You Should Get a Flu Shot
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- Опубліковано 12 жов 2014
- One of the arguments you hear most often by people who don't want to get immunized against influenza is that the flu just isn't a big deal; it's just a bad cold. It's not. There are lots of other things people often get wrong about flu shots, too.
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John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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I'm going to point out that 40,000 people killed by the flu each year is about 10 times as many people that have died of Ebola. Think about that for a second.
The deaths per infection among high-risk groups (which is what causes those high death numbers) looks to be around 10% or less, according to WHO. The values are higher, but the deaths per flu infection is far lower than Ebola which is somewhere around 25% in the best cases and more than 90% in high-risk groups.
***** This is a continuous conundrum in medical research. Obviously, diseases that are widespread and highly deadly need to be fought. But what about diseases that have only one of those? Ebola kills many more of the people it infects, but it infects only a tiny fraction of the number of people who contract influenza. So, by number of lives saved, clearly fighting the flu is the right answer. But the flu isn't as scary on an individual basis, which makes us less likely to give it attention.
Matthew Prorok
Good point. It's possible that the flu is widespread, difficult to prevent (being communicable through the air) and not very scary to those in developed countries, often mistaken for "just a bad cold". Meanwhile, Ebola is that mysterious, incurable African virus that makes you bleed from the inside out. It really is no wonder.
Matthew Prorok Heres the thing though, Ebola is more important to fight because it is far deadlier AND its currently containable. If we dont fight it, it can (and most likely will) become much more wide spread.
duo1666 Oh, no argument there. It's not a matter of either/or. It's a matter of differing allocation of available resources.
Got my flu shot today. I get the flu shot not because I think I'll get the flu but to protect the people around me.
Me too! Me too! :D
Thank you Lisa ❤️🍀
Great video. I never worried much about the flu shot when I was younger, but then one year I actually got influenza, and "hit by a truck" is a pretty apt analogy. Since then, I get it every year. I get a bit of a sore arm and I feel a bit tired for about a day, but it's small potatoes in comparison.
The topic I wish this covered was the people who seem to think that because they've been fine up until now, that it means they will be fine forever. It's like they didn't even watch the RCT episode on this channel. Just because something seems or feels true, doesn't make it true.
Did you guys get a new camera? Looks good.
The healthcare triage videos used to be really awkward, but the guy is getting much better now so yay.
I try to get the flu shot every year. It helps that my work and insurance completely cover it but even if they didn't, it's only 10 bucks where I live. I've gotten the flu the last 2 years after the shot but I assume it was a different strain and I'm still gonna get a flu shot each year.
Yay! Same here!
I never got a flu shot, until one year right after I left university when I got so sick from the flu that I was hospitalized for three days. Now, I get a flu shot every year. I never, ever want to do that again.
I got the flu back in the second grade because I hadn't gotten a flu shot, and it was miserable. I was out of school for two weeks. I've gotten my annual flu shot--now the mist because I hate shots--and I've never had the flu since. I also get less headcolds with the mist.
The importance of the vaccine is one simple reason: herd immunization. By protecting numerous members of a species' population, you lessen the likelihood of the disease's survival and transmission; you end up protecting others too, especially those who cannot have a vaccination because of reasons mentioned in the video. Whether you've never had the flu or only had it once, it's still important to get vaccinated. It only takes one chance encounter, and you end up with the flu, despite never having it in your life before. Getting sick is purely an independent event, no other event alters the odds of you getting the flu.
That's not to say if you get the flu shot, you'll be 100% protected. You may still get a flu strain, but generally, the symptoms are less severe because the body has built memory cells from the vaccine to identify the real deal. Newly-mutated strains are their own category, but generally can be prevented through basic, good hygiene practices.
It's the same reason why immunizations overall are important too. Diseases we've controlled or mostly eliminated from developed nations are now coming back because not enough herd members are being vaccinated. Naturally, the illnesses can thrive because there's more than enough hosts to go around.
What are your thoughts on the intradermal vaccine? I found it harder on my skin than I anticipated, but beyond my personal experience I do not know the pros and/or cons of it versus the traditional subcutaneous vaccine. Thanks.
When would you suggest actually getting the shot? My mom does administer flu shots, and I get one from her in the middle of November (when I see her) every year, but I'm wondering if the ideal time frame is before then.
What would you recommend for hard line vegans who are against getting flu shots as the use of chicken eggs is part of the batch? I have a lot of friends who are vegan and I am curious if there is an alternative which doesn't include any non-human animal products?
Coronavirus you say? Don't come to 2020
I just saw a facebook post from David Wolfe on how chemotherapy doesn't work. Could you do a healthcare triage on this. Being a MD, you might have some inside knowledge on this
I got my flu shot almost two weeks ago. I have felt fine for every day sense. If, for any reason, you don't want to get yours, feel free to thank me and others like me for contributing to a herd immunity effect that will reduce your own odds of getting sick. Who knows -- we may have saved your life.
Lol....ok
You and people like you (and me) are secretly superheroes. We take the jab to protect others. :)
Honestly the only reason I don't get the flu shot is I'm really really terrified of needles. I know with Scotland's NHS they won't give the nasal spray to anyone over 4, but in general is the spray available for adults?
