Flu shot
 

I got the flu last year and I never want it again so I'm getting the flu shot. My grandfather was the only one who got the flu shot and he was the only one who didn't get the flu. Anyway the nurse said they don't get there flu shots in until the middle of October but all the pharmacys have there's so I was thinking of just getting one there but the nurse said if you get it to early you won't be protected for the whole flu season is that true? I'm afraid to wait past the begaining of October but I want to be protected the whole flu season.

I dont know if it is true or not but I can wait untill October to get mine so I will. Were already half way into Sept anyway

Flu season usually starts sometime in October and it takes two weeks for the flu shot to cause you to make your own antibodies so getting it late September is just about perfect. I usually get my flu shot in September and haven't had the flu since 2003 or 04. I'm going in next Wednesday for my check-up and a flu shot if my doctor has them in so hopefully I'll be ready when the first of flu season begins.

Taylor....I get the flu shot every year because years ago I didn't and of course I caught the flu. Never want to go through that again. Anyways....According to the CDC as long as you are healthy and with a good immune system you can get the flu shot early and it should protect you through the flu season. Flu season is really high in January & February. I'm getting mine next week. Remember that is takes about 2 weeks for the shot to kick in and we can't predict exactly when the flu season starts.

Lol...Great minds think alike!:thumbup::thumbup:

haha. There you go!!! :thumbup: Though after the week I've had, I have little mind left! I wonder if dealing with too many computer and internet and technology problems one on top of the other in only a few days can actually lower one's IQ? :eek:

Lol....Those type of issues can wear you out. Just chalk it up to having a bad week! Hopefully next week will be better for you in the computer, internet & technology area.

Thanks everyone :)

I'm also afraid to wait as should there be an early, serious onset of flu that keeps on spreading for two months, there may be a shortage of flu vaccine if I wait until later to get it.

Here's what one site says: I'm most vulnerable to get the flu between just before Thanksgiving and after Christmas. This is a stressful, although enjoyable, time of year for me, but I'm very busy and my immune system is probably at it's weakest. If I don't get a shot, I'll be horribly sick at Thanksgiving or Christmas, and sometime even both as it last for months with me. So I generally get it at the pharmacy as soon as it's available and never had a problem getting the flu late in the year. Although I would hate it, I still would rather get it in April or May, than November or December. I guess you have to decided when you would be the most vulnerable.

Thank you.

Just looked up about the flu shot and read this on the Huffington Post.

[B]It's tricky to predict just how long you have before immunity wanes, however. LiveScience reported that the vaccine offers protection for six to eight months, while The New York Times reported in young, healthy people "protection might last for years, even as circulating flu strains change." In fact, some medical professionals even recommend a second dose of the vaccine for people over the age of 65 or with particularly compromised immune systems.

If you want to read the whole article here's the link below.

The Best Time To Get The Flu Vaccine If You Really Don't Want To Get Sick

Flu shot
 

I thought that for any flu season the vaccine included all the expected strains for that season, and that was the important factor...not how long the immunity lasted for. I also did not understand that there was more than one vaccine for any given flu season. For seniors they have an extra strong version.:-)

My Dr. doesn't get the vaccines in until Oct. but all the Pharmacy's have it now. So I now get mine at the pharmacy, then I get a booster shot if Feb.

I think the earlier ones may not include all stains for the season and this can only be known after people start getting the flu. After all, aren't scientists just guessing/predicting what they think may be the most prevailing strains?

Flu
 

Yes you are right, they are only predictions. I assumed they saw what was going around the world and used those strains. But the Oct + shots do seem to protect many people who have them early, and I for one have never been asked to take another, later, one. But that does not mean they are not offered. :-)
With the fast rate of mutation of the flu virus, it is a wonder they do sorta work!

Yeah, I guess our bodies make some type of immunity that will help us fight off variations of the strain. Probably still safest to wash those hands every chance you get.

I am trying to find a nurse in Houston that gives shots like I give them...the old "dart" technique rather than the "place the needle on the skin and then SLOWLY, push the needle into the arm"....I will vagal down and flat pass out on them! But I have to take the shot as I too, almost died with the flu last year...it took me 3 months to recouperate....I was down from before Thanksgiving until February....cant do that again....

