November 28, 2003

Flu shots

Have you gotten a flu shot yet? This might be the most serious outbreak in years, so it's strongly recommended that you do so. I got mine on Wednesday. You may have heard that the current vaccine does not include full immunization from the A Fujian strain, which is the one that's having the nastiest effect. That's true, but the strains the current vaccine does protect against offer anywhere from 30%-80% protection against the deadlier one, so I'll take those odds.

This has been an unpaid (drat!) medical announcement.

Posted by Linkmeister at November 28, 2003 11:07 AM
Comments

Yep, got mine over a month ago. We of compromised immunity are especially encouraged to get the shot. I've gotten one every year for the past 6 or 7 years, and haven't had the flu in that entire span of years.

*knocks wood*

Posted by: Jen at November 28, 2003 11:54 AM

I'm a strong believer in herd immunity. If everyone else I work with gets their flu shots -- and I encourage them to -- then I don't have to.

Posted by: N in Seattle at November 28, 2003 09:56 PM

well, I had the flu shot over a month ago. Now I've got some kind of bug that prevented me from sharing Thanksgiving with my family.
This misterious bug heats my head, and makes me sleep for long periods at a time...whatta holiday I've had....

Posted by: toxiclabrat at November 29, 2003 04:16 AM

N, I'd call that specious reasoning, and you in the healthcare biz, too!

Ms. Toxic, I hope you feel better real soon.

Posted by: Linkmeister at November 29, 2003 09:03 AM

Well, it's about 50% specious, 30% that I really, really, really don't like needles, and 20% accurate.

What with my absence of a life aside from computer and television screens, if I didn't have a 10-year-old nephew in town it would be much more accurate.

Posted by: N in Seattle at November 29, 2003 10:19 PM

Dang. I missed the free flu shot clinic at work in October -- possibly because the memo was actually dated the second day of a three-day clinic -- and I keep meaning to schedule an appointment elsewhere. Thanks for the reminder. The flu you avert may be my own.

Posted by: shelley at November 30, 2003 08:35 PM