Are you going to get it?
By Grammasherri
@sherrir101 (3670)
Malinta, Ohio
October 7, 2007 3:32pm CST
The flu season is coming soon. Are you going to get the flu shot? Are you in the high risk group that is recommended to get one?
The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus.
The annual flu kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States. The annually updated trivalent flu vaccine for the 2007–2008 season consists of hemagglutinin (HA) surface glycoprotein components from influenza H3N2, H1N1, and B influenza viruses.
Each year the influenza virus changes and different strains become dominant. Due to the high mutability of the virus a particular vaccine formulation usually only works for about a year. The World Health Organization coordinates the contents of the vaccine each year to contain the most likely strains of the virus to attack the next year. The flu vaccine is usually recommended for anyone in a high-risk group who would be likely to suffer complications from influenza.
3 people like this
11 responses
@asgtswife04 (2475)
• United States
8 Oct 07
I, myself, and my 17 month old will not be getting it, but my two sons who are in school will be getting the flu mist. Hopefully that will help in not getting me or my daughter sick since they are in school and we stay at home. I think it's important to get it really, but me personally, i have gotten the flu every time i've had the vaccine. My boys, however, have never gotten it and have had the vaccine every year just as a precaution to my baby. some people believe in them and some don't
2 people like this
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
7 Oct 07
I never get a flu shot.Seems like when I get sick is the only time I get rest.Kinda almost looking foward to it.Just kidding.When my mom was living she used to get them.But she also got sick after the shot.
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
7 Oct 07
I have heard that if you get sick after the shot it is because you have had some strain of the flu that you are being protected against. Doesn't make sense, does it?
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
7 Oct 07
I heard that also.But what are the chances of her having a strand of the flu each time she went for 5 years straight.Juat odd.
1 person likes this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
14 Oct 07
I get the flu shot every year. I am pretty healthy, and could probably survive a case of influenza, but, I don't want to risk visiting my elderly parents, and giving it to them. The most common reason I hear, is that people say they get they flu afterwards - old wives tale. You don't get the flu from the shot!
1 person likes this
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
14 Oct 07
I know you don't :-)
I got mine Friday, not even a sore arm.
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
10 Oct 07
Maybe you should think about it. But as you say, you live a healthy life eating right and exercising...
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
8 Oct 07
Actually none of us in my house get the flu shot...I have it in my head due to the situation in past yrs of there being a "shortage", that we dont need it so why waste it on us ya know...I think its more important there be enough (just in case) for the elderly and the little ones and any other high risk person ya know...
1 person likes this
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
8 Oct 07
I know the shortages scare people. I think that means that they just haven't gotten their shipment. In the end, they always have enough, it seems.
@bestisyettocome (1531)
• United States
8 Oct 07
I'm going to get a flu shot, again this year. I am in the healthcare field, so it would be wise to do. I haven't had the flu, since I've been getting them. It's free through my employer. They offer it to all the employees. I don't ever have side effects from it.
1 person likes this
@Springlady (3986)
• United States
8 Oct 07
Yes, I plan on getting the flu vaccine. I have gotten one for about 13 years straight now. It seems to help. I have gotten "bugs" and infections like bronchitis, but so far, I've never gotten the full-blown flu that will knock you down for a week or more.
My mom did not get the vaccine last year and she was sick the entire month of March with the flu. She is definately getting one this year! She was really sick with it!
1 person likes this
@Savvynlady (3684)
• United States
7 Oct 07
I used to get this while I was in the Air Force and since I got out of the Reserves in 1998 until now, I haven't had a flu shot and I think I did all right considering. Every time I got a shot, I get a cold. I don't like that. So do I think it's useful, well could be, but that's just my opinion.
1 person likes this
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
7 Oct 07
I know it is useful in my case. I can't afford to be sick on top of my Multiple Sclerosis.
@WiteNgtOwl (304)
• United States
7 Oct 07
There are so many diffrent kinds of flues. I hope this year I dont get it. My daughter gets a flu shot every year. I've heard once you get one flu, your immuned to it.
1 person likes this
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
7 Oct 07
Once you've had the flu, you develop antibodies to the viral strain that caused it. But those antibodies won't protect you from new or mutated strains of influenza or other viruses
