vaccinations all at 12 months. Look them straight in the eye and say "Are you nuts?"

I agree with you freqflyer. You don't get the flu from a flu shot. As you said, it takes 2 weeks for immunity to build up so if a person gets sick right away, its because they were already exposed, or were exposed during that two weeks. The nurse specifically told me this year - be careful for the next two weeks because you are not immune yet. My sister used to claim she got the flu from the shot every year, so she stopped getting it. Then she and her husband got REALLY sick with the flu. From then on, she got the shot and doesn't get the flu any more. I figure that even if it cuts my risk by 50% its worth it. The older you are, the more chance the flu will put you in the hospital with pneumonia and that can be fatal.

I don't know which one I got. I made an appointment at my doctor (who just moved to a "group" building) and they gave me a shot. My doctor was one of the last "holdouts" to remain a single practitioner. Two months ago she finally had to give in and join a group because of the huge changes, expenses and rules that Obamacare has placed on doctors. Now I have to go to a big place, see the receptionist, wait in a big cold waiting area, and get limited time. Some great improvement the past 8 years have been (being sarcastic here). I used to go to a cozy office, could even bring my dog, and knew everyone and the doctor always had time to say hi, even if I saw her PA. I had zero wait time and she spent as much time as she needed with me. Now she has to take on more patients to cover the costs of the big fancy building, she hates typing on a computer instead of talking to me face to face, etc. She had to hire more people and take on a medical intern who is "just learning". I hate being part of "herd medicine" which all family doctors are forced to practice. My husband is looking for a new GP. We have looked at the ratings on line, and have called 10 different doctors - and none of them are taking new patients! So he gets stuck with someone no one knows anything about.
Our health care system is surely broken.

AmyGrace, one thing I like about the computerized "charts" is that other doctors can email to your doctor their findings and it goes into "your file". My doctor got to see x-rays that way instead of me bringing in films or discs. On her computer are a list of all prescription medicines that are out there, thus it is easy for her to download it onto a prescription to either give me a paper copy or directly email it to my pharmacy.... the pills are usually ready when I get there.

But I can understand how you feel about "herd medicine". When I first saw my surgeon she was in a nice cozy townhouse office, just her, her tech and the receptionist. Then she went to a group practice which i didn't really care for, but she was so good I went anyway.... I had a feeling she preferred to be outside the box, and sure enough not long ago she went back to private practice.

Doctors are going from private practice to group practice to cut on overhead, medical equipment, payroll, etc. Plus the cost of medical malpractice insurance is eating up their profits since America is so sue happy.

Just up the street is an urgent care that also take on regular patients. I really like the place as is is so close by as my primary doctor's office is quite a drive. I am seriously thinking of changing over to those doctors.

Angel, I'm sure you were sick, but did you really have influenza? So many people call any bad cold, upper respiratory infection or even stomach ailments like noro virus "the flu" when they are not. I think it would be pretty unusual to contract the influenza virus 5 times in 6 years.

My brother is not a flu shot person. Don't ask me why. He works with the public and one would think that he would want to get one. (Years ago, my employer which was a municipality, told us that we HAD to get a flu shot. Then they lined us up and we had to get it.) Anyway, last winter my brother got the flu so bad that he was almost hospitalized. He was sicker than sick. He says that he WILL get one this year. I hope he doesn't retract on that. And he is a healthy, 40 year old man. Still, it was VERY serious. Even 20 year-old people can die from the flu. I take it very seriously.

I wouldn't risk my life, because someone may have provided me inaccurate information.

Everyone has the right to make their own healthcare decisions, however, I suspect that if everyone really learned the facts about immunizations, the risk factors associated with getting the flu, etc., that they would get it.

It can't protect you 100%, but, it's better than no immunization. I've gotten it almost every year since I was a young adult and I've only gotten the flu once, and that was in the SPRING of the year when I had just traveled to EUROPE. I got sick on the flight home. I'm not sure if my shot from the year before had worn out or it was a different strain of flu.

ilovemom: You can get shots for pneumonia. I had one. Six months later I got it (pneumonia, that is), but my doctor said I would have had a worse case if I'd not got the shot.