Flu vaccine not as effective as some laymen thought

[bononos]

Not an antivaccine thread, some protection is better then none.

Flu jab isn't perfect by a long shot, health officials admit

http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/...ct-by-a-long-shot-health-officials-admit?lite
And people wonder why I would rather catch the flu then taking a vaccine? At least with catching the flu you develop natural antibodies.

Thread title edited for clarity. This isn't new research, this has been known. -DrPizza

In 2010 there was some brouhaha that the flu vaccine was very ineffective. It must be welcome news if it has improved to 62%.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20614424

google Cochrane collaboration flu vaccine for interesting stuff.

 

[yllus]

And people wonder why I would rather catch the flu then taking a vaccine? At least with catching the flu you develop natural antibodies.

Just so it's made clear, your best bet is to get the vaccine anyways. At worst you get protected against a number of strains of the flu that never catch on in the population.

So maybe you get a version of the flu that year's vaccine isn't effective against - sucks, but you still had better chances at avoiding it all by getting the vaccine than not. The "natural antibodies" you develop won't in any way be impeded in effectiveness by the "unnatural antibodies" from a flu shot.

 

[Chris A]

Quick question. How long does the shot last. Say this years shot covers strain A, d, and S. forms of the flue. Are you protected forever against those? I know they often evolve but sometimes they come back.

 

[GreenMeters]

Then I am an asshole.

Congratulations on your first true statement of the thread.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

I don't care whether you chose to get a flu shot or not, but please don't claim you gain something by not being immunized

 

[ShintaiDK]

Try avoid the meningitis vaccine and get the infection as an adult. See how your survival chances are.

 

[OutHouse]

At least with catching the flu you develop natural antibodies.

so what. you are already sick.

 

[Doppel]

Sometimes I get it but often not. Fwiw the newer sub-dermal ounces that do not enter muscle are awesome. SO little feeling as it pierces

 

[SilthDraeth]

Are you saying that because your kids catch bacterial infections you believe the flu vaccine is ineffective and you treat your kids by not taking them to the Dr. and refusing antibiotics?

You are an unfit mother. Your children will be placed in the custody of Carl's Jr. Carl's Jr -- Fuck you, I'm eating!

I am saying, I don't know wether they are getting sick from bacterial, or viral, and in most cases, neither does the doctor.

I don't take them to the doctor when sick, unless it seems severe.

They do get flu shots. I have no idea whether it is effective or not.

I don't use antibiotics unless things are severe.

I am the most unfit mother that a father can be.

 

[ichy]

Isn't 62% pretty good?

That said, green vegetables and vitamin C will help quite a bit, regardless of vaccine efficacy.

Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. If you're getting enough vitamin C then you're fine. Getting more does nothing.

 

[ichy]

I'll take medical advice from a witch doctor in the jungle before I take it from an ignorant asshole like Texashiker.

 

[ichy]

The funny thing is I used to be too lazy to get a flu shot. My hatred for anti-vaccer assholes motivates me to get vaccinated now.

 

[Texashiker]

I'll take medical advice from a witch doctor in the jungle before I take it from an ignorant asshole like Texashiker.

The funny thing is I used to be too lazy to get a flu shot. My hatred for anti-vaccer assholes motivates me to get vaccinated now.

Did you read the linked article in the opening post?

Did anyone read the article before posting a reply?

 

[monovillage]

Did you read the linked article in the opening post?

Did anyone read the article before posting a reply?

I did.

 

[StinkyPinky]

My bro got a flu shot in 2005 and week later he was in ICU. Damn thing almost killed him.

Since he's my bro and we share genetics I aint ever getting one. I'll take my chances.

 

[DCal430]

Remember the 1918 flu pandemic, latest estimates place the mortality rate at 20%, H5N1 has the potential to be the next 1918 pandemic. If that happens you and the other anti-vaccine folks should be denied any vaccine for it, or be last in line to get it.

 

[DCal430]

My bro got a flu shot in 2005 and week later he was in ICU. Damn thing almost killed him.

Since he's my bro and we share genetics I aint ever getting one. I'll take my chances.

Likely was just coincidence. Doubt it was the vaccine.

 

[OutHouse]

Remember the 1918 flu pandemic, latest estimates place the mortality rate at 20%, H5N1 has the potential to be the next 1918 pandemic. If that happens you and the other anti-vaccine folks should be denied any vaccine for it, or be last in line to get it.

Hysterical bird flu fear mongering. The thing is this shot does not protect you from H5N1. Its a separate shot.

 

[Cerb]

Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.

If you're getting enough vitamin C then you're fine. Getting more does nothing.

You like contradicting yourself, I see. Do you have it out for chard and cabbage, or what?

It's not exactly a brand new discovery that levels significantly above what will prevent scurvy are helpful (how much more seems to depend a good bit on how physically active you are), and excess just comes out.

If you may not be getting enough vitamin C, which isn't uncommon, foods rich in C, and supplements, are equally effective (though the foods contain other good stuff, as well, if comparing to a lone C supplement).

 

[DCal430]

Hysterical bird flu fear mongering. The thing is this shot does not protect you from H5N1. Its a separate shot.

I never said it protects you. I said when a shot becomes needed, they should be denied. FFYI it isn't mongering, estimate put the death toll at 100 to 400 million if develops a way to spread from person to person.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Likely was just coincidence. Doubt it was the vaccine.

You mean getting a serious case of the flu right after getting a flu shot is a coincidence?

He's never had the flu before or since. Hell of a coincidence.

Either way, I'm not ever taking a flu shot.

 

[child of wonder]

You mean getting a serious case of the flu right after getting a flu shot is a coincidence?

He's never had the flu before or since. Hell of a coincidence.

Either way, I'm not ever taking a flu shot.

Did they do a test for influenza while he was in the ICU or are you just assuming that's what he had?

 

[bignateyk]

these flu shots will be looked back on as one of the dumbest things we did in this era. we dont even know how our immune systems really work, but we know how to make one shot for everyone in the world? its a joke. its an experiment. you are the test. oh you get to pay for it too, thanks.

This might be the dumbest thing I've read on here, and that's saying something. Ever hear of the Polio vaccine? I'm pretty sure that one shot for everyone works fine. The problem is that flu, unlike polio and some other diseases, has many different strains. If the flu were only a few strains and never mutated, they could easily make a vaccine for it.

 

[DrPizza]

You mean getting a serious case of the flu right after getting a flu shot is a coincidence?

He's never had the flu before or since. Hell of a coincidence.

Either way, I'm not ever taking a flu shot.

In no uncertain terms, the flu shot CAN NOT give you the flu.

Though, right now, the number of people with the flu in NY has resulted in the governor declaring some sort of state of medical emergency or something. The news channels are reporting it as one of their top stories. It takes 10-14 days before someone receiving the vaccine builds up an immunity. With the huge push to get more and more people vaccinated, no doubt, a lot of the individuals who get vaccinated will have already been exposed to the flu, else will be exposed prior to the vaccine becoming effective. Thus, will be created a new generation of morons who say, "I got the flu shot once, and I got really sick afterward. Therefore, the flu shot caused it."

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I refuse a flu shot due to my superior genetics and immune system. I'll leave the flu shot to the sickly and weak.