Hello there. Does anyone have any high quality papers on the use of animals in experimentation? Specifically the effectiveness of the transference between animal models to humans? I'm writing an unbiased paper at the moment and am looking for some good sources. Ethical arguments pro and against experimentation would also be useful.
My brother had this terrible reaction one year, he couldn't walk for three days. I've been scared to get it ever since.
Talk to your doctor and find out if you might have the same reaction. You and your brother might be in the segment of the population that needs to be protected by herd immunity and not direct immunity.
Thank you for making this video. I have been definitely been miss informed by the general public. My question about vaccines is now this: When I was younger I was vaccinated for TB but this has led me to not be able to hold the vaccines for one of the Heps ( I don't remember which one) I have gotten the Hep vaccine multiple time and it never sticks. Why? Is this something to consider with all vaccines? As a healthy 25 year old I am more concerned about some illnesses than others especially with all the traveling I do. Help me understand! Thanks again.
"Dead virus" is a weird term :P
***** Well, there's a difference in mechanisms between inactivated vaccines and attenuated vaccines. In attenuated vaccines the viruses are not strictly destroyed, whereas in inactivated vaccines (e.g. polio) they are. Viruses in attenuated vaccines the viruses are modified/selected to be extremely slow in the rate of reproduction, so calling those "dead" wouldn't be entirely accurate anyway.
Funny, I was signing up for my shot at walgreens when this video showed up in my sub box.
In the UK the free NHS flu vaccine isn't offered to people not considered in a 'high risk' category (eg. under 12s, over 65s, pregnant women). Is it worth paying for the vaccine yourself if you're a healthy adult?
Actually flu has 0 kills too, not the flu kills but the complications (pneumonia, etc)
Complications that you wouldn’t have if you didn’t get influenza 😉
"Having the flu feels like getting hit by a truck" Yeahhhhh. Wasn't great. Had the flu shot that year though.
The shot is a money making scam.
@@juliewitt7496 Yes, that is why the CDC and doctors encourage people to get the flu shot, not enough sick people.
It would be interesting if Healthcare Triage could revisit this subject and compare the CDC recommendations with the recommendations of European healthcare advisory organizations (or whatever they're called).
I was reading a little more and e.g. in the Netherlands they say that every year about 1 in 10 gets the flu, but most people recover after a couple of days/weeks. They also note that hundreds of people die of the flu, hence risk groups are recommended to get the shot. So if 1 in 10 gets the flu, but recovers, I'd say it's a normal risk of life and we might be better off using those scarce healthcare resources on more productive healthcare.
However, I'm no expert in this matter and wouldn't mind if Healthcare Triage could weigh in in explaining the difference in recommendations between countries.
Huh...I haven't been getting vaccinated because I have heard there are often shortages of the flu vaccine. I felt that because I was not in a high risk age group (or in frequent contact with people in a high risk group) and I am relatively healthy that I should not use up one of the finite vaccines. Are shortages not a problem?
Just because people who follow this channel are often interested in how it works elsewhere, in the UK where I live the NHS pretty much only targets at risk individuals, there isn't any attempt to vaccinate everyone against the flu.
That's absolutely true, though it is perfectly possibly to get a flu jab by paying if you aren't part of their target demographic. I often see pharmacies advertising the flu jab around about now, but I just don't think it's really something the British public think to do. It certainly never occurred to me to get one (I'm not saying it's not a good idea, just that I don't know anyone who does).
You say almost zero die from colds so how many do and is it mainly in poor areas? Is it from other underlying conditions or the cold itself that killed the patient?
I have unfortunately suffered from the flu twice in my life so I completely understand the differences. Both times I have gotten the flu were in late march, will getting the flu shot now be too early? Does it truly carry you through the entire season? Thx!
No, now is the perfect time to get the flu shot. It lasts for about a year, because the strand is usually different every year. www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_inf.asp
Absolutely get it now! It takes about 2 weeks for the vaccine to be active.
Glad I could help. Stay safe this winter!
The flu shot actually is only protective for about 3 months, give or take a bit depending on a whole variety of factors. For people who have weak or compromised immune systems, it may be beneficial to actually get two shots. One in early flu season (September) and another around January.
Most of the time, one shot will cover the whole season. There are, unfortunately, special cases where that doesn't work. I'm sorry you've gotten the flu at the end of the season! That really sucks! :(
I'm surprised you didn't bring up the ethyl mercury thing.
When is the best time of year to get a flu shot? Any month in particular?
The earliest part of fall that flu shots are available. You will see the signs at grocery and drug stores.
I got a "Truth about Vaccines" ad before watching this video 🤣
Hello, Question to medical professionals. So does the flu shot only target the influenza and not the cold? does that mean you are at the exact same risk of getting a cold as you were before the shot?
Influenza is a specific disease. "A cold" is a general term for mild (though totally miserable) illness. Influenza can feel like a cold, in its milder forms, but a cold cannot be influenza. According to WHO (The World Health Organization) "Influenza viruses belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae and have a single-stranded segmented RNA genome" I found on WebMD www.who.int/biologicals/vaccines/influenza/en/ "the most common [virus] is the rhinovirus, which is thought to be responsible for at least 50% of colds. Other viruses that can cause colds include coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and parainfluenza" And to add to the confusion is the "stomach flu" which isn't either and is officially called gastroenteritis. According to WebMD www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/qa/what-causes-the-stomach-flu "Many things cause gastroenteritis, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, dairy products, and poor hygiene." But we still call it the FLU!
