The 2012-2013 US Flu Epidemic

[Joey D]

I work in healthcare so I'm bombarded with health news daily from my boss, co-workers, administration, etc. and the hottest topic right now is the flu. The US is experiencing one of the highest outbreaks of the flu virus its had in a number of years.

You can read more about the epidemic here:
Flu 'epidemic ... still on the uptick,' national health official says

Now only if there was some sort of shot you could get, say in September, that would protect you from the latest strain of the flu and would last all through the flu season...oh wait...

I don't understand people who outright refuse to get a flu shot and anyone who thinks you can get the flu from a flu shot is just a major face palm. The flu virus that is injected into you when you get a flu shot is an inactive virus and can't harm you in any way. The reason people get sick is because it typically takes 2 weeks for your body to build up a resistance to the virus after the shot. You are also typically in a doctor's office when you get the shot, and you're surrounded by sick people which increases your chances for getting sick. Also people who claim they can't get the shot because of an allergy obviously have never talked to a medical professional because there are several serums out there made for people that are allergic to one of the ingredients (predominately an egg derivative).

I know my current and previous places of employment didn't give their employees an option, you were required to get a flu shot if you wanted to keep your job. At my previous employer people actually were fired because they refused to get the shot, which I applaud because having a nurse without a flu shot is a major health risk to their patients. I honestly wish more companies would do the same thing and give their employees the option of a flu shot or the door.

Oh and I blame Jenny McCarthy for helping influence so many people that vaccines cause problems.


So what's your thoughts on the flu and preventative care? Anyone experiencing symptoms (actual flu symptoms, not I have a cold or an upset stomach)?

 

[Azuremen]

I've not had the flu in years, nor have I bothered getting a flu shot in years. I personally hate needles and the fact that I've gotten sick despite getting the shot just never made it a positive thing, regardless of the reasons why I contracted the flu.

Frankly, the mutation rate of influenza combined with international travel and such makes me doubt effectiveness of a shot for more than a couple of months. Really, I should probably do some more research of my own on it, but it isn't enough of an issue to me personally to worry much, despite the "epidemic."

 

[Keef]

Like Azuremen, I haven't gotten the shot or fell ill in years. I do remember getting the shot once or twice around middle school age and getting the flu despite the shot.

I think whether or not you get sick has more to do with personal hygiene, lifestyle and setting than anything. You, Joey, work in a hospital and are surrounded by sick people (which I find absolutely disgusting) so of course you're a lot more prone to getting sick than some other people. Hopefully college-aged kids are smarter than middle schoolers about coughing and sneezing on people but I've managed to get through the past few years just fine.

 

[arora]

I've never had one, it's not often I get very ill but I've had the flu a few times(got it from my snot nose kids when they were little)

There was some mention of firing hospital workers in Detroit for smoking, I poked around when that point was brought up and found a hospital requiring the flu shot for employees. Some got out of it based on allergy or religion, a few where fired. I have no comment on that, being a workplace etc...

I don't think forcing things like this on the public as law is a good idea though.

 

[opelgt1969]

I would like to see some "real" data of how many people getting the flu got a shot. I've never had a shot or the "flu" they hype on the news. When ever Wal-Mart and "Food Chain" are selling them makes me wonder who these people are that give you the shot!

 

[CodeRedR51]

I've not had the flu in years, nor have I bothered getting a flu shot in years.

Like Azuremen, I haven't gotten the shot or fell ill in years.

x3

Can't remember when I last had one. Don't care to get another, I never get sick. Nobody at work seems to be sick either, and I don't go out unless I need something. Think I'll be fine.

 

[Joel]

I've not had the flu in years, nor have I bothered getting a flu shot in years. I personally hate needles and the fact that I've gotten sick despite getting the shot just never made it a positive thing, regardless of the reasons why I contracted the flu.

Frankly, the mutation rate of influenza combined with international travel and such makes me doubt effectiveness of a shot for more than a couple of months. Really, I should probably do some more research of my own on it, but it isn't enough of an issue to me personally to worry much, despite the "epidemic."

Like Azuremen, I haven't gotten the shot or fell ill in years. I do remember getting the shot once or twice around middle school age and getting the flu despite the shot.

