The Flu Shot Failed Me

The Flu Shot Failed Me

Topic Author: Auburn Hutton

Posted: 10:38 AM Feb 8, 2008

Replies Posted: 20 comments

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The Flu Shot Failed Me

I just returned to work after a four-day bout of the flu...not just any old flu though. I'm talking a miserable, painful, excruciating flu with just about every symptom you can imagine.

It started with fever and chills, then progressed to a cough and congestion, then this horrible painful lung thing, then a migraine, then vomiting, then another migraine...and finally, now i'm healing. Now I am no stranger to getting sick, but I thought I was in the clear this year. I got the flu shot back in October, thinking that meant I was immune to it...not the case.

I'm curious what your thoughts are on this matter. I've talked to many other people who say they too got the flu, even after the shot. Are you a believer in the flu shot? Or is it a hoax?

Posted by: Ron Location: Dayton
With each passing year, viruses get stronger and stronger. I have taken the flu shot in the past, but have not gotten it this year. I got the flu last year from taking the shot, so I opted not to get it this year. It is not a question of the flu shot working, it is a question of how ineffective has it become? Each year the flu virus gets stronger, so we need more effective "tools" to enable the flu shot to fight off that years flu. Maybe next years batch of flu shots will do a more effective job of fighting off the flu.

Posted by: Phoenix Location: St. Paul, MN
I do believe that this flu strain is a super-bug. I just recently got it and it was quick to make you sick. It gives you the runs, the fever, the cough all at the same time. In fact, I hack so much that I blew my eardrum and it is still bleeding. This thing packs a whopper and gauranteed to get the whole household sick one at a time. My wife was the only one that got the flu shot this year and she did catch half of what everyone got.

Posted by: super dave Location: mansfield louisiana
took a flu shot - the exact germination period later 3-4 days woke up with the worst flu i ever had took a month to get over it i missed nearly a week of work - have several friends who all have same identical thing happened - non of us take the company provided flu shots every year - those who do get keep the flu going from november thru march - we get the crud not the flu and miss less time - my age is 53 - i have missed a total of 8 hrs this year with crud symptoms along another guy who refuse the flu shot who also missed 8 hrs - the flu shotters have missed 2 day each several times each with the flu - best natural things i have found to deal with crud symptoms are golden seal root and onions - have high blood pressure - the work as well for me as pseudaphed and other cold remedies

Posted by: Theresa Location: Washoe VAlley
I just wanted to make a comment about the flu shot, it does not work for the strain of flu that is out today!! On Friday the 15th my grandson was given the flushot. On Tues. the 19th he started running a fever of 103.3 and today he still is running a temp of 100 and vomitting. He will be going to the DR on Friday at 2:30, I also know of other people that have it and are in the hospital from being dehydrated. If you get it. Keep yourself or family member hydrated and wash your hands.

Posted by: RoofMan Location: Reno
The flu shot provides protection against THE CORRECT influenza virus - and that's a 'long shot' so unless your immune compromised, practice healthy behaviors and don't flock to the shot clinics! (Where you'll probably be picking up even more germs!) WASH YOUR HANDS

Posted by: Learn to Research Location: Reno
Many of you complaining about the flu shot not working are miss informed. The flu shot provides protection against influenza, which sometimes gets confused with the common cold, as they share similar symptoms. However, Influenza is a much more severe disease and is caused by a different type of virus. Most of you likely had a common cold and NOT influenza. The flu shot only protects against "Influenza" and not the common cold. Don't forget to do a little research before forming opinions people. It will help make the work a better place.

Posted by: Anonymous You got the flu from the shot. My dad was the only one who got a flu shot each year and he was the only one in our family to actually get the flu. So go figure. He finally died from cancer of the lungs. Some times by trying to avoid sickness we end up even sicker. I had the flu once in my life and I thought I would die. I have never gotten it again.Stay strong and God bless.

Posted by: Reina Location: Reno
I also had gotten the flu shot back in October and have not gotten sick yet! knock on wood, but everyone around me sure has. I was just at the emergency room for 5 1/2 hours yesterday with my 5 yr old. One of his ears had blown and started bleeding and then complained that the other one hurt. Turns out he had 2 ear infections, a throat infection and sinus infection. I dont get whats going on this year. I think that the shot probably works, but this sickness this year is comming from somewhere else if you get my drift.

