Will you get the swine flu shot?

[cruelshoes]

Since this is on the news a lot, I thought I would start a discussion about the swine flu vaccine that is supposed to come out in a few months. Will you get it?
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

[aklap]

I've never [at least in adult years] gotten a flu shot, I won't be starting now.
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[teacherpat]

Last (and only) flu shot I got I needed IV steroids, benedryl etc. Not being a big fan of respiratory collapse or solumederol, I think I'll skip it.
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Pat

[celiacmaine-iac]

My doctor and I discussed it. She wants me to get the regular flu shot, but since I was alive in the 1950's she says that I may have some immunity to swine flu.
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Steph

[nancw]

No way no how.
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

[teacherpat]

We're not looking like a bunch of good little medical consumers, are we?
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Pat

[celiacmaine-iac]

[ostrich]

Nah. I've never gotten a flu shot, and I'm not going to start now. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger (and oink alot).
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Ostrich :>--O==={

Time falls away, but these small hours
These little wonders still remain

[kb9oyo]

I generally get the "regular" flu shot and have already gotten the new one for this year. After my experience this July with blood clots in the lungs so I couldn't breathe, it took me two weeks in intensive care to get passed them. I will get the H1N1 shots as soon as they are available. I don't want to have any more breathing difficulties!

Sue B.
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Sue Beyer

[cruelshoes]

I always get the regular flu shot. It is offered free at work. The one year I missed was the year I got the flu.

As for the swine flu shot, I am keeping my options open. I have no objection to vaccines per-se, but I'm not sure we will be going down that road. Just waiting and watching at this point.
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

[rpf1007]

I also always get the regular flu shot...offered at work. At the beginning I thought the flu shot was totally bogus, because I never had the flu before in my life (that I remember) and had never taken the flu shot. Then I promptly got the flu that year. So I have taken it every year since. I don't know about the swine flu thing....I guess we'll see what they have to say about it when it is actually finished production.
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Rachel

[lbd]

I was once offered a job as a trainer for Wyeth-Ayerst Labs, who at the time made seasonal flu shots. They explained during the interview process that about 18 months in advance, they pick one or two strains of flu that are likely to develop (out of hundreds to choose from) and make the vaccine for those. The shot does not protect against any other strain, nor does it guarantee that the ones it does protect against will even develop into a problem. It's basically a crap shoot. My father died one month after getting his flu shot...from the flu.

How likely am I to get a shot that was rushed into development in response to what seems like a relatively non-threatening flu? Zero. As with any new thing, it might be better to wait and see what bugs arise first. Never buy the first generation of anything. And always ask - who is making money off this? Seems a bit jaded I'm sure, but...

[lbd]

I was once offered a job as a trainer for Wyeth-Ayerst Labs, who at the time made seasonal flu shots. They explained during the interview process that about 18 months in advance, they pick one or two strains of flu that are likely to develop (out of hundreds to choose from) and make the vaccine for those. The shot does not protect against any other strain, nor does it guarantee that the ones it does protect against will even develop into a problem. It's basically a crap shoot. My father died one month after getting his flu shot...from the flu.

How likely am I to get a shot that was rushed into development in response to what seems like a relatively non-threatening flu? Zero. As with any new thing, it might be better to wait and see what bugs arise first. Never buy the first generation of anything. And always ask - who is making money off this? Seems a bit jaded I'm sure, but...

[cardine45]

I usually get a flu shot (I got in the habit when it was required because I worked in the medical field), but I will not be getting a swine flu shot. Like others have said, it worries me that they came up with it very quickly.

My step-moms doctor thinks she has swine flu right now, but they haven't done any tests to confirm as he didn't think it was necessary. She said it isn't that bad, so I'm not too concerned about actually getting it. I'm not in a high risk category when it comes to death as a result, so I'd rather deal with the illness if it happens.

[teacherpat]