Have you gotten your flu vaccine this season yet?

[Choppasmith]

Funny thing is, I got the robo call from Kaiser reminding me with every intention to get it done by the end of the month. Then just a couple days I got a really bad fever of 102. I have to talk to my doctor too, my sister is on some immunity lowering meds, so I have to make sure I do everything right.

Otherwise, I still have every intention on doing so.

 

[FILE_ID.DIZ]

I just thought of it as a virus/sickness. It seems so innocuous. It feels weird to put it at the same level as cancer or something that is incurable. It goes away in a week.

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disease:
an impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors

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I have provided the above definition in the hopes that it will disabuse you of any mistaken notions you have about this particular word.

Never have and never will.

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Care to share your reasoning with the class, or can we all just assume the worst?

 

[abellwillring]

Sickness is caused by disease I don't know how you never learned that. It's easily treatable but due to the nature of viruses it's not really possible to kill something that isn't alive.

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Haha, I do feel a little silly but like I said, it feels disingenuous to refer to something like a cold as a disease.

 

[Zoe]

Haha, I do feel a little silly but like I said, it feels disingenuous to refer to something like a cold as a disease.

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The flu isn't a cold, even though people like to conflate the two.

 

[Kieli]

I never get a flu vaccine, and yes, they are free here.

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So you don't care about being a vector for passing it to others? If you are subclinical, it's all good?

 

[Dany]

I just thought of it as a virus/sickness. It seems so innocuous. It feels weird to put it at the same level as cancer or something that is incurable. It goes away in a week.

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Think of Everyone you are in contact with in a two day Span. They get sick and spread it to immunocompromised people such as children and the elderly that can't fight the infection

 

[KtotheRoc]

Yes. And I got a little sick afterwards.

I guess the mind controlling chemicals still need work, lol.

 

[GrimJawz]

Not worth trying to get off work, i never get sick anyway.

 

[LiK]

Got mine at work.

 

[electricblue]

I often feel bad for a day or two also but nearly as bad as the real deal

 

[Foxnull]

I didn't get it and don't plan to, but I'm neither misinformed nor unresponsible. In Germany it's not common to get a flu shot, except elderly and children.

 

[Septy]

Haha, I do feel a little silly but like I said, it feels disingenuous to refer to something like a cold as a disease.

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It is a disease though. I don't understand where you're not understanding? The common cold and the flu are two different things by the way.

 

[Einchy]

I've never gotten it, I can't break the strike now.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

I got mine on Tuesday. The office building we're in provides them.

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My last place did that but I got a new job and I just asked and my new place doesn't. Guess I gotta go to CVS!

 

[Daniel Jackson]

What a biased arrogant poll.
Never got a shot, probably never will. I don't ever get sick.

 

[CrazyAndy]

So you don't care about being a vector for passing it to others? If you are subclinical, it's all good?

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No one my age gets a flu shot here. It's not recommended. I don't even know anyone who gets it. Of course old people, children etc. get them but usually not young and healthy adults.

 

[Cyanity]

Why anyone with free access to a flu vaccine would forego is beyond me. Are y'all just afraid of needles or something? You're being irresponsible.

 

[jonjonaug]

Just got mine about two hours ago.

 

[Deleted member 11822]

I ended up getting mine towards the end of September this year as part of my physical. A bit earlier than I would like.

 

[Kodoku]

Eventually going to get one. Gotten one every year. It's mandatory for us to get it; I work for a hospital. Currently waiting for when they come over to our satellite site. Everyone in my family gets it, but then we all work in various roles in Healthcare.

 

[Cyanity]

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/whoshouldvax.htm

CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, influenza vaccine that is appropriate for the recipient's age and health status, (IIV, RIV4, or LAIV4) with no preference expressed for any one vaccine over another.

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[Keikaku]

Why anyone with free access to a flu vaccine would forego is beyond me. Are y'all just afraid of needles or something? You're being irresponsible.

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It can make you sick, which has happened every time I took it. I'm so rarely sick, it's not worth the hassle.

 

[EternalDarko]

Never taken the flu vaccine (though have all other general vaccines, and would get any new ones that are needed). However, in terms of flu, I just ensure I get my vitamins, exercise and have a good diet - and if I ever feel the flu coming on, I take some pre-emptive meds (echinacea & paracetamol); havent had the flu in years.

Just as a point of comparison, my wife has been taking the flu vaccine for years (she's a teacher and I believe it's mandatory in UK), but she always comes down with the flu regardless of it. lol

 

[FaceHugger]

I got mine. I work in healthcare IT. I realize how important it is.

 

[OG YOLOwen]

I've never gotten the flu shot once in my whole life. Probably not gonna change this year.

 

[bulletbill10]

I got mine at work, like every year. I had a pretty bad reaction this year, and missed work the next day with a fever, headache, and sore bones. I think I might have to talk about my doctor about if there is a better option. I wouldn't stop getting it, because I work with a lot of older folks or otherwise health compromised people, but I wind up missing work the next day about half the time I get mine.

