Flu Jab

[Blademonkey]

In Canada the Provinces and Territories manage their own health care mandated and regulated by the Federal Government. In the Province of Ontario, where I live, the flu shot has been free since 2000 iirc. Anyone, from children old enough to receive it on up are eligible and can get inoculated at their doctors, at flu clinics or at qualified pharmacies. The failing in the system, to me, is that it is not mandatory. That means you have hospital staff, homes for the aged staff and so on who are not inoculated. That seems ridiculous to me. Actually the whole idea of people choosing to not get free inoculations, for themselves and their children, against a range of different diseases is ridiculous and puts the rest of us at risk.

The cost to a country's economy through man hours lost is likely far more that the cost of mass free inoculations.

Bob

I'm in full agreement with you. P.

 

[Rowlers]

It's a no from me. I consider myself fit and healthy enough to fight off a flu. I'll leave the vaccinations for those that need it.

 

[Nisse]

Are we talking flu or cold here?

 

[Nisse]

If we are talking flu I read somewhere that the flu shot is not very effective per se but if it puts the patients mind at rest go for it.

 

[Chris]

I work for the NHS so they come round and offer it to us, usually I don't bother but the one year I did I got flu anyway.

 

[Rowlers]

I work for the NHS so they come round and offer it to us, usually I don't bother but the one year I did I got flu anyway.

I read this a lot, which is a one of the reasons why I don't bother.

 

[R181]

It's a no from me. I consider myself fit and healthy enough to fight off a flu. I'll leave the vaccinations for those that need it.

That is only one side of the coin and the other is consider those you do potentially infect while valiantly fighting off the flu should you come down with it. Immunization against diseases only works if a very high percentage of the general population is inoculated regardless of if you think you can fight it off. The resurgence of measles out breaks is what happens when the percentage of those inoculated drop below a certain percentage.

Bob

 

[Xring3]

When I worked at a drug rehabilitation center we were required to get a flu shot. They provided them for free. One of the nurses resisted on grounds she didn’t trust the ingredients used. She was told to get the shot or she would be fired. Reluctantly she got the shot and two weeks later she died. Family filed lawsuit...don’t know results.

 

[Rowlers]

That is only one side of the coin and the other is consider those you do potentially infect while valiantly fighting off the flu should you come down with it. Immunization against diseases only works if a very high percentage of the general population is inoculated regardless of if you think you can fight it off. The resurgence of measles out breaks is what happens when the percentage of those inoculated drop below a certain percentage.

Bob

Yeah I agree with you but not for flu, too many variations for the vaccine to be anywhere near successful. When I'm convinced that the vaccine works, I'll take it up. Until then I'll take my chances.

 

[Nisse]

It is interesting how for example measles when I was a child did not cause concern but was more of a "natural" occurrence together with a handful other typical childhood diseases.

 

[UKRob]

I suffered from annual bouts of flu that knocked me about and bed-ridden for up to 6 days at a time so, as you can guess I always take the jab. By the way, a few medical professionals have speculated that the annual bout may have lead to my (now) profound hearing loss. I’m in no doubt that either paying for the jab or taking up the free offer is well worth it. Of course, it doesn’t guarantee you will not succumb, but in my case I’d rather not take the chance.

 

[halvor]

There, done my bit for my own and potentially others’ health for this flu season (First one at the clinic apparently.)

@Rowlers although still no guarantee, this year’s tetra vaccine protects against four different viruses. Likely means higher efficiency.

 

[culcreuch]

Work strongly encourages it and offers it to all employees so I take it every year.The WHO analyses global trends sot he vaccine is adjusted each year to immunise against the most likely culprits.Most years they get it right but sometimes they don't.

 

[Steve Bowles]

I just read a couple of days ago that, again, the vaccines distributed to U.S., Canada, and U.K. are not effective against this year's influenza.

 

[Benz3ne]

I just read a couple of days ago that, again, the vaccines distributed to U.S., Canada, and U.K. are not effective against this year's influenza.

This is usually the case anyway, regardless of location. The vac'n is usually 'based' on a previous, isolated strain of flu which would (more than likely) have evolved into a different strain for the year at which it's released (from my understanding).

For me, I've never had it and have not seen the benefit of having it. My OH (asthmatic) raised a good point though, in that it'd affect her more than me in the case of me gifting her flu*. That being said, apart from a few sniffles/short-lived colds, I've not been ill over the last 4 years, perhaps a little longer. I.e. never taken a day off sick from work since starting 4 years ago.

* She suggested that I might be eligible for a free one as she's asthmatic and works in a hospital etc. I still doubt I'll have one.