Do You Bother Getting Flu Shots?

[Cat13]

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The flu shot is based on the previous strain. Last years strain will have very very little if any impact on this years virus.

No... what happens is the people who make the shot start watching what strains are starting to hit around the world, they take the 5 most common ones and put them into the shot. Its researched all year around. The thing is theres are way too many strains to put into a shot that holds only 5. So it doesnt eliminate your chances just reduces it dramatically.

 

[Cat13]

before getting the flu shot I would get tonsillitis 6-8 times a year and if i didn't get antibiotics it would dog me for a month. now it's 1 or 2 times a year. i know the flu shot doesn't guard against tonsillitis but when you're succumbing to the flu other things can move in as well, i'd end up with tonsils the size of golf balls and i'd miss some work and not get paid.

I am in a similar boat... I used to get sick 6 times a year. Started working for a hospital and they require you to get the flu shot or your not allowed to work if you get the slightest bit sick (no pay or sick leave either cus you opted out of the shot). Quickly noticed how I only get sick once or twice a year now.

Its dramatically helped my immune system.

 

[jeero]

I'm surprised to hear how so few of you get sick....I wonder if there's a correlation between riding a motorcycle and having a stronger immune system. You're exposed to more elements, have higher rates of interaction with people and bacteria, wear gear that harbours bacteria (even if you're a germaphobe like me), etc.

You don't start building an immune system at the age of 16+ when you can ride bikes; it starts when you're still in your mother's womb and, once you're out, it becomes better as you are subjected to different germs that are commonly found around us.

Just an FYI for anyone reading this:
In a world of humans without germs, humans will die in a couple days.
In a world of germs without humans, they continue living and aren't affected by our absense.

There are some germs that can only live on the human body. These are good germs. There are many many types of good germs. They help by fighting other germs that may land on you throughout your day. All these sanitizing products kill these good germs who are simply protecting you.

I understand there's different levels of germophopes and you said you're working on it. That's great to hear and I tip my hat to you.
I personally think germophobes generally have the weakest immune systems because they need sanitizers to live.
Your example of not putting your bag down in a public washroom isn't a germophobe move, it's just a good idea.
No matter how healthy a person is, don't put your stuff down in a cocktail of urine, feces and God knows what else lol.

I only remember getting the flu shot once, and I didn't really have a choice. I was a kid and my parents signed the paper for them to give it to me when they came to the school to do it.
I didn't get sick from it. I also didn't get (flu) sick every other year of my life either (without the shot).

As a kid I played outside a lot, probably had too many mud pies for your liking, extended the 5 second rule to something like 2 minutes, shared candy/lollipops/gum with other kids, ate my boogers and stuff like that.
The first time I've ever been sick to the point where I missed school/work is probably around 21 years old, and probably twice more since then.
It was never the seasonal flu.

 

[CruisnGrrl]

No... what happens is the people who make the shot start watching what strains are starting to hit around the world, they take the 5 most common ones and put them into the shot. Its researched all year around. The thing is theres are way too many strains to put into a shot that holds only 5. So it doesnt eliminate your chances just reduces it dramatically.

it also makes it so you have something to fight with, reducing the time you are sick when you do get a strain that isn't covered, I got the reg shot last year but didn't get the pig flu shot, i did end up getting the pig flu but it wasn't as severe as other people having it.

 

[omnivore]

I have a healthy immune system because when i was little i played in the dirt and my parents weren't scared of everything.

I wash my hands, I'm not a slob, but im about as far as one can get from being a germaphobe.

Sometimes I even eat food that I dropped on the floor....and I share ice cream cones with my dogs,LOL

....recommended daily intake of dirt and all that,LOL.

We are building a super weak species in the human race by protecting ourselves from everything........How did the human race make it to 1999 without hand sanitizer? We are the only creature on the planet that spends time and effort encouraging the weakest of our species to proliferate. So much for the strong surviving and genetics improving.

As far as a germophobe being terrified of public washrooms etc...in college we did germ growth studies. Filthy washroom harboured very little, however, door handles, hand rails, car steering wheels, and elevator buttons were rife with micro-organisms....we didn't check to see which germs we had collected, but it was obvious where the majority of infectious risk is.

 

[RockerGuy]

Sometimes I even eat food that I dropped on the floor....and I share ice cream cones with my dogs,LOL

....recommended daily intake of dirt and all that,LOL.

We are building a super weak species in the human race by protecting ourselves from everything........How did the human race make it to 1999 without hand sanitizer? We are the only creature on the planet that spends time and effort encouraging the weakest of our species to proliferate. So much for the strong surviving and genetics improving.

As far as a germophobe being terrified of public washrooms etc...in college we did germ growth studies. Filthy washroom harboured very little, however, door handles, hand rails, car steering wheels, and elevator buttons were rife with micro-organisms....we didn't check to see which germs we had collected, but it was obvious where the majority of infectious risk is.

That doesn't make sense

 

[unL33T]

That doesn't make sense

A room could appear filthy while actually containing very few germs.

 

[RockerGuy]

A room could appear filthy while actually containing very few germs.

How can a filthy toilet be clean??

 

[promac]

How can a filthy toilet be clean??

When good and bad bugs go to war, they make a hell of a mess, but it's a clean mess. Just wash hands before eating.

Never had a flu shot in all my 46 years. Used to get sinus infections & bronchitis 2-3 times a year, but now I use Hydrasense nasal rinse, so I'm down to once every 2-3 years. Exercise probably makes a big difference too.

 

[SeaBreez]

Never had a flu shot. Won't be getting one any time soon.

+ 1

I can see it useful for the older, infirm crowd. Not for the healthy though.

 

[knowledge]

They might've found a real cure for the flu (diffrent strains): http://gizmodo.com/5856999/scientist-create-the-definitive-flu-killer

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