Flu shots, anyone?

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you know, this year's flu is an absolute killer, literally. I'm not sure if it's already ripped through the States, but health professionals in Australia are talking as though it's a new strain so I guess it'll migrate as fast as it can!

Five children under six years of age have died of the flu in Australia in the last few weeks - one four year old here in my home city of Brisbane, last week - at the largest tertiary-care centre in the southern hemisphere. I've never heard of an Australian child dying of the flu in my lifetime, although I would imagine for some children who already have a chronic illness it might be deadly regardless of the year.

My husband and I were really busy this year and forgot to get vaccinated, and we've both just had it, along with - of course - our three-year-old twins, who basically got the flu for their birthday, last week. It's absolutely foul, it's left us physically wrecked and we've lost about $400 through having to take so much sick leave that some of it is unpaid. Our girls spiked high fevers and one of them still is. They've been sleeping for hours every afternoon then going to bed at their usual time - and these are the girls who wouldn't go down till 9, in the past, if they had a 20 minute daytime catnap!

In some of my classes at school, we're down to twelve students out of 25 or 26.

Sorry, don't mean to be a scaremonger, but honestly, if I had my time over again, I'd have been vaccinated against this one!

Tania

 

Thanks Tania. We usually do get our flu shot at our pedi's office. They run a flu clinic in October here. I hope you don't get it.

 

I hope that you and your family miss this and do not get it. I feel so bad for the people who have lost a loved one. They will be in our prayers.

 

Thats horrible, I feel for the families who have lost their children to this new strain. But getting a flu shot isn't going to keep this flu strain from spreading or will it keep people from getting it. If its a new strain they have to find a new vaccine for it, as it is the flu shot now doesn't protect you from all the strains of influenza out there.
My girls never received a flu shot last yr and they won't receive it this your.

 

oh this scares the you-know-what out of me. My son Archer has an egg allergy and the flu shot is egg-based. I just put a call into his allergist to discuss all of this. On top of it all - he is asthmatic with certain kinds of colds. He is having a cold/asthma episode right now. Last winter he as hospitalized for the 3rd time with Pneumonia and RSV. I can't imagine losing him.

 

Thanks for the heads up Tania!! We always get our shots!! There is NOTHING worse than having the FLU!! I'm sorry you were all so sick!! :hug99: I hope you heal quickly!!

You are headed into Spring, so things are looking up!!

 

QUOTE
We always get our shots!! There is NOTHING worse than having the FLU!!


Ditto!!

 

QUOTE(Trish_e @ Aug 7 2007, 02:26 PM) [snapback]360938[/snapback]
Thats horrible, I feel for the families who have lost their children to this new strain. But getting a flu shot isn't going to keep this flu strain from spreading or will it keep people from getting it. If its a new strain they have to find a new vaccine for it, as it is the flu shot now doesn't protect you from all the strains of influenza out there.
My girls never received a flu shot last yr and they won't receive it this your.



Your right, the flu shot that is out now is only aganist last years strain of flu, so even if you get the shot it is not going to "protect" you 100%. I feel awful for those families that lost children, but how do you know they didn't get the shot themselves?

My girls have never had a flu shot and never will (this year included).

 

My kids will get the shots again this year just like they have every other year. I will be getting it as well. Even though it won't protect against this strain, it will lesson the effect if one of us does catch it. I have asthma as well and so my allergist highly recommends it.

 

QUOTE(egoury @ Aug 9 2007, 08:05 PM) [snapback]363021[/snapback]
My kids will get the shots again this year just like they have every other year. I will be getting it as well. Even though it won't protect against this strain, it will lesson the effect if one of us does catch it. I have asthma as well and so my allergist highly recommends it.



I don't mean to sound snarky, but how will it lessen the effects if it is a totally different strain that you are vaccinated for?

I have heard of too many people never getting the flu and then deciding one year to get the vax and coming down with the worst flu they ever had. I had the flu (at least I think it was the flu, I never went to the dr for it) a couple of years ago and it was terrible but I was better within 4-5 days.

 

My boys have had all their shots and will cont. to get them. they also had 2 flu shots last year b/c it was the first you they were having them.

