No more flu shots for me.

[Jack Sprat]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Odin2005 (a host of the General Discussion forum).

It's been years since taking a flu shot, knowing the last flu shot resulted in an immediate flu. Maybe because a number of years had past and assurances that the new vaccines contain no live influenza, I decided upon receiving another flu shot last Wednesday. The following day, the symptoms of cold and chills became present. Now on Sunday night, I have a full-blown severe cold and possibly the flu.

I know that many swear by regularly taking the flu shot. However, there are still some of us who cannot take the shot without developing severe colds if not flu. I will be making an appt tomorrow to find out how severe this cold is and hoping for antibiotics to help me recover from my final flu shot ever.

[ret5hd]

1. you know antibiotics do nothing to virii, right?

[quakerboy]

16. We dont know that for certain

They may provide a pleasant tingle or something...

[TwilightGardener]

2. Colds and flu--two completely different viruses that cause different illnesses, and neither respond

to antibiotics unless there's a secondary BACTERIAL infection at play. The flu shot CANNOT give you a cold. A cold does not lead to flu.

[Lionessa]

3. The flu is a virus as is a cold, anti-biotics won't help either. Be suspect of a Dr. who prescribes

them for such. Now if you have an infection, upper respiratory type or sinus, then probably okay. But taking anti-biotics for viruses is useless, M&Ms will work just as well and be more enjoyable.

[northoftheborder]

4. Sorry for your illness due to the flu shot.

I have had the opposite experience. I have had the flu numerous times in my life (before the shots) and was very ill each time. Since getting the shots, I have not had one single case of flu. So I really believe in them for myself. My only reaction is a slightly sore arm, and perhaps a little fatigue and low fever for a day.

[phylny]

5. I am on the fence myself.

I always get a "mild" case of the flu after the vaccine, and since I am off on Fridays, that's when I make an appointment to get my shot, and then that means that by Saturday I'm sick and I've blown my whole weekend. I haven't gotten it yet, even though my doctor recommended it (I'm a pediatric speech-language pathologist, and I'm bombarded every day with germs, plus the last two times I've had bronchitis, I've needed an inhaler and prednisone to breathe again).

Enough about me. I hope you feel better very soon.

[Jack Sprat]

12. Thank you.

I am so tired of hearing people insist this shot is harmless. It couldn't be mere coincidence that some immune systems are immediately impacted by the shot and symptoms of severe cold follow. I think the shot is great for those who have good luck with it, but there is a percentage of us who just can't abide this shot from repeated experiences.

[uppityperson]

22. It is possible you react to the shot. However...

You can not get the disease from a dead virus and you can very much not get a different disease from the dead influenza virus.

[uppityperson]

6. You can not get influenza from the dead virus in the shot

The virus is dead. You are not exposed to a live virus that can cause the flu. You can have a reaction to the shot though.

You say you get vaccinated with a dead virus for one disease, then come down with a disease caused by a different virus so you think the vaccine didn't work? Or what? Gave you a different disease?

Another point. Colds and influenza are caused by viruses. Antibiotics work on bacteria. They do not kill viruses. Antibiotics are useless if you have a virus.

Please spend some time listening to the doctor and nurse that see you. Please.

[tammywammy]

13. +1, good post. n/t

[Harmony Blue]

26. This is not completely true

Just because the Flu shot is an R strain doesn't mean you can't obtain a live virus. You can have a dead S strain in your body but if the genetic material of the S strain is mixed with the neutralized R strain it can become a live S strain.

This was a huge breakthrough in DNA research in 1928 by Avery, McLeod, and McCarty but they did this study with bacteria but this applies to viruses as well.

[uppityperson]

29. that is true. You can not get the strain of influenza from the dead vaccine of that strain

some yrs they miss the type that comes out, some yrs they manage to hit the types that come around. However, you can NOT get influenza from a dead vaccine. That is true.

[MoonRiver]

7. I've been flu free for 2 years, thanks to the shots.

The year before that I had a flu that kept me down for 2 weeks. Coughed for weeks after that. Some people do get side effects, so I can't fault you for stopping the shots.

[iris27]

8. Sometimes a person's reaction to a vaccine can be pretty intense. I'm sorry you're sick.

But if it's been several days, antivirals won't help, and antibiotics definitely won't help unless you end up with a secondary infection.

[Texasgal]

9. The flu shot

does not give you influenza. It's dead.

Perhaps you have some sensitivity to the shot. You do not have the flu due to the treatment however.

[GoCubsGo]

15. It could also have been a different strain.

The year's vaccine is based on the strains epidemiologists determine will likely be the most prevalent that year. It doesn't cover all strains of influenza.

[Texasgal]

17. This is true

However the shot itself is free from influenza. It's dead.

Perhaps the issue is sensitivity, it's not the flu though.

[Jack Sprat]

20. Oh, I hear you. Based on my experience,

I just don't believe you. Except the part where you indicate that I might have a sensitivity to the shot. I do believe that is possible. I felt great just prior to the shot, but fell ill the day following the shot. There is no coincidence with this in my mind.

