Harry
01-15-2006, 09:48 PM
The topic "Skaters and the flu" wouldn't take a reply so I'll see if this new thread works!
Quote
"And I just saw a report on the news last night that the flu virus strains lately have been much more resistant to the medication in the flu shot than in past years"
Got to respond to this topic. First of all, the flu shot does not have a "medication" in it that is resistant. The medications that were being talked about are to treat flu and are becoming resistant to certain strains, they are not in the vaccine. Secondly, one CANNOT get the flu from a shot. The serum is made with inactivated (dead) virus' and cannot transmit the flu. The body takes 2 weeks to develop resistance to the flu strains after the shot so if one is exposed during those 2 weeks or has already been exposed, a person can still get sick. The shot is not a guarantee against getting the flu but one may have milder symptoms. Also, a person's immune system can react differently so that while most people don't even know they've had the shot, others may experience a mild reaction (not the flu) for 12-24 hours, the immune system saying "hey, what did you do to me?!" This year's shot covered 3 strains, A/New Caledonia, A/California and B/Shanghai. Last year 36,000 people died from flu complications and so far this year, I know 5 children have already died in Wisconsin. I haven't heard nationwide reports yet but we have 3-4 months of flu season to go. I work in the medical world and see both ends of the spectrum, some who will never get another shot and most who think it is beneficial and necessary, one has to go with whatever is comfortable for you. :)
Quote
"And I just saw a report on the news last night that the flu virus strains lately have been much more resistant to the medication in the flu shot than in past years"
Got to respond to this topic. First of all, the flu shot does not have a "medication" in it that is resistant. The medications that were being talked about are to treat flu and are becoming resistant to certain strains, they are not in the vaccine. Secondly, one CANNOT get the flu from a shot. The serum is made with inactivated (dead) virus' and cannot transmit the flu. The body takes 2 weeks to develop resistance to the flu strains after the shot so if one is exposed during those 2 weeks or has already been exposed, a person can still get sick. The shot is not a guarantee against getting the flu but one may have milder symptoms. Also, a person's immune system can react differently so that while most people don't even know they've had the shot, others may experience a mild reaction (not the flu) for 12-24 hours, the immune system saying "hey, what did you do to me?!" This year's shot covered 3 strains, A/New Caledonia, A/California and B/Shanghai. Last year 36,000 people died from flu complications and so far this year, I know 5 children have already died in Wisconsin. I haven't heard nationwide reports yet but we have 3-4 months of flu season to go. I work in the medical world and see both ends of the spectrum, some who will never get another shot and most who think it is beneficial and necessary, one has to go with whatever is comfortable for you. :)