Kindergarten is a bitch. After that they don't get sick near as much.

queencitybuckeye;1275945 wrote:3,000-50,000 people die annually from the seasonal flu in the U.S. (source: CDC). A small number considering the population, but it is indeed deadly.

how many of those people were perfectly healthy and died? There's nothing wrong with my immune system, so I see no reason for a shot.

tk421;1275974 wrote:how many of those people were perfectly healthy and died? There's nothing wrong with my immune system, so I see no reason for a shot.

Yeah, I'd guess most of those people are elderly or very young (and in many cases, likely living in some sort of poverty where going to or getting to a doctor isn't super-easy/feasible). I'm later-30s and have good health. If a version of the flu kills me, it's Captain Trips and the world's fucked no matter what.

WebFire;1275969 wrote:Kindergarten is a bitch. After that they don't get sick near as much.

That's what I hear. They say it's good for them tho as they build up their immune system early, right?

2kool4skool;1275957 wrote:Wanted to post "cue idiots subscribing to anecdotal evidence in 3..2..." but I see I'm already too late.

Just so. To review for anyone who cares to use actual facts, if you received the flu shot and got the flu, the possibilities are:

1. The shot takes a few days to become effective, you could certainly get the flu in that time.
2. You got a strain of flu not included in the shot. Usually, but not always, the shot will offer some relief from the severity of such strains.
3. You got something with symptoms similar to the flu, but is not the flu.

Note that your body using its immune system to combat the dead flu cells leaves you more susceptible to any of the above.

What is scientifically impossible:

1. You got the flu from the flu shot.

tk421;1275974 wrote:how many of those people were perfectly healthy and died? There's nothing wrong with my immune system, so I see no reason for a shot.

Nor do I, I was just pointing out that the flu is serious business, especially for those not in peak health.

Steel Valley Football;1276023 wrote:That's what I hear. They say it's good for them tho as they build up their immune system early, right?

That's what they say.

tcarrier32;1275936 wrote:genetics, how do they work?

From what I hear, chances are you may look/act like your family.

WebFire;1276167 wrote:That's what they say.

Lol so is what they say true, iyo?

Always - my employer provides them on-site for free, even though I'd pay for them. I've never had the flu in a year in which I've gotten the shot. Of course there are no guarantees, but the medical fact is the vaccine reduces the probability of coming down with one of the targeted strains by over 75% within your risk demographic. If I miss out on being sick in bed for three days once every five years, I'm all for it.

Edit - risk demo means your exposure level (an urgent care clinic nurse has about a 100% chance of exposure, whereas a monk in Mount Athos, Greece is about 0.25%), your age, health profile, etc.

Enforcer;1275925 wrote:I get one every year, being a Diabetic its recommended

I'm Diabetic also. I have gotten one every year since my diagnosis.

I get it every year. My employer semi-mandates it.

I used to refuse to get it, until I had children. Work always paid for employees to get one and I didn't want to risk getting infants sick with the flu (common knowledge it's potentially deadly for the extremely young or old). They're 3 now (my twins), so I don't know if I'll get one anymore or not.

Our school pays for them....I've got one the past 5 years, but last year a flu bug went through my house all at once within 12 hours.