So you very conscientiously wipe down your cart, then proceed to go into the store and touch the merchandise that all the nut scratchers have touched. Perhaps touching produce that they've picked over with their flu-ridden booger fingers.
*achoo*
Flu Near You
- Thread starter mAlice
- Start date
So you very conscientiously wipe down your cart, then proceed to go into the store and touch the merchandise that all the nut scratchers have touched. Perhaps touching produce that they've picked over with their flu-ridden booger fingers.
*achoo*
kwillia
n/a
I don't. I'm not a germaphobe. I lick lemon wedges in order to stegthen my natural immunity.
mAlice
professional daydreamer
I don't think I'm a germaphobe, but I do wipe my carts when wipes are available...most of the time. I just think about all the icky babies sitting there.
mAlice
professional daydreamer
Better get used to it, Abuela.
Nah. My grandson will be very clean. Just like his mother was.
kickstand
De omnibus dubitandum est
Only time I ever got a flu shot was when on active duty and they made me take it (and it would make me sick). Wife and I don't normally let the kids get the shot or that nasal thing they do now at school, except.....the youngest brought home a sheet informing me of the flu shot. He insisted that I needed to sign it. In all the years our kids have been in the SMCPS system, I had never seen one of these. My wife had always taken care of this. She was at work and I didn't want to bug her so I decided to handle it. There were a series of questions regarding my childs previous experience with the vaccine, allergic reactions, etc...I answered the questions and signed it upon his insistence. Well, apparently signing it is consent. My son got the vaccine that is inhaled. Fast forward a couple of weeks and everyone in the household got the flu. Some (me) worse than others. Lesson learned.
mAlice
professional daydreamer
Unless the form explicitly stated that signing was permission to give my child the shot, I'd take issue with it. Something like that should be clearly stated.
kwillia
n/a
I remember that form and I remember reading it... it did say you were consenting and it also said that the FluMist was a live virus.
kickstand
De omnibus dubitandum est
There is nothing on the form itself that indicates consent. However, the letter that accompanies the form does. It was on a separate sheet. That's where I missed it.
libertytyranny
Dream Stealer
Can the flu shot give me the flu?No, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness. The viruses contained in flu shots are inactivated (killed), which means they cannot cause infection. Flu vaccine manufacturers kill the viruses used in the flu shot during the process of making vaccine, and batches of flu vaccine are tested to make sure they are safe. In randomized, blinded studies, where some people got flu shots and others got saltwater shots, the only differences in symptoms was increased soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site among people who got the flu shot. There were no differences in terms of body aches, fever, cough, runny nose or sore throat.
More information about these studies is available at:
Carolyn Bridges et al. (2000). Effectiveness and cost-benefit of influenza vaccination of healthy working adults: A randomized controlled trial .
Kristin Nichol et al. (1995). The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy working adults. New England Journal of Medicine. 333(14): 889-893.
Why do some people not feel well after getting the flu shot?
The most common side effect of the flu vaccine in adults is soreness at the spot where the shot was given, which usually lasts less than two days. The soreness is often caused by a person’s immune system making protective antibodies to the killed viruses in the vaccine. These antibodies are what allow the body to fight against flu. The needle stick may also cause some soreness at the injection site. According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), rare symptoms include fever, muscle pain, and feelings of discomfort or weakness. If these problems occur, they are very uncommon and usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.
What about people who get a seasonal flu vaccine and still get sick with flu-like symptoms?
There are several reasons why someone might get flu-like symptoms even after they have been vaccinated against the flu.
People may be exposed to an influenza virus shortly before getting vaccinated or during the two-week period that it takes the body to gain protection after getting vaccinated. This exposure may result in a person becoming ill with flu before the vaccine begins to protect them.
People may become ill from other (non-flu) viruses that circulate during the flu season, which can also cause flu-like symptoms (such as rhinovirus).
A person may be exposed to an influenza virus that is not included in the seasonal flu vaccine. There are many different influenza viruses that circulate every year. The flu shot protects against the 3 viruses that research suggests will be most common.
