ucking:
Seems like everyone I know gets the flu right after the take the flu shot. I guess it's better than getting it later.
I agree with The Man. By getting flu shot, you are just injecting yourself with the flu. So you can either get the symptons when you get the shot, or you can take the chance you will get it later.
I take my chances. A healthy body will fight it off.
Flu shots, tetanus shots, vaccinations....foooey. Who needs them.
And one little tip while I am here. Open the windows in your house during the winter. It may sound crazy, but it works for me.
My theory (and some others) is that you don't get sick from the cold weather, you get sick from the germs building up in the warm unvetilated indoors. ONce a day , or few days, open the windows and let the fresh air in. It'll work wonders.
Just my 2 cents.
I take my chances. A healthy body will fight it off.
Flu shots, tetanus shots, vaccinations....foooey. Who needs them.
And one little tip while I am here. Open the windows in your house during the winter. It may sound crazy, but it works for me.
My theory (and some others) is that you don't get sick from the cold weather, you get sick from the germs building up in the warm unvetilated indoors. ONce a day , or few days, open the windows and let the fresh air in. It'll work wonders.
Just my 2 cents.
the virus that is injected is a DEAD virus and does not cause u to get the flu (altho i usually get sick after it too...)
the flu shot is not for the general public for heaven sakes...its meant for a part of the population...such as elderly....young....people who work in healthcare...its supposed to be something to prevent sick and elderly and young people from dying from what sometimes can be a horrible death causing flu to those kind of people...and also to help healthcare workers from getting and spreading the flu as we have a lot of contact with the above mention population...this is not meant for healthy people who are not in that kind of criteria.
the flu shot is not for the general public for heaven sakes...its meant for a part of the population...such as elderly....young....people who work in healthcare...its supposed to be something to prevent sick and elderly and young people from dying from what sometimes can be a horrible death causing flu to those kind of people...and also to help healthcare workers from getting and spreading the flu as we have a lot of contact with the above mention population...this is not meant for healthy people who are not in that kind of criteria.
You get injected with the virus when you get the shot.
The flu shot helps your body get ready to defend itself against that virus in case it tries to invade your body. The flu shot contains a small amount of dead, or killed, flu viruses. The flu shot won't give you the flu, but those dead viruses are enough to get your body's immune system ready to fight off the real flu when it comes around this winter.
The flu shot helps your body get ready to defend itself against that virus in case it tries to invade your body. The flu shot contains a small amount of dead, or killed, flu viruses. The flu shot won't give you the flu, but those dead viruses are enough to get your body's immune system ready to fight off the real flu when it comes around this winter.
Harry Doyle said:
and you are right...u dont actually get a cold from the cold weather...the cold weather drives people indoors which is warm and full of germs since people dont have windows open to get fresh air...and prob the AC isnt on.
i also think and believe that if u are outside and its cold it can lower your immune system however that is and make u more suspetible to the germs that u greet when u go into your warm and cozy house (full of germs)
I highly reccommend anyone to get the flu shot if they are subject to broncitis etc etc.
I quit smoking 4 years ago and have Emph. I get the shot each fall and have not even had a cold since!
Allergies--I have enough to write a book about----GET THE SHOT if you're a senior citizen. The immune system is lessor at your age!!!!!!!!!
I quit smoking 4 years ago and have Emph. I get the shot each fall and have not even had a cold since!
Allergies--I have enough to write a book about----GET THE SHOT if you're a senior citizen. The immune system is lessor at your age!!!!!!!!!
MrsCheater said:
The low tempetures keep people inside and closer together. When in close quarters, colds and such are more easily transmitted.
GERMS (bacteria) do not cause you to get sick! A virus is responisble for that. A virus needs a host to stay alive and spread. A viurs does not last long after leaving the host. Germs can, and do, cause infections. The flesh-eating bacteria is one to avoid.
I don't care how stale the air gets in a house, it won't make you come down with an actual illness. If it makes you feel better to have fresh air, that is one thing. But if you think that is preventing you from getting sick, you are living a lie.