My doctor tells me I have to get the shot every year (respiratory chronic illness). He suggests that if I get it every year that I can build up an immunity to multiple strains and that this can help in years when the shot doesn't have all the strains that are out there. Is this true?
This might sound stupid, but how do I know when flu season is?
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm "While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May"
I like how Aaron sounds totally fed up, like "urgh go get your flu shot why are we even discussing this"
Didn't there used to be stuff in that giant pill capsule on the table?
Question:
I've heard (can't remember where, but am sure I've heard it multiple times) that if you haven't gotten the flu shot in the past, that you don't need it.
Don't get me wrong; I believe in vaccines, but I've never gotten the flu shot and I've never gotten the flu.
I'm going to ask my doctor about this but was also wondering your thoughts as well (and if you have any research to back it up).
Also, if I don't get the shot, am I putting other people at risk?
(I'm 30 yrs old btw if that matters)
Most vaccines you only need one time and then a booster for some years later. Influenza is a stinker because there are multiple variants and it mutates frequently, so the researchers do their best to figure out which variant will be the most wide spread each flu season. From Healthline.com "Many strains of influenza virus exist, and they’re constantly mutating and changing. The seasonal flu vaccine is changed every year to keep up with the three strains of the virus that research suggests will be most common in the upcoming flu season. You need to get a new vaccine every year to stay safe." www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/flu-shot From WebMD: "The virus is sort of tricky in the way it reproduces from year to year, in that it shifts its chemical coating from season to season," explains Geoffrey A. Weinberg, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester. "Even if you've been good about getting flu shots for several years you need to keep it up, because next year's flu could be very different." www.webmd.com/vaccines/features/flu-vaccine-questions#2
So here's a question: should people with narcolepsy should get flu shots?
There is some research indicating that narcolepsy might be autoimmune triggered by particular strains of flu (and even flu vaccine in some European countries). I even remember the particularly bad flu that may have preceded the onset of symptoms, though of course getting the flu isn't infrequent and memory recall is narrative-bound.
However, the most recent attempt to recreate the results failed to disprove the null hypothesis and it is far from a settled issue. Of course, it's not like the vaccine can re-trigger the disease, and there aren't too many brain cells with orexin for the immune system to target.
So what do you think? I'd rather avoid anything that might consume my few precious moments of chemically-induced conscious alertness.
what's the R_0 of the flu?
Thank you for outlining the difference between a cold and a flu. I always allowed myself the one irresponsibility of not getting a flu shot, but now I see that it's not simply a severe version of a cold, and is worth getting vaccinated against.
I can attest to having the flu is like being hit by a truck. EVERYTHING HURT! I get the flu shot every year so if I ever get the flu again it will be milder that without the vaccine.
So quick question... If every year a new flu shot is made but it just there best guess of how the flu virus will mutate. So it's very possible to get the flu shot get infected with another strain of flu n get the flu.
I've been nervous about vaccines since I was a teenager and got a full-blown case of chicken pox from the chicken pox vaccine. That was supposed to be a very rare side effect, so I guess I was just one of those "lucky" people. I'm glad to have learned that the same thing cannot happen with either forms of the flu vaccine. I also thought, "Oh, I never get the flu anyway." And of course I got it this year, on Thanksgiving, no less. Lesson learned. I'll get the vaccine next year.
Great video! Quick question: why do you need to take the flu vaccine every year, whereas with most vaccines you only need them once, or a booster every few years?
The influenza strain mutates incredibly quickly and so your tolerance must be reset at each significant change in the virus. The "Flu" is not a single stagnant virus (each year they pick multiple likely contenders to vaccinate against as the most likely prevalent strains in the coming season - these change every year).
The flu strain changes or mutates every year. He mentions that at the end of the previous season they take a "best guess" of what flu strains will be most prevalent the following year. It is the same reason that if you get sick with the flu one year, you can still get sick again the next year (from a different strain).
FOLLOW THE MONEY !
katherine because the influenza virus changes and adapts every year so last years flu shot won’t help you with fighting off this years strain of flu
@@smeyer2964 Yes! Wait, what? Your reasoning is like saying dentists are in the pocket of toothpaste manufacturers. The CDC encourages people to get the flu shot so fewer people die. It is part of their job. Same with doctors.
I personally only have gotten a flu shot twice in my life and the only reason I did so was because it was required for my schooling and for my job. I really have no reason to not get a flu shot, my parents just never had me get one. Also, like most people, I always thought getting the flu shot would actually make me get sick, which I now know is a lie. I do not get sick often, knock on wood, but when I do it hits me really hard. I am seriously a baby when I am sick, so I was really curious to hear the research in this video. I was surprised to find out that if individuals do not start taking antibiotics within the first few days, it will have almost no effect. I rarely go to the doctor and when I do, I am definitely more than two days into an illness. I was astonished that there was a 71% reduction in adults. That is crazy in my opinion. This video definitely makes me want to go out and get a flu shot right away. Once again just like in other health triage videos, individuals keep mixing up causation and correlation. Individuals who get sick at the same time they receive a flu shot, believe that the vaccine caused their illness. In reality, the two are simply correlated, not associated.
tl:dr
+Monica Smith Very true! But he meant antivirals have to be taken within the first 2 days to be effective; antibiotics treating a bacterial infection have a bit more flexible time frame.
i'm definitely getting my flu shot next year. I've never gotten one before, mainly because i've just never really had an issue with the flu, i'm lazy, and i'm terrified of getting needles. I was going to get it this past year, but never go around to it. But i'm training to be a nurse right now so i'm most definitely going to start getting it yearly. I'm a little bit horrified about how many nurses don't get the vaccine (from what i've heard from other nurses and the infection control nurse at my local hospital). You're going to be around a lot of people with impaired immune systems. If you won't get it for yourselves, get it for them.
