2018 Flu Epidemic

posted by Commander of Awesome

posted by Fab4Runner

I've never gotten the vaccine, and I've never had the flu.

Currently knocking on all wood. 

WOW! Science should study you all and your amazing immune system.

Amazing immune systems?  Possible.  More probably due to practicing preventive hygiene on a regular basis.

I've had a flu shot maybe 3 times in the last 15 years - probably because it happened to be offered at work.  Other than that, I haven't had the flu in over 40 years, during my junior year in high school.  I was off for a week.

I used to get 2-3 colds per year regularly until I started making a conscious effort about 12 years ago to wash my hands much more frequently, and bump doors open with my elbow instead of grabbing the handle.  Now I get one cold every 2 years or so.  I figure it reduces my chance of getting the flu even more.

They really fucked up the flu shot this year.  

posted by gut

I haven't even had a cold in over 20 years.

 

How the fuck is this even possible?

posted by Zunardo

I used to get 2-3 colds per year regularly until I started making a conscious effort about 12 years ago to wash my hands much more frequently, and bump doors open with my elbow instead of grabbing the handle.  Now I get one cold every 2 years or so.  I figure it reduces my chance of getting the flu even more.

My hands are dry as fuck every winter, because I do the same.  I still get a cold every year it seems.  I like to blame assholes who don't properly practice proper ettiquete when they are sick.  Anyone who coughs in public without covering their mouth should be punched in the face.  I also hate when people come to the office and they are clearly severely sick.  GTFO. I don't know how you all avoid getting a cold so consistently.  Maybe it's because I live in a city and I am exposed to more people or it's because I ref wrestling and I am around dipshit teenagers.  All I know is I do my part in preventitive care, so I blame everyone else when i get sick. 

posted by like_that

How the fuck is this even possible?

Genes.  My dad doesn't ever get sick, either.   I would get the cold and flu when I was younger (though I can probably count that on one hand), but most years I had perfect attendance at school.

Pat yourself on the back much, gut? Jesus lol

posted by friendfromlowry

They really fucked up the flu shot this year.  

posted by SportsAndLady

Pat yourself on the back much, gut? Jesus lol

LOL, just answering a question.  I don't think not getting sick makes me special....certainly not because of lifestyle choices - that's why I said genes!

posted by like_that

My hands are dry as fuck every winter, because I do the same.  I still get a cold every year it seems.  I like to blame assholes who don't properly practice proper ettiquete when they are sick.  Anyone who coughs in public without covering their mouth should be punched in the face.  I also hate when people come to the office and they are clearly severely sick.  GTFO. I don't know how you all avoid getting a cold so consistently.  Maybe it's because I live in a city and I am exposed to more people or it's because I ref wrestling and I am around dipshit teenagers.  All I know is I do my part in preventitive care, so I blame everyone else when i get sick. 

 

Our one grandson screws us over. Goes to preschool and brings home every illness possible. Of course, 4 year olds have no manners (for the most part) so he coughs with his mouth uncovered and puts his grubby little mitts on everything in sight. Plus I have coworkers who have kids and it gets passed on to them, etc. I worked today with my office door closed just to quarantine myself.

No vaccine and haven't had the flu in years. 

posted by Commander of Awesome

Only 10-15% effective currently. 

I'm not anti-flu shot and would probably still get it even if I didn't have to. But I'm sick of every autumn all the propoganda shoved down my throat about getting it, how it's your responsibility (mine as a healthcare worker), etc. I had an infection control specialist e-mail everyone years ago disparaging everyone who didn't want to get it. 

The flu shot is pretty useless.  If I had some serious respiratory or immune issue I might get it.  The flu can kill.  But normal healthy people dont need it.  

This warm up and rain coming this week will knock it down.

posted by Zunardo

Amazing immune systems?  Possible.  More probably due to practicing preventive hygiene on a regular basis.

Being anti-social is the best preventative hygiene imaginable.

posted by Spock

The flu shot is pretty useless.  If I had some serious respiratory or immune issue I might get it.  The flu can kill.  But normal healthy people dont need it.  

This is part of the benefit of getting the flu shot, though. In the simplest terms, there are people with poor immune systems, old age, infancy, etc. who for some reason or another don't get the flu shot (it may be out of will, necessity, poor parenting decisions, or something else). If a normal healthy person gets the flu, they can push through it. They can also transmit it, though, and if they infect the wrong person, it might be deadly. If the flu shot prevents 15% of cases in the U.S., and those 15% spread it to one fewer person as a result, that's thousands of fewer cases per year. At least some portion of those thousands will die from the flu.

I came down with flu yesterday. First time in years. I forgot how much I hate it. 

posted by kizer permanente

I came down with flu yesterday. First time in years. I forgot how much I hate it. 

Good luck. Don't you go dying on us.

What’s everyone’s opinion on Tylenol for fevers? Do they prolong the flu? Just suck it up and feel like shit?

I worked for the The Holdout for quite a few years.  Kinda felt sorry for him.  He would sterilize his office every day, even his telephone, but I never saw somebody get as many colds as he did.

On the other hand, I was The Zombie.  When I called in sick a few years ago, someone asked me how long it had been since the previous call-in.  I had to think about it - 13 years.

posted by like_that

 Anyone who coughs in public without covering their mouth should be punched in the face.  

 

I went to the GP to get some scripts renewed.  I bathed myself in Purell and touched as little as possible especially with the hands. I'm waiting in the checkout room with this Amish women who is coughing into a tissue lining the palm of her hand.  Its very clear by the sound of her cough she has something bad.  The receptionist slid the window open and told me to go wait in the main waiting room.  Not long after the women exits the checkout room into the main waiting room where the main exit door is.  Opens the lever handle with the tissue she was coughing into.  Yes cough side down.

Both of my girls got sick last week. It's been absolutely miserable. Doctors say it's not the flu. But, nothing is working to give them any relief.

Another doctor's appointment today. Hopefully my wife and I can continue to avoid it, a fever would be terrible for her at 36 weeks pregnant (she's basically ready to pop any day though).