Comments on: H1N1 immunizations – just do it!

By: trashee

trashee — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:41:10 +0000

@CarterD Thanks. Both for the compliment and the info. There are a lot of misconceptions floating around out there!

By: CarterD

CarterD — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:57:04 +0000

While the vaccine is dead and won’t “give you the flu,” your body’s immune system goes to work immediately and that’s why you feel sick for a couple of days. This is the missing piece of info most people need but don’t get. So, yes, you’ll likely feel a little sick for a day or two, but it’s your immune system going into overdrive to make sure the virus doesn’t spread. It doesn’t know the virus is already dead.

Prevention from H1N1 infection becomes more and more imparitve as the pandemic unfolds, simply because so few people outside the high risk groups will be able to get vaccinated for the time being.

Thankfully more and more articles are coming to light on how to protect from infection. One article includes info for vaccines state by state, as well as simple guides to protect oneself, many of which are not listed in this article. The link to that article can be found here:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-You-May-Not-Get-H1N1-Vaccine-and-How-to-Protect-Yourself

Thanks for such clear, concise information. Getting the word out is important, and I’m glad to have this article as a reference.

By: Evolving Squid

Evolving Squid — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:27:26 +0000

I should add… it’s actually something I have to deal with all the time. If you, or people you live with have flu or mumps, then my being around you puts me at risk. That’s one of the reasons it really pisses me off when sick people come to work.

Most people don’t think of the big picture with vaccinations, they only think of themselves. But the truth is that vaccinations are a population-level remedy.

By: Evolving Squid

Evolving Squid — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:23:55 +0000

The Squid Dude, however, with a medical history of egg allergy, cannot get the flu shot. This is another reason why it is important for people who can get immunized to do so. If immunization rates are high enough, there is a “herd immunity” – the disease can’t take hold so it becomes highly unlikely that unimmunized people will ever be exposed to it.

This is critical for people with egg allergies because a number of vaccinations are egg-based (flu still is, MMR used to be and may still be, not sure) and thus contraindicated for those people.

If immunization rates drop, a whole bunch of people are put at risk who otherwise need not be – both people who can’t get the shot, and people who can get the shot but don’t.

By: trashee

trashee — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:26:11 +0000

Thanks for the comment! I did not know that the flu could present without a fever. I just learned something new!

By: pogge

pogge — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:23:03 +0000

One point: there have been cases of A/H1N1 presenting without a fever. And on the general question of: can you have the flu without a fever, see this comment. The “sure can” in the title is a direct answer to that question.

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showComment.do?commentId=127977

The commenter is a retired MD.