Does everyone get a flu shot and the pneumonia shot?

mamolady said:

I get the flu shot at work,
I get the flu shot at work, the pneumonia was only during chemo. I don't think I need for a while anyway. I am not sure how long it lasts though.

Cindy

I've gotten the flu shot,
I've gotten the flu shot, but, not the pneumonia shot. I haven't heard much about any bad flu outbreak yet this year, so maybe it will not be so bad. I hope not!

My onc
insisted that I have a flu shot during chemo last year and just last week when I was in for a checkup.

I think that pneumonia is once in 20 years...if I remember right from that long ago.

JoAnn

Rague said:

Got both & Shingles
I got pneumonia shot and was told at my age I would probably never need another one. I have been getting my flu shots for years. I also got the Shingles shot after Chemo and rads were done - Dr did not want me to get it during either.


Susan

I don't
I don't because years ago I got the Swine Flu shot.I had a very serious reaction to it.Alot of people died.so when those shots were given a little over a year ago my doctor said I will never be able take any flu shot.

My husband had a heart attack 8 hours after taking the flu shot.He was hesistant to take it again but this year he did and no problems.He also took the pneumonia shot.

My friend get the flu shot every year.BUT this year she was done for 6 days or more.She was so sick after getting it.

My aunt got her first around 70 when her and her friends went to lunch and then to a shot clinic.She said she was never so sick and she never got another one after that first one.

I stay away from sick people and wash my hands alot.I even avoid aisles where I hear someone coughing out of control.I stay back.

Lynn Smith

Lynn Smith said:

I don't
I don't because years ago I got the Swine Flu shot.I had a very serious reaction to it.Alot of people died.so when those shots were given a little over a year ago my doctor said I will never be able take any flu shot.

My husband had a heart attack 8 hours after taking the flu shot.He was hesistant to take it again but this year he did and no problems.He also took the pneumonia shot.

My friend get the flu shot every year.BUT this year she was done for 6 days or more.She was so sick after getting it.

My aunt got her first around 70 when her and her friends went to lunch and then to a shot clinic.She said she was never so sick and she never got another one after that first one.

I stay away from sick people and wash my hands alot.I even avoid aisles where I hear someone coughing out of control.I stay back.

Lynn Smith

The 1976 Swine Flu shot
was definately a booger. I had no choice rather I got it or not - I was AD (Active Duty Army) at the time. One of my friends died and another was never the same again and was given a medical discharge with 100% disability. There were several hundred of us in the theatre when they were given and at least 15 were taken to the hospital via ambulances. There is a vast difference between the '76 Swine Flu vaccine and the more recent variety.

I'm big on getting vaccines - though I know that they don't always 'work'. In my opinion (unless there is a medical reason to not get them) then you're leaqving yourself open to 'whatever' if you do't try to get immunity. Unfortunately, not everyone's body will build immunity via a vaccination. I learned the hard way with both of my Sons. During Desert Storm their Dad was depolyed and it was a really nasty winter in the Pacific Northwest so the boys and I went back home to SW FL. Long story short - there was a measles epidemic in SW FL and younger Son was exposed to them in the waiting room for a 'well kid'. appt. Both he and his older brother were up to date on MMR's (actually they had had an extra one as the year before there had been a small epidemic in E WA so had gotten another one just to be safe (WRONG). Younger Son came down with measles on schedule, gave them to his older brother who also came down with them on schedule and should have died. Now - younger Son titres to having mujmps immunity from the 5 MMRs he's had BUT older Son still has no immunity to mumps even after 7 of the old MMR's and some of the newer variety given today (G-daughter's ped. suggested that the new ones might work but they didn't. As her Dad and Uncle did not get immunity to mumps or measles, G-daughter was titred to be sure it worked for her which it did.

Sorry for rambling on.