I think whether or not you get sick has more to do with personal hygiene, lifestyle and setting than anything. You, Joey, work in a hospital and are surrounded by sick people (which I find absolutely disgusting) so of course you're a lot more prone to getting sick than some other people. Hopefully college-aged kids are smarter than middle schoolers about coughing and sneezing on people but I've managed to get through the past few years just fine.

Here's the thing. Flu shots have differing levels of effectiveness on specific people (but the fact remains you are much less likely to get the flu if you get a shot compared with not being vaccinated), but they're incredibly effective collectively when you talk about infection rates across a population. The more people in a given population are vaccinated, the less of a chance the disease has of spreading and infecting others. In your cases, you guys are both in your mid 20's and aren't really at much risk of health complications of the flu. That being said, if you do pick up a flu virus, you're potentially exposing the virus to small children or the elderly, who are the people most likely to have severe health complications from getting the flu. There's also that a lot of times people contract the flu and exhibit no symptoms, you could both have very well picked up the flu and not known, but passed it along to others.

Look into "community/herd immunity" for more.

 

[TextRich]

A large U.S. city 15 minutes from me declared a flu emergency 2 days ago, but the students I teach in my hometown are all well and kicking. It's all just hype fueled by the media.

That said, I do get a flu vaccine late in the autumn at my workplace (which provides it as part of our health plan). A big misconception of the flu vaccine is that it will prevent all possibility of influenzia. It doesn't - it contains common flu strains but not all of them. Even the U.S. Department of Health rates the vaccine as 60% effective in preventing the flu.

http://www.flu.gov/prevention-vaccination/vaccination/index.html

I have gotten the flu before and it really affects your daily routine. Anything to lessen the chance of getting it, even if it's not 100% effective, is OK in my book.

 

[JJSCHMITTY2000]

A large U.S. city 15 minutes from me declared a flu emergency 2 days ago, but the students I teach in my hometown are all well and kicking. It's all just hype fueled by the media.

That said, I do get a flu vaccine late in the autumn at my workplace (which provides it as part of our health plan). A big misconception of the flu vaccine is that it will prevent all possibility of influenzia. It doesn't - it contains common flu strains but not all of them. Even the U.S. Department of Health rates the vaccine as 60% effective in preventing the flu.

http://www.flu.gov/prevention-vaccination/vaccination/index.html

I have gotten the flu before and it really affects your daily routine. Anything to lessen the chance of getting it, even if it's not 100% effective, is OK in my book.

Even if it's 60% less likely, that's still a lot when you talk about a population of 300 million. And at any rate, people who get the shot are not going to have as severe health complications.

 

[Joey D]

Getting a flu shot won't gurentee you immunity from the flu, but it greatly reduces your chances of getting it. And as pointed out, it doesn't cover all strains, but it does cover the predominate ones. Same thing goes for most vaccines though.

Like Azuremen, I haven't gotten the shot or fell ill in years. I do remember getting the shot once or twice around middle school age and getting the flu despite the shot.

I think whether or not you get sick has more to do with personal hygiene, lifestyle and setting than anything. You, Joey, work in a hospital and are surrounded by sick people (which I find absolutely disgusting) so of course you're a lot more prone to getting sick than some other people. Hopefully college-aged kids are smarter than middle schoolers about coughing and sneezing on people but I've managed to get through the past few years just fine.

I don't work in a hospital anymore, which is fine by me, but when you're around a large group of people your chances of getting the flu are much greater. If you go to school your likelihood of getting sick, whether the flu or something else, is very high just due to sheer numbers.

There was some mention of firing hospital workers in Detroit for smoking, I poked around when that point was brought up and found a hospital requiring the flu shot for employees. Some got out of it based on allergy or religion, a few where fired. I have no comment on that, being a workplace etc...

I don't think forcing things like this on the public as law is a good idea though.

Every hospital in the Detroit area has a strict no-smoking policy and if you smoke you're out, which I can agree with. Having a nurse that smells of smoke can really cause havoc some patient's allergies and respiratory systems.

Also there is no religion that is accepted in the United States that outlaws flu shots. My last place of employment conducted a study to figure that out so I think organizations jut let it slide to avoid a fight. Also as I've said there are numerous serums so the allergy point is moot too, but once again it's easier to say screw it and just let those people get away with it. Although typically if you don't get a flu shot, hospitals will require their employees to wear PPE like masks, gowns and gloves the entire length of the flu season as long as they are on the campus.