Unfortunately, some people can get infected with an influenza vaccine virus despite getting vaccinated. Protection provided by influenza vaccination can vary widely, based in part on health and age factors of the person getting vaccinated. In general, the flu vaccine works best among young healthy adults and older children. Some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses may develop less immunity after vaccination. However, even among people who tend to respond less well to vaccination, the flu vaccine can still help prevent influenza. Vaccination is particularly important for people at high risk of serious flu-related complications and for close contacts of high-risk people.
CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Q & A: Seasonal Flu Shot
What do recent vaccine effectiveness studies show?Preliminary data for the 2010-2011 influenza season indicate that influenza vaccine effectiveness was about 60% for all age groups combined, and that almost all influenza viruses isolated from study participants were well-matched to the vaccine strains (Unpublished CDC data). A randomized study (by Monto et al [137 KB, 8 pages]) looking at the 2007-2008 influenza season found trivalent inactivated vaccine (flu shot) protected 7 out of 10 people from influenza illness. Studies show that LAIV works about as well as the flu shot. The main study that led to the licensure of LAIV was one conducted in children that showed that LAIV protected up to 9 out of 10 children vaccinated against the flu. A recent meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials of LAIV in children found that 2 doses of LAIV in vaccine-naïve children prevented infection with 77% of antigenically similar viruses and 72% of all viruses regardless of antigenic similarity.
CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Q & A: How Well Does the Seasonal Flu Vaccine Work?
More information about these studies is available at:
Carolyn Bridges et al. (2000). Effectiveness and cost-benefit of influenza vaccination of healthy working adults: A randomized controlled trial .
Kristin Nichol et al. (1995). The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy working adults. New England Journal of Medicine. 333(14): 889-893.
Why do some people not feel well after getting the flu shot?
The most common side effect of the flu vaccine in adults is soreness at the spot where the shot was given, which usually lasts less than two days. The soreness is often caused by a person’s immune system making protective antibodies to the killed viruses in the vaccine. These antibodies are what allow the body to fight against flu. The needle stick may also cause some soreness at the injection site. According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), rare symptoms include fever, muscle pain, and feelings of discomfort or weakness. If these problems occur, they are very uncommon and usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.
What about people who get a seasonal flu vaccine and still get sick with flu-like symptoms?
There are several reasons why someone might get flu-like symptoms even after they have been vaccinated against the flu.
People may be exposed to an influenza virus shortly before getting vaccinated or during the two-week period that it takes the body to gain protection after getting vaccinated. This exposure may result in a person becoming ill with flu before the vaccine begins to protect them.
People may become ill from other (non-flu) viruses that circulate during the flu season, which can also cause flu-like symptoms (such as rhinovirus).
A person may be exposed to an influenza virus that is not included in the seasonal flu vaccine. There are many different influenza viruses that circulate every year. The flu shot protects against the 3 viruses that research suggests will be most common.
Unfortunately, some people can get infected with an influenza vaccine virus despite getting vaccinated. Protection provided by influenza vaccination can vary widely, based in part on health and age factors of the person getting vaccinated. In general, the flu vaccine works best among young healthy adults and older children. Some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses may develop less immunity after vaccination. However, even among people who tend to respond less well to vaccination, the flu vaccine can still help prevent influenza. Vaccination is particularly important for people at high risk of serious flu-related complications and for close contacts of high-risk people.
CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Q & A: Seasonal Flu Shot
What do recent vaccine effectiveness studies show?Preliminary data for the 2010-2011 influenza season indicate that influenza vaccine effectiveness was about 60% for all age groups combined, and that almost all influenza viruses isolated from study participants were well-matched to the vaccine strains (Unpublished CDC data). A randomized study (by Monto et al [137 KB, 8 pages]) looking at the 2007-2008 influenza season found trivalent inactivated vaccine (flu shot) protected 7 out of 10 people from influenza illness. Studies show that LAIV works about as well as the flu shot. The main study that led to the licensure of LAIV was one conducted in children that showed that LAIV protected up to 9 out of 10 children vaccinated against the flu. A recent meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials of LAIV in children found that 2 doses of LAIV in vaccine-naïve children prevented infection with 77% of antigenically similar viruses and 72% of all viruses regardless of antigenic similarity.
CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Q & A: How Well Does the Seasonal Flu Vaccine Work?
"Trust us, we're the government."
mAlice
professional daydreamer
There is nothing on the form itself that indicates consent. However, the letter that accompanies the form does. It was on a separate sheet. That's where I missed it.
What one is consenting to should be on the same piece of paper as your signature, unless you're sitting in a lawyers office with the lawyer going over it with you. That's just
mAlice
professional daydreamer
Exactly.
kwillia
n/a
Lookie what I just found...
The new flu shot has a 40 percent failure rate, according to reports, but that's not stopping Uncle Sam from slapping a tax on it.
Legislation is moving through Congress to impose a 75-cent tax on new seasonal flu vaccines, as the government already does on existing vaccines. The tax money is used to fund the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund which covers vaccine-related injury or death claims for covered vaccines. ... The website Speak With Authority noted that the fund has about $3.5 billion in it, but it's paid out only $2.5 billion in the last 25 years.
Says the site: "Although the taxes raised by the vaccine tax go into a 'Trust Fund,' this trust fund, like most government trust funds, is on paper only. ... The $3.5 billion balance, of course, is 'invested' in 'US Treasury Securities.' In other words, financing a portion of the $16.5 trillion national debt."
Read more: Congress prepares to raid flu shot trust fund | Times 247
sockgirl77
Well-Known Member
MMM_donuts
New Member
There are so many poorly done studies regarding the flu that any data can be presented in short to support either side of the debate. One really must look into the information carefully on both sides and then make the decision for themselves.
Exactly. I'm not a reactionary or a fad jumper onner - unless it's a really great fad, like mascara that forms indestructible tubes on your lashes. I typically have no interest in whatever new and kewl thing the government wants us to do so they can collect a tax on it.
But your mileage may vary and that's what makes this such a great country!
drivingdaisy
New Member
In previous years I always got the flu shot since I was teaching little boogers. The doctor came to the school and everything and it was very convenient. Some years I got the flu, some years I didn't.
This year since I'm not teaching I haven't gotten one yet. I'm undecided about it. I really don't want to be sick while giving birth or having a newborn. (My poor SIL had a sinus infection while giving birth... she had trouble breathing and then after the birth blowing her nose was a serious problem, it hurt so bad she thought she'd blow a stitch.)
Usually I am very germs schmerms as a result of years of teaching 5 year olds. I just accepted the fact that I came home each day covered in boogers and lord knows what else. But now that I am pregnant I am a little more careful. I've been keeping myself locked away in the house when not at work hoping to avoid some sick people. (Of course last week some other employee brought in their sick child to work to be watched who was too sick to go to school. I thought that was pretty rude, but since I am only a temporary hire I didn't think I should say anything. I am pretty sure all the work you did in the office on your laptop could have been done at home with the sick kid.)
Now I must go out and run errands... Michaels, Lowes, and the grocery store.
This year since I'm not teaching I haven't gotten one yet. I'm undecided about it. I really don't want to be sick while giving birth or having a newborn. (My poor SIL had a sinus infection while giving birth... she had trouble breathing and then after the birth blowing her nose was a serious problem, it hurt so bad she thought she'd blow a stitch.)
Usually I am very germs schmerms as a result of years of teaching 5 year olds. I just accepted the fact that I came home each day covered in boogers and lord knows what else. But now that I am pregnant I am a little more careful. I've been keeping myself locked away in the house when not at work hoping to avoid some sick people. (Of course last week some other employee brought in their sick child to work to be watched who was too sick to go to school. I thought that was pretty rude, but since I am only a temporary hire I didn't think I should say anything. I am pretty sure all the work you did in the office on your laptop could have been done at home with the sick kid.)
Now I must go out and run errands... Michaels, Lowes, and the grocery store.