Flu jabs

ThePrettyDamned · November 2018

not_the_dj said:

TheMarlin said:

Plus, a lot of people get flu from the jab itself.

Do they really?

No, this is a myth, the strain in the jab is totally inactive.

prowla · November 2018

I've had them for the past few years; this year's one took me out for a day and made my arm hurt too.

ThePrettyDamned · November 2018

I had one this year courtesy of work, it was fine. Actually last year I had a bit of a reaction and caught flu anyway - it was I was the news that an unexpected mutation had occurred I think.

Nitefly · November 2018

octatonic said:

Emp_Fab said:

Your offer isn’t acceptable I’m sorry. The cost for that premium level abuse package is £650,000.

I do have options more suited to your budget however.. for £1,000 you can pinch my nipples really hard, throw a dart at my leg or hit me across the head with a baking tray.

I believe we have an accord...

Are you guys selling tickets for this? TV rights?

menamestom · November 2018

ThePrettyDamned said:

not_the_dj said:

TheMarlin said:

Plus, a lot of people get flu from the jab itself.

Do they really?

No, this is a myth, the strain in the jab is totally inactive.

Exactly. It's to produce an immune response close to what would be required if a live virus were encountered. The immune system remembers the response and starts the fight on the front foot. But the virus can change, it's not a static target, so the vaccine is not a cover all defensive mechanism. It's reducing your chances of catching the flu, which is a good thing, especially if you have any conditions which could make the flu much more dangerous.

axisus · November 2018

strtdv said:

On a more cheerful note, we are overdue a flu pandemic and it won't be 80 year olds that die, it'll be 20 year olds

Phew! just turned 21.

Grunfeld · November 2018

TheMarlin said:

Still wouldn’t take a flu jab. Bewilders me why people do.
Plus, a lot of people get flu from the jab itself.

(1) I want to repeat the important point which has already been made: no, you cannot get 'flu from the 'flu jab. This is a myth and a frustratingly persistent one.

And I think it persists because of:

(2) People just have no idea about how science actually works. I'm not saying they're stupid because they may well know lots of other really useful information but... they just don't get science.

Reverend · November 2018

When thinking that the flu is not all that serious, it is worth remembering the late great Jase of this Parish.

richh · November 2018

I had my jab about an hour ago, no effects so far, but one thing I didn't know - they said the jab takes 2 to 3 weeks to become effective!

That's a slight concern, don't know if you were aware of this? So shaking hands and so on is going to freak me out - some people still virtually insist on this kind of thing unfortunately in a work context.

Jalapeno · November 2018

Lest we forget - it was Swine Flu that took Jase from us .......

Influenza is not a heavy cold, it is facking serious stuff. Only time I had a proper dose of 'flu (as opposed to seasonal man-flu) I was off work for a fortnight and lost half a stone, I looked like a corpse at the end of it !

Emp_Fab · November 2018

Thankfully I've never had flu. I just wish they could do something with the vaccine to reduce the side effects.

It's funny how some here don't seem to be affected by it but others get hit bad - when it's the same vaccine we're having.

Gagaryn · November 2018

TheMarlin said:

I have autoimmune issues. Still wouldn’t take a flu jab. Bewilders me why people do. It only protects against one straIn of flu. Scientists guess which Asian flu may come to the UK, and that’s what you get.
Should that particular flu be the one the UK and hits hard, then the jab only gives you an extra half day recovery time. You’ll still get the flu. Plus, a lot of people get flu from the jab itself.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/scientists-urge-ministers-tell-truth-on-over-hyped-flu-vaccine-8336184.html

I also have autoimmune issues. I get the flu jab.

You are bewildered as to why people choose to do so because you are misinformed.

The risk of pandemic flu is remarkably high and a lot of time and money is put in to mitigate against that risk - it is not guesswork.

The flu jab is tailored each year to protect against those strains that present the highest risk. Strains. Plural - this year there are three distinct vaccinations, two protect against four strains and one protects against three. Which one you get is dependent on a number of factors - but predominantly age. Only one of these is live - the nasal spray given predominatly to kids.

Feel free to choose not to have it, but make sure you understand why you are doing so. Sharing an opinion is one thing but giving out incorrect infomation is irresponsible. These vaccinations are important - literally life and death to some people. To imply that the only benefit the vaccination gives is a half day quicker recovery is ridiculous.

CHRISB50 · November 2018

Emp_Fab said:

Thankfully I've never had flu. I just wish they could do something with the vaccine to reduce the side effects.

It's funny how some here don't seem to be affected by it but others get hit bad - when it's the same vaccine we're having.

You might also find some of the side effects are caused by people differing in their tolerance of eggs. The vaccine is produced from chicken eggs.

I love eggs, but they don't do my stomach much good. I end up farting a lot and feel bloated when I eat them. It's an extremely mild allergic reaction (I've discussed it with a specialist), but still an allergic reaction. Egg tolerance isn't great in humans apparently.

ToneControl · November 2018

TheMarlin said:

I have autoimmune issues. Still wouldn’t take a flu jab. Bewilders me why people do. It only protects against one straIn of flu. Scientists guess which Asian flu may come to the UK, and that’s what you get.
Should that particular flu be the one the UK and hits hard, then the jab only gives you an extra half day recovery time. You’ll still get the flu. Plus, a lot of people get flu from the jab itself.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/scientists-urge-ministers-tell-truth-on-over-hyped-flu-vaccine-8336184.html

I have no idea why people think this way
Almost every point you make is factually incorrect

My GP specifically gives free flu jabs to any people who have autoimmune disorders. I assume that's evidence-based medicine. What evidence do you have that the NHS is wrong on this?

The jab has 3 or 4 strains, not one as you state. Not just ones from Asia either.
It protects against more than that number, since many strains are related

you have misquoted / misinterpreted the article you link to

A 2010 review by the highly respected Cochrane Collaboration, an international network of experts, concluded that the vaccine had little impact in years, like the winter of 2011-12, when the vaccine and the viruses were mismatched.
On average, flu vaccine shortened the illness by about half a day but did not reduce the number of people hospitalised, it said.

this means that in the event of a year when the selection of strains was WRONG (i.e. a strain becomes common but it's not in the vaccine), you only get half a day's improvement in recovery time. When the strain selection is CORRECT (i.e. most of the time) you DON'T GET FLU

Also nobody gets flu from tha jab, you can't.

Philly_Q · November 2018

I get the flu jab because I'm type 2 diabetic and they recommend it. I never have any side effects.

Schnozz · November 2018

When I have one, I get the flu.

When I don't have one, I get the flu.

For convenience I now choose the latter.

Emp_Fab · November 2018

That's because you're getting colds, not flu.

menamestom · November 2018

Schnozz said:

When I have one, I get the flu.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc?

Or just bad luck?

Gagaryn · November 2018

menamestom said:

Schnozz said:

When I have one, I get the flu.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc?

Or just bad luck?

I prefer correlation is not causation.

west · November 2018

https://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k15/rr

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