I'm British and asthmatic. We actually have the opposite here. People in the high-risk categories mentioned in the video (like me) get a free flu jab on the NHS every year, otherwise you have to lump it and take your chances with the flu virus. I understand that the reason we do it this way is a cost/benefit compromise (If the NHS had to provide a flu jab for every healthy person in the country it'd be ridiculously expensive! And the risk of hospitalisation for otherwise healthy people is pretty minimal, even if they will feel like they're dying for a week or two) but there's a fair few disgruntled parents who are outraged that they can't get it easily. You can sometimes get it done privately for about £20 a vaccine, but often demand is too high.
I get my flu updates on the public transportation. Had the flu for the past 10 years every year (including swine flu) but it never lasts longer than 3 to 4 days (fever). Each time my doc confirmed I had the flu, though the swine flu was by inclusion. I had the flu twice two months apart and my doc said it probably wasn't the "normal" flu twice since I had had it. She didn't want to test for it extra, since she had tested the normal flu on me two months prior.
So.. why does the flu always catch me but never lasts long? (People who catch it from me tend to be gone for a week or longer.)
And is it really probable that that second flu was the swine flu?
I guess you have a good enough immune system to knock it down quickly. Which is good, because you seem to be in a place that exposes you to each new wave. There are multiple varieties of the flu and they all mutate faster than other viruses, which is why new vaccines are needed each year.
Interesting difference there: In Denmark, the ministry of health only recommends that HIV patients, the elderly, pregnant women, and otherwise vulnerable groups get the flu shot. I guess that's a product of the state paying for it, rather than the individual, thus necessitating a level of rationing.
If you can't get the flu shot because of adverse reactions to immunization would I be less likely to get sick if those around me got the flu shot?
Yes! That is the magic of vaccination. You really need to hit a certain threshold before you see much benefit on the wider scale, but this is exactly why people who work with vulnerable members of society such as young children and the elderly are expected to get vaccinated against these things; so that they reduce the risk to those vulnerable people.
Do you need to get it yearly?
Jonathan Galayda Yep, the flu virus(es) have a rather high rate of mutation compared to other viruses.
Ya even my teachers get angry when I don't want one
I know this is terribly unimportant to the video but, Executive producer John Green thats not his real twitter account
I honestly don't know: Is the recommendation to get the flu shot once, or to get a new shot every year?
It only protects you for one year, because there are many different strains and which strains are most prominent changes from year to year. So the shot changes based on predictions of what those strains are going to be. The actual protection given by the shot probably does last longer than one year (I don't know how long) but there will be different strains around the following year even if some of the same ones show up again.
Radish Raccoon in theory if any strain from a previous year you've been vaccinated against is prevalent once again you should be more resistant to it. It also makes sense that most if not all strains still exist (even if there are more prevalent strains) every year
ThePharphis Yep, totally agree. You still need to get vaccinated again though. There are just too many strains for them all to be included.
EVERY YEAR!!!!! PLEASE! I GET SICK A LOT BECAUSE OF MEDS I AM ON AND WE NEED HERD IMMUNITY!!!
The flu shot actually only protects you for about 3 months. Please, please, please get a new shot every year. The strains in the shot are different every year, and speaking as someone with a compromised immune system, with family with the same condition, we rely on others getting the shot (we get them too obviously) to protect us. Herd immunity for the win!
My best friend's 16 year old brother got the flu a few years ago. He was perfectly healthy, with a strong immune system- then he got a secondary infection that sent him to the hospital and ultimately caused him to pass away. No asthma, no immune problems, very healthy kid. So people are right, the flu might not kill a healthy person, but you never know what could happen.
I'm sorry that happened. It is one of the reasons I stay up to date with my vaccines and bribe my son to get his. The herd immunity is a beautiful thing.
The UK's NHS clearly has a different view, only targeting at-risk groups. I imagine their cost/benefit analysis errs on the side of saving money. Having lived in both the US and the UK, the difference is rather stark. The flu jab isn't really a thing outside of certain groups + the elderly.
Interesting. I wonder if that is more effective, as they have a smaller population to convince.
