General Discussion

Motown_Johnny

(22,308 posts)

141. The gun debate convinced me to get a flu shot

Thu Jan 17, 2013, 12:50 PM

Jan 2013

I never get flu shots and I have only had the flu twice in my life ( I am pushing 50 ). As a rule I don't worry about it because I am not high risk and I figure the shot can go to someone more needing. If the vaccine was in short supply I still might have skipped it but since it is so late in the season and there seems to still be a reasonable supply I went ahead and got one.

The gun debate made me rethink this a bit. The people who are killed from this disease are catching it from someone, who caught it from someone else.. and so on and so on...

If my dropping $31.99 and getting a flu shot breaks that chain so that I don't pass the flu onto others, then it was worth it. Maybe not for me directly but for the people who are higher risk that are somewhere down that chain. I will never know if I prevented others from getting sick but I did lower the probability of others getting the flu. That is the best I can do so I did it.

I hope others who have not gotten a shot consider this line of thinking and ask themselves if getting the shot is worth it to help protect others.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

172 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Flu Shots... [View all] Agschmid Jan 2013 OP

Big break out in NC, covered by our insurance, no charge, took 5 min..why not? NRaleighLiberal Jan 2013 #1

Yah I am pretty sure I am going now, maybe Wegman's does it? Agschmid Jan 2013 #2

I got mine at Walgreens. n/t NRaleighLiberal Jan 2013 #4

They don't always prevent the flu. Or, WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2013 #3

you do know a cold and the flu are not the same thing Skittles Jan 2013 #6

One would hope since I feel they may be involved with either Agschmid Jan 2013 #8

Oh, Skittles. WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2013 #14

They do for me. Haven't had the flu since I started getting the vaccine. If you had the shot on uppityperson Jan 2013 #27

bingo! WolverineDG Jan 2013 #62

Aches, chills, temperature pushing 102... WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2013 #100

Quite frankly, I think I was exposed... WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2013 #97

Me, either. aquart Jan 2013 #158

The flu is a constantly changing virus with a whole alphabet of different varieties. Warren DeMontague Jan 2013 #35

Do you know/or know a source... Agschmid Jan 2013 #48

The CDC puts out information on this every year. If you need me to, I can look it up nt stevenleser Jan 2013 #58

From the FDA website... WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2013 #99

And this is why they change the shot every year. proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 #59

Wow, really? That is what you base your logic on? Logical Jan 2013 #50

Half a century of living is what... WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2013 #95

Overall it reduces chances of getting the flu. Outliers akways happen... Logical Jan 2013 #96

One of my coworker's daughters is a hospital nurse phylny Jan 2013 #114

I've had more flu after the vacc Rosa Luxemburg Jan 2013 #5

that's happened to me too a couple of times WolverineDG Jan 2013 #64

That'll happen when "they" shoot you with a live virus.. could it be seitan Jan 2013 #80

ffs you are being highly irresponsible Lars39 Jan 2013 #89

Within two weeks? nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #138

Ambivalent about your choice OriginalGeek Jan 2013 #7

Tell that to my grandfather longship Jan 2013 #32

"dodgy", "crap shoot", "Moving target" OriginalGeek Jan 2013 #73

call me a fool never got it never get sick- had a stroke - but never the flu (that i remember) leftyohiolib Jan 2013 #163

I may get one. I like them, but I don't always have the money, ZombieHorde Jan 2013 #9

I work retail and I come into contact with ALOT of people... Agschmid Jan 2013 #10

I can definately see why you would be concerned. ZombieHorde Jan 2013 #12

Yah... and a few other things occasionally haha. Agschmid Jan 2013 #13

And it loves you. ZombieHorde Jan 2013 #15

You actually exercise your immune system by exposing yourself to multiple people.. could it be seitan Jan 2013 #81

OMG! Brainstormy Jan 2013 #107

Maybe you should try smallpox Confusious Jan 2013 #134

if you have health insurance, they're free nt WolverineDG Jan 2013 #66

Unfortunatley, I do not have health insurance. nt ZombieHorde Jan 2013 #72

Try your county/city health dept. They are free in Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #77