Posted by: Wen Location: Reno
Kel said it perfectly.

Posted by: Elle Location: Reno
I am a student and for the last 5 or so years have come to expect to only get sick twice a year (just a cold each semester during finals). This winter I got a flu shot (they were free, so I said, "why not?") and I have already been sick three times with the flu this season! My roommate has not even been sick once! I don't know if it was the flu shot that got me sick, but I never used to get the flu without it, so I won't be getting another one in the future.

Posted by: Chrissy Location: Reno, NV
I've never been a fan of the flu shot myself but my pediatrician talked me into giving it to my son when he was a year old. That was the only time he ever got the flu. The best way to avoid the flu is simply to wash your hands often especially before eating. Other than that excercise and proper nutrition is key in having a healthy immune system. It seems to me that having this vaccine only causes the flu virus to mutate into another strand.

Posted by: jimmy dean Location: Reno
It is surely a hoax!! It reminds me of the time I bought some novelty x-ray specs and then I found that I couldn't see through peoples clothes!!

Posted by: Cynthia Location: Reno
Bonnie in G'ville is right. You get a flu shot for the virus strain the CDC thought was going to be a problem a year ago. BUT - you got sick from the virus they didn't anticipate. Good news bad news, your immunity is good for one or two bugs only, not for the crud that is going around now.

Posted by: julie I believe in the flu shots. I have received a flu shot each year for the past 30 years and have only been sick for colds. I understand that the flu strain that has been going around is a different strain that what was in the flu shot. That maybe why people are getting sick with the flu.

Posted by: Sheri I didn't believe in them, but my doctor talked me into getting one because I have asytma. I have not been sick at all even though everyone around me has been. I work around students all day and have not gotten sick this time around even though they have been really sick.

Posted by: Kathleen De Grado Location: Sparks
I don't believe in the shot. Never had one and never will. There are just too many strains for one shot to cover all the Flu strains. I'ts a joke to see family members rush each year to get their shot and are totally baffled when they get sick!!

Posted by: Bonnie Location: Gardnerville
I give flu shots to our employees each year. None of them have ever gotten the flu from taking the shot. There is a small percentage of people who feel a little funny the very next day with some minor aches but that's the extent of it. Doctors warned that there was a new strain of flu going around this year that was not covered by the flu shot. The scientists who do research on the flu try to cover the most common strains of flu (A and B strains). Please also keep in mind that viruses can mutate to change their makeup so as to ward off vaccines effectiveness. This is a major problem for medical science. Those who do get sick after the flu shot may have been already harboring the virus. The flu shot takes two weeks to become fully protective. It also wears off by early spring, which is why some people get the flu in Apri or May when there is another wave of it. Almost all medical professionals will tell you that the flu shot is very effective on most people.

Posted by: loretta Location: washoe valley
It is a different strain that is going around,so the ole flu shot you got was useless this time around . Vitamin D3 works just as good as a flu shot and works for ALL type flu, for prvention(so i've heard) ,it also depends on your immune system as to who gets this strain or not . Drink plenty of WATER to flush out your system ,and get some D3. As for the shot ,we get it every year and im hopeing we dont get the strain that is going around. The flu shot is not 100% effective in all people. But has worked in the past for us. Good luck and get healthy!

Posted by: Cilla Location: california
I think the flu shot is a fake insurance policy. I never have taken one and I have not been sick for years. Some of my friends have also gotten sick after having the shot. I think if you go outside and either run, walk, or sweat, you'll boil the little germs. Exercise! If you feel you HAVE to take a shot - make it a shot of brandy. Cheers!

Posted by: Kel You have to understand that getting the flu shot is like a crap shoot. Doctors and scientists try to figure out which of the many flu viruses are going to be prevelant during the coming winter and make an immunization with (I believe) the top 3 most prevalant strains. That's what is in your shot. Chances are good that you were exposed to a different strain of the flu, not present in your immunization. It's just like the common cold virus... there are so many out there that you can't immunize against all of them. There's also the possiblity that your illness only lasted four days because of your immunization (which gave partial immunity) instead of two or three weeks which is very much a possibilty with some flu strains. I personally don't get the shot because I have a pretty good immune system (knock wood), but I'm all for it for those who are older, younger, or get sick easily. It can be beneficial in many cases, however you have to be aware that it's not always perfect.