GERMS is a terms that refers to pathogens...not just bacteria. i personally always avoid the flesh-eating bacteria. as for the viruses they can live a few hrs out of the body. they key thing for everyone is to wash hands properly..rub hands for 15 secs with soap..its the #1 preventative for passing on any GERM
some info i came across while reading in my nursing forum (it actually looks almost exactly like the Rx over there and i find lots of great nurse stuff, but this is something that can fit in this thread)
This article is from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC)
Influenza Vaccination Rates for Nurses Need a Boost
With all the news coverage in the last few years of people scrambling to find a flu shot, it is interesting to note that not everyone recommended for annual vaccination and able to access it chooses to do so. Surprisingly, one such group that avoids flu shots is the people administering the vaccines. In fact, only 40 percent of all health care workers were vaccinated in 2003.[1]
Health care professionals–and nurses in particular–are key to preventing the spread of influenza, a debilitating and highly contagious respiratory infection. It is caused by a virus and leads to an average of approximately 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.[2] Because of their frequent and direct patient contact, nurses can spread the virus to patients in their care.[3] This is problematic for the many patients at high risk for influenza-related complications that could lead to hospitalizations and even death. Influenza can also be spread from one healthcare worker to another or from patient to healthcare worker. In an era of nursing shortages, understaffing and mandatory overtime, nurses do not want to burden their co-workers by taking sick days related to something as easily preventable as influenza.
The influenza vaccine remains the best way for nurses to protect themselves, their families and the patients in their care during the annual influenza epidemic. An annual intramuscular vaccination, the influenza vaccine is one of few immunizations that are recommended for all health care professionals, regardless of any special conditions such as pregnancy, HIV infection, severe immunosuppression, renal failure, asplenia, diabetes, and alcoholism/alcoholic cirrhosis.[4] Another option for most healthcare providers is the live intranasal influenza vaccine. This live vaccine is approved for use by healthy persons 5-49 years of age who are not pregnant and do not provide care for severely immune-compromised persons requiring care in a protected environment.
Since 1984, the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have recommended that health care professionals (inclusive of doctors, nurses and other staff who work directly with patients) receive an annual influenza vaccination. Because the vaccine is altered nearly every year to match the circulating strain and because immunity from the vaccine wanes over time, the vaccine must be given each year -- ideally in October or November.
Vaccine Myths Abound
Despite the established benefits of the influenza vaccine, however, several misconceptions exist in the nursing community. The most common myth is that the influenza vaccine can actually cause influenza. In reality, the vaccine cannot cause influenza. Some nurses also mistakenly believe that they are automatically immune to influenza or have stronger immune systems merely because they work around sick people every day. Because influenza viruses are constantly changing, past exposure to influenza will not provide protection against newly emerged strains.
Yet another misconception is that the side effects of the vaccine are worse than getting influenza itself. The truth is that the most serious side effect is an allergic reaction in people who have a severe allergy to eggs (the vaccine viruses are grown in eggs). For this reason, influenza vaccination is contraindicated for persons with an egg allergy. The most common side effects are redness at the injection site and a sore arm. These symptoms are mild and resolve in one to two days.
Finally, some people might argue that because the influenza vaccine is not 100 percent effective (it is 70-90 percent effective in healthy adults), they will get influenza anyway. Even if the vaccine does not prevent all individuals from getting influenza, they are still likely to be far less sick than they would have been without the shot. The vaccine also greatly reduces the chance of hospitalization and death. People at greatest risk for influenza-related complications include: people 65 years and older; residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities; people with chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular conditions; people with diabetes mellitus; and children less than two years of age.
Influenza 101
Although influenza is primarily spread by droplet transmission, the virus can also live on objects such as doorknobs, telephone receivers, utensils and food trays, beds and medical equipment for possibly up to one day. Some people infected with influenza may not develop symptoms at all, but may be infectious to others. For infected persons who do develop symptoms, they can be contagious the day before they get symptoms. So nurses can transmit the virus even before they realize they are infected. The period of greatest contagion is during the first three days of illness, and can last for five to seven days in otherwise healthy adults.
Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:
Nurses have long played a key role in preventing much influenza-related morbidity and mortality by ensuring that at-risk patients, particularly elderly patients and young children, are vaccinated against influenza every year. The time is long overdue for nurses to take care of themselves as well, and protect against the influenza virus by getting a vaccination.
