Would you have a free flu vaccination?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339930)
Rockingham, Australia
June 22, 2019 12:22am CST
The photo has nothing to do with the discussion but shows some cute dogs we saw in Austria.
Although it was earlier in the year than advised, Vince and I have flu shots before we left Australia in May. We’ve been advised to have booster shots in late July. I’m glad we’ve had them as there has been a huge spike in people affected by the latest flu virus. Twenty-nine people have died from the illness just in our state of Western Australia, and 14 of them in the last week.
Chemists are now being asked to vaccinate children from the age of 10 upwards. So far this year there has been 9,015 confirmed influenza notifications compared to 1,399 at the same time last year. Over 12% were children aged between 5 and 9. Most deaths have occurred in the elderly with the flu often affecting those in nursing homes where it is more easily passed on from person to person.
I think it is good that we don’t spend a lot of time mixing with others at work or on public transport. Hopefully our vaccinations will help keep us safe.
Would you take advantage of a free flu jab if it were offered?
34 people like this
35 responses
@moffittjc (121581)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Jun 19
I get my free flu shot every year, and have been doing so for many, many years. I think it's important to help protect me from the flu. My family members also get the flu shot every year as well.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
22 Jun 19
@JudyEv I remember having the flu on three or four occasions, before I was getting vaccinated. Once when I skipped a year. Even that year was much milder than when I had it as a child, and as a pregnant person, and as a school bus driver. The cases I remember involved headaches so bad I wanted my head removed and the feeling of being pulled limb from limb. Many people fear the shot or refuse it, but I am getting mine.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121581)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jun 19
@JudyEv I agree! It seems like every year it becomes more and more deadly, which makes it even more important to get a flu vaccination every year!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
22 Jun 19
@JudyEv Mainly, if you are healthy is not useful, you only put in your body germs and this is not always the best idea. I never had a flu in the past 49 years, a cold a few years ago, thanks to a friend who came to visit and he had a cold (that one always gets his vaccination and he is sick all the time).
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
22 Jun 19
oh, that's jest awful, ms. judy! so much sufferin' :( the thingy 'bout those flu shots'd be their ne'er sure which strain's gonna be active 'n jest stab'n the dark's to which vaccine to make en masse. fer myself, i do not partake'n such. my body cannot rid 'tself 'f the 'additives' 'n i suffer fer 'bout 6 months de-toxin' from such.
what cute pups!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun 19
I do appreciate that the shots will not benefit everyone. If you don't have a lot of contact with the public then you may well be better off not being vaccinated.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
23 Jun 19
@JudyEv i recommend folks get vaccinations, ms. judy. the last flu shot i got nearly did me'n. spent several days'n the hospital fer the severe reaction. such 'tis very rare 'n all they could come'p with 'twas the metals'n the vaccine. my immune system 'tis been odd 't best since the cipro floxin'.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 19
@crazyhorseladycx That must have been awful for you. I bet it scared the doctors a bit.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41424)
• United States
22 Jun 19
Our insurance pays for flu shots here in the US and my husband and I have gotten a flu shot for many years. Cute doggies, there.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41424)
• United States
23 Jun 19
@JudyEv I would still get one every year even if I had to pay for it.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
22 Jun 19
The flu jab is free to asthma/COPD sufferers, people working in the Health service and those over 65 here and I've taken advantage of that for the last 15 years or so, I think.. So far I've only had one bout of flu (or was it just a very bad cold?) in that time.
Personally, I've never had any problems with it (except just a slight ache in the arm for a day or less afterwards). Some people do get fluey symptoms for a few days after but they are easily treated with paracetamol and plenty to drink. I'd much rather have a day or so of 'fake flu' than the real thing!
Nearly 10 times last year's rate of cases is very worrying. I hope that everybody at risk gets vaccinated in good time! We don't need an epidemic like the dreadful one of 100 years ago!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 19
I had to pay for the early shot but I thought it was worth it. Our doctor said the danger 'zone' would be being on the plane with a heap of potentially ill people.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
22 Jun 19
Here flu vaccinations are free if you are older than 65 or if you have a chronic illness. Other people have to pay for the flu vaccination. I had flu vaccinations twice. In the last part of his life my father had a very poor immune system, and we (his family members) got flu vaccinations to protect him.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 19
I think it is somewhat similar here too. Once, the flu wasn't anything to worry about but it's a different story now.
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Jun 19
Yes I would and I did. I have never had the flu but I would happily keep it that way.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Jun 19
@JudyEv I do so that Al will, he is much more vulnerable than me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 19
It's a good idea I think. This year's strain seems to be particularly deadly.
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Jun 19
Yes I get mine every year and have since they came out, I have only had the flu a couple times since and they were new strains not in the shot.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
22 Jun 19
@JudyEv I feel like if you get a shot on a yearly basis you build up residual immunity to many of the strains.
2 people like this
@marguicha (222989)
• Chile
22 Jun 19
I don´t accept flu vaccines although here they are free for the people my age. But I am for vaccines for children.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (222989)
• Chile
22 Jun 19
@JudyEv I know. But I´m afraid od vaccines for me because I don´t want to meddle with my immune system.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 19
@marguicha I can understand that. Some people would be better off not having them.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13454)
• United States
23 Jun 19
I get one every year, I don't want to get a bad strain of the flu, and don't want to pass it to anyone.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13454)
• United States
23 Jun 19
@JudyEv I get sick enough with other ailments, so go away flu bug..
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jun 19
@CookieMonster46 There are enough bugs without adding flu to them.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Jun 19
I dont take them and would not if they were free.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Jun 19
@andriaperry I just feel there is getting to be too many shots to take. Plus they often miss on the type going around.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (119610)
• United States
23 Jun 19
@andriaperry I don't know. I just have never gotten one. I've also never gotten the flu in all of these years. I don't consider it to be an essential vaccine unless you are very young, elderly, or immunocompromised.. I'm not anti-vax by any stretch of the imagination.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (119610)
• United States
23 Jun 19
@andriaperry I have asthma too. I also work in a school with 2500 students. They always want to give it to me but I say no.
1 person likes this
@MrsPumpkins (466)
• Philippines
22 Jun 19
I regularly avail our government's free flu vaccination specially for my children. And this had been a great help for us.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 19
Children here can get a variety of immunisations too. In fact, they are barred from attending kindergarten if they haven't been immunised.
