Flu shot – Who does it and who does not

This discussion came up several places in the last few days. I’ve only did a flu shot probably 2 times in the last 10-12 years. I can honestly say that those 2 years were 2 of the sickest years that I can remember. It probably been 6 years or so since the last time I got one. I have a Dr. appointment coming up soon ( Annual physical needed to get my blood pressure meds refilled ) Like past years I know they are going ask if I’ve had it or want to get it. Based on past experiences I think I’m going to skip it. curious what others thoughts are on it.

I do what my doctor recommends. I’m in no position to challenge advice from a medical professional.

I got very sick back in 2011 when the swine flu emerged. Ended up with an IV for fluid because of dehydration.

Since then I have gotten it every year and have avoided that outcome again.

People are at liberty to make their own decisions health wise on items like this. Seeking the advice from a medical professional would be a good idea IMO.

Do your research. It’s like getting financial advice from a financial advisor, its only good until it is not. That said, I do not get them. I have become more leery after they changed the official definition of what a “vaccine” is.

gim wrote:

I do what my doctor recommends. I’m in no position to challenge advice from a medical professional.

Gim – I believe you are far younger than I am. For me the recommended shots are:
Covid and all boosters
Flu
Pneumococcal
Shingles
RSV
So all what shots do you get each year.

I hear vaccines can make you grow a caudal appendage in your posterior coccyx. Seriously though the flu shot has gotten me sick before. I’m not an anti vaxxer by any means seeing I see untested drug use an indicator of true americanism, but sometimes it gives me cold sweats and a fever for a few hours after the shot. Once I got it at the healthcare facility I worked at and they wouldn’t let me walk 3 blocks home because it got me so sick.

big_g wrote:

Do your research. It’s like getting financial advice from a financial advisor, its only good until it is not. That said, I do not get them. I have become more leery after they changed the official definition of what a “vaccine” is.

So your research has shown they are not a good idea, Here is what definition I get when I search Vaccine:

vac·cine
/vakˈsēn,ˈvakˌsēn/
noun
1.
a substance used to stimulate immunity to a particular infectious disease or pathogen, typically prepared from an inactivated or weakened form of the causative agent or from its constituents or products.
“every year the flu vaccine is modified to deal with new strains of the virus”

Is this what it was changed to or a old one?

I haven’t done the flu shot in probably 7 or 8 years.

I am not an anti-vaxxer by any means, but for the flu in particular I never noticed a difference for the years I did/did not get it.

I used to get them yearly until the covid debacle.

Obviously a very rare occasion but a girl I graduated with died from complications from a reaction to a flu shot. I have never got one.

fishthumper wrote:

Gim – I believe you are far younger than I am. For me the recommended shots are:
Covid and all boosters
Flu
Pneumococcal
Shingles
RSV
So all what shots do you get each year.

I sent you a PM. My situation may be unique because of the field I work in.

I always get a flu shot. Having kids in daycare makes you want to avoid anything you can.

fishthumper wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>big_g wrote:</div>
Do your research. It’s like getting financial advice from a financial advisor, its only good until it is not. That said, I do not get them. I have become more leery after they changed the official definition of what a “vaccine” is.

So your research has shown they are not a good idea, Here is what definition I get when I search Vaccine:

vac·cine
/vakˈsēn,ˈvakˌsēn/
noun
1.
a substance used to stimulate immunity to a particular infectious disease or pathogen, typically prepared from an inactivated or weakened form of the causative agent or from its constituents or products.
“every year the flu vaccine is modified to deal with new strains of the virus”

Is this what it was changed to or a old one?

My research has shown it is a best guess, what they put in the annual flu shot… they are guessing what is coming. I used to get the flu shot and more often than not, I would get the flu. Since not getting it in over 20 years, I think I got the flu one time. Natural immunity is still touted by most credible medical professionals as the best safeguard against an virus. As far as the definition, they added verbiage of mRNA to it further down, in the Merriams.

I only got the flu shot (nasal one tho) once, and got the flu really bad that year. I don’t typically get the flu, so I don’t get the shot. Also just had Norovirus rip thru our house, everyone except me, so I like to think I have a robust immune system.

Never had one, but as I become an old codger – maybe start.

BigWerm wrote:

so I like to think I have a robust immune system.

Same. I pass on them, can’t remember the last time I got one.

