Posted by yxibow on November 1, 2006, at 2:56:49
In reply to Re: Flu Shot » corafree, posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2006, at 21:41:29
> Not getting it this year. No pain and no side effects but just want no more foreign bodies in my body. Love Phillipa
40,000 people die of the flu every year, Jan, I must say. About the same as car accidents. Thousands of hours of lost time from the workforce is taken, and worse, people come in to work sick. If its anyone, its those 50-60 or older, and young children. Actually there is a surplus this year, surprise, because its an election year, one might think ? [off soapbox] But seriously, Jan, there are no foreign bodies to speak of. The flu is a killed vaccine unless you take FluMist which is not recommended for older individuals anyhow.
I would think your doctor would very much recommend the vaccine plus the pneumonia vaccine.
The risk of Guillain-Barre is over exxagerated at even in 1 in 100,000, which would mean that the 100 million or so units delivered this year would cause 100 cases. This really traces back to a 1970s era vaccine flaw.
The worst most people get is a sore shoulder, usually chosen the arm that they don't write with. You cannot get the flu from killed flu vaccine. People who do get the flu after a vaccine have already contracted it, this is not unheard of. It takes about a week for antibodies to build up.
One usually doesn't die of the flu alone, it is opportunistic infections in intensive care units that cause that. And the most common is pneumonia, hence the general idea for people around 60 or older to get the pneumonia shot as well.
-- tidings
Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:698845
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20060818/msgs/699504.html