Flu shots worthless?

I agree with you. There are so many strains of Flu it is really a crapshoot on whether the shot will protect you. I stopped getting flu shots a few years ago after getting sick immediately after being injected. I'll never know if I reacted badly to the shot itself or if I had been exposed to the virus already - but I do know I haven't been saddled with a serious case of the Flu since.

sure, fine, whatever

I believe flu shots are worth it. My family has been getting them for 10+ years and we continue to remain healthy throughout the flu season. We pay for them out of pocket and I think it is a great investment. Now - will we get the flu at some point. I know we will but hopefully the effects will be minimized.

Mom of teenage boys!

i don't know if it's such a waste, me, my husband and two kids got the shot this year, my husband fell victim to the flu after the shot but not me and my kids, so i think for us it was worth it, i feel bad it didn't do anything for him =(

xoxo

I am up in the air. I've gotten them some years and not others and I feel we are equally sick. This was a horrid year for our family. We all got influenza--some of us twice. It was awful. But, only my baby got the flu shot this year. I may give it a try for all of us next year.

Brooke Romney is an unbalanced mom of three young boys who constantly has too much to do, and too little time. She writes the Mom Beat column for The Gilbert Republic.

I think they are a total waste of time.. The shots that they come out with now are not even for the current strain. Plus you have to be very careful about which flu shots you give your kids.. Most of them contain thimerosal and that is what so many people are concerned about when it comes to vacs.. I think there is only one safe one and it's hard to find...

Influenza vaccines containing full strength thimerosal:

Fluzone multi-dose vial
Manufacturer: Sanofi Pasteur
Age: 6 months +
FULL STRENGTH THIMEROSAL

Of the 60 million doses of single and multi-dose Fluzone vaccine, only 6-8 million will be truly thimerosal free single dose vials. Fluzone (single dose) is the only truly thimerosal free inactivated flu vaccine. As you can see, supply is very limited. Medimmune makes a truly thimerosal free version called FluMist, however, this is a live vax and indicated for children/adults 5 years and older.

Fluvirin multi-dose vial
Manufacturer: Chiron
Age: 4 years +
FULL STRENGTH THIMEROSAL
Of the approximately 18-26 million doses, a minimal number of thimerosal free doses might be available late in the season. What they mean by "minimal" is anyone's guess and they might not even have it in time.

Influenza vaccines containing trace amounts:

Fluvirin single dose vial
Manufacturer: Chiron
Age: 4 years +
Contains "trace" amounts of thimerosal, but advertised as thimerosal free

Fluvarix single dose vial
Manufacturer: Glaxo Smith Kline
Age: Adults 18 years +
Contains "trace" amounts of thimerosal, but advertised as thimerosal free
On a side note: The vaccines containing trace amounts are indicated for children 4 years and above and children under 5 years cannot use the live FluMist. Therefore, only 6-8 million doses of thimerosal free vaccines will be available for children unless your ped is literally lucky enough to get his hands on a portion of that 6-8 million Fluzone. :irked:

Flu shots are worth it for my family and I. This year was the first time I fell victim to one of the strains that the flu shot did not cover. I will still get my annual flu shots no matter what. My husband HAS to have flu shots annually ever since he went into septic shock from MRSA back in 2006.

Another thing - there has been an increase of cases in infants and toddlers who did not get a flu shot getting the flu AND MRSA pneumonia.

I am NOT taking any chance with my little girls NOT getting the annual flu shot.

snip from cdc.gov

**Bacterial infections can occur as co-infections with influenza or occur following influenza infection. Last year, CDC noted an increase in flu and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) co-infections among children who had died or were hospitalized with influenza infection. Some of those infections were with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). CDC is working with state and local public health authorities to monitor and investigate flu-S. aureus co-infections, including pneumonias and other types of S. aureus infections. On January 30, 2008 CDC issued a Health Advisory on Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality and Staphylococcus aureus co-infection. For more information about flu and staph infections visit Seasonal Flu and Staph Infection.

Vaccination remains the best method for preventing flu and its potentially severe secondary complications. Influenza antiviral medications are also available for the treatment of influenza. For more information about treatment, visit Treatment and Prevention: Influenza Antiviral Drugs.**

H~

H~

My family has never had a flu shot and we have never gotten the flu. Because I am pre-diabetic, my doc always wants to give me a flu shot, but I say no, and stick with the natural immune builders like goldenseal, echinacea and oil of oregano. It's worked for us. My kids are 11 and 19 and when they even start to show signs of a cold or something they take it and it has prevented them from catching a cold or flu, and we don't have to worry about side effects or any of the these meds causing lasting problems later on..
I think the flu shots are a waste of money.

" just my Opinion"

It's important to remember that the flu vaccine may not keep you from getting the flu, but it is likely to keep you from DYING from the flu. That in itself is worth the trouble for you and your kids. The vaccine is made from killed virus. My family has had flu shots every year and in the past 8 years only 2 cases of flu. Here's a copy of a post I wrote in response to another flu question last week:

The flu vaccine is manufactured every year for the following year, based on what they expect the strains of flu to be. This year they missed the mark, and it takes too long to "grow" the vaccine to produce more supply in time to be helpful for the populations at most risk. (Vaccines are manufactured from killed live virus). It can also take several weeks for the vaccine to be effective once you have the shot. If you got a flu shot this past season and still got the flu (like me and my daughter did) chances are you probably got a much milder case of flu, and you would be very unlikely to die from complications. By getting a flu shot every year, you also retain some protection against previous flu strains.

Susan & Neil Hampton have three spectacular children, Alexander, Isabel and David, plus one amazing teenager, Eric. Susan does community outreach for arizonamoms.com.
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” - Margaret Atwood

The problem with trying to vaccinate a virus is that it's a virus. The strains of DNA found in Viruses are so complex, and viruses have the ability to adapt to new environments. They morph they change to meet new hosts. That is why it's rough to vaccinate against. Hence the reason there is no AIDS cure. Flu shots can stop the duration so I've heard, but lets hope you have the right one. I have my young daugther get them, but I haven't had the flu or the vaccine in years. Good luck.

Lisa - Mom to her spunky little Scarlette

it's a (inappropriate term) shoot. They pick and choose each year what strains they feel will be most prevalent and hope for the best. This year one of the more active strains was not in the vaccine hence it's uselessness for a lot of people. However, sometimes they get it right. So it's up to you whether you think it's worth the time.