While having a law stating you have to have a vaccine probably wouldn't work, we are already sort of pushed towards that since in most place you can't get into school or be employed without a certain number of vaccines. It makes me wonder how all these people who think Jenny McCarthy is right will make it in life.

I would like to see some "real" data of how many people getting the flu got a shot. I've never had a shot or the "flu" they hype on the news. When ever Wal-Mart and "Food Chain" are selling them makes me wonder who these people are that give you the shot!

That's why you go to a place you actually trust, I mean it's still an injectable and certain protocol still needs to be taken to ensure safety. I'd never get one at a place like CVS.

 

[arora]

Also there is no religion that is accepted in the United States that outlaws flu shots. My last place of employment conducted a study to figure that out so I think organizations jut let it slide to avoid a fight. Also as I've said there are numerous serums so the allergy point is moot too, but once again it's easier to say screw it and just let those people get away with it. Although typically if you don't get a flu shot, hospitals will require their employees to wear PPE like masks, gowns and gloves the entire length of the flu season as long as they are on the campus.

How could a religion outlaw a flu shot? In any event here you go...

According to UPI, a total of 26 employees filed for an exemption from the mandatory flu vaccination. Eleven appeals were granted along religious lines, and several more employees were exempted because they faced the possibility of a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine.

So, just to avoid a fight? hmmm not anything to do with constitutional rights I'm sure.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/goshen-hospital-employees-fired-flu-shot_n_2404328.html

While having a law stating you have to have a vaccine probably wouldn't work, we are already sort of pushed towards that since in most place you can't get into school or be employed without a certain number of vaccines. It makes me wonder how all these people who think Jenny McCarthy is right will make it in life.

I don't know who this McCarthy is but it's easy to see why her cause could gain momentum.

 

[Joey D]

Looks like the people fired on religious grounds were just making things up because they wanted to be difficult. No one is forcing you to work at a hospital, if you choose to work there you need to follow the procedures, especially with something that deals with patient safety. And if your religion is that opposed to being stuck with needles you'd never pursue a job at a hospital in the first place because you have to get a TB test yearly and you have to be current on every vaccine.

I'm not entirely sure what your constitutional rights comment is getting at though.

 

[arora]

Are you skipping the people who did not loose their job or get the shot due to religious grounds?

 

[Slash]

The last time I got a flu shot I got sick as hell. I've had H1N1, and now I have this current strain thats going around.

 

[Joey D]

Are you skipping the people who did not loose their job or get the shot due to religious grounds?

I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to get at. The people who lost their jobs didn't have legitimate reasons. Those who were grant exceptions probably were done so to avoid a fight and the hospital didn't want to waste time or money with a stupid lawsuit.

And people who claim an allergy are obviously ignorant to other means of the vaccine.

It's a safety thing. If you can't comply with safety measures at a job then the job probably isn't for you.

The last time I got a flu shot I got sick as hell. I've had H1N1, and now I have this current strain thats going around.

The shot had nothing to do with you getting sick. And if you're that susceptible to the flu getting the shot before flu season starts probably would be a good idea.

 

[Omnis]

I think I was already sick with whatever's been going around before it became an epidemic. But, I notice a lot more people are in the beginning stages of getting sick or coughing, etc., so I'm taking care to wash my hands and sanitize more often.

 

[arora]

I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to get at. The people who lost their jobs didn't have legitimate reasons. Those who were grant exceptions probably were done so to avoid a fight and the hospital didn't want to waste time or money with a stupid lawsuit.

My word, people kept their job, did not get the shot, claimed religious reasons. How hard is that to understand?

 

[Joey D]

My word, people kept their job, did not get the shot, claimed religious reasons. How hard is that to understand?

And I said it was probably to avoid a stupid lawsuit, it happens in healthcare way more than it should, although I suspect it happens in every industry. That article is pretty vague though so it's hard to say what the context was and honestly we will never know because the hospital won't release that information. Also the employees could easily be claiming that's why they were fired when in fact it was for a multitude of reasons.

 

[arora]

And I say first amendment.

 

[Joey D]

And I say first amendment.

This is going to turn into a big Constitution argument isn't it? I guess we can't talk about any event on GTP without it turning into a discussion about the Constitution, human rights or whatever else is always thrown around.

I'll just end this before it gets stupid. If you want to continue this discussion just pick any other thread in the Opinion Forum.