Flu shot techniques!
 

I feel for you and those who are sensitive to shots, it must make life difficult in many medical situations. I hope you are able to get a skilled 'dart' technique nurse as you sure need the protection after your horrible experience with the flu last year. So sorry it affected you so badly and I can well understand why you don't want to go through that ever again.

I remember you posting about how sick you were last year. And I'm with you on the good old dart technique. I HATE to be given a shot with the slow-push method! I don't vagal out or anything but injections given slowly like that can hurt whereas the dart technique is seldom even felt. But is more than about the slight discomfort, I just have an aversion to somebody slowly pushing a needle into my skin and muscle - just sock it to me and get it over!

I will likely get mine this year. However I wish there was something for the STOMACH flu, that's what I fear most every year, ugh. :(

I've had the flu shot like 3x now, I think. I didn't get it last year and never got the flu, but I did get the horrible stomach flu (throwing up). My dad kept saying "TOLD YOU YOU SHOULD'VE GOT YOUR FLU SHOT!" and I had to explain to him that it doesn't even cover the stomach virus lol... dork.

That's interesting, my last shot just a few weeks ago was like this (the dart method) and I don't remember getting a shot like this for years, this same pharmacist has given me other shots, that didn't hurt, but the dart method really did hurt and my arm was still sore and bruised a day later. She was about a foot from my arm she "threw her dart". No big deal, but I prefer the other one, why are there two methods and I wonder if we can ask for our personal preference? I'm the same way with the flu as you, once you have a bad case like that, it convinces you to get a shot.

Be careful what you eat and how food is stored, most cases of the stomach flu are said to be mild cases of food poisoning, many people don't put leftovers in refrigerator fast enough and that's a prime culprit. It is said that if "stomach flu" lasts 24 hours or less, it's food poisoning. What we call the "flu" should really be called influenza so it won't be confused with stomach flu that causes vomiting and diarrhea. The confusing thing too is with influenza some people do get vomiting and diarrhea as well as the respiratory problems, although it's more common in children. Lol, it's horrible to be sick and someone's yelling at you. Hope you're good this year.

I got my flu vaccine on Wednesday. We are leaving town in 2 weeks, and will be around tons of people in airports and breathing recirculating air on planes and I wanted to be protected before then.

The worst case I ever had of the flu was waaaaay back when I was in my late 20's during the month of September. I was on vacation at Club Med in Cancun. I don't know if it is any different these days at Club Med's, but back then probably 99% of the guests stayed for a week and arrived and left on Saturdays. So a mass exodus of guests going home and arrival of new guests every Saturday from all over the world.

This particular week in September, the resort was fully booked, about 700 people. By Tuesday, a few people had come down with the flu. Aches, chills, high fever, upper respiratory, sore throats -- all the classic symptoms of influenza. If a few people have it, you can be sure there are others in the incubation period that aren't showing symptoms yet but are shedding the virus. The resort had these beach parties on Tuesdays where they played drinking games and passed around the same bottle of sangria during the game and by Thursday 1/3 of the guests had the flu and the infirmary had been totally wiped out of aspirin. The flu, in the heat, with no aspirin.

Looking back, it's interesting to see how quickly it spread in a "closed population," with everyone arriving on the same day and and then leaving on the same day.

Another interesting thing is that only a handful of the employees came down with the flu. I suspect that was because they were out in the sun so much and they had very healthy levels of vitamin D, which plays a huge roll in being able to fight off illness. In addition to the flu vaccine, vitamin D is in my arsenal to prevent the flu and colds: Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D - Medical News Today

You find her and I will fly down and go with you :) I hate shots I hate counting before sticking and I hate slow it makes me so sick to my stomach and apparently I get very pale because I always get asked a million times if I'm ok.

I hate IV's.

It's the same shot just different batch.

Shop Smart says fist bump don't shake hands anymore lol

LMAO, sorry I know it's not funny at the time, thanks for the chuckle, had a bad week, I needed that laugh.

To bad you're limited to Tx, come to my CVS, JAB painless, I HATE needles, the old dart tech. works for me.