WHERE’S MY FLU SHOT???

[Lauralye]

I'm not sure if this has already been talked about... perhaps not since most of you nice people like in the UK, but as you may have heard on the news, there is a major shortage of flu shots in America. They have limited them to elderly, infants, and the sick. Unfortunatly, that leaves none for the others...like me. I have gotten a flu shot almost every year.... and now that's not availible, and i'm freaking out because winter (flu season) is near and my job puts me at high risk of getting sick... (working with kids) How do i deal?????





-Lauralye

[pippi]

Do a search on google on dangers of HAVING a flu shot.Know what you are missing out on....is isn't so bad once you learn more about what they put in the shot and how likely it is to actually help you avoid the flu.

[Jenneh]

first off, try not to panic, u get panic urself so much u get ill...


keep ur body healthy, and thers a good chance it can cope on its own without a flu shot!!


i've never had the flu, and never had ne shot either... so it is possible.


Jen xxxx

[2jo2]

I've never had a flu shot and I've also never had the flu. There are lots of articles on the internet on how to avoid the flu, and frankly, it's the same as avoiding a stomach virus: wash your hands, don't share utensils with anyone, don't touch your face, etc. Really, there's no need to panic about it because I think the majority of people don't get the flu shot in normal years. You're young, you're probably healthy, and therefore you're not at high risk of developing complications if you get it. Plus, if you work with kids, then hopefully those kids have had their shot and shouldn't spread it around. If people just use common sense and stay home when they're sick, everyone else will be alot better off.

[Melikasa]

I hadn't had a flu shot till recently. I hadn't really known about it at first and never had the flu without it. My husband and I get it because of out asthma and it is free. . The rules here that if you are in a high risk area doctors, nurses, child care, pharmacy, doctors office etc etc you can get one for $15.
What I have heard on the news is that the US is trying to take our meds including the flu shot. So it may work out for you yet. The unfortunate thing is that if we agree it leaves Canada with almost non only enough for elderly and sick.
I don't see how your governement keep messing orders like that up.
Good news though is that from what I have heard the flu isn't suppose to be a big deal this year anyways. Nothing too threatening. Just aches, fever, sore body, headache.
Like 2jo2 said just be careful and be on top of the washing your hands. Get some of that Lysol dissinfectant spray, some alcohol gel for your hands and don't share your things orally.

[2jo2]

I've heard the same thing as Melikasa about the flu season prediction this year... not supposed to be too bad. I think they guage by how Austrailia and New Zealand did in their winter. It seems to follow I guess. Hope that eases some people's minds about it.

[trickyvicky]

Laurayle,i have never had the flu jab and never had the actual flu.....in the UK they only give the jab to people who are elderly and ill like with diabetes,heart probs and so on.....I'm 32 nearly and have been exposed to people who have had it but luckily never got it,i say this as i touch wood......Try not to worry because it shows that if people can go without it and not get it then theres not a problem.....and as the UK can have the worst winters and weather all year round,i guess we would be more pron to having the flu.....


take care of yourself,make sure u get enough sleep and take some vitamins like C,and b.....c is good for immune system and b is good for the brain funtion......i.e anxiety and depression.....


take care vicky

[Ickis]

I have had the flu every year that I didn't have the jab. Luckily, the only symptoms were aches, a cough, runny nose, sore throatand headaches.

[Lauralye]

Flu Jab? thats an interesting name for the flu shot. I like it.


I do have anibacterial gel... i also work at Bath and Body Works so we sell that stuff. I just bought some today.





-Lauralye

[leese]

Flu Shots are for the cold kind of flu...not stomach flu's.

[donna1216]

I got the flu shot once (when I was pregnant with my 1st baby), since pregnant women are supposed to be high risk, but I didn't get one with my 2nd pregnancy, and I was managing a children's gym and in contact with sooo many children daily at that time--and I was fine!! I did not get the flu and those kids were coughing, sneezing, drooling, etc. around me and Logan and on the play equipment, we just washed our hands alot!! So, I'm sure you will be fine--the one thing I worry about is touching SHOPPING CARTS, I get convinced that ecery cart at Wal Mart [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img] has been used by someone going to the pharmacy to buy Thera Flu or Pepto Bismol and that I'm touching their flu germs!!! Lysol is also a GREAT idea!!
I've already had the flu this year--I got it in August, SUMMERTIME, for goodness sake, so it can strike at any time, not just during the actual flu season!!

