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Have you had your influenza shot for this winter yet? If not, are you going to get one?

26 Comments

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26 Comments
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Kids got theirs, of course, but I won't get mine. I just don't need one. I've never had fever of any kind, even with pneumonia. Hardly get above 37C, in fact. Why waste 7000yen then?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Nope! I've never had any preventative shots of any kind and am in great health. Exercize, water, fruits and vegetables, no processed food, and Exercize.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I haven't got a shot either (or ever). But I guess the real risk is not that you will get sick but that you might pass it on to an elderly person for whom it might be fatal.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No. I feel that my immune system can handle it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Never had one, never will... (don't like ANY kind of medication/drugs) but still in pretty good shape !

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Absolutely not getting it. It's a racket by big Pharma.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Absolutely not getting it. It's a racket by big Pharma.

Ditto

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

I don't think anyone apart from the elderly, and perhaps (but not for sure) those with a history of serious illness should be offered one, I think they are a terrible idea otherwise. What's wrong with relying on our immune systems?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I got mine in mid October. The reason why is that last year I got the flu when I went to Hawaii for 10 days. It was pretty bad. What a waste of vacation. Could not even swim. Lucky for me family are in management for Hawaiian Air and I only had to pay ¥30,000 for first class, and had free accomodations. I am going again in a few weeks, so wanted to be protected so as to not to waste 16 days.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't believe that this will do anything you can't do with proper health habits and staying as clean as possible around those who have or might have the bug or in places with it. What's more, every single person I know who got the flu last year had also gotten flu shots. They defend the shots and say that thanks to the shots the symptoms were milder than they could have been, but I don't buy it.

That said, some co-workers are suggesting I get it because I got minor bouts of the flu this year and last after I was asked by a friend of mine to visit a local school on my day off and talk to the kids, as well as the year before that, when I had time off. I did it as a favor but given that both times I got the flu I'm not sure I will do it again this time. Love playing with the kids, giving high-fives, and what not, but ultimately if I have to take time off work after and cause problems for my co-workers I'm not sure it's worth it.

A flu shot would not guarantee I don't catch it anyway, so I think I'll stick to my guns.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Like some before me, never had any and probably never will. Just my response to the question. Please feel free to exercise your thumb down reflex. It may make you feel better.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

If you found out how the flu shot is made and what goes in it you might change your mind. Mercury is one of the many substances found in the flu shot including aluminum, a neurotoxin, Triton X-100, a disinfectant, and octoxynol 9, a vaginal spermicide. So think again because flu shots won't make your children healthy and will only compromise the immune system. A wiser choice would be to avoid sugar, eat according to your nutritional type, exercise, get enough sleep, manage your emotional stress levels, and wash hands regularly because flu is a communicable disease.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I had a flu shot every year for 22 years while in the military, an never since I retired. I haven't caught the flu yet in the 15 years since then.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I don't plan to get one this year. I am big on vaccines but not a fan of the influenza one. It is made with strains that are predicted to be the strongest for the winter season. However, their actual effectiveness can be as low as 15%. I think last year's batch was around 20%...I am young and responsible enough to acknowledge my symptoms and stay away from others while sick.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Heck no! Amazing that even with health insurance it costs at least 3,000 yen.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

If you are young and healthy, I believe getting the flu shot is actually more dangerous than getting the flu. Yes, people do seem to die from flu shots and, well, even just getting shots of anything is not exactly 100 percent safe. You can wind up with sepsis from a needle that was not clean. And mistakes can be made with dosages and the actual item being injected. It seems 13 people were killed in Italy by a flu virus, but that news went down a rabbit hole and we are being told there is no causal link. Yeah. Whatever.

I would never turn anyone away from medicine they need, but, I am always mindful of the power of pharmaceutical companies and their profit incentive. If you don't NEED it for sure, don't get it.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Influenza shots are a RACKET by big pharma. The objections to them are PERFECTLY legitimate -- they contain harmful substances. Notice that they do not list the "ingredients."

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Influenza shots are a RACKET by big pharma. The objections to them are PERFECTLY legitimate -- they contain harmful substances. Notice that they do not list the "ingredients."

Moron.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Though I'm not particularly fond of needles and remember the discomfort from the side-effects of my flu shot last year very clearly, I think I will. For me there's good reason:

My first bout of influenza left me with a bronchitis that still persists. The second one made me even more ill, I got pneumonia and extreme pain in the joints and back for several days. I'd never want to go through that again. Last not least, flu shots are free over here.

As there's no guarantee that the vaccine will work I also avoid the company of sneezing and coughing people as best as I can, wash my hands regularly (especially after touching handles on trains or shopping carts) and stick to a healthy diet.

Please remember that influenza is not like a common cold. The pandemic of 1918 - 1920, caused by a very virulent strain with a mortality rate of 10 to 20%, killed at least 50 million people worldwide.

Stay healthy, everybody!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Doesn't cost me anything. It's only 2 or 3 strains that's determined to be most widespread, so even though it may be low chance but still better than nothing (as they say, can't win the lottery unless ya play).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yes, it's made up of the flu that went around last year or the years before and there is little likelihood it will contain the strains for the current year. It's a waste of money and time.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I will just carry on taking my 5000mg of vitamin D3 daily.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No, wash hands and lots of vitamin C mean I very rarely get sick....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just eat well, drink less & exercise. Never had a sick day in 15 years...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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