I should also be getting them b/c I have asthma but I have not had them in a few years.

I this they help a great deal!

 

QUOTE(LmSjt915 @ Aug 9 2007, 08:50 PM) [snapback]363110[/snapback]
I don't mean to sound snarky, but how will it lessen the effects if it is a totally different strain that you are vaccinated for?


The reason that it works is because even though the strains are different, there are some similarities between them, so the body is better able to recognize the germ, thus producing new antibodies faster and lessening the disease symptoms.

QUOTE(LmSjt915 @ Aug 9 2007, 08:50 PM) [snapback]363110[/snapback]
I have heard of too many people never getting the flu and then deciding one year to get the vax and coming down with the worst flu they ever had. I had the flu (at least I think it was the flu, I never went to the dr for it) a couple of years ago and it was terrible but I was better within 4-5 days.


Also, just an FYI...you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. The vaccine is an inactivated dead virus. The trouble lies in the fact that after the shot 1) you can feel a little run down and 'icky' for a few days after receiving it (like our little ones after they get their shots), the immune system is just gearing up and 2) it takes two weeks for the flu shot to become fully effective, so if you come into contact with the flu virus in the mean time, or before you received the shot (10-14 day incubation period) you can still get the flu. Also, the 'true' Influenza, not just a bad winter cold, can and usually lasts not days but weeks, really knocks people on their buts and kills 36,000 people in the United States every year.

ETA: I've gotten the flu shot almost every year for almost a decade now and have never had any ill effects, nor have I gotten the flu...working in the hospital or the clinic I'm in now...

 

Thanks for the heads up. We will all be getting our flu shot again this year. I have been getting the flu shot for the last 10 years. Eleven years ago I got the flu and it kicked my butt . I have never ever felt so bad in my life. Don't want to deal with that again.

 

QUOTE(Chillers @ Aug 10 2007, 12:19 AM) [snapback]363361[/snapback]
The reason that it works is because even though the strains are different, there are some similarities between them, so the body is better able to recognize the germ, thus producing new antibodies faster and lessening the disease symptoms.
Also, just an FYI...you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. The vaccine is an inactivated dead virus. The trouble lies in the fact that after the shot 1) you can feel a little run down and 'icky' for a few days after receiving it (like our little ones after they get their shots), the immune system is just gearing up and 2) it takes two weeks for the flu shot to become fully effective, so if you come into contact with the flu virus in the mean time, or before you received the shot (10-14 day incubation period) you can still get the flu. Also, the 'true' Influenza, not just a bad winter cold, can and usually lasts not days but weeks, really knocks people on their buts and kills 36,000 people in the United States every year.

ETA: I've gotten the flu shot almost every year for almost a decade now and have never had any ill effects, nor have I gotten the flu...working in the hospital or the clinic I'm in now...


Yes, it's inactivated (unless of course you get the flumist vaccine-that IS a live virus and sheds...) but it can weaken your immune system, making you more likely to catch something you might not have before.

 

We will all get flu shots again this year.

 

We get the flu shot every year and will continue to do so.

Tiffaney

 

QUOTE(LmSjt915 @ Aug 10 2007, 02:23 AM) [snapback]363507[/snapback]
Yes, it's inactivated (unless of course you get the flumist vaccine-that IS a live virus and sheds...)

True, forgot about Flumist which is only authorized for ages 5 - 49.

QUOTE(LmSjt915 @ Aug 10 2007, 02:23 AM) [snapback]363507[/snapback]
but it can weaken your immune system, making you more likely to catch something you might not have before.



Not trying to start a debate, but I really don't understand the above statement? Well, I understand the statement, but not the rationale behind it, I guess?

 

Thanks Chillers for explaining for me. You did a much better job than I could have.

 

Yes we will be getting it. In Colorado a few years ago 8 children died from the flu. Only 1 was innoculated. She was about 2 and it had only been a week since getting the shot so no time to kick in fully. I remember 1 child was an 11 year old boy and his mom was pleading on the news for everyone to get the shot and not make the mistake she did. Thats when I started getting the shots.

