What is with these flu shots???

[skooooo]

This is incredible. Making vaccine isn't "profitable", so it's not worth doing. Of course the rich will get their shots because they're important. So Orwellian. This makes me sick.

[benburch]

1. I cannot see why the government shouldn't make its own vaccines.

I think we see what private industry has to offer here already...

[soothsayer]

2. ack! Us tinfoilers couldn't take that. Godnoze what they'd slip in there

to try on us. No way!!

[PaDUer]

9. That's exactly

what I think..I don't trust them one bit.

[glarius]

3. We have flu shots (our gov'm't sees to that) here!

In Canada we all have health coverage, (without government interference as I've heard Bush trying to scare you with)....We choose our own doctors, have access to all specialists and treatments and the doctors and hospitals send in the bills which the government pays....This is the ONLY government involvement...paying the bills...Incidentally, we have flu vaccine for everyone too....I wish my neighbours south of the border had the same as we and all other democracies have...You deserve it and are being cheated by your government....

[RubyDuby in GA]

4. Ok, I know that young children and the elderly need them

but I still can't see what's the fuss for the rest of us. I've never had one and I'm still here. And every single person I've ever known (without fail) who's had one has gotten the flu.

Can we blow something else out of proportion for a while? I'm tired of hearing about this.........

[TO Kid]

5. Really?

I can't figure out why everyone is so freaked. I've never had a flu shot, grew up in a house with smokers, rode a bike without a helmet and ate Oreos with those eeeevil trans fats. Ye Gods, I should be dead!!!!!

[AP]

6. Say you're an hourly worker who only gets paid if you work. A $10 flu shot

that cuts the chance of you getting the flu from 1 in 3 to 1 in 300 could save you $300. It saves your employer more than that (presuming your employer doesn't employ you at a loss).

And who knows. Maybe the day you showed up to work when you otherwise would have been sick at home was the day you came up with some brilliant idea which made society even more money (or saved someone's life).

Well, it seems like we should be making that $10 investment. Such a little thing and it allows you to enjoy life and make a better contribution to your bank account and to society.

[Bridget Burke]

7. I've had flu shots for several years & haven't had the flu.

That's only anecdotal--but so is your statement about people who got the shots & then got the flu. Did their flu show up so soon after the shot that they'd already been exposed? Did their doctors explain that they fell victim to a strain not covered in that year's shot? Or did they just have bad colds & misdiagnose themselves?

The "fuss" this year is about the high risk people who can't get the shots. Thousands die every year from influenza, so the "normal" situation is not that good. Sorry you're tired of hearing about it--they're mostly old, young or sick, so they're beneath your notice.

Though it's not as important, we low risk people who usually get the vaccine--but won't this year--might be a problem to you. We'll have more chance of getting sick & spreading the disease. Contagion occurs before symptoms appear.

[Mel]

8. you and I one day may be old or sick

that's why WE the healthy stand up for the old, young or sick.
We are the ones that hold feet to the fire so it doesn't happen again!
You might be tired of hearing about it but how can you not see that when others suffer it can come your way too? If you don't die by some freak sudden death accident your very likely to get old or get sick and need help that's why instead of being tired of hearing about it you should raise hell for those who can't hell one day your turn might come.

Also, why should my still working her own business hairstylist Grandmother who's by most peoples standards old (in her 80's) doesn't take any medicines not be able to get her flu vaccine her mother lived to be almost 100 (missed it by 3 months) just died this year?


Crony Capitalism is not working with our health care just how many people are going to have to damn die before we get pissed enough to do something about it? We are the only industrialized democracy to not have health care coverage for all it's people. No showing up in an emergency room and getting care is NOT enough! That doesn't work it doesn't fix the problem period and it's unfair to Nurses and Doctors. I realize they will help us but don't you think they would of rather seen us in their offices before it was to late or where they could of got us back on our feet where we stayed productive for ourselves. Imagine their pain seeing people that could of been just fine if they would of had health care before they got so sick?

I mean really just what are we thinking that we aren't worthy? Do we not think we pay enough already in taxes to have health care? Why must people have to suffer to get 'it'? that's so wrong I don't need to suffer to have compassion for those who suffer.

[buckettgirl]

13. flu shots and health care coverage

I'm not going to argue that health care is a disaster. Its a moot point, we all know its a mess.

However, a person doesn't need to have health care coverage of any kind to be able to afford a flu shot.
I believe (which I may need to double check this)that Medicare recepients only have to pay $3.00 for their shot. Paying out of pocket is only about $10 - $15. That is here in north-central Kansas - which as I said before, my father is a county health administrator.
I also know that many people don't realize that they can use their County Health Department to get a flu shot (cheap) instead of going to their doctor, which of course costs more.

I know we may be poor, in debt up our butts, but I'll be damned if I can't fork over $15 for a flu shot, especially when it is bound to save me hundreds of dollars in the long run.

The problem here is getting enough vaccine. You make it sound as though people aren't getting it because they can't afford it, not because it is simply unavailable. It baffles me why, every year there is a flu vaccination shortage: EVERY YEAR!. Every year, they can't make enough, when they should know by now how much to make. I don't know how the batch sent from England was contaminated, but it only exacerbated an already existant problem: this was nothing new.

[greekspeak]

11. The last time I got the flu was the last year I did not get a flu shot

I have not had it since. The most effect I have ever gotten from a flu shot was a couple hours of fatigue. An advil pretty much does away even with that. I don't want to get the flu. I cannot afford the time to be laid up in bed for up to three weeks, nor do I want to. I am perfectly happy taking the flu shot. I hear a lot of people on here who don't get sick with the flu even without one. I catch colds and flu very easily, and I work in a lot of poorly ventilated environments packed with people that will go to to school sick even if they have to be carried in. I want my frigging flu shot, dammit, and there is no excuse for anyone who wants one not to have one. The corporate greed in this country is going to be its downfall. Profit margins over people is an equation for disaster.

[buckettgirl]

12. FLU shots are good

My dad is the the county health administrator in a North central Kansas county.
He has not had a shortage of vaccine any more than normal (he has never been able to get "enough" dunno why). He received all of his doses and publicly stated that he would not turn anyone away who wanted one.
I get one, because if I don't, I end up in the hospital with the flu (and I did end up in the hospital nearly every year until I started receiving flu shots in high school - I am now 23). I am on my husband's health insurance, but we can't afford deductables and co-pays and prescriptions....better to just avoid it all.
I get so tired of people saying the won't get a flu shot because it will give them the flu. NO! It will not!! It can not!! A flu shot contains a dead virus, which if it is dead it can't infect you. Most people who DO get sick FROM a flu shot do so because they are allergic to eggs!
Of course as someone else stated, they were probably exposed before their shot or are over diagnosing themselves.
However, that flu spray stuff, which I don't know much about, contains a miniscule quantity of a live virus to help build antibodies. A person could, potentially get sick from the spray, but I haven't really heard of it. This stuff is not recommended for those with weakened immune systems, however.
I think it is common knowledge that if you don't really have problems with the flu, and aren't in contact with sick children, the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, then you are probably safe not to get a flu shot.
However, if you are in regular contact with these people, it is highly advisable to get a flu shot, and to take universal precautions if you care for them (washing hands, etc).

[stranger_with_candy]

10. Local News

Leading Story : FLU CRISIS!! Because a 2 year old was diagnosed with the flu and was the first case in the state. I'd hardly call this a crisis. WFSB in Hartford.