Here is the reason, I do not receive the flu shot. 1.) I pay close attention to my health, I'm careful of anything I put into my body, from the water, food I eat to even the type of soap I shower with Sometime it can be hard to get an ingredient of each batch if I can't research the chemicals I avoid it. 2.) My entire life I've had a reaction to immunization and most shots in general. We have try to address this issue in the past by trying different things, and every time I still have a reaction. 3.) When you have a reaction to an immunization that means you autoimmune system has to work on the reaction, so even if it's a reddening of the injection area, a small grade fever you are still compromising your immune system. 4.) I review the CDC influenza % each year. If you haven't review this information you really should the more knowledge you have the better on making sound decision. 5.) If I feel sick, running a fever I will not go out into public places until I feel better. If for some reason I must interact with the public I will wash up ( with soap and water) as often as possible, I may wear a face mask if the coughing is not controlable. I'm not sick often, but I wouldn't want to get someone else sick. 6.) I normally second guess all the doctors I see, for no other reason then they have a stressful job, lack the ability to do specialized care, normally do not have the time to ask all the important questions, and do not know my bodies as well as I know my own body. I listen to the doctors advice then research and make my finally choice based on the information the doctor has provided me, review my personal health and quality research I've done on my own. -- I made this post to address the issue that not everyone who choices not to get flu shots are tin foil wearing uneducated fools.
Healthcare Triage Could you do an episode on explaining how viruses can be 'dead'? I ask because there is often a difficulty, from what I understand, in determining if a particular virus is actually alive.
I always get a yearly flu shot, I do how ever wait until the flu season is underway. My thought process is that the strain is know by that time. Not sure if that is a reasonable assumption.
The flu shots are manufactured months in advance of the next season (purely because of the logistical problem of making and distributing them). In fact, analysis of next season's likely influenza strains occurs at the tail end of the current one (around February). This means that, by September, the flu vaccine stock would have been created and available for the next season. Once they are first decided much earlier in the year, all flu shots are exactly the same (and so, as long as you make sure the one they are giving you is for the following season, there is no reason why you should wait to get the shot if it's available to you).
It's a very reasonable assumption. However, I believe the shot goes into production well before the flu season is underway. This stuff is hard to produce and ship. Also, it's not that productive to react to a strain that's already effected a large part of the population. It would be cheaper and safer to vaccinate for many more possible strains which is what we do.
As others said, the research and development that goes into the production of the flu vaccine is done far before the flu season, and unless people start suddenly dying from a particularly virulent strain they didn't include, they're not going to make another one in response to what's actually out there. Go get the shot before you're exposed so you get the optimum use out of the vaccine.
They shot is not changed halfway through the season. Also, the vaccine takes a few weeks to kick in completely, so always take that into consideration.
i'd get one but the egg protein would make me sick :( i only had flu once though so it seems my immune system is working ok for now
I will try my best to protect you with my contribution to the herd immunity. :) When my son was little, he was in the same boat, but he was at such a risk of hospitalization from influenza that he got his flu shot at the office of his pediatric allergist. (Multiple previous hospitalizations) Thankfully he grew out of the allergy and now can handle the egg protein just fine. He also contributes to the herd immunity to help you. :)
I get one but my sister won't, she gets the flu and then gives it to me. Last time we tried to do it she broke my arm
Vaccination is such a hot topic, and its really important too. Vaccines are one of the most important lines of defense for the body. They stimulate the immune system so that the body can get used to the particular disease in case it were to come into contact with the particular strain. It bothers me that a lot of children go unvaccinated against the flu and end up getting EXTREMELY sick from it, and may end up dying. I feel like one of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to get them vaccinated. I know that I hated it as a child, and I am now afraid of needles, but had my parents not chosen to get me and my siblings vaccinated against the flu, I may not be alive to have that fear. Its drastic to think about it that way, but a lot of parents are uneducated about the matter and choose to go off of what they read on social media, or on an anti-vax website that is not science based. Education about the flu shot, and all other vaccinations for that matter, is key.
"Coronavirus".
Mate. You didn't see 2020 coming.
Please HCT, you preach the use of absolute rather than relative risk reduction, but most of your videos only use the latter!
At 2:46 for example, what are the absolute rates??
I love your show
I hate injections
Have a good one.
How frequent should you get a flu shot?
You generally get it once a year, in the fall. They are different every year based on the strains of flu most likely to cause illness that particular year.
They don't require boosters so only once per year.
My personal thanks to you, Doctor, for not using a "Should you get..." clickbait title. People should get flu shots. You went with the lead. Bravo, sir.
Please do an episode on sleep
I have only had the flu once when I was 11 years old and I remember it wasn't nice as I had a fever and remember hallucinating a bit because of the fever. For some reason I have never had the vaccine, and have been told by a doctor that I didn't need to get it but I am going to get it this year.
why do we have flu seasons?
ive never heard an answer for that
It is generally thought that flu season coincides with colder months because you spend more time indoors, and therefore in closer contact with other humans. Also, in Europe and North America, the cold seasons coincide with Christmas and New Year (and Thanksgiving if you are in the US) when you will have people travelling significant distances in order to be with family, and they will trail all these lovely infectious diseases along with them.
There could well be more to it than that (shorter days causing more depression resulting in a suppressed immune system, for example), but those are the most common explanations I've heard.
@@DrQuak It is more the human contact than the shorter days. There is an island in the north where ice kept visitors away during the winter, so their illness season was when the waterways thawed out and brought visitors and new diseases. Now we have airplanes. Take that ice filled waters! Ha!
