Do you Get A Flu shot?

I have to get one every year since I'm a medstudent ...hospital policy. Ironically, I don't like to be knicked by needles !

I will probably get one on the 14th when I go for my doctor's appt. I get one every year. I had a stroke in Dec 2004, so it is a good idea for me. I am not afraid of needles at all since the alternative is being in the hospital, having blood drawn every morning at 6am or before. When I was in the hospital after my stroke, they were giving me blood thinner shots in my belly. It was a solid bruise when I got out. So no, I am not afraid of needles.. LOL

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Not completely correct, as one person can verify on this site, vaccinations can make you sick. And, NO, I am not saying someone will get the flu from it (before anyone tries to misquote that...), but that people can get sick from reactions to the vaccinations. Most likely all the people that are thinking they got the flu from the shot are having some sort of reaction.

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True! I had a nasty reaction to a flu shot (although I had one in the UK and was fine), the area where the shot was given was swollen for a week and I was pretty sick - but not the same as flu.

Yes, I get both flu and pneumonia shots.

I've been getting free flu shots from work. I have a fairly good immune system, but if I get sick I get really sick. Sometimes I'll get lucky and be fine for the whole year, but those years where I do get sick it'll put me down for a week or more (like can't even get out of bed down). Since I've been getting flu shots I haven't gotten anything worse than just sniffles for a few days so I say it's a good trade for me.

Whether it hurts or not I think depends on where and how they jab you. Sometimes I feel absolutely no pain whatsoever, I can poke and prod the area and nothing. Other times that injection site will be sore for a week. Or if they stick you in a tendon, or hit bone, omg, makes me wanna punch the nurse.

What I DO hate are those booster shots you had to get as a kid. THOSE made me sick instantly and it was horrible sick. I usually started to get a fever on the way out of the doc's office, then vomit on the car ride back, and once I was home my throat was literally on fire, having the chills, head was just swimming. Luckily I haven't had to have one in a while, but the last one some 10 years ago landed me in the ER.

It makes a big difference if you get a dead vs. live vaccine. Since I work in special education I feel it is important to get a flu shot but I make sure it is a dead vaccine. Haven't had any problems either.

Okay, for everyone who has or has not gotten the flu shot, at least carry a hand sanitizer around with you. Especially if you handle money! Money is the dirtiest thing in the world that people use and spread around everyday. Think about it, we don't wash paper money because it damages it and it circulates through much of the healthy and sick population. Hand sanitizing isn't as great as washing your hands but having a little bottle in your purse helps when you're not near a sink. It's helped me avoid the flu when I used to work as a cashier at a fast food joint.

Originally Posted by StacyD1987

Okay, for everyone who has or has not gotten the flu shot, at least carry a hand sanitizer around with you. Especially if you handle money! Money is the dirtiest thing in the world that people use and spread around everyday. Think about it, we don't wash paper money because it damages it and it circulates through much of the healthy and sick population. Hand sanitizing isn't as great as washing your hands but having a little bottle in your purse helps when you're not near a sink. It's helped me avoid the flu when I used to work as a cashier at a fast food joint.

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I work in an office with about 100+ people. I don't like touching the faucet or door handles after I wash my hands in the bathroom. One thing I like is they have Purell dispensers outside of every bathroom. Being in an office with so many people, when one person gets sick, a lot of people get sick. They have such a strict attendence policy, a lot of people go to work sick.

My hubby used to work in a hospital. He built up so many immunities over the years that he hardly ever got sick. But he was a carrier and would bring it home to me and I would get sick! Twice though, he got a paid 2 week "vacation" because he was exposed to the chicken pox and never had them as a kid. He STILL hasn't had them!!!

I only use plastic money and I really never go anywhere.
But yes, money is filthy, I used to get sick at least once or twice a year (usually stomach virus) when I did bookkeeping and deposits for the store I worked at.

I *should* get a flu shot, in my condition. However, DH won't get one, and he's the one who's more likely to bring the flu into the house and infect the baby.

That being said, the "real" flu is very rare. What most people refer to as "flu" is just a bad cold, and I doubt that any of us will wind up with an infection. I also fear that I will get sick as a result of the vaccine and send myself into premature labor -- I've already been there once this pregnancy and don't want to revisit that experience!

Labor was stopped, obviously -- I'm still pregnant

Originally Posted by Catkiki

I work in an office with about 100+ people. I don't like touching the faucet or door handles after I wash my hands in the bathroom. One thing I like is they have Purell dispensers outside of every bathroom. Being in an office with so many people, when one person gets sick, a lot of people get sick. They have such a strict attendence policy, a lot of people go to work sick.

My hubby used to work in a hospital. He built up so many immunities over the years that he hardly ever got sick. But he was a carrier and would bring it home to me and I would get sick! Twice though, he got a paid 2 week "vacation" because he was exposed to the chicken pox and never had them as a kid. He STILL hasn't had them!!!

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I call my hubby "Vector". He's a truck driver, so therefore comes into contact with a lot of people during his pick-ups and deliveries all day. Also, some of the trucks he gets are used by drivers with very poor sanitation ethics (translation: slobs), so I wonder about whether they wash their hands after sneezing, potty breaks, etc. (and then handle the steering wheel). He seldom gets sick; but, since I've been living with him, I now get all of these respiratory ailments. That's why I nicknamed him "Vector"--he carries disease, but doesn't get the disease himeself!

Originally Posted by ghosthunterbeck

I also fear that I will get sick as a result of the vaccine and send myself into premature labor -- I've already been there once this pregnancy and don't want to revisit that experience!

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Good idea to forgo that, if you do end up getting one make sure to ask if it contains thimerosal. A few still do and you definitely don't want that while pregnant.
Luckily that's out of most baby/children's vaccinations now - even though most of us had plenty of it and are fine... various odd health problems aside..

As a teacher, I get the flu shot for free, as the risk of exposure is very high in schools. I also take public transportation, which means an even higher risk. My experience has been that the few years I haven't had the flu shot, I've managed to get infected, so yes, I'll be getting it this month.

I also think it unwise not to in view of avian flu - all the world needs is a "killer cross".

I have asthma which gets really bad whenever I get sick so I definitely get a flu shot each year.

Mez

Only if my mom tricks me into it again She's an RN and she thinks my sister and I need everything under the sun done to keep us safe! I hate needles and she knows I would never just agree to going and getting it done. So she set up an "annual exam" yeah, when I got there he checked me out and then all of the sudden a lady came in with a needle and said it was time for my flu shot. Apparently she neglected to tell me I was getting a flu shot, but remembered to tell the doc to give me one GOSH DANG HER!!!!

I've been getting a flu shot every year for, oh I don't know, probably 20 years or more, and in that time, I've only had the flu twice. But this year's flu shot mix gave me the worst reaction I've had in years. Usually the most I get is a very little bit of soreness in the arm, but this year I felt mildly crappy for about three days and a fairly sore arm. I don't know, maybe that's because I'm from Wisconsin and in this year's flu vaccine one of the three vaccines is the Wisconsin flu?

Originally Posted by FootersOwnsMe

my doctor MADE me get the flu and pneumonia shot this year. I'm on a high dose of prednisone for 3 months for sarcoidosis. Pred weakens the immune system and didnt give me a choice and said i HAD to have them. The only thing I'm wondering about now is the pneumonia shot, the nurse said it was good for 5 years but everybody here is saying 2....help?!?

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Never, ever heard of a 2 year shot. Mine was good for 5 years also.

Nope cause i end up getting sick from it

Originally Posted by catcaregiver

Nope, I don't. I have a healthy immune system.

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Same here, I haven't had a sick day in 3 years