Influenza A is running rampant right now, but getting a flu shot (not vaccine) will likely not do you any good. A vaccine, like MMR, Polio, etc is a true vaccine in that it prevents you from getting whatever they are trying to protect you from. The flu and covid SHOTS do not do that. THey say it might be less bad, but I dont even buy that as others have already posted it could be worse if you have one.
I havent had a flu shot in years. I just had Influenza A and while it was not fun, I ran into the minute clinic got meds (tamiflu, something for cough and a steroid). My fever was gone less than 24 hours later and I basically felt fine then too with the exception of an annoying cough which I have heard can hang around for weeks or even months!
My middle son got the same thing 2 days before me. He is better now too. The youngest got it Sunday (tested positive on Monday) couldnt take meds because they wouldnt stay down. They also tested for covid (my middle son and I both tested as well but negative) and that came back positive on Tuesday. The youngest has been battling a fever and has been out of school but I just checked on him and I asked how he felt and he said “awesome”. No fever since early yesterday so he will go back to school tomorrow. They say 24 hours.

I have never gotten the flu shot. But then again very seldom do I get sick.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I was sick.

Heck still to this day I don’t know if I ever had Covid. So I never got vaxed for that either.

Got it once 25 years ago wife’s advice haven’t got one since

I’ve had the flu shot for the past 20+ years. A few years ago my wife was hospitalized for the flu and while there they tested me. Tested positive but had minor symptoms and felt fine in a few days.

My mother got the flu shot and was sick as hell for three weeks. In addition, every year some doctor from the CDC comes up with excuses why this year’s formula didn’t work. You never hear them claiming that they nailed it. Hard pass from me. I take a multi-vitamin with zinc, and haven’t been sick in years.

As far as the definition of vaccine goes, when you got the polio vaccine, you didn’t get polio. When they first came out with the Covid shot, they claimed you wouldn’t get sick and you couldn’t spread it to others. That obviously was wrong and very quickly they changed their tune and said it would reduce the severity of the symptoms and that was it. That seems different to me.

SR

I have gotten the shingles vaccine. Know too many people who have contracted that and it seems really nasty. Never have gotten the flu vaccine not against it just don’t get sick that much so why bother.

used to get the flu shot……got sick from it. haven’t for a long time since!

i did the first covid and recommended booster a short time later because mom wasnt doing well…….none after that.

had the shingles and pneumococcal one……

when i was a kid i’d get a shot for poison ivy……id just think about that stuff and get it!!!!!

got the flu shots when my wife was fighting cancer, I didn’t want to be the one who got her sicker.. after she passed away not so much and haven’t the last few years.. it’s all a guessing game to what’s in the shot too..

They have a shot for poison ivy?
Dang, when I get it, it covers the entire body.

Do what you are comfortable with. The last place I would come for advice on any injection would be here. Your doctor is the best place to get that information.

Used to get them every two to three years before covid. And back when I got them were the only times(besides maybe once) that I contracted the flu. Just saying — I know it’s anecdotal.

buckybadger wrote:

I haven’t done the flu shot in probably 7 or 8 years.

I am not an anti-vaxxer by any means, but for the flu in particular I never noticed a difference for the years I did/did not get it.

Same. I do think there is an age where it becomes a good idea. I haven’t since 2020 and don’t plan to unless something changes with my risk level. The FW got one this year and was sick for a few days shortly after. I had something last week that was likely the flu but only lasted about 2 1/2 days.

Yes, I get the flu shot every year. Kinda got drilled into us in the military. Got the pneumonia shot a few years back when several in our shop came down with it. Damn near killed two of them. Reminds me that I need the second one since I got the first pretty early.

Shingles, yes. Had chicken pox when I was young.

Covid, no, none of them. Wasn’t in a high risk group, vaccines were being pumped out without sufficient testing (IMO). May have had it at one point (late 2019/early 2020) before the tests were available…we had a lot of corporate visitors from Europe around that time. Bunch of us were pretty sick, a couple on respirators.

Wish they had poison ivy shots when I was young. Got it bad every year.

I need to get the shingles vaccine. My little brother had the chicken pox same time as me and now he has shingles problems.

Steve Root wrote:

When they first came out with the Covid shot, they claimed you wouldn’t get sick and you couldn’t spread it to others. That obviously was wrong and very quickly they changed their tune

Lets not forget the company that came out with the shot that was to prevent you from getting covid in the 1st place, Later came out with Meds that if you got covid the meds would not make it last shorter and be less severe