Hi guys! Honest (and probably stupid) question here:
I've never gotten a flu shot before, mainly because I'm a *dirt-poor* uni student. Thing is, every year when the flu sweeps through my city and lots of people become sick, I've never actually caught it. I can't even remember last time I was sick, I'm usually the one taking care of friends and family when they go ill :)
Should I still invest in a flu shot? Are there other benefits?
Take a look at the HCT video titled "Herd Immunity" to see the potential benefits of immunization even if you weren't going to catch it this year.
Well, you could potentially just have a strong immune system, meaning you have gotten it but haven't showed any symptoms. During this time you could pass it on to someone else. It's ultimately your choice whether you want to get it or not. Maybe your school's health center offers free shots!
Oh right, it can still spread through me even if I don't develop the symptoms! I guess it would be for the greater good to get the shot then. Thanks!
In the Netherlands they advise to get a flu shot when you belong to a group that have a higher risk to have large negative consequences from getting the flu, such as the elderly and people with diabetes. Do you agree?
If the benefits outweigh the costs so obviously, why isn't it provided for free, and why is not not mandatory? Only giving it to people who read the news, drive to Wallgreens, and pay $40 for a shot seems like one of the worst possible approaches to dealing with a public health issue.
The NHS doesn't say anything about getting a flu shot if your not in a risk group (i.e. pregnant, very young, elderly, or have an underlying medical condition. I think I can get the flu shot if I pay for it. Given the NHS doesn't recommend it, should I take the CDC's advice instead?
I get the flu shot every year because there are people who are in the risk group who can't get a flu shot. The more people vaccinated, the fewer vectors influenza has to infect new people. What I can find out from the NHS site is that they offer free flu shots to people in the risk groups, but people outside those groups have to get vaccinations from other sources.
Here is a description I found: "The NHS was launched in 1948. It was born out of a long-held ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth - one of the NHS's core principles." It isn't that they don't recommend flu shots. They want healthy people to get flu shots also as they try to get all NHS staffers to be vaccinated. According to this study, they aren't completely successful. bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000079
I always get the flu shot, but recently I've had BAD reactions from getting it.
What causes the reaction from the vaccine? I feel bad for 2-3 days after getting the shot.
Your body might be overreacting to the dead virus? My body thinks milk is evil. Even if I just get milk on my skin I get hives. But the best person to ask is your doctor. He/She will have a better idea of what might be going on.
I'm really just wondering, but how can you transmit a virus if you aren't sick with it?
Often the virus is in you even if you don't show symptoms.
You might not show symptoms, but you are still shedding the virus. There was a lady called Typhoid Mary. Her body never completely fought off the disease and it didn't make her sick, but she was a carrier. She was also a cook. She also didn't was her hands. Yuck. ua-cam.com/video/gLbJznLoo80/v-deo.html
Most people would think that getting the flu isn't that big a deal. But by getting sick you also become contagious. You risk someone else in much worse health getting sick. Vaccination is not just something you do for yourself. A flu shot also protects people around you.
Unfortunately that is not true, and you're an idiot !
When you get the flu shot, you also become a carrier of the flu and become contagious !
S Meyer no actually you don’t and your very stupid may I say. You are injected with a dead version of the flu virus meaning that you are never contagious after getting the shot. The stupidity of Americans is astounding. Oh and flu shots clearly don’t just rake in money for the government. If they did then they wouldn’t be available on the NHS now would they. Dipshit
@@smeyer2964 I will point you to better information, if you didn't see my earlier post. www.webmd.com/vaccines/features/flu-vaccine-questions#1 Have a lovely day.
@@mylifepostpain3705 Smile and know that you know better. Have a lovely day.
When i was in kindergarten the lady who gave me the shot forgot to change the needle and i was throwin up for 3days strait while having medical attention(medicin and ithers things
In the Netherlands you have to pay for it, if you can even get it, when your are not in one of the risk groups (asthma-patients, elderly en chronacally ill people I think). Since I have been healthy my whole life, I have never had a flu-shot and got the flu twice. And I have had colds my entire life, mostly are over within a week.
Maybe it is not nice to be sick, but for your immunesystem it is good to get through it once in a while.
thanks
As a worker in the health field, I have always gotten the flu shot. I also think I am more immune to common colds and viruses because of the human contact through my job. I think they stress flu shots in the health field because working around sick people most likely get you sick. I am still trying to convince my mother, who is a first grade teacher, that flu shots are a good thing. The flu shot can help prevent colds and fevers and even death. This video was an eye opener that the flu can lead to death and I had never thought about that before. And to think that so many symptoms can be prevented just from a shot!Besides preventing the flu, I also think the flu shot helps the body fight off other diseases better. When my grandma had cancer, her immune system was very weak from the chemotherapy and radiation treatments. They suggested the flu shot for her to give her a better of chance of fighting off other harmful bacteria. The body will have a better chance of fighting off infections if it has received the flu shot because it has seen that flu or a type of it before.
I understand that people are skeptical when it comes to flu shots. If they have questions about the flu shots, I feel they should do research and ask their physicians. I would hate for someone to get sick just because they were debating getting the flu shot or not. I am a firm believer that the flu shots are beneficial and there is evidence to support that as well.
Aubree Desgranges I heard that the influenza virus always mutates and that you need to get a different shot every year. Is this true?
Yes. Pretty much all viruses mutate. There are bunches of strains of influenza, and they kind of pick the ones you're most likely to get for that year and put them in the shot
is the HPV vaccination worth getting? I'm 19 years old, female.
