The Swine Flu Shot a Waste of Time!

[NbyNW]

Knot, hope you feel better soon!

It seems that it was incredibly ambitious to try to make so much vaccine available all at once. Here in Alberta the vaccination clinics were open to anyone last week, but I heard there were long waits. Today they have announced that for the time being priority will go to pregnant women, young children, and people under 65 with "chronic health conditions."

It's unclear how you prove that you have a chronic health condition. I'm unclear whether I qualify, with asthma and not yet having an Alberta Health Services card. They did let me get a seasonal flu shot a few weeks ago, but there wasn't a supply issue for that.

[Becky]

It's unclear how you prove that you have a chronic health condition. I'm unclear whether I qualify, with asthma and not yet having an Alberta Health Services card. They did let me get a seasonal flu shot a few weeks ago, but there wasn't a supply issue for that.

A letter from my GP or endocrinologist stating that I'm in their care for diabetes has been enough to get me a seasonal flu shot. I imagine that it depends a little on the jurisdiction.

[KnottedYet]

Harrumph. Was just on the phone a couple hours ago with my doc, telling 'em I didn't have a fever and wanted to be cleared to go back to work... and now I have a fever.

Poopy.

[Trek420]

Harrumph. Was just on the phone a couple hours ago with my doc, telling 'em I didn't have a fever and wanted to be cleared to go back to work... and now I have a fever.

Poopy.

See, that's how you catch this thing: by talking to your PCP.

[OakLeaf]

Really, I know that correlation is not causation.

So much so that two years ago, the last time my arthritis flared (lasting 6-8 months), I didn't even connect it to the flu shot I'd just had.

Now, the psychological pull becomes a bit stronger.

[KnottedYet]

Really, I know that correlation is not causation.

So much so that two years ago, the last time my arthritis flared (lasting 6-8 months), I didn't even connect it to the flu shot I'd just had.

Now, the psychological pull becomes a bit stronger.

That's why I get the flu mist. Two generations of my family have an arthritis-like reaction to the flu shots that lasts about a year. (best guess is it's related to an ingredient, not the virus itself) We all have goofy autoimmune issues, so who knows what is really the cause of the reaction.

I've never had a flu injection, so no idea if I'd have the same reaction or not. But the flu mist is no problem.

[OakLeaf]

That's why I get the flu mist. Two generations of my family have an arthritis-like reaction to the flu shots that lasts about a year. (best guess is it's related to an ingredient, not the virus itself) We all have goofy autoimmune issues, so who knows what is really the cause of the reaction.

I've never had a flu injection, so no idea if I'd have the same reaction or not. But the flu mist is no problem.

Oh, wonderful. I'd be eligible for the mist today if it were available to me (which it's not), but as of tomorrow I won't be any more.

I wonder if a healthy 50-year-old can beg and wheedle her PCP for the mist.


ETA: but maybe since the H1N1 shot is non-adjuvanted in the USA, it won't aggravate what I already have? I can hope anyway.

[Jolt]

That's why I get the flu mist. Two generations of my family have an arthritis-like reaction to the flu shots that lasts about a year. (best guess is it's related to an ingredient, not the virus itself) We all have goofy autoimmune issues, so who knows what is really the cause of the reaction.

I've never had a flu injection, so no idea if I'd have the same reaction or not. But the flu mist is no problem.

Interesting. I have been hearing stuff lately about some of the ingredients in the injected vaccine (particularly the H1N1) and am not sure what to believe but it is starting to make me nervous. I already had the injected seasonal flu shot this year as I have for the past few years, but have been struggling with the decision to get or not get the H1N1 b/c I am a health care worker and would not want to give the bug to my patients but also don't want to end up with a problem from stuff in the vaccine. I think I'll get the nasal H1N1 vaccine since both will (supposedly) be available at the free clinic where I volunteer (they're giving it to health care workers first). Probably better immunity anyway--it's a live attenuated rather than an inactivated virus and it's using the same portal of entry that the actual flu would. Plus I won't have to deal with a sore arm (the flu shot for me is worse than the tetanus shot as far as that reaction goes) .