 

[Pwnz]

What a biased arrogant poll.
Never got a shot, probably never will. I don't ever get sick.

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It really isn't about you.

 

[Kuro]

I always hear its better to get it late november so you're covered for the worst flu month February.

 

[kamineko]

I got the shot and got the flu anyway

yeah I get how that works but I was salty as hell about it

 

[Jokab]

Never had the flu in my life. I'm convinced I'm immune

 

[Jmdajr]

My allergy Doctor told me Ocrober is the ideal time to get it. So I will.

 

[abellwillring]

It is a disease though. I don't understand where you're not understanding? The common cold and the flu are two different things by the way.

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I get it -- it isn't a question of understanding. But if we're really being technical and calling every sickness a disease, then the cold is also a disease too and it kind of diminishes the gravitas/heft of the word "disease." Most people think of "the flu virus." I honestly had never heard the flu referred to as a disease before today. "Flu virus" has 1.8m google results vs 69,500 for "flu disease." It's a little disingenuous.

For what it's worth, the CDC never refers to the flu as a disease on their site about it. They use illness and talk about the influenza virus. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm

 

[Deleted member 4208]

Yep. I got mine a few weeks ago. I got mine earlier than usual after some students at my school started coming down with it. I know it takes a while for it to kick in but I figured there was no sense waiting, either.

Plus Publix is giving $10 gift cards if you get it there. That's a full chicken tender sub and a side, right there!

If you don't get it, you risk catching it and spreading it to others.

 

[DJChuy]

Yes I got it free from work.

 

[teruterubozu]

As soon as possible. The flu kicked my ass very hard last year. No way I'm going through that again.

 

[Vitet]

Here is not recommended for everyone, I have every vaccine of the normal schedule but never got flu vaccines, and rarely got flu also. It's on the OMS (WHO) website:

http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/vaccination

Protection for those most at risk
WHO recommends that health care workers and people who are most at risk of developing serious complications from influenza infection be vaccinated every year before the season begins. Priority groups for vaccination include:

• pregnant women
• individuals >6 months with certain chronic diseases
• elderly persons
• residents of institutions for older persons and the disabled
• children aged 6–59 months
• health care workers.

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[The October Man]

Scheduled for the 23rd. University where I work gives them for free, but students get priority

 

[Gunny T Highway]

I plan to. I recently got over a cold and they say it is best to be at 100% health before you get it. So probably in the next week or so I will.

 

[GTAce]

Dying from the flu is pretty unlikely.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there were a record-high 79,400 flu deaths in the United States in the 2017-2018 season.

However, it's difficult to accurately track how many cases of the flu each year lead to death from complications. States aren't required to report flu diagnoses in adults to the CDC, so it's likely that adult deaths associated with flu go under-reported.

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But flu can progress into conditions like pneumonia, or worsen other chronic issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure, which can quickly become life-threatening.

Flu can directly lead to death when the virus triggers severe inflammation in the lungs. When this happens, it can cause rapid respiratory failure because your lungs can't transport enough oxygen into the rest of your body.

The flu can also cause your brain, heart, or muscles to become inflamed. This can lead to sepsis, an emergency condition that can be fatal if not immediately treated.

If you develop a secondary infection while you have the flu, that can also cause your organs to fail. The bacteria from that infection can get into your bloodstream and cause sepsis, as well.

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https://www.healthline.com/health/can-you-die-from-the-flu

 

[CrazyAndy]

https://www.healthline.com/health/can-you-die-from-the-flu

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Compared to the number that got the flu that's really low. So it's unlikely...

 

[trappedinsap]

I'm seeing a lot of fundamental misunderstanding of how a flu shot works in this thread.

It's just a guess based on which flu strains are most likely for the season, a complete guessing game. Just because you get a shot doesn't mean you're not going to get some strain of the flu.

I've never had a flu shot, but now I am at times around a child with a compromised immune system, so I'm open to the idea this year. As others have said, it's not just about you, even if the vaccine is all based on guesswork.

 

[Septy]

I get it -- it isn't a question of understanding. But if we're really being technical and calling every sickness a disease, then the cold is also a disease too and it kind of diminishes the gravitas/heft of the word "disease." Most people think of "the flu virus." I honestly had never heard the flu referred to as a disease before today. "Flu virus" has 1.8m google results vs 69,500 for "flu disease." It's a little disingenuous.

For what it's worth, the CDC never refers to the flu as a disease on their site about it. They use illness and talk about the influenza virus. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm

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You're just arguing semantics at this point. I don't see how calling the flu or a cold a disease somehow makes the word disease less of a word. The flu and cold are by definition a disease, how does that make the word less of a word? I don't know how you've never heard of it called a disease but it is