Look it up.
If you have never had sex, it's a great idea. Since HPV is a carcinogen of the cervix (among other organs) so being vaccinated is very important. However, HPV is extremely common and if you are sexually active, it is likely you could have already been infected, in which case the vaccine would not work. I would ask your doctor about it.
Thalia I thanks a lot for that :)
I used to be one of those people that wouldn't get the flu shot. I'm going to get one this year though.
My grandma dutifully got a flu shot every year. In the latter years, I would not be surprised if she had more than one a year, just like in the latter years she rode the city bus to the same café for breakfast three times a day, because she was stricken with dementia, because she had flu annual flu shots back to back.
AFAIK the Dutch equivalent of the CDC (used to?) Not recommend the flu shot for anyone outside risk groups (pregnant women, elderly, kids, people that have a lot of contact due to their jobs, such as doctors, etc). Does anyone know why? Is cost an issue? Did the type of vaccine change recently?
The US and Canada are literally the only western countries in the world that recommend the FLU shot for 'everyone' (older than 6mo). Not a single country in Europe gives such a recommendation.
***** right, but the more interesting question is where the difference in opinion is. Here in Germany for example, employers seem a little more adamant about offering the flu shot and their employees actually getting it (at least, the university where I work), compared to the Netherlands. It could also be a cultural difference, or due to the way insurance is organized, etc. Normally it seems like the US is the odd one out, with less coverage for prevention -- so where does the big difference come from?
namnatulco Valid points. The 'problem' that I have with the US recommendations is that they are not based on any sort of valid data or research. It seems to simply be an 'err on the side of caution' recommendation.
A response from another article about why other countries do not recommend blanket FLU vaccination:
"That's because global health experts say the data aren't there yet to support this kind of blanket vaccination policy, nor is there enough money. In fact, some scientists say the enthusiasm for mass vaccination in the United States may hurt efforts to create a better vaccine."
I have an enormous fear of needles. Also whenever I used to get a flu shot I would always end up sick (as in fever, and vomiting) later around Christmas (I don't know if it was a bad reaction to the vaccine or if it is just a coincidence). I live 10 mins out of a small town so I don't really come into contact with that many people. If I could get vaccinated without getting a shot I would, but I just have too many issues with getting needles.
There is a nasal spray vaccine. Check with your local healthcare provider to see if it's available in your region.
Nasal spray! :) - oops, sorry, didn't see that other reply first.
Nolan Thiessen I have tried using nasal spray for my allergies but I'd always sneeze it back out immediately.
Nolan Thiessen And it doesn't look like it's available where I live.
self reference 2:34 shot reduces hospitalization, guessing strain, benefit outweighs risk. 4:00 can't get flu from shot.
A bit confused. I thought that viruses weren't technically living, so what is a dead virus?
One that is unable to attack your cells.
Got my first flu shot in decades this year.
Congrats! My son tells people that he gets flu shots so he can protect babies. (They are his favorite people.)
"Dead viruses can't be resurrected" Um, *points to the T-virus*
Cool! A zombie virus! Thankfully influenza isn't one of them.
Got my flu shot for free today at school! If anyone goes to Cal State Fullerton you can get a free vaccine in the Health Center, or keep an eye out for their booth in the quad. I got it in the quad today and it took like a a minute. Thanks for the inspiration Healthcare Triage! :)
I think all Cal Sate University offers this service, your tuition includes healthy care, use it!!!
I've gotten the flu shot for a decent amount of my life (when I was younger and my parents made me for fear of a suppressed immune system due to Incredibly mild asthma). I'm now 20 yrs old, and haven't had it in over five years. Never in my life have I had the flu, despite coming in direct contact with people who I knew had it (at the time of contact).
I have never not come away from a flu shot without at least one of the following (usually all of them)
-Migraine (so much so that I will throw up)
-Nausea
-Fever
-Extreme swelling/itching/burning/redness in a circle 3-8 in. around the injection site.
and yet I'm still reprimanded by my doctor for not getting one every time I see them. I don't get it. These symptoms will frequently last for days after getting the flu shot (or many other vaccinations), yet without the flu shot, I still don't get the flu. Why should I get it then? I'm miserable with it and fine without it. I won't be jumping on that band wagon any time soon
(also, just wanted to say, the flu shot has been the only one with such extreme and consistent problems, and is thus the only one I completely abstain from. I am not 100% anti-vaccination, I just believe in the right people getting the vaccinations that are right for their body, and not trying to bully people into doing things to the contrary.)
+Mel Swazie because you not getting sick might very likely have to do with herd immunity, but if enough people don't get the shot that goes away. And what do you mean by "or many other vaccinations"?
+sasha01198 When I said that I meant pretty much any other vaccination, be it tetanus, MMR, ect. I think it has something to do with the solution it's administered in, mainly the preservatives they feel necessary to add to most vaccinations. There's just something about the flu shot where I will have a much more intense reaction a bit more consistently than with others.
Mel Swazie i see, i've heard that some people can have this can't remember if it's because of an allergy or st. else. Have you tried nasal spray vaccines? if you did have you had the same reaction?
