The Flu

[CyberB0b]

I haven't had the flu in probably 5-6 years, but got it this week. Apparently, it's going to be one of the toughest flu seasons we've had in a while.

 

[Runwildboys]

That sucks. I don't think I've ever had it, but I've been getting the shots the past few years as a (hopefully) safeguard.

 

[Reality]

That sucks. I don't think I've ever had it, but I've been getting the shots the past few years as a (hopefully) safeguard.

The problem with the shots is they make an educated guess over which strain will hit every year and tell the flu shot makers which type to mass produce. If they guess wrong, no one is protected. If they guy partially wrong (similar strain), people are semi-protected.

 

[Montanalo]

I generally fall into the category of risk adverse and, yet, I have never had a flu shot. Maybe I am just lucky, but I can't recall the last time I had a case of the flu.

 

[CyberB0b]

The problem with the shots is they make an educated guess over which strain will hit every year and tell the flu shot makers which type to mass produce. If they guess wrong, no one is protected. If they guy partially wrong (similar strain), people are semi-protected.

It's estimated it's 40-60% effective annually. For high risk people, like the elderly, that's a big boost.

 

[Reality]

It's estimated it's 40-60% effective annually. For high risk people, like the elderly, that's a big boost.

Oh I'm not in any way urging people to not get it. I'm simply saying that getting it does not make you immune to it, but rather helps reduce your chances of getting it.

The problem is that in some years, they guess wrong with both the primary and secondary strains and that leads to a lot more flu outbreaks.

It's still better than not getting one though for older people especially.

 

[nobody]

Oh I'm not in any way urging people to not get it. I'm simply saying that getting it does not make you immune to it, but rather helps reduce your chances of getting it.

The problem is that in some years, they guess wrong with both the primary and secondary strains and that leads to a lot more flu outbreaks.

It's still better than not getting one though for older people especially.

I wonder if they'll start using AI to try to predict it. Surely it'll get better than a human guess after enough variables are entered in.

 

[Runwildboys]

Oh I'm not in any way urging people to not get it. I'm simply saying that getting it does not make you immune to it, but rather helps reduce your chances of getting it.

The problem is that in some years, they guess wrong with both the primary and secondary strains and that leads to a lot more flu outbreaks.

It's still better than not getting one though for older people especially.

That's why I parenthesized the word "hopefully" in my reply.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I haven't had the flu in probably 5-6 years, but got it this week. Apparently, it's going to be one of the toughest flu seasons we've had in a while.

Good luck. You find the magic cure to help get over it quickly, please spread the word.

 

[DFWJC]

The problem with the shots is they make an educated guess over which strain will hit every year and tell the flu shot makers which type to mass produce. If they guess wrong, no one is protected. If they guy partially wrong (similar strain), people are semi-protected.

I think last year it was something like 11% effective.

But hey, the drug companies made billions

 

[CyberB0b]

Good luck. You find the magic cure to help get over it quickly, please spread the word.

Thanks man. The only thing I'm doing is letting it run its course.

 

[Ranching]

The problem with the shots is they make an educated guess over which strain will hit every year and tell the flu shot makers which type to mass produce. If they guess wrong, no one is protected. If they guy partially wrong (similar strain), people are semi-protected.

A friend's mom died from the flu after getting the shot. I've never gotten it. Shot or flu......

 

[YosemiteSam]

I got a flu shot back in Oct. A time or two, it felt like I was starting to get something, but it went away pretty quickly. Maybe that was the flu shot helped build up my immunity. I know tons of people where I work have been getting sick for a while now.

Over the last week, I've had terrible chest congestion and coughing. Today I got some antibiotics. If this works, it definitely wasn't the flu or a cold. Given I really didn't have a fever, I'm sure it was just some infection and the antibiotics should wack it out pretty quickly.

 

[DFWJC]

A friend's mom died from the flu after getting the shot. I've never gotten it. Shot or flu......

I got the flew in 1987, which was the last time I ever got a flu shot.
32 years, no shot, no flu.

Not saying to anyone not to get the shot, but I'll pass.

 

[DFWJC]

I wonder if they'll start using AI to try to predict it. Surely it'll get better than a human guess after enough variables are entered in.

You wonder.
Right now they look at the southern hemisphere results and try to translate that to us.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I wonder if they'll start using AI to try to predict it. Surely it'll get better than a human guess after enough variables are entered in.

I don't see why not.

MIT AI tool can predict breast cancer up to 5 years early, works equally well for white and black patients

The thing that concerns me about this kind of advancement is what health insurance providers will do with this information. Future cancer patients may be pre-rejected outright.

 

[BigStar]

I had the flu in November and it whooped me good. I was out for 5 days and lost 10-15 lbs. Can't remember being that sick since a kid.

 

[CouchCoach]

Never had a flu shot and never had the flu......until Feb 2013, haven't missed a flu shot since. I have never felt that bad in my life and while there's no assurance I will not get it again even with the shot, I am getting it every Oct. I also get the Pneumonia every 5 years and got the latest Shingles, after getting the one before that with less effectiveness.

Yep, don't like the pharma companies any better that anyone else but I don't like getting sick worse.

 

[CouchCoach]

I had the flu in November and it whooped me good. I was out for 5 days and lost 10-15 lbs. Can't remember being that sick since a kid.

Not liking that because you got sick but I can relate, had the same experiece. I had all the kids illnesses, chickenpox, measles, mumps, but don't think I was that sick.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I got the flu in 2018 at 45 and it's the sickest I've ever been. I missed about a week of work for the first time in my life, was really sick for about 3 weeks, and still getting over it almost 2 months later. I realize they aren't full proof, but I'll never miss my flu shot again.