Are you getting vaccinated?

[Old Dad]

Hey OD, how long ago exactly was this reaction you had? They still do say for people to avoid using the vaccine if you have an egg allergy.

Almost exactly 40 years ago. Also, during that time I was allergic to penicillin. Since that time, I've learned that the penicillin allergy was due to the proteins that the purification process in use back them wasn't good enough to remove. More than one doctor told me that and I believe it's accurate since I've been able to take it for the last 15 years or so with no problem.

So with all that in mind, I'm hoping that that making the flu vaccine using animal media (whatever kind of animal that IS) will not cause problems.

[Cole]

I get hives in the winter (or Spring and Fall if I don't wear a jacket). I heard that I should consult a doctor before getting a H1N1 Flu shot. Maybe I'll react like Jerry.

Hacksaw, you probably have something called "cold induced urticaria" which is not related to vaccination. When you say "hives", what do you mean? Hives is a very specific medical term referring to wheals or those raised, pinkish things on the skin that are itchy...they kinda look like big mosquito bites.

[Cole]

One of the columnists for the Vancouver Sun wrote a lengthy article about why she wasn't getting the vaccine, using all of your run-of-the-mill conspiracy theories about big pharma and vaccinations in general as her reasons. I was so livid that she had the audacity to spread her own ignorant beliefs that I wrote a letter to the chief editor asking them to retract the article for the sake of public health. The editor got back to me and the next day another article came up dispelling all of the myths about vaccinations, so I was happy to see that they had listened!

That's awesome you did that Lev. Nice.

[leviathan]

That's awesome you did that Lev. Nice.

It was more awesome that they actually responded to my request and did something about it. You'd expect that kind of garbage from the tabloid papers, not a major city newspaper!

[Ted]

I got the usual trivalent seasonal vaccine today during a regular check up -
A/Brisbane-H1N1
A/Brisbane H3N2
B/Brisbane - that apparently doesn't have a HxNx designation, (???)

I asked about the Swine Flu vaccine and was told - "We'll let'cha know via email or 'phone; probably next month."

I took my old military 'shot record' from the early 1970s with me a couple of years ago.
Some of the younger gals at the clinic were amazed at some the stuff I've been vaccinated against - including hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, black plague, typhoid, typhus, cholera and I forget what else.

[Cole]

I got the usual trivalent seasonal vaccine today during a regular check up -
A/Brisbane-H1N1
A/Brisbane H3N2
B/Brisbane - that apparently doesn't have a HxNx designation, (???)

I asked about the Swine Flu vaccine and was told - "We'll let'cha know via email or 'phone; probably next month."

I took my old military 'shot record' from the early 1970s with me a couple of years ago.
Some of the younger gals at the clinic were amazed at some the stuff I've been vaccinated against - including hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, black plague, typhoid, typhus, cholera and I forget what else.

Ted, you were able to get the seasonal flu vaccine? I thought you were from the US?!

[happysoul]

soon, but i do also hesitate since i am afraid of getting an allergic reaction. i do not know if the vaccine is well tested. there is one country that does not allow pregnant women, babies or elderlies getting vaccinated, whereas here i live everyone gets vaccinated. who is right or wrong about this?

[Ted]

Ted, you were able to get the seasonal flu vaccine? I thought you were from the US?!

Yes and yes. I got my regular flu shot Tuesday during a routine check-up - and my shoulder is still a bit sore.
Everything was Good!!
Except my serum glucose was almost a little bit high.

However, it's my understanding that it is the Swine Flu vaccine that is being restricted to certain age groups - for the time being and I am not in those age groups.

[Cole]

soon, but i do also hesitate since i am afraid of getting an allergic reaction. i do not know if the vaccine is well tested. there is one country that does not allow pregnant women, babies or elderlies getting vaccinated, whereas here i live everyone gets vaccinated. who is right or wrong about this?

The whole idea that this "vaccine is not tested" is a bogus one. Every single year a new vaccine comes out for influenza, and it is no more "tested" than the swine flu one is. The only difference is that everyone is paying attention now.

I've mentioned this before, but seasonal flu is made up of three strains:

Influenza A H3N2
Influenza A H1N1
Influenza B

As you can see, H1N1 is already in there. Swine flu is just a mutated version of seasonal flu. H1N1 SEASONAL flu has circulated since 1977 and the flu shot has been made against this and has been safe for over 30 years. There's nothing too special about this new H1N1 vaccine.

[Joby]

Yes, I have had both the seasonal and the H1N1 shots. The H1N1 left a feeling like a bruise where the shot was put in but went after a couple of days. Seeing I'm an at risk patient I've been getting the seasonal shot for some years.
Joby