[drummers-wife]

I am so aggravated at not being able to get my flu shot or one for my children. We get them every year...I am so paranoid about getting sick that I feel it is good to have one. Also, I got the achey flu one year and it turned into pneumonia, and that was definately not fun landing in the emergency room. I hope to live through the winter without spiraling down into a depression over my fear of getting sick.

[Melikasa]

Are you worried about getting any sickness? I know I worry about the stomach flu and I do make sure to take precautions so I don't get the cold or flu too, but I am notworried about getting the flu or cold.
I don't get how your government can know flu season is comming and still somehow not make enough, but the flu shot doesn't stop or prevent the stomach flu. Keep your chin up.
I read in a medical journal anyways that this years flu isn't even bad and even if there were no shots there wasn't even a possibility for it to turn into a pandemic. In fact I have heard of a few people that had it and they were even able to continue working while sick (not they should have[img]smileys/smilies_07.gif[/img]) but they weren't bed ridden.

[harmonygirl72]

Okay, I will tell you this story just so you will hopefully stop worrying about the flu shot. And, I don't want to start an argument because I know there are always two distinct camps where people stand on this issue. I teach in a school and every year (except this year) they offer us the shot, and people are always divided. There are those who swear by them and those who never get one. (I never get one.) Many of those who don't swear that they got sick FROM the flu shot, while those who do say it is IMPOSSIBLE to get sick from a flu shot! My theory is kind of like my quote down there....if you think it works, it does and if you think it makes you sick, it does. I think the mind can do a lot!! But, I do have a friend who swears she actually got sick to her stomach after the shot! I know that is crazy and not logical, but that is another reason I don't get one. The other reasons are that I am afraid of needles and I don't really get sick that often.


So, I hope you can relax knowing that you will be okay....with or without your shot this year!


Mary

[donna1216]

Maybe try that "Air Born" OTC medication. Oprah swears it works, haha!!

[drummers-wife]

I am mostly afraid of getting the stomach flu and vomiting....but whenever I get sick with anything, I am afraid it will lead to vomiting so I get myself stressed out and usually end up sicker than I would have been. Also, I have found I can't take antihistamines because they make me nauseous, so I avoid them. But mostly I am afraid of throwing up. If my children get sick with tonsillitis or strep, and they throw up, I am never worried about getting that. But here where I live (Iowa, US) it is going to start getting colder and snowy and we are all cooped up inside, and I guess I probably have some sort of seasonal depression thing because I always get down in the winter months, and sickness of any kind just compounds the problem. I actually thought I might get over this phobia as I got older, but it seems to only get worse. There has been a stomach bug going around at my kids daycare, and now my daughter has been saying all day that her tummy hurts. So of course, all I will do now is sit around and stew about that till I make myself feel sick! AAAUUUGGGHHH!!! It is an endless cycle for me.

[pippi]

Drummers wife...
First of all the pediatric dosage of the flu vax wasn't contaminated so it has no effect on your children getting the vax. BUT the flu vax does do a thing to prevent stomach bugs or tonsil/cold/strep type illness...only the flu. The flu is more like achey can't get out of bed because you are so weak cold like symptoms.
Maybe you could call your medical doctor and talk about the pros and cons for your family

[SimplyMe]

OK I was going to copy an article I found and saved from the newspaper but can't find it int he mass of clutter and crap I seem to accumulate. So, basically what it was was a whole thing on NATURAL ways to fight off the flu. If I find it I will definitely post it, anyhow,t he one that really stood out was green tea, which we all know is good for us anyhow. According to this article the shot isn't necessary if you do all this natural stuff. Even tho I can't find it you can always go into your natural foods store near you and talk to someone that works there to find out which vitamins/remedies you can use to fight the flu or keep it at bay. BTW I have never had a flu shot, the whole thing creeps me out, so maybe it is easy for me to say don't freak because I never had one before so I'm int he same situation I've always been in, but really the more you stress the more you wear down your immune system so try! Hope this helps someone!

[drummers-wife]

I was actually heading to Wal Mart today to see what vitamins I could get to naturally help my immune system. I know the type of flu that is prevented by the flu shot isn't the vomiting type but I still want to avoid it. What does anybody know about Ester-C or Echinacea (for immune systems)?