I'm not arguing with anyone over this. Flu shots are great for everyone, but not for everyone.

[Texasgal]

25. I understand your hesitation

I am an RN. I have given literally thousands of flu shots.

People sometimes equate the "flu" with a "cold" They are very different.

It could be very possible that you had a sensitive reaction to the shot, but really... it's not influenza. It's dead. You could be sensitive and react to a "cold" which is entirely possible.

I understand your concern about the shot, I've had them too. I refused my shot many years ago at my place of employment. Just know that you most likely had a cold and not influenza. Still makes you feel crappy!

[quakerboy]

33. My understanding

Is that vaccines can be either a dead version or an extremely weakened version.

Also, if you already have some super mild form of the flu, they can recombine and then you end up with a live and virulent form.

And then, depending on your immune sensitivity, most of the symptoms are actually due to your immune response rather than any actual viral infestation. So the flu shot can set your body into "fight flu" mode. Which is what its designed to do. But some of our bodies take it into overdrive, making it hard to justify it to avoid the later potential symptoms.

[uppityperson]

36. the shot is dead virus, the nasal spray weakened but live virus.

[obamanut2012]

10. You cannot get the flu from a dead-virus flu shot

You also can't get a cold from one, as a cold and flu are different, nor can you get the flu from a cold.

Do NOT get antibiotics for this! All they'll do is make it harder for antibiotics to work when you do have an infection.

[FarLeftFist]

11. I'm FOR vaccinations, especially for children, but here's a secret...

I've NEVER in my life received a flu shot and I've NEVER once in my life have gotten the flu. I've been sick, rarely, but never had the flu. And I work outdoors in the blazing heat and the freezing cold.

[uppityperson]

14. Working outdoors rather than inside is probably keeping you healthy

being inside with a lot of people spreading germs around is not healthy. Being away from people, outside in fresh air will help keep you healthy.

[GoCubsGo]

18. Exacty right.

Blazing heat and freezing cold don't cause colds or the flu. Viruses do. And, viruses spread far more rapidly indoors, where people are concentrated, and where they breathe the same air over and over, and touch all the same items over and over.

[FarLeftFist]

23. True, my mother who was a nurse (retired now) always said the cold doesn't make you sick...

A virus does.

[unkachuck]

19. "...last flu shot resulted in an immediate flu."

....all I've ever gotten was a sore arm from a flu shot....like others have said, the 'juice' is supposed to be dead....

....the guy who gave me my last shot said the shot could also help moderate colds/flues 'similar' to the ones the vaccine was developed....who knows, it's all voodoo to me....

[enough]

21. A couple weeks ago I got my flu shot. My athletic macho husband (never sick, never goes

to the doctor, would never get a flu shot to save his soul) came down with a horrendous flu two days later. He was so sick that he forgot to remember that he never stops moving, never stops working, etc. He was in bed out cold for three days and then sick standing up for three more days after that. It was without a doubt the worst illness he's had in years (we're 67). I went through the entire thing without getting sick at all. Before I started getting the shot (three years ago) I was spending a couple of weeks every winter with flu sick in bed expecting to die any minute.

This may be an age thing, but I get my shot like a docile good citizen every year.

[The Wielding Truth]

32. My last flu shot put me out on the couch for three days I hardy moved. I haven't had one since.

[RebelOne]

24. Never had flu shot and never will.

I do not like needles and will take my chances. I had a mild case of the flu 10 years ago, but have not had any problems since. I have a very good immune system.

[Harmony Blue]

27. Annual Flu shots are only important

if you are 60 years or older IMVHO.

[REP]

35. Not quite: those with chronic illness, asthma, live with someone with asthma/chronic illness

Not just those who are over 60 should get the flu vaccine. There are many to whom the flu could be quite dangerous.

[uppityperson]

37. And those of us who are in frequent contact (living or working with) people in those categories.

Odd, seems we can type more in subject line on du3 than 2

[SeattleVet]

28. Many people who get sick within a day or two of getting a flu shot would have probably

gotten sick anyway without the immunization. That is, they had already been exposed, the flu was in its incubation period, and the shot had absolutely nothing to do with it. Had they gotten the shot a couple of weeks before they may not have gotten sick at all.

[a la izquierda]

30. Once I got the flu shot...

and had a 102 fever by the end of the day. I was sick as a dog, cancelled my flight to California the next day, and after about 36 hours, felt strangely fine. It was so odd.
This year, I got the flu shot, and nothing happened. That's been my luck more often than not. However, it is very rare that I get ill.
I'm sorry you're feeling so badly.

[applegrove]

31. When I was a smoker I used to need the flu shot. It really worked for me. Now that

I don't smoke, I don't get colds as often, so I don't need the flu shot. Could also be I'm also not dealing with the public as much. H1N1 was the last shot I got.

[FirstLight]

34. damn skippy

I only had one last year by doc's reccomendation since i take a narly medication that screws up your immune system. but i got sick and seemed to be less able to fight anything off the rest of the winter.

this year, we have had a mild sniffle but otherwise, me and the kids have had NO illness since school started!!!

[Odin2005]

38. Locking. This belongs in Health