 

The companies that make the flu vaccine investigate what predominant strains of the flu were present the preceeding flu season. From that information they harvest those particular strains and make them into the oncoming seasons' vaccinations.
So if the oncoming season's strains mutate in any way, which viruses are known for doing you're not protected. If you're attacked by influenza strain A, and the vaccination was only comprised of influenza strain B, C and D then you're going to get sick with strain A.
I don't think some people realize this.
It is most certainly common for people who have recieved a flu shot to get sick with the flu anyway.
I don't discourage or encourage getting or not getting it. I think they're are many benefits for the elderly and chronically ill to recieve flu shots, but making one feel guilty because they don't vaccinate their healthy family against it is wrong IMO.

We live in Guam very close proximitrey to Australia's outbreak and it certainly is a scarry thought that such a heinous strain is out there. It's sad to hear families lost children. I certainly hope your children recover quickly.

 

QUOTE(EMc2 @ Aug 10 2007, 10:22 AM) [snapback]363948[/snapback]
The companies that make the flu vaccine investigate what predominant strains of the flu were present the preceeding flu season. From that information they harvest those particular strains and make them into the oncoming seasons' vaccinations.
So if the oncoming season's strains mutate in any way, which viruses are known for doing you're not protected. If you're attacked by influenza strain A, and the vaccination was only comprised of influenza strain B, C and D then you're going to get sick with strain A.
I don't think some people realize this.
It is most certainly common for people who have recieved a flu shot to get sick with the flu anyway.
I don't discourage or encourage getting or not getting it. I think they're are many benefits for the elderly and chronically ill to recieve flu shots, but making one feel guilty because they don't vaccinate their healthy family against it is wrong IMO.

We live in Guam very close proximitrey to Australia's outbreak and it certainly is a scarry thought that such a heinous strain is out there. It's sad to hear families lost children. I certainly hope your children recover quickly.

 

My girls have never and will never get a flu shot and I have never nor will I ever get a flu shot. I have never had a flu shot and I havent had the flu in many, many years. Its been so long, I cant even remember when I did have it!! I rarely ever get sick, even when I was working with the public..Heck I havent had a common cold in many years either. Good immune system I guess

 

Tania, dh and I get the flu injection every year but I haven't been able to find a doctor who will give it to children even though we are a family of asthmatics. I've asked about 4 or 5 different drs. They all said that they would perfer the child to develop its own immunity and something about if they don't they will be sicker as adults. I thought it was an Australian thing because I know that they do it in the USA. Perhaps I should ask again.

 

Thanks for the info.

Nobody in my family will be getting the shot.

 

No-one in our family will get it either.

This is one reason why:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles...t-vaccines.aspx

 

QUOTE
I had the flu (at least I think it was the flu, I never went to the dr for it) a couple of years ago and it was terrible but I was better within 4-5 days.


Just imagine how terrible it would be on infants and children then.

Something positive I wanted to add, in the Parents Magazine September issue on Page 43, there is an Autism Update, it reads:

"Here's more reassuring news that thimerosal, a preservative formely contained in many vaccines, doesn't cause autism. Before 2001, Rh immune globulin shots-which are given to pregnant women whose blood type might be incompatible with their baby's were made with thimerosal. A study from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that the mothers of autistic children were no more likely to have had the shots than other moms."

 

We will all be getting our flu shots and the girls will be getting synagis (RSV) shot as well this year. I requested my nieghbors kids who I watch all the time, get the shot too. Their mom already has to because she works in a hospital

 

QUOTE(KYsweetheart @ Aug 11 2007, 11:16 AM) [snapback]364891[/snapback]
Just imagine how terrible it would be on infants and children then.

Something positive I wanted to add, in the Parents Magazine September issue on Page 43, there is an Autism Update, it reads:

"Here's more reassuring news that thimerosal, a preservative formely contained in many vaccines, doesn't cause autism. Before 2001, Rh immune globulin shots-which are given to pregnant women whose blood type might be incompatible with their baby's were made with thimerosal. A study from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that the mothers of autistic children were no more likely to have had the shots than other moms."



I just saw that in my Parent's Magazine too Jamie.