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SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

108. Yep. Among the reasons the 1918 flu epidemic was so terrible

Thu Feb 5, 2015, 01:22 PM

Feb 2015

was that it seems to have gotten its start in soldiers, fresh off the farm, who were crowded into barracks that were less than sanitary, then shipped off on crowded troop ships to fight in Europe. In addition, hand-washing, the single greatest of all public health measures, wasn't as common or even as possible when so many people didn't have ready access to running water. Or clean water.

Among the reasons the Bubonic Plague, especially during the Black Death (1348-1353) was so terrible was that peasants usually lived right next to their livestock. They were themselves typically infested with lice and other vermin, and essentially never took baths.

I'm fascinated by epidemiology and have read several books on the topic. The best one on the 1918 flu epidemic is probably The Great Influenza by John Barry, and the best on the the Black Death is The Great Mortality by John Kelly.

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While we're on the subject, how many pro-vaccers didn't get their flu shot? [View all] Ilsa Feb 2015 OP

I got the flu shot - LiberalElite Feb 2015 #1

Because less than half of the population gets the flu vaccine. Ilsa Feb 2015 #26

I got the flu vaccine Dorian Gray Feb 2015 #72

got mine Marrah_G Feb 2015 #2

This made me laugh. bravenak Feb 2015 #3

Pro-vaccine means I get a flu shot every year REP Feb 2015 #4

Pro-vaccer here, didn't get the shot. I usually don't, but the kids do. Brickbat Feb 2015 #5

Don't apologize. peace13 Feb 2015 #30

I know for a fact that not everyone can participate Ilsa Feb 2015 #36

Oh, I was apologizing because I broke the string of vaxxers who got the flu shot, giving the OP Brickbat Feb 2015 #82

I get the flu vaccine every year. As LiberalElite said, why do you ass-ume we are hypocrites? emulatorloo Feb 2015 #6

Because not enough people get the flu vax. Ilsa Feb 2015 #21

Supplies aren't infinite. Maybe they want to save it for more vulnerable populations? eridani Feb 2015 #78

CDC seems to think there's enough. Ilsa Feb 2015 #98

I get my flu shot regularly and my Mom made sure we got every vaccine Thinkingabout Feb 2015 #7

Pro vaccine here. I did however not get the flu vaccine. Glassunion Feb 2015 #8

I would NEVER go a flu season without the vaccine. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #9

Yeah Dorian Gray Feb 2015 #73

pro-vaxxer here, got the flu shot, and I'm currently sick.. frylock Feb 2015 #10

I get one, as does my immunosuppressed wife nt geek tragedy Feb 2015 #11

I got mine. LuvNewcastle Feb 2015 #12

Got mine n/t shanti Feb 2015 #13

It's not irrelevant sharp_stick Feb 2015 #14

You bet I got the flu shot distantearlywarning Feb 2015 #15

I always get one Skittles Feb 2015 #16

YOU WANT I SHOULD GIVE YOU PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD SKITTLES NuclearDem Feb 2015 #18

I very rarely get sick but when I do it slams me HARD Skittles Feb 2015 #19

I tripped an old lady so I'd get mine first. rug Feb 2015 #48

I still got mine that year because my wife is at risk. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #56

I got the flu shot. NuclearDem Feb 2015 #17

I get my flu shots. hunter Feb 2015 #20

I have HIV. My doctor would have a fit if I didn't get a flu vaccine every year. - nt Liberal Veteran Feb 2015 #22

Every year. [n/t] Maedhros Feb 2015 #23

How many anti-vaxxers will own up to the fact CAG Feb 2015 #24

Yep. All of the above. Ilsa Feb 2015 #35

I got mine and still got sick (twice). n/t Mugu Feb 2015 #25

I spread the flu, I'm a giving kind of person. kwassa Feb 2015 #27

And I haven't had the measles since I was a baby. Ilsa Feb 2015 #32

Once you get the measles you are immune. LisaL Feb 2015 #43

And yet titers are still checked in pregnant women Ilsa Feb 2015 #57

I'm pro vaccinations, but I don't get a flu shot. I haven't had the flu since I had it shraby Feb 2015 #28

I haven't had the measles since I was a baby. Ilsa Feb 2015 #33

Vaccine that is only 23% effective doesn't sound too tempting. LisaL Feb 2015 #40

The CDC didn't know that in September. Ilsa Feb 2015 #50

I am not going to get something that I consider pretty much useless (23 % effective, really) LisaL Feb 2015 #70

I used to rationalize my self-absorbed actions too... LanternWaste Feb 2015 #96

LOL. It's not for me. nt Ilsa Feb 2015 #103

The vaccine is more effective than that against the targets for which it was made... HereSince1628 Feb 2015 #80

I've been "lucky" for over 50 years then. I'm 72 now. shraby Feb 2015 #67

And other people could say the same thing about vaccinations they or their children don't get. pnwmom Feb 2015 #114

