Whether or not you had the flu is sort just a technicality. You had the symptoms of the flu -- and that should have been expected. What your physician said is, well, not quite accurate: There IS a relationship

The vaccine you got consisted of deactivated viruses -- meaning that they can't replicate in you body.

But, your body DID see the viruses and respond to them as it would to any virus -- with the symptoms that we call "The Flu".

So, you had "Flu Like Symptoms", but not "the flu"...
.... But your body thought it did and you felt like crap for awhile.

But, you should feel good about it: you may have prevented yourself from getting the flu this year and given it to a very young person or very old person who may have died from it. You may have saved somebody's life!

I've been getting the flu shot each year for the last 17 years through my employer, and it has never caused me any problems and I have not contracted the flu any year in which I received the vaccination. The one year I did contract the flu (1997), I contracted it in early October before they administered the flu shot at work. I contracted the flu during a trip to the casinos in Atlantic City, and I was sick for over a week. It was a stark reminder as to why I get the flu shot each year.

By the way, there was a fantastic article in the weekly Parade magazine about six weeks ago about vaccinations. It debunked a lot of the crap misinformation put out by the anti-vaccination movement and presented a clear scientific case as to why vaccinations are one of the biggest achievements of modern medical science and why everyone should get them.

H1N1,was in the killed virus mix , this year .. mine@ VA Med ctr, a couple months back,
new strain out this year

H3NA, has not been anticipated.. so it goes..

I not only get flu shots but, considering my age and occupation, they recommended a heavy duty (actually they called it high dose) version for me. I've had no side effects. I plan to get a "heavy duty" flu shot again next fall.

I don't get it..

I got a flu shot once,,,It gave me the flu, a light case lasted a few days.
Then two months later I got me a kick azz nasty bad flu. worst I ever had.

That was 25 years ago, so they get better i guess, the flu shots..
In that 25 years I've had the flu 3 or 4 times I think. was never near as bad as the one two months after that shot.

I guess for children and seniors, they may need them but for healthy adults I see no need....

In the past 40 years I have gotten one flu shot -- a few weeks later I got the worst flu I can remember. Since I get sick enough to miss work about once every 15 years or so, I figure that's a risk I'll take. I am extremely careful about prevention, everything from diet to exercise to my hand washing and food sharing practices.

K, I Unnerstand Bill,,,

I really don't feel the need,, but one day I guess,,

I'm assuming you read articles supporting the opposing view also. :)

Mike

This is the first time in years that I haven't gotten a flu shot... so I'm waiting... and wondering...

Gerald Ford tried to kill me with a swine flu shot. Yes, I almost croaked from the shot and that is the last flu shot I have ever had. Nuf said.

Dayum! I thought golf balls were his preferred way of taking out the citizenry.:(

Ditto on the heavy duty for wife and myself (age). Ditto on no side effects.

Interesting. I never knew such a thing existed: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_fluzone.htm

I avoid having flu shots. Everyone around who has had them always ends up with something resembling flu after getting a shot.

I find it interesting that there is increasing pressure on the makers of Tamiflu to provide their actual test and research results. The pressure is coming from governments who bought up huge stocks in face of the H1N1 epidemic. There is a growing belief in medical circles that the Tamiflu immunisation doesn't work. Thus far, the manufacturer of Tamiflu has refused to provide its results.

I have always believed that the flu shots provided to the general public have been one generation behind the ones that actually strike. So they are pointless anyway.

However, people seem to think they work. So their miles might vary compared with mine.

No Bill Its cool,,by one day I mean I will wait for my doctor to tell me i need them,,
At my last anual he said I did NOT need them, said a flu shot may or may not keep
me from getting a bad flu and missing work days.
Said at my age and physical condition he saw no NEED for me to have one..

He also is one who believes even antibacterial soap is a bad thing,,
Because it makes for stronger bugs and at a pace where we cannot develope antibodies fast enough.

I'm only 53, almost 54,,,I'm still a growing boy XD

The CDC recommendations as to whom should get an annual flu shot(I'm in the diabetic category):


http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/whoshouldvax.htm

I would also add teachers to the limited supply list of those recommended to get the innoculation, especially teachers of the primary grades. Teachers get exposed constantly to a barrage of colds and flu.

Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Influenza

The following lists include all groups recommended to get the flu vaccine, as well as those who are not recommended to receive either the flu shot or the nasal spray vaccine. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any questions regarding what flu vaccine options are best for you and your family.
The following groups are recommended to get a yearly flu vaccine:

• All persons aged 6 months and older should be vaccinated annually.
• Protection of persons at higher risk for influenza-related complications should continue to be a focus of vaccination efforts as providers and programs transition to routine vaccination of all persons aged 6 months and older.
• When vaccine supply is limited, vaccination efforts should focus on delivering vaccination to persons who:
  • are aged 6 months through 4 years (59 months);
  • are aged 50 years and older;
  • have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
  • are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);
  • are or will be pregnant during the influenza season;
  • are aged 6 months through 18 years and receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
  • are residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities;
  • are American Indians/Alaska Natives;
  • are morbidly obese (body-mass index is 40 or greater);
  • are health-care personnel;
  • are household contacts and caregivers of children aged younger than 5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged younger than 6 months; and
  • are household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

My wife and I have been getting flu shots for years now. We have never had a problem with the shots, and have never gotten the flu.

Another shot people of our age should get is a pneumonia shot. You read of so many times that a really old person dies of pneumonia.

BTW anyone that has trouble after a flu shot can get fixed right up if they take 2 asprin and 3 fingers of 12 year old medicine. Repeat if necessary. Your mileage may vary.:)

I'm 72, asthmatic and have been having flu shots with no adverse reaction for years. I also make sure my pneumonia shot (once every 7 years) is current, which is even more important.

On the subject of vaccines, it is also advisable to consider a shingles shot; if you've had chicken pox, you are at risk of contracting painful shingles.

For more than 20 years (can't remember longer than that lol ) I have gotten the vaccine without any trouble . This year I got it and have had an upper respiratory issue which I believe may have started prior to my receiving the vaccine. My point here is many times a person may have already started to have an unrelated illness on or about the time of the vaccination. Most times you'll be asked if you have a cold etc. before you are vaccinated.

This isn't meant to be a hijack of the thread, but your Doc is right that antibacterial soaps ain't necessarily so good.

During my first season of coaching high school soccer, I attended a seminar at the local hospital, part of which had to do with MRSA infections. The epidemiologist giving the presentation said that when they had a case at a high school, their first recommendation was to get rid of all bar soap - the soap doesn't kill the bacteria. She then explained that contrary to what we think, soap serves the purpose of simply cleaning the skin - washing away the dirt and hopefully enough of the bad bugs that our immune system can take care of what's left.

Antibacterial soaps sound so good, but what they do is change the "environment" on your skin. They do kill bacteria, but the good and the bad bugs, too. And then leave an environment ideal for the bad buggies to come play. A very nonscientific explanation, but it is early and I've only had one cuppa joe.

We youngsters less than 65 aren't old enough for that vaccine. (Unless we have health issues that put us as higher risk.)

I wonder if I'd qualify for the pneumonia shot since I'm diabetic?

Diabetes is on the list.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis...ds/vis-ppv.pdf

I have a friend from work that had MRSA as a result of a back surgery, and MRSA was what finally killed my dad. Nasty stuff - it pays to stay as healthy as possible to have a strong immune system, and to avoid antibiotics if you really don't need them. I don't use hand sanitizer, except after using a portable toilet, but wash my hands frequently.