Flu Vaccine: Do it or not?

[Jacob(smooth)]

Reading this thread I'm amazed at how much random and weird belief there is around the flu jab! I expect it from the "the-gubbermint-is-tryin'-to-make-us-sick" department of the fundie brigade, but not from a group of critical thinkers!

Its very simple. Every year they select 4 or 5 strains of flu they think might cause epidemics that year and put them in the vaccine. It won't protect you from any other strains, of from a rhinovirus (cold) or from secondary infections like pneumonia. It offers some immunity (not 100%) from the strains of flu in it.

If enough people have it it limits the spread of any flu outbreaks by offering a critical level of herd immunity. The plan is to prevent pandemic flu, the consequences of which are fucking scary. I was part of a working group designated to look at the effects of a flu pandemic and its scary how little of the workforce have to be out of action before the infrastructure starts to degrade. So its a very good idea.

And no, it CAN'T give you the flu. The virus is dead. What it can do is cause your body to have a similar immunological response to that which you could get with an infection, but that's nowhere near as widespread as people believe given that the flu jab is offered at the time of year when infectious diseases go on the rise anyway.

[freedomfromforum]

I'm not going to get a flu shot for the 40th year in a row. "Better to be safe than sorry" is Pacal's Wager for viruses. I'll take the chance, given that the preponderance of evidence suggests that I won't get the flu. Again. Haters gonna hate.

[Jacob(smooth)]

Nah, it's straight up odds. Chance of complications vs chance of getting the flu. Both unlikely but the latter is more likely than the former.

Personally I work in clinic which are irritatingly full of sick people (the bastards). I just don't want to bring my work home with me!

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I don't understand the skepticism to vaccinations. They're great, and are the best line of defense against viruses.

How many people do folk here know who have died of smallpox recently?

I think there's a lot of misinformation about vaccinations that has decimated their potential to eliminate some deadly viruses that still ravage parts of the world.

The whole 'what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger' is both selfish and wholly incorrect.

[pocaracas]

I need to get my tetanus shot... I'm "consciously" a year late...
The thing is... the health center is only open when I'm at work... kinda difficult to be in both places at the same time, seeing as they are some 20 minutes apart....

[NoraBrimstone]

Vaccines are awesome. Needles are not. I get a lot of grief any time I get stuck woth a needle (my blood sucks at being blood), and I'm not in a high risk group or anything, so I don't need it anyway. People who are in a high risk group are downright stupid if they don't get it.

[Number 9]

No, unless your old or very young there is no real need to be stabbed every year.

[Jackalope]

No, unless your old or very young there is no real need to be stabbed every year.

Because those not in those categories aren't at risk of serious complications or death? I disagree. I had life-threatening complications from influenza in January (serious enough to require 8 days in intensive care, 4 of it on a ventilator).

I was 45 at the time and in relatively good health. Influenza doesn't just kill the young, the old, and people that live in third world countries.

[Silver]

I was 45 at the time.

Forty-five is not old?

[KichigaiNeko]

Any cool remedies for a bad cough?

Scotch, honey, lemon juice, and hot water. All in equal measures and then go to bed.