Time to start thinking about preventing the flu!

[elizabethm]

Had the flu once in college and not since (been 20+ years). Isn't having natural antibodies better than having a flu shot? No flu shot here.

[Smee]

I am generally averse to the idea of over-medication and over-vaccination, but I get the flu shot yearly without fail now. I used to get soooo sick every year to the point of recommendations for hospitalization, but I still refused to get vaccinated because of my aversion to what I perceive as over-vaccination. This past winter season is the first time I've been that sick in many years where it used to be at least a yearly event. The flu shot has made a huge difference in how much time I spend on my back each year. If I did not get so sick so often and if the shot made no difference in it, I probably would not bother because I don't do "just because" vaccines or medications. I got mine as soon as it was available to me which was about two weeks ago.

[CW&M Mom]

Had the flu once in college and not since (been 20+ years). Isn't having natural antibodies better than having a flu shot? No flu shot here.

Well technically you only have antibodies for that exact strain of flu...which has been mutating for 20 years into a completely different strain of flu.

The way they do the flu shot...is they take the 3 strains they are seeing the most in the asian area...and they have those 3 strains be in the shot for the year.

Each year the flu shot changes.

the reason why H1n1 cause such a stir beyond that it was killing more children and pregnant woman than normal...is it started in Mexico not Asia and so we were ill prepared to deal with it being so close to us.

Alot of these flu's originate in animals...Swine flu...obviously swine.....bird flu is another one.

[lasab]

So I know this is an old thread....but...
My DS5 has the flu and its BAD. I always get him the shot because he has asthma and that makes him high risk but this year the shot must not have matched up with the strain. I took him to the Doc because his asthma and croup had both flared up and he had a fever of 103.8. Well, he had strep, an ear infection and tested positive for influenza B. I don't think I have ever seen him look worse than he does right now. Luckily we caught it early enough that he can go on Tamiflu. I hope none of you get it....this is miserable!

[CW&M Mom]

I just spoke with our pediatrician and she flat out said the flu shot does not seem to be as effective as normal this year....especially influenza A flu strains.

Your average flu shot is effective in only about 60% of the time (the person getting the flu shot produces titers for the strains of flu in the shot)....AND for children they must have the flu shot at least twice in a season the first time for it to work effectively.

I believe this year there is flu B, h1n1 and one other strain of A.

Hope your son feels better soon! We are scared to death of flu over here!