Sorry :( WolverineDG Jan 2013 #92

Give your city/town hall a call Marrah_G Jan 2013 #164

Got one yesterday. Horrible experience RomneyLies Jan 2013 #11

Who did that too you? nobodyspecial Jan 2013 #18

It happens occasionally RomneyLies Jan 2013 #29

have never had a flu shot handmade34 Jan 2013 #16

I've never had one either. Now I have the flu cali Jan 2013 #42

Boy, it'll take the macho outta you fast. ny Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #78

it has nothing to do with "macho" cali Jan 2013 #113

It's been 100% effective for me. nt Lex Jan 2013 #140

Never had a flu shot, and never had the flu Siwsan Jan 2013 #105

sound like handmade34 Jan 2013 #109

My grandfather ate a big clove of raw garlic, every morning Siwsan Jan 2013 #112

Get your flu shots railsback Jan 2013 #17

Apparently most people did! Agschmid Jan 2013 #19

Dooo eeeet. aikoaiko Jan 2013 #20

Got one for sure. I'm taking my 2yo to get one tomorrow taught_me_patience Jan 2013 #21

I have asthma and already have had pneumonia a couple of times nobodyspecial Jan 2013 #22

didn't get one this year and I now have the flu TorchTheWitch Jan 2013 #23

I used to always get the shot crim son Jan 2013 #24

Get those flu shots! rightsideout Jan 2013 #25

Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #83

I never got the flu or colds very much. lpbk2713 Jan 2013 #26

Never did until this year. fairfaxvadem Jan 2013 #28

I've been getting them for many years. Haven't had the flu since the early 90s. nt onehandle Jan 2013 #30

im with you MFM008 Jan 2013 #33

Got the shot AND got the flu. My asthma has made this miserable!!! riderinthestorm Jan 2013 #31

I got a flu shot every year for 31 years defacto7 Jan 2013 #34

maybe so many immunities built up that you are really really low risk Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #142

It's not as effective this year as others....sometimes it works better. It's also not so hot for MADem Jan 2013 #36

Good articles, thanks! n/t Agschmid Jan 2013 #47

Caretakers should get shots A Little Weird Jan 2013 #61

No way ... never got one and never will. nt Raine Jan 2013 #37

I always get one. Have for 25 years or more. Nt xchrom Jan 2013 #38

Few vaccines work like polio's Recursion Jan 2013 #39

Polio? sense Jan 2013 #124

Nope. Not getting one. AngryOldDem Jan 2013 #40

I don't know what strain of flu is going around this year, PotatoChip Jan 2013 #41

We got ours free Omaha Steve Jan 2013 #43

Never got flu shots until recently... whistler162 Jan 2013 #44

The only two times I've had the flu since 1968 was the two times I got a flu shot. hobbit709 Jan 2013 #45

You know this means nothing scientifically, correct? Logical Jan 2013 #51

Yes, but personally it does. hobbit709 Jan 2013 #57

I got one early in the season, but I still had the flu a little while back. gollygee Jan 2013 #46

My doctor said that the local strain is not covered by the flu shot this year Yo_Mama Jan 2013 #70

Now that makes me nervous. aquart Jan 2013 #159

I get the flu shot every year and have never gotten the flu. This year I have delayed it longer than stevenleser Jan 2013 #49

People voting no I assume are not science minded or just cannot afford it. Logical Jan 2013 #52

See my post above. Insurance covers it, and I am science minded :) phylny Jan 2013 #115

You Assume Wrong RobinA Jan 2013 #118

Perhaps your assumption is wrong sense Jan 2013 #125

OK, I get it, Big Pharma is evil. LOL. Logical Jan 2013 #126

First One: I'm in the middle of Chemo treatments and my Dr. insisted I get a flu shot 1-Old-Man Jan 2013 #53

i never had the flu. i have never had the shot. nt seabeyond Jan 2013 #54

Mandatory ... So yes... Coyote_Tan Jan 2013 #55

ATTENTION: If getting the flu shot, request an INTRADERMAL SHOT... ReverendDeuce Jan 2013 #56

my insurance didn't cover my shot Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #143

May I ask who insurance Co. is? n/t Agschmid Jan 2013 #149

Blue Care Network Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #152

Ok thanks! I am going to do some Googling. Agschmid Jan 2013 #153

thanks, but it was less than 32 bucks Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #155

Got Mine at the VA clinic.... jdadd Jan 2013 #60

So a few years ago.... Turbineguy Jan 2013 #63

I got a flu shot in September Gothmog Jan 2013 #65

I never had one before I had a 34 year old friend die of the swine flu Marrah_G Jan 2013 #67

The last flue shot I had gave me a welt, 4x6 inches at injection site. peace13 Jan 2013 #68