I've actually never been allowed to. As I do have a history of asthma (however mild it may have been) there is some fear of a suppressed immune system and the nasal sprays tend to have live viruses. Basically they think I'll get whatever illness we're trying to prevent with the vaccine
I also think there is some concern with the inhalant aspect triggering an asthma attack. so it all comes back to the asthma that I haven't had issues with since I was about 12. Because that makes complete and total sense. (it does make some sense, but they (meaning my doctors, and most doctors I've spoken to on these topics) seem to make an unnecessarily huge deal out of it)
Mel Swazie and isn't there any test to see if you actually do have a suppressed immune system that you can take? The way you describe it it does sounds really annoying and over-protective, but i guess in a way it's nice that the doctors didn't want to expose you to a risk like that.
I see John Green in the credits. Is the the same guy who does Crash Course World History?
Btw, you should cover alternative medicine: homeopathy, chiropractic theory, and whatever else you can find. My dad's been to two homeopaths and they were both frauds. My parents also took me to a chiropractor when I was little and that place was a charlatan shop. I've done some research and so far I've found it's ridiculous. What do you think? I'd like to see what Healthcare Triage has to say!
Yes, it is the same John Green who does Crash Course History and wrote "The Fault In Our Stars".
I almost passed out in the doctor's office after getting my one and only flu shot D: I know they're all different, but that was rather traumatizing.
There is a debate on whether people should get a annual flu shot. Vaccinations do have their benefits and these benefits outweigh the harms. To prevent the flu, I think it is a great trade off to only have a few aches and pains with swelling than putting my life at risk by whether I get the disease or not. The numbers speak for themselves that from 2010-2012, kids who got the flu shot had a 74% lower risk of obtaining the flu. Not only kids, but adults who received the vaccination was associated with a 71% reduction in adult hospitalization for the flu.This include 77% of adults that were at the age 50 and above. To increase a child's or elderly adults' rate of not being at risk is definitely beneficial to get the shot.
I'm not a doctor, though, my mother is and by being such I have contact with many doctor, including a pulmonologist, and I've never heard of any doctors recommending a flu shot for anyone but the elderly or people with weak immune systems.
I'll be blunt: I don't do it because it's too inconvenient. It's free here in Canada, but there's too few locations with too much waiting. If a doctor came to my house with a needle for free, then I'll get one. Otherwise I'll continue to be lazy.
That's surprising to me. Down here in the states (at least here in Ohio) you can get the flu shot at virtually any pharmacy. You can walk into Wal-Mart and get it there.
i can very much relate to this. if my work did not offer it on site, i probably wouldn't do it. my wife/kids say to do it, my common sense says to do it, the data says its a no brainer, but the convenience factor is always a trump card. that's unfortunately a fact of human nature.
jmanstiss I live in Europe and in most EU countries government healthcare does not cover flu shots at all. You buy them at pharmacies or clinics but it's usually more expensive than in the US.
ok, every time i get the flu shot i get flu symptoms for a little over a week but i never get it if i don't get the flu shot. why is that and should i be getting it or not?
He explains that in the video.
Mild problems following inactivated flu vaccine:
soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
hoarseness
sore, red or itchy eyes
cough
fever
aches
headache
itching
fatigue
If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1 or 2 days.
Inactivated flu vaccine does not contain live flu virus, so you cannot get the flu from this vaccine.
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.html
Yes, you should get the vaccine.
Well, the flu like symptoms are likely your body's response to the vaccine. These can be ignored as they are not the actual flu. However, if you do not get the flu when you do not get the shot, and spend time around people infected with the flu, then it might be safe to assume your immune system is quite strong and therefore there's no purpose in flu shots. I for one do not get flu shots, never have, never intend to, as my body has always been strong enough to not become infected sparing 2 occasions over 15 years apart, one being early childhood and one being the Swine flu.
Matthew Prorok "Yes, you should get the vaccine."
I'm not so sure. It depends on the severity of the symptoms. If a person has severe enough side effects from the flu shot, then they shouldn't get one.
ghuegel A fair point. I am not a doctor; if a doctor tells you that, due to a prior serious bad reaction, you shouldn't get a vaccine, listen to your doctor. If you've just had some minor side effects, you should probably get the vaccine.
Flucelvax is egg-free for people who have allergies
Sweet!
I got a flu shot last week and all yesterday I had a small red mark near the injection site, a minor headache, and some muscle weakness. WHAT IS THIS HELL?! I mean, come on. I'd rather just get the flu. It can't be as bad as a minor headache. I had to lie down and take a nap for like 2 hours yesterday. On a SATURDAY! Next year I'm just going to take my chances.
I took the nasal one yesterday now I'm like shit lol my doctor said I would get the symptoms but not get sick but I feel sick which sucks but not that bad.
it's better than actually getting sick from actual influenza.
Remember that this is a GOVERNMENT PRODUCED VIDEO !
The (SO CALLED) facts in this video are also GOVERNMENT PRODUCED FACTS !
According to all leading physicians NATION WIDE (NOT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED PHYSICIANS) ??????
Here Is When You Should Get Your Flu Shot ????
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER
Listen to Dr. Mercola (a real physician), a leading nutritionist in AMERICA (the FREE AMERICA).
His video is also part of this, LOOK, LISTEN AND LEARN --------------->
Moe Dou well go to the docter