Isn't the flu shot sort of a scientific crapshoot? Because who knows what strain will be making the rounds in your area that year? I can kinda see why flu woulnd't be high on the MUST HAVE list..
It really bugs when people call the flu shot a "crapshoot." Yes, the WHO, the CDC, and the FDA just pick a virus name out of a hat.
No, but it's still a crapshoot. Really, go and learn a little about basic biology before presenting yourself as an expert. Paul Offitt is doing a coursera course you could benefit from.
No, because the risk for complications from the flu is based on your general health and pre-existing conditions, like age, asthma, smoking, probably diabetes.
Your risk of being in a car accident isn't influenced by your driving history? Someone who's been in 10 accidents in the past 5 years isn't more likely to get into another one? Someone who just started driving last week isn't more likely to be in an accident? Where you live and drive doesn't impact your risk?
I guess if I am generally a good driver or healthy I will remain that way. My driving record will be influenced by those around me, but I will continue to drive. My risk for getting the flu is there, but apparently I like to live on the edge.
Isn't the flu shot sort of a scientific crapshoot? Because who knows what strain will be making the rounds in your area that year? I can kinda see why flu woulnd't be high on the MUST HAVE list..
Yeah, it's not a great vaccine, there's no need for a healthy non-geriatric adult in a not-required profession to get it.
Healthy adults gettin the vaccine is an American thing
It's a actually scientifically based best estimate as to which strains will occur, and they're generally spot on (from what I recall, they've only been wrong a handful of times).
As for why it's important, (a) getting the flu, even without complications, is the fucking SUUUUCK. (b) The amt of productivity lost due to missed days of work, etc. from the flu is ridiculous; and (c) HERD IMMUNITY peoples. There are lots of people out there who can't get the flu shot (just like there are lots who can't get vaccines in general), so by getting it, your helping to protect others.
It's a actually scientifically based best estimate as to which strains will occur, and they're generally spot on (from what I recall, they've only been wrong a handful of times).
As for why it's important, (a) getting the flu, even without complications, is the fucking SUUUUCK. (b) The amt of productivity lost due to missed days of work, etc. from the flu is ridiculous; and (c) HERD IMMUNITY peoples. There are lots of people out there who can't get the flu shot (just like there are lots who can't get vaccines in general), so by getting it, your helping to protect others.
Or we could appriciate everyone else getting it and be fairly safe that way. Isn't there a possiblity that you can contract the flu by getting the shot?
The flu vaccine is not a crapshoot. I wish epphd were here to explain more fully, but trust, not a crapshoot.
The past two years have been the same or similar vaccines. This year it is for a very different strain, so its important to get it if you havent already. This is what my mom does. She's kind of an expert, maybe not enough for Knitty, but enough for places like NIH and Hopkins. When she says to get the damn flu shot, I get it.
Your risk of being in a car accident isn't influenced by your driving history? Someone who's been in 10 accidents in the past 5 years isn't more likely to get into another one? Someone who just started driving last week isn't more likely to be in an accident? Where you live and drive doesn't impact your risk?
I guess if I am generally a good driver or healthy I will remain that way. My driving record will be influenced by those around me, but I will continue to drive. My risk for getting the flu is there, but apparently I like to live on the edge.
The flu vaccine is not a crapshoot. I wish epphd were here to explain more fully, but trust, not a crapshoot.
The past two years have been the same or similar vaccines. This year it is for a very different strain, so its important to get it if you havent already. This is what my mom does. She's kind of an expert, maybe not enough for Knitty, but enough for places like NIH and Hopkins. When she says to get the damn flu shot, I get it.
I wish we were friends IRL so you could talk to my MIL and FIL. They have decided that since they had a reaction to the H1n1 vaccine (my FIL thinks he developed an allergy to gluten from it....yes, gluten) that they shouldnt get them.
I suggested since they have a 7-month old grandson they should, but what do i know!
Hell, DH wont get it either. I got it, as did my son.
If anyone wants to send me links about the importance of the flu vaccine, I'd love to forward to MIL, FIL and DH.
I guess if I am generally a good driver or healthy I will remain that way. My driving record will be influenced by those around me, but I will continue to drive. My risk for getting the flu is there, but apparently I like to live on the edge.
So you don't wear a seatbelt?
Sure I do. But relate that to the flu. That is like eating right and washing my hands.
Post by basilosaurus on Dec 12, 2012 15:32:58 GMT -5
I'm pretty damn sure Paul Offit isn't arguing that making the flu vax is a crapshoot given that he's actually developed a vaccine.
The basics of how they estimate the strain(s) expected to show up each year have to do with studying animals (it usually goes from avian to porcine and then to human, so they can predict based on the history of animal populations) and looking at the southern hemisphere during their flu season.
I'm generally healthy. I want to stay that way. Hence, vaccine.
No, but it's still a crapshoot. Really, go and learn a little about basic biology before presenting yourself as an expert. Paul Offitt is doing a coursera course you could benefit from.
OMG fucking lol.
I am not going to lie I got gleeful. I wish you would have said more Toledo.
No, because the risk for complications from the flu is based on your general health and pre-existing conditions, like age, asthma, smoking, probably diabetes.
Your risk of being in a car accident isn't influenced by your driving history? Someone who's been in 10 accidents in the past 5 years isn't more likely to get into another one? Someone who just started driving last week isn't more likely to be in an accident? Where you live and drive doesn't impact your risk?
But your analogy talked about a good driver, not one who has been in previous accidents.
Your risk of being in a car accident isn't influenced by your driving history? Someone who's been in 10 accidents in the past 5 years isn't more likely to get into another one? Someone who just started driving last week isn't more likely to be in an accident? Where you live and drive doesn't impact your risk?
But your analogy talked about a good driver, not one who has been in previous accidents.
Right. A healthy person is like a good driver. An elderly or sickly person is a poor driver. The latter has a higher chance of getting into an accident than the former, but that doesn't mean the former shouldn't wear a seatbelt.
Post by basilosaurus on Dec 12, 2012 18:54:43 GMT -5
Also, good drivers can still be hit by bad drivers. Just like generally healthy people can still get sick when exposed. The more people who are vaccinated, the less exposure there will be.
It really bugs when people call the flu shot a "crapshoot." Yes, the WHO, the CDC, and the FDA just pick a virus name out of a hat.
No, but it's still a crapshoot. Really, go and learn a little about basic biology before presenting yourself as an expert. Paul Offitt is doing a coursera course you could benefit from.
I did take Paul Offitt's coursera class on vaccinations. I don't recall a lecture about the flu vaccine being a crapshoot.
I don't put flu shots in the same category as other vaccinations. I could give a crap if DD goes to school with a room ful of kids who didn't get the flu shot. But I would be concerned if they didn't have Dtap, MMR and other shots required for school attendance in most places.
Research begun in the 1950s has shown that when we recover from childhood chickenpox infections, the virus that causes the infection, varicella zoster virus, remains latent in nerve cells.
What causes reactivation of the virus is unclear, but as we age, experts believe the immune responses that keep varicella zoster virus dormant in the nerves weaken with age. One in three people will get shingles during their lifetime, and at least half of all people 85 and older have had the ailment.
ETA: Obviously I'm not picksthemusic, but I'm guessing that's what she meant.
It's not what she said, though. She said there's a different risk for shingles with wild type and vaccine strains. Which I didn't think had been decided yet, hence the request for a citation.
Ah, I must have missed an edit or something because all I read was: