H1N1 vaccine: yay or nay?

[Keith Whitener]

Vaccinininated!

[AllisonLeGnome]

Yay! I got it from my grandparents' doctor- my school doesn't have it (except in extremely limited numbers for those with serious health conditions... like AIDS or missing an organ) and probably won't for months, if at all. They probably would have made me come get it anyway, but I have asthma which is one of the preexisting conditions that can become serious. And college is a ridiculously good environment for viruses to spread.

It's not even about your own well-being- it's about protecting others. If you get H1N1, you may only get mildly ill, but you can spread it to someone who's more susceptible or can't get the vaccine due to an egg allergy, etc.

[Steeley Chris]

Nay for me. I don't think I've ever gotten a flu shot - my thinking is if I get the shot I probably will get sick.  I don't even remember the last time I had the flu. I usually get sick from something else, and usually only once a year - this year was Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease (aka coxsackie virus), which I got from my daughter, and apparently I had never been exposed to as a child so, like chickenpox, it was a million times worse getting as an adult. No vaccine/cure for it, just had to ride it out. But I take my vitamins, drink lots of water, tea (no coffee), wash my hands (and try not to touch my face/eyes with unwashed hands), and go to bed at reasonable hour. When I get sick I have the good sense to stay home. It's just how I roll.

Oh, and cough/sneeze into the crook of your elbow, you germ crop dusting bastards.

[John K]

Yea for my wife, because she's pregnant (yay!), although we did debate it for a while. She got it today and isn't feeling so well.

[Keith Whitener]

Yea for my wife, because she's pregnant (yay!), although we did debate it for a while. She got it today and isn't feeling so well.

The nurse who administered it said it take two weeks for it to work, so if she doesn't feel well today it is unrelated to the shot.

[Bryan]

Yea for my wife, because she's pregnant (yay!), although we did debate it for a while. She got it today and isn't feeling so well.

The nurse who administered it said it take two weeks for it to work, so if she doesn't feel well today it is unrelated to the shot.

My guess is that the two weeks is the time it takes to provide immunity to the virus. I'm pretty sure it could have other physiological effects prior to that. There seems to be a lot of anecdotal evidence of people feeling crummy for a couple of days after getting any flu shot (though I guess this could be a placebo effect.)

[Sarah]

My guess is that the two weeks is the time it takes to provide immunity to the virus. I'm pretty sure it could have other physiological effects prior to that.

You are correct on both fronts. 

[Martin]

Yes, I was bed-ridden for about a day after getting the flu shot. Got in on a Saturday, was down and out on Sunday, felt pretty good on Monday (and now: great). I was told it's a very common, text book side effect of the vaccine.