For more information about influenza and the influenza vaccine, visit www.cdc.gov/flu or call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).
This article is from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC)
Influenza Vaccination Rates for Nurses Need a Boost
With all the news coverage in the last few years of people scrambling to find a flu shot, it is interesting to note that not everyone recommended for annual vaccination and able to access it chooses to do so. Surprisingly, one such group that avoids flu shots is the people administering the vaccines. In fact, only 40 percent of all health care workers were vaccinated in 2003.[1]
Health care professionals–and nurses in particular–are key to preventing the spread of influenza, a debilitating and highly contagious respiratory infection. It is caused by a virus and leads to an average of approximately 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.[2] Because of their frequent and direct patient contact, nurses can spread the virus to patients in their care.[3] This is problematic for the many patients at high risk for influenza-related complications that could lead to hospitalizations and even death. Influenza can also be spread from one healthcare worker to another or from patient to healthcare worker. In an era of nursing shortages, understaffing and mandatory overtime, nurses do not want to burden their co-workers by taking sick days related to something as easily preventable as influenza.
The influenza vaccine remains the best way for nurses to protect themselves, their families and the patients in their care during the annual influenza epidemic. An annual intramuscular vaccination, the influenza vaccine is one of few immunizations that are recommended for all health care professionals, regardless of any special conditions such as pregnancy, HIV infection, severe immunosuppression, renal failure, asplenia, diabetes, and alcoholism/alcoholic cirrhosis.[4] Another option for most healthcare providers is the live intranasal influenza vaccine. This live vaccine is approved for use by healthy persons 5-49 years of age who are not pregnant and do not provide care for severely immune-compromised persons requiring care in a protected environment.
Since 1984, the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have recommended that health care professionals (inclusive of doctors, nurses and other staff who work directly with patients) receive an annual influenza vaccination. Because the vaccine is altered nearly every year to match the circulating strain and because immunity from the vaccine wanes over time, the vaccine must be given each year -- ideally in October or November.
Vaccine Myths Abound
Despite the established benefits of the influenza vaccine, however, several misconceptions exist in the nursing community. The most common myth is that the influenza vaccine can actually cause influenza. In reality, the vaccine cannot cause influenza. Some nurses also mistakenly believe that they are automatically immune to influenza or have stronger immune systems merely because they work around sick people every day. Because influenza viruses are constantly changing, past exposure to influenza will not provide protection against newly emerged strains.
Yet another misconception is that the side effects of the vaccine are worse than getting influenza itself. The truth is that the most serious side effect is an allergic reaction in people who have a severe allergy to eggs (the vaccine viruses are grown in eggs). For this reason, influenza vaccination is contraindicated for persons with an egg allergy. The most common side effects are redness at the injection site and a sore arm. These symptoms are mild and resolve in one to two days.
Finally, some people might argue that because the influenza vaccine is not 100 percent effective (it is 70-90 percent effective in healthy adults), they will get influenza anyway. Even if the vaccine does not prevent all individuals from getting influenza, they are still likely to be far less sick than they would have been without the shot. The vaccine also greatly reduces the chance of hospitalization and death. People at greatest risk for influenza-related complications include: people 65 years and older; residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities; people with chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular conditions; people with diabetes mellitus; and children less than two years of age.
Influenza 101
Although influenza is primarily spread by droplet transmission, the virus can also live on objects such as doorknobs, telephone receivers, utensils and food trays, beds and medical equipment for possibly up to one day. Some people infected with influenza may not develop symptoms at all, but may be infectious to others. For infected persons who do develop symptoms, they can be contagious the day before they get symptoms. So nurses can transmit the virus even before they realize they are infected. The period of greatest contagion is during the first three days of illness, and can last for five to seven days in otherwise healthy adults.
Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:
- Fever (usually high)
- Headache
- Tiredness (can be extreme)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Diarrhea and vomiting also can occur infrequently but are more common in children.
Nurses have long played a key role in preventing much influenza-related morbidity and mortality by ensuring that at-risk patients, particularly elderly patients and young children, are vaccinated against influenza every year. The time is long overdue for nurses to take care of themselves as well, and protect against the influenza virus by getting a vaccination.
For more information about influenza and the influenza vaccine, visit www.cdc.gov/flu or call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).