Susan

CypressCynthia said:

Yeppers, I get the flu shot
Yeppers, I get the flu shot every year and I have also had the pneumonia shot. One ID physican told me that he believes that flu shots make your immune system "smarter" and more able to fight viruses in general. I was getting them anyway to help protect my patients, but that makes me feel even better about it.

There is controversy about how long the pneumonia shot lasts, so ask your doc from time to time because recommendations may change. Currently, it is recommended (from CDC) that most only need the one shot:

"How many times do I have to get a PPSV shot?
Most people only need ONE shot. This protects them for a lifetime. Some people might need to get a booster shot after 5 years." http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pneumo/vac-pneumo-pubs.htm

The pneumonia shot only
The pneumonia shot only protects you from pneumococcal pneumonia, but, that said, pneumococcal is a killer--especially for the immunocompromised (us).

Rague said:

The 1976 Swine Flu shot
was definately a booger. I had no choice rather I got it or not - I was AD (Active Duty Army) at the time. One of my friends died and another was never the same again and was given a medical discharge with 100% disability. There were several hundred of us in the theatre when they were given and at least 15 were taken to the hospital via ambulances. There is a vast difference between the '76 Swine Flu vaccine and the more recent variety.

I'm big on getting vaccines - though I know that they don't always 'work'. In my opinion (unless there is a medical reason to not get them) then you're leaqving yourself open to 'whatever' if you do't try to get immunity. Unfortunately, not everyone's body will build immunity via a vaccination. I learned the hard way with both of my Sons. During Desert Storm their Dad was depolyed and it was a really nasty winter in the Pacific Northwest so the boys and I went back home to SW FL. Long story short - there was a measles epidemic in SW FL and younger Son was exposed to them in the waiting room for a 'well kid'. appt. Both he and his older brother were up to date on MMR's (actually they had had an extra one as the year before there had been a small epidemic in E WA so had gotten another one just to be safe (WRONG). Younger Son came down with measles on schedule, gave them to his older brother who also came down with them on schedule and should have died. Now - younger Son titres to having mujmps immunity from the 5 MMRs he's had BUT older Son still has no immunity to mumps even after 7 of the old MMR's and some of the newer variety given today (G-daughter's ped. suggested that the new ones might work but they didn't. As her Dad and Uncle did not get immunity to mumps or measles, G-daughter was titred to be sure it worked for her which it did.

Sorry for rambling on.

Susan

The 76 swine flu
That was the first flu shot I ever got. I was a military wife and they did the shot by laser.

tgf said:

Like Susan
Like Susan ... I get the flu shot every year ... and I've gotten the pneumonia shot (I think they're good for 5-10 years or something like that) ... and my onc. also told me to get the shingles shot (I'm 67).

hugs.
teena

That's a long time to be
That's a long time to be good with the pneumonia shot. Thanks for the info!

tommaseena said:

flu shot
I have never had the flu shot and I have never had the flu in my 47 yrs of life-I guess I have just been very lucky. When I was on chemo my oncologist told me that she would not recommend the flu or H1N1(swine flu) shot for me since I had never had the flu and did not want to "possibly break something that wasn't broken".

the pneumonia shot is is good for roughly 7 yrs but I've never had that shot either.

Margo

Wow Margo, you have been
Wow Margo, you have been lucky!

mariam_11_09 said:

Never had the flu shot.
Never had the flu shot. Didn't know there was a pneumonia one. Each winter the Onc. and PCP try to encourage me to get one. Since I have never had the flu in north America and never had the flu shot I don't want to start anything new and mess up any equilibrium I think I have. Of course I am aware I could still get the flu, it is a chance I will take for now.

I think it is personal choice based on your own experience.

Flue shot every year since 1994 when my dad was diagnosed
with non-Hodgekins Lymphoma. My MO felt it was a good idea last year whil in chemo but restricted the days when I could get it. No mention was ever made of pneumonia shot then but when I asked my GP (who is also the on-call for my MO) she said she only gives it to those who are allergic to penicillin unless they insist. So, no shot for me. She doesn't feel they have proven their worth.