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Damn that flu bug!
- Thread starter maureen
- Start date
Peter Creasey
Peter Creasey
A friend of mine got sick (apparently the flu) on a flight to Arizona and ended up dying the next day in the hospital.
. . . . . Pete
. . . . . Pete
Ack! That's terrible, Pete (and quite the bummer, Maureen). SFJoe's got his ear to the ground on this one, but the reports I've heard suggest that this flu season is more widespread at an earlier stage than is the norm. The flu vaccine ain't perfect, but it sure looks like the prudent thing to do.
Mark Lipton
Mark Lipton
originally posted by MLipton:
Ack! That's terrible, Pete (and quite the bummer, Maureen). SFJoe's got his ear to the ground on this one, but the reports I've heard suggest that this flu season is more widespread at an earlier stage than is the norm. The flu vaccine ain't perfect, but it sure looks like the prudent thing to do.
Mark Lipton
The flu is getting great press in the last week, and this season is a bit worse than some recent ones--it's H3, not H1, and perhaps more prevalent. "The worst season we've seen since 2009," said the mayor of Boston.
But it's not Contagion. Get vaccinated, it is a decent bet if not a total promise of safety. If you have a fever over 100* and a cough, get to your doctor in the first day of symptoms and get some tamiflu.
Otherwise, drink lots of water and eat your greens.
Logan Hegg
Logan Hegg
$30 copay for Tamiflu & started 1 day after my symptom onset(it's also approved for prophylaxis), 1 day off work, lots of sleep and water, and I think I've made it through this round of infection in pretty good shape. Taste buds remain intact, it seems.
Sharon Bowman
Sharon Bowman
This op-ed intrigued me, however.
“We have overpromoted and overhyped this vaccine,” said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, as well as its Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance. “It does not protect as promoted. It’s all a sales job: it’s all public relations.”
“We have overpromoted and overhyped this vaccine,” said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, as well as its Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance. “It does not protect as promoted. It’s all a sales job: it’s all public relations.”
Jay Miller
Jay Miller
But he then goes on to say:
"I say, 'Use this vaccine'," he said. "The safety profile is actually quite good. But we have oversold it. Use it - but just know it's not going to work nearly as well as everyone says."
"I say, 'Use this vaccine'," he said. "The safety profile is actually quite good. But we have oversold it. Use it - but just know it's not going to work nearly as well as everyone says."
Jim Hanlon
Jim Hanlon
originally posted by SFJoe:
Get vaccinated, it is a decent bet if not a total promise of safety.
A couple days ago, NPR reported this year's vaccine has been 62% effective, which they said is about average. I was surprised the effective rate is so low. Made me more diligent with the Purell.
Jay Miller
Jay Miller
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
originally posted by SFJoe:
Get vaccinated, it is a decent bet if not a total promise of safety.
A couple days ago, NPR reported this year's vaccine has been 62% effective, which they said is about average. I was surprised the effective rate is so low. Made me more diligent with the Purell.
Actually that's better than I expected. I've been assuming 50% which I regard as well worth the minimal effort. I'll take a 50% less chance of suffering a full blown bout with the flu any day (having had the flu in the past it's not fun).
kirk wallace
kirk wallace
"Dr. Osterholm, who says he is concerned that confidence in current vaccines deters research into identifying more effective agents, comes from the world of public health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "
And not a single sentence reporting evidence of how such research is deterred or what it might be. The rest is just sensationalism. Jay's analysis of the real choices seems exactly right. And that is missing from the article as well.
And not a single sentence reporting evidence of how such research is deterred or what it might be. The rest is just sensationalism. Jay's analysis of the real choices seems exactly right. And that is missing from the article as well.
the flu vaccine plus relatively frequent hand-washing (and always after giving up my menu and before eating anything in a restaurant) has worked for me (knock on wood).
I used to be surprised but am now just a bit disgusted by the fact that invariably I'm the only person at the table who seems to think washing hands before dining is appropriate. Hello, washing your hands before you left your home or office is not sufficient unless you immediately put them into sterile gloves and have only just now - and after handing over that filthy menu - removed them. Has no one seen the news report (I think the one I saw was on CBS) where they analyzed what was on the subway car hand rails, etc. - so much ecoli you'd gasp???
I used to be surprised but am now just a bit disgusted by the fact that invariably I'm the only person at the table who seems to think washing hands before dining is appropriate. Hello, washing your hands before you left your home or office is not sufficient unless you immediately put them into sterile gloves and have only just now - and after handing over that filthy menu - removed them. Has no one seen the news report (I think the one I saw was on CBS) where they analyzed what was on the subway car hand rails, etc. - so much ecoli you'd gasp???
Oswaldo Costa
Oswaldo Costa
Which is why it's such poor manners if you're eating at a restaurant and someone you know walks in, comes up to your table to greet you and sticks out their hand for you to shake. Gang handshakes are probably more sanitary.
Peter Creasey
Peter Creasey
Reportedly one of the most perilous risks are from the dispenser when filling your car with gasoline (for those of us who drive).
. . . . . Pete
. . . . . Pete
I'll expect VLM to chime in about free riders any time now, but IMO there's no excuse for not getting vaccinated unless you have some pressing medical reason for not doing it. There's even an inactivated nasal mist for the truly needle-averse, though it's not as effective as the injection, I'm told. I started getting vaccinated when our son was born and, in the 9th year now, I've only had the flu once since then (in the notoriously ineffective vaccination season of 2009 or 2010).
Mark Lipton
Mark Lipton
Tom Glasgow
Thomas W Glasgow
and people think NJ is crazy to keep full serviceoriginally posted by Peter Creasey:
Reportedly one of the most perilous risks are from the dispenser when filling your car with gasoline (for those of us who drive).
. . . . . Pete
Tom Glasgow
Thomas W Glasgow
Pittsburgh's health commissioner was on the air recently and indicated that the nasal mist can be more effective. It provides the same protection as the shot with additional protection in nasal passages.originally posted by MLipton:
I'll expect VLM to chime in about free riders any time now, but IMO there's no excuse for not getting vaccinated unless you have some pressing medical reason for not doing it. There's even an inactivated nasal mist for the truly needle-averse, though it's not as effective as the injection, I'm told. I started getting vaccinated when our son was born and, in the 9th year now, I've only had the flu once since then (in the notoriously ineffective vaccination season of 2009 or 2010).
Mark Lipton
Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
originally posted by Tom Glasgow:
Pittsburgh's health commissioner was on the air recently and indicated that the nasal mist can be more effective. It provides the same protection as the shot with additional protection in nasal passages.
This is what our son's pediatrician tells us, too; fwiw.
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
originally posted by SFJoe:
Get vaccinated, it is a decent bet if not a total promise of safety.
A couple days ago, NPR reported this year's vaccine has been 62% effective, which they said is about average. I was surprised the effective rate is so low. Made me more diligent with the Purell.
Here's the relevant MMWR in case you're interested:
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www.cdc.gov
Yes, we need a vaccine with better efficacy and more modern vaccine production methods. However, a vaccine with 62% overall efficacy would would provide much better protection if the population vaccination rate was higher than the mid 30% range. The flu season (mostly influenza A) in Boston has hit early and hard and I've personally treated two people in their 40s who quickly went from feverish and feeling ill to intubated on a ventilator for several days - neither had been vaccinated. Thankfully, tamiflu was quite helpful and both survived. In general, even if the vaccine doesn't prevent every case it generally leads to a milder illness with a shorter course.
This is also an interesting site that allows comparison of the past few flu years:
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www.google.org