Only flu symptoms I've had Brainstormy Jan 2013 #69

That was my experience, too. LisaLynne Jan 2013 #74

I'm a hospice nurse. I go to 4 or 5 homes a day. mucifer Jan 2013 #71

Thank You for what you do! Sissyk Jan 2013 #170

Ambivalence... the strangest place -- yet the funniest option I've seen in a poll. LisaLynne Jan 2013 #75

Got a chuckle out of that, too. I once wrote a short story Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #82

Haha I try... Agschmid Jan 2013 #110

No way! judy Jan 2013 #76

Um. Is that common? Robb Jan 2013 #84

You were already "incubating" the flu when you got the shot. Lars39 Jan 2013 #88

I have thought of that... judy Jan 2013 #137

Here's the CDC on the flu vaccinations: Lars39 Jan 2013 #139

There is no way to get the flu from the flu shot. Marrah_G Jan 2013 #166

I got one this year. davsand Jan 2013 #79

SMH Mr Dixon Jan 2013 #85

Please do not decide based on this thread. Robb Jan 2013 #86

If I decided health advice based on DU threads I'd have to retroactively die, I think. (nt) Posteritatis Jan 2013 #102

Oh my! n/t Agschmid Jan 2013 #111

Google free flu shots. Haphazard scroll of agencies offering free shots Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #87

Well, one year we decided to skip the Flu Shots for the kids due to the pseudoscience scare BS Burma Jones Jan 2013 #90

Meh Fearless Jan 2013 #91

I was a healthy person in my 20s when I got kicked in the ass by the flu WolverineDG Jan 2013 #93

I've got a weeks vacation time sitting around. Fearless Jan 2013 #94

A friend of mine was pretty much crippled by the really bad flu strain a few years ago Posteritatis Jan 2013 #101

What if you pass the flu onto someone who can't just move on? Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #146

I used to think that way Marrah_G Jan 2013 #165

I'm still waiting for mine to arrive. politicat Jan 2013 #98

Child.....I got my flu shot Mdterp01 Jan 2013 #103

Sure go ahead, it isn't working that great this year ileus Jan 2013 #104

Herd health: We who get flu shots are shouldering the burden of protecting the entire herd. kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #106

I think you are nuts not to have one. I got mine pretty late, actually, in early December. CTyankee Jan 2013 #108

It's not "ambivalence is the strangest place"-. Quantess Jan 2013 #116

Well them I suggest ambivalence is not really your answer... Agschmid Jan 2013 #117

Getting worse! Agschmid Jan 2013 #119

Changed my vote from "getting one" to "got mine" - also got pneumo jab updated REP Jan 2013 #120

Got mine too, forget to change my vote I will get on that ASAP! Agschmid Jan 2013 #121

I feel better just knowing I won't feel worse! :-) REP Jan 2013 #123

Got mine today! City Lights Jan 2013 #122

Got mine. pinto Jan 2013 #127

I always end up getting the flu when I get one, so I'm not budkin Jan 2013 #128

Yes, it's a no brainer. 99Forever Jan 2013 #129

+1 Please get it! n/t Agschmid Jan 2013 #130

It worked for me... KT2000 Jan 2013 #131

I haven't gotten a flu shot ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #132

My daughter gave her cold to me for Christmas HockeyMom Jan 2013 #133

I get one every year but I'm a type 1 diabetic. Jennicut Jan 2013 #135

CDC enlightenment Jan 2013 #136

The gun debate convinced me to get a flu shot Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #141

Community Immunity ("Herd" Immunity), posted by littlemissmartypants.... Lars39 Jan 2013 #144

thanks Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #147

Eh, it's still my bifocals' fault. :-) Lars39 Jan 2013 #150

edited post, my bad Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #151

Great chart, posting here so no link required. Agschmid Jan 2013 #148

I am middle age and kind of healthy. NCTraveler Jan 2013 #145

please look at the chart posted right above your post Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #154

That is interesting and makes obvious sense. NCTraveler Jan 2013 #157

all you can do is break the chain for those you might expose Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #162

I would suggest getting one if you can Marrah_G Jan 2013 #167

That is a valid point. nt. NCTraveler Jan 2013 #169

My cousin's husband revolution breeze Jan 2013 #156

No way? Who answers "no way"? Vaccines are fundamental to human health... johnnyrocket Jan 2013 #160

Some people are afraid of anything the government is backing Marrah_G Jan 2013 #168

Never found that I needed one. Undaunted Jan 2013 #161

Never had a flu shot. Never had the flu. graywarrior Jan 2013 #171

Yes please ismnotwasm Jan 2013 #172