Post by sunshineluv on Jan 12, 2013 7:48:26 GMT -5
Ok smart people, help me out. Does the flu shot decrease the severity of the flu if you do get the flu? Or is that a myth, much like the myth that some people get the flu from the vaccine?
And I wish the news would tell the stats on the number of flu deaths, how many of them had the vaccine.
Gah, I used to not worry about germs and such, but my boy has RSV, and his fifth ear infection, tubes will likely be next. Babies change everything.
I just saw last night that if you get the vaccine you are something like 60 - 70% protected against getting the flu. Of course, people still get the flu even though they are vaccinated but it there is much less probability.
The flu vaccine protects you against 3 different strains of the flu. If you are exposed to one of those three strains you are 60-70% less likely to develop symptoms, as stated. If you are part of the 30-40% who catch one of those strains your symptoms will be less severe with the vaccine. However, there are literally hundreds of flu strains. Sconce the vaccine only protects against three strains, you can still get a flu strain that was not included in the vaccine.
Post by punkyjulster on Jan 12, 2013 9:02:59 GMT -5
The vaccine lessens the severity but does not completely prevent. The shot does not contain live virus so it cannot give you the flu. The FluMist contains a weaken live virus and MAY cause some flulike symptoms but its not likely.
A few years I caught H1N1 the day before my office got the vaccines and I felt like I was going to die! I'm all for doing anything to not go through that again.
The flu vaccine protects you against 3 different strains of the flu. If you are exposed to one of those three strains you are 60-70% less likely to develop symptoms, as stated. If you are part of the 30-40% who catch one of those strains your symptoms will be less severe with the vaccine. However, there are literally hundreds of flu strains. Sconce the vaccine only protects against three strains, you can still get a flu strain that was not included in the vaccine.
It's worth noting that of the two strains going around in this year's epidemic, *both* are in this year's vaccine, in addition to H1N1.
ETA: I always get the vaccine, usually the mist. It was more important to me than ever before this year, because I can't get sick with two babies to care for.
The flu hit our house. The kids were vaccinated in Sept (DD's 2nd dose in Oct), I was Oct, DH was 1/2/13. Undetermined if DD had the flu, fever of 100.2, snotty, sneezing. She is cutting 4 top teeth and has an ear infection. I got hit by the train Tuesday. Fever 103, body aches, cough. Tamiflu started Tuesday. Quarantined from the kids, masks, handwashing, etc. DS got hit Wednesday night, fever 103.9, snotty, coughing, aches (just cried hurt, hurt, I hurt mommy). DH got hit by a "car" in comparison, fever 99.8....(yeah no real fever), snotty, coughing, aches.
My fever broke Thursday, DS's broke Friday. The high 103 lasted 2 days. DS didn't get below 100.9 until last night.
I had Tamiflu which is to decrease it by a day, DS didn't and we seem to be at the same points at the same time. It could be much worse. We will always get the flu shot. This is a bad year.
ETA: I have strain A, its in the vaccine as Ernie said