The Controversal Flu Shot

United States
January 28, 2018 11:46am CST
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on whether it is worth getting a flu shot or not. Personally I only got it a few times as a very young kid and have not gotten it since. My mother is a family doctor and very adamant about people getting it but understands that some people, including me and my sisters are okay without. I always had the wrong assumptions of flu shots, people always seemed to get sick. I read from one site that they inject a sample of the actual virus in you. I found out I was completely wrong. My mother explained it to me yesterday. She said that the flu shot basically sends an empty egg shell mimicking the virus. This allows your immune system to recognize this foreign shape and ready it's defenses. So when the real virus attacks, your immune system is ready to go. Verses without the shot, by the time your immune system gets ready to attack, the virus has already spread and has done some damage. The flaw to this is scientists have to basically guess how the virus will be, sometimes they are not as effective. In fact this year they weren't very effective at all, roughly 30% of people who got the vaccine found it effective. After this understanding, I am more open to possibly getting the vaccine next year. What are your thoughts?
4 people like this
5 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
28 Jan 18
I have had a regular flu shot for the last 10 years and, in that time, I have never had the flu and very rarely even a cold (though I know, of course, that it doesn't protect against the common cold virus). My guess is that, since my immune system didn't have to waste its resources on the flu, it was well able to deal with any other viruses which came along. This year was different, however. Although I didn't get the version of flu which caught many out, I did get a really nasty cold which laid me low for the statutory 9 days ("3 days coming. 3 days with you and 3 days going"). As I have COPD, I took my rescue meds (steroids and antibiotics) and managed to survive it, though it was pretty nasty.
2 people like this
• United States
28 Jan 18
That is good to know that you took the shot and havent had any issues. There was a pretty bad cold virus going around, at one point I had it for 3-4 days. But its exited since I haven't been sick in 2 years. I'm glad to hear you were able to recover from it!
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13618)
• United States
28 Jan 18
Ive never gotten the shot.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 18
I haven't since I was probably 3 or 4 maybe. So I don't blame you. I just figured after this knowledge it doesn't sound too bad. Who knows haha.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13618)
• United States
28 Jan 18
@taciaelisepeace - why does it have to be a shot? Cant it be in pill or liquid form?
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 18
@Plethos I think its just how the medicine has to be delivered, it is probably most effective that way.
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@xstitcher (30082)
• Petaluma, California
28 Jan 18
I think that I have gotten the shot once.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Jan 18
I started getting it every year after getting the flu about 12 years ago. I was never so sick and very rarely catch anything.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 18
Thats good to hear! The flu is really terrible. I've heard some really sad stories this year.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
28 Jan 18
Not me, they get it wrong as often as not and sometimes people have reactions. When my kids were in school I would always start fortifying them a couple of weeks prior to the beginning of the school year. This meant they (we) ate lots of garlic, onion and ginger etc. in the form of chicken and other soups. They rarely got sick when the other kids were spreading it around. I'd do this also during any extended school holiday like Christmas break.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
28 Jan 18
@taciaelisepeace It really is good for us and doubling up on garlic and onion surely won't hurt you.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 18
@Namelesss Not at all. Plus food doesn't taste the same without it.
• United States
28 Jan 18
I have noticed bad reactions too. I recall last year there was only one lady who got the flu shot at my work and she was the only one out sick for a week. Garlic, onion, ginger, citrus fruits and veggies are all great immune boosting foods. Thats good that those were able to help your kids during the year! I eat the same stuff all the time and I maybe get sick once every 2 years.
1 person likes this