I got mine. Aristus Feb 2015 #29

I can't afford to be sick and take a week of downtime. Ilsa Feb 2015 #34

I got mine! City Lights Feb 2015 #31

I get one every year n/t PasadenaTrudy Feb 2015 #37

If the flu vax was 99+% effective, then you would actually have a point. madinmaryland Feb 2015 #38

Even the MMR isn't 99% effective. Ilsa Feb 2015 #39

Two doses, not multiple. LisaL Feb 2015 #41

Yes, and a booster later, at least in my state. Ilsa Feb 2015 #45

Current flu vax leaves you with almost 80% chance of not being protected. LisaL Feb 2015 #49

Yes, this is an outlier year. Even so, Ilsa Feb 2015 #51

Yet measles had been eliminated by 2000, and then people got complacent madinmaryland Feb 2015 #42

Yes. Failure to vaccinate. Ilsa Feb 2015 #55

To the anti-vax mind, it's either 1 or 0. trotsky Feb 2015 #81

Flu mist for me! cyberswede Feb 2015 #44

Busted. I usually do, but this was such a busy year... bhikkhu Feb 2015 #46

I wish you luck in getting it done, even then, and in Ilsa Feb 2015 #47

I got it workinclasszero Feb 2015 #52

Got mine. The Velveteen Ocelot Feb 2015 #53

I always get my flu shot. Tanuki Feb 2015 #54

Got mine. Warren DeMontague Feb 2015 #58

There were a lot of Ilsa Feb 2015 #59

I think you have created a strawman. Warren DeMontague Feb 2015 #60

Bingo Dorian Gray Feb 2015 #74

I get every year. 840high Feb 2015 #61

Got mine. So did my kids. n/t Butterbean Feb 2015 #62

I don't get a flu shot, and I do get weary of being told here on DU SheilaT Feb 2015 #63

Same here HockeyMom Feb 2015 #76

My story is remarkably similar to yours. SheilaT Feb 2015 #101

Living in close quarters among millions of people HockeyMom Feb 2015 #105

Yep. Among the reasons the 1918 flu epidemic was so terrible SheilaT Feb 2015 #108

No, you're not immune. jeff47 Feb 2015 #104

I worked in public school into my 60s HockeyMom Feb 2015 #111

Older as in >10. Not older as in 60-ish. jeff47 Feb 2015 #113

I get it every year taught_me_patience Feb 2015 #64

I'll own up to it GummyBearz Feb 2015 #65

I don't consider myself part of the DU pro-vax contingent. Crunchy Frog Feb 2015 #66

That was the point of a couple of threads HockeyMom Feb 2015 #116

I'll get one tomorrow if this thread fizzles out olddots Feb 2015 #68

I'd like to see all of the rabid vax threads fizzle out. nt Ilsa Feb 2015 #75

I get it every year without fail. Nt stevenleser Feb 2015 #69

My entire family Dorian Gray Feb 2015 #71

I get my shot every year. xmas74 Feb 2015 #77

We got ours! B Calm Feb 2015 #79

I was diagnosed.. sendero Feb 2015 #83

Yep....Vaxx & Flu Every year fredamae Feb 2015 #84

No flu shot, ever. And you're obviously sooooo much better than me. tridim Feb 2015 #85

You can be a carrier for the virus and end up sickening others. Way to go. randome Feb 2015 #89

And you're double-plus extra better than me!1 nt tridim Feb 2015 #91

It takes a village to raise a child. It takes one narcissist to make that child sick. randome Feb 2015 #97

Only if you hammer anti-vaxers on DU. :-) nt Ilsa Feb 2015 #99

So, not getting a flu shot every year is the same as not getting a few rounds of vacs as kids. Threedifferentones Feb 2015 #86

I get mine every year. Always. MineralMan Feb 2015 #87

Does anyone get the shingles shot? benz380 Feb 2015 #88

Got the shingles vaccine as soon as I turned 65 GoneOffShore Feb 2015 #90

Why is it irrelevant? Augustus Feb 2015 #92

They are both communicable diseases Ilsa Feb 2015 #100

You cannot catch shingles from somebody else HockeyMom Feb 2015 #115

Shingles? I think you are in the wrong Reply. Ilsa Feb 2015 #118

Not MY opinion HockeyMom Feb 2015 #120

Clearly, LannyDeVaney Feb 2015 #93

I get my flu shot every year, and I am furious about the 23% mess-up. librechik Feb 2015 #94

Don't like needles pipi_k Feb 2015 #95

I don't like them either. Ilsa Feb 2015 #102

I did. With 11 great grand children bringing everything home the school has to offer I need it. jwirr Feb 2015 #106

Like me, it sounds like you can't afford Ilsa Feb 2015 #107

I didn't due to egg allergies. dilby Feb 2015 #109

I get mine every year, including this one. Jamastiene Feb 2015 #110

Never had a flu shot and never had the flu. RebelOne Feb 2015 #112

I live in a bubble so it's not necessary. progressoid Feb 2015 #117

I got mine loyalsister Feb 2015 #119