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Originally Posted by Christine
this is great for the folks who want them
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I forwarded this info to several people. A majority of them returned a note saying that they had experienced the flu last year, in spite of getting a shot or that they'd had the shot and IT had made them sick. Unless you already have the flu or some other illness, the shot itself will NOT make you sick. The vaccine contains dead viruses. Typically, the vaccine contains three strains of influenza which scientist believe are most likely to be the strains that will infect people during the coming flu season. This is why it is important to take the shot
every year because the viruses tend to change.
If you are ill already or are exposed to some other respiratory illness, the flu shot itself won't make you sick. However, the flu shot can't and won't protect you against things like:
- the common cold;
- pneumonia (although it may protect you from pneumonia that is a complication of the flu);
- bronchitis; or
- any other respiratory illness that IS NOT THE FLU (influenza).
The flu shot does provide protection in a majority healthy people who get vaccinated against whatever the current strain(s) of the flu that researchers think will be causing flu in a particular season. Every year, the flu virus mutates and changes; so new vaccines have to be made and administered every year and you need a NEW FLU VACCINATION every year to protect against that year's strain(s) of flu.
It is still possible to get the flu after having a flu shot, either because you were one of the few people that was not fully protected or because the strain you got was not included in the vaccine. However, you are still less likely to have serious complications from the flu if you have had the shot. This is even more true for the older adults and for children, two groups that are at highest risk from serious flu complications. FYI, the H1N1 vaccine is taking a little longer than the seasonala flu vaccine, and it probaby will not be available until a bit later this year, probably around mid-October.
By the way, just yesterday, Blue Shield of CA said the would cover the cost of H1N1 shots:
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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California
announced today that it will cover the administrative costs of the H1N1 virus
(swine flu) vaccine for all its members, regardless of which plan they have.
Blue Shield will be waiving prior authorizations, copays and deductibles for
office visits when members go to an in-network doctor to get H1N1
vaccinations.
The U.S. Government will be providing H1N1 vaccinations (including the
equipment, like syringes) free of charge. While providers will initially focus
vaccination efforts on the most at-risk populations, members of all groups
will be covered.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/press...09+PRN20090909
Free flu shots to unemployed and uninsured
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