[abdi]

Does anyone get these before the winter sets in. What's the general view ?

[PDLM]

I have an immune system that is reasonably robust so I don't see the benefit frankly. Firstly there is only any upside at all if someone somewhere guesses correctly which strain of 'flu you might catch (and there are many). Secondly, for me, injecting my body with all sorts of things which are not naturally found in the human bloodstream is not something I would want to do just for the remote chance that it might result in me not being a little uncomfortable for a few days, particularly since I haven't suffered from flu since I was a kid (and back then it was essential to building up my immune system).

As far as I am concerned flu jabs are really only justified for people who are very old with weak immune systems and for whom a dose of flu might be fatal, and for those who are immuno-compromised (i.e. HIV+).

[lowlight]

Originally Posted by PDLM

I have an immune system that is reasonably robust so I don't see the benefit frankly. Firstly there is only any upside at all if someone somewhere guesses correctly which strain of 'flu you might catch (and there are many). Secondly, for me, injecting my body with all sorts of things which are not naturally found in the human bloodstream is not something I would want to do just for the remote chance that it might result in me not being a little uncomfortable for a few days, particularly since I haven't suffered from flu since I was a kid (and back then it was essential to building up my immune system).

As far as I am concerned flu jabs are really only justified for people who are very old with weak immune systems and for whom a dose of flu might be fatal, and for those who are immuno-compromised (i.e. HIV+).

I know you're Superman and all, but I think for most people getting the flu means more than 'being a bit uncomfortable for a few days'

[Sleuth]

The US CDC would concur with PDLM. They recommend the shots for the very young, the very old, people who work with either of those groups and people with compromised immune systems.
Of course, the USA isn't the birth place of flu, so they might be a little more strict around here.

[mfc]

Originally Posted by abdi

Does anyone get these before the winter sets in. What's the general view ?

It's great, you get some protection to 3 strains per injection, if you do it for 10 years, thats 30 strains you'd have some form of protection for.

Its like wearing a seatbelt when you drive, you dont expect to crash everytime you go out for a spin. But the act of putting a seat belt on is pretty costless and may save you seom grief so why not?

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by mfc

It's great, you get some protection to 3 strains per injection, if you do it for 10 years, thats 30 strains you'd have some form of protection for.

Its like wearing a seatbelt when you drive, you dont expect to crash everytime you go out for a spin. But the act of putting a seat belt on is pretty costless and may save you seom grief so why not?

I am not sure it works that way. I doubt the vaccinations are cumulative.
And wearing a seat belt does not involve injecting your body with foreign substances in the off hope that (1) you contract the flu, (2) that it is a strain you have been immunised against and (3) that your body wouldn't have fought it off anyway.
Growing up in the NE USA, we were never pressed to have flu shots. And I never had the flu. Until I moved south I had never heard of the shots.

[Stuckup_not]

Having the flu is way different than having a cold or bronchitis. Unless you have experienced it, it's useless to comment about flu shots not being helpful.

Catching the flu is not a reflection on ones good/poor health. The stongest, 'healthiest" people catch flu.

[dropdedfwed]

Originally Posted by Stuckup_not

Having the flu is way different than having a cold or bronchitis. Unless you have experienced it, it's useless to comment about flu shots not being helpful.

Catching the flu is not a reflection on ones good/poor health. The stongest, 'healthiest" people catch flu.

yes, but the strongest and healthiest people will not be critically ill from the flu... the immune system will cope with it ok

the vaccine is as mentioned, only effective against a few strains. Flu viruses mutate at an amazing rate, so it's not possible to cover more than a few lethal strains.

most western countries suggest as PDLM has suggested, only the old, young or immunocompromised bother with the vaccine. in saying that, a lot of gov't departments offer it free to staff... interesting - double standards??

[HKChigger]

If you take the flu shot and then skip a year somewhere you are more likely to get it. It's like medicine, your body builds a dependancy on it if you take it on a regular basis.

[dropdedfwed]

that's codswallop!

vaccines (in very basic terms) stimulate cellular immunity, with immune cells that have receptors on them that recognise and bind certain parts of viruses and other antigens, whichever one they are specifically designed for.

Vaccines do not "protect" the body, they just give the body a dose of the bug they are trying to prevent, so the immune system is pre-armed for the real thing, should it encounter it.