An interesting debate to be sure and I’m curious to see why YOU have to say about this. Of course, this won’t be all serious, I do have some funny-ish stuff to report as well 😉
So, a few months back I heard Mac and Katherine on Catholic in a Small Town podcast discussing Katherine’s preference NOT to get the flu vaccine….#203, you can check it out on iTunes…and it got me thinking about the flu vaccine and WHY do I bother each year? Is it worth it? What am I subjecting myself to? It opened up an internal can o’ worms for certain.
Anyhoooo…I work in the medical field, my employer provides the vaccine to me at no cost each year and so, I get the vaccine. I’ve not had the flu in 10 years and quite frankly, would prefer to not have it again. However….due to the controversial issues on the flu vaccine for our kids…I’ve not had them get a flu shot. Ever. That I remember, anyway. Questionable ingredients, 62%ish effectiveness rate, roll of the dice on which strain we’ll actually come in contact with, ACK…it’s too much, so we’ve opted out. However…..things ’bout to change in these parts!
Our 15 yo son came down with Flu B last weekend. I already blogged on all THAT fun here if you missed it the first time around and the kid ended up missing a WHOLE FLIPPIN’ WEEK OF SCHOOL!!! yes, High School. Good times. The kicker is that I actually started getting sick at the end of the week last week, sucked it up for a couple of days (chalking it up to allergies and pollen), however, by Saturday afternoon–after an ENTIRE day of solo and ensemble stuff with our 13 yo and tag-along 9 yo daughter, I came home and went to bed and got up yesterday. Monday. Ugh. Fever’s gone and I was back to work today, but still…..ain’t. quite. right. And I WAS vaccinated!!! WTH??!?!? So when I brought the 15yo BACK to the doc yesterday for additional antibiotics for “possible” pneumonia still not resolved as a result of his flu….I decided next year EVERYONE gets the vaccine. Mine didn’t last as long as his, certainly wasn’t as brutal and you know “Ain’t NOBODY got time for that” to be staying home with sick kids, for kids to be missing a week of schoolwork (the stuff the teachers didn’t email…) and we ALL know Mama don’t have time to be sick..even though Daddy is a pretty fantastic taker-carer.
So, what’s your take? Flu vaccine or no?
On the upside…..I got a TON of reading in. Finished Screwtape letters, almost finished A year of biblical womanhood, completely caught up on my Daily Catechism readings—(I MAY have been 3 weeks behind). Mailed a long overdue encouragement card and ordered The Power of Positive Thinking to go with said card. Slept so much my back ached. Lost a few pounds. Woke up from a nap to find Hubby and 75% of the kids playing Monopoly….WITHOUT blood shed. True. No joke. Prayed. (It was a good few days to be on my heart…you are so covered it’s ridiculous). Continue to play with PicMonkey and learn a little more.
Phew. It’s been a long couple days.
making the trek 
I get one every year!! Yes, do it!!
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The year i got the flu shot i had the flu two times in four months…
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I don’t go out of my way to get the flu shot for my family. If we have appointments around the time they’re given out, we’ll get them. If not, it’s no big deal. I’m the only one in the house that has had the shot this year. *shrug* it’s no big deal to me.
I think it would be different if one of us had a reduced immune system or something that would make the flu extra bad. I would make sure to get the shot for everyone every year.
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bc we are young, healthy and generally strong, I don’t go out of my way to get it for us either….the nurse comes to us at work! That said, I’ll be doing some serious researching and soul searching going into flu season next year…a week off from school was challenging and if I had to miss a week at work on SICKNESS….I’d be PO’d!!!!
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We’ve never had the vaccine. Over here they only recommend it for over 65s and those whose immune systems could not cope with flu.
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Ellie, I don’t think it’s all bad to only give the vaccine to those older than 65 and/or compromised immune systems…I think that helps the rest of our bodies do what they are meant to do, fight when necessary.
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As you know, I also work in the medical field and I get my shot every year also. I can’t remember the last time I had the flu. However for the rest of the fam, it is hit or miss. There have been years they have got and years they have not. I do believe that it has some positive affect by reducing the severily if you do get the flu. However, I also believe that it is good for the body to build up it’s own natural antibodies. So, sorry not much help here.
What I did want to comment on though is something I have been thinking about for the last couple of days. The time you got to spend at home was precious in that you got to expose yourself to the things that make you feel good and are good for you. To spend time in prayer, to do some spiritual reading, to send a nice card to a friend. I’m probably just having that kind of week, but I can’t stop thinking about how nice it would be to not have to deal with some of the people and things that I have to outside of my house. It is so hard to feel close to God when you are immersed in all the worldlyness around me and can’t change it. It would just be so nice to be able to choose what I surround myself with. And right now I would love to just surround myself with God and his glory. Maybe I should get sick and stay home for a few days…yeah not really. 🙂 Or maybe that means I am having a fruitful Lent, who knows. Anyway, take care and a little prayer my way would be great!
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I actually checked today with the Employee Health to see which virus I received the vaccine for and b/c it was for FluA and B, it likely contributed to decreasing the severity for me—phew. And though I was pretty tired, I completely agree with you, Angela, it was absolutely amazing to be responsible for NOTHING…to rest, to read, to pray. I highly recommend it….maybe even turn the weekend into a “sick retreat”….trust me, I certainly didn’t overlook the blessings!!! Prayers being sent your way 😉
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Okay…I am gonna say my peace and count to 3 on this…My BFF sister-in-law was a previously healthy, 40 yr old, mother of three when she came down with the flu…30 days of pneumonia, hemorrhagic fever and coma and she was DEAD! The potential side effects of the flu shot aren’t as bad and the potential side effects of the flu. Even if you have a BAD side effect. Done!
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OK. Nail in coffin. we are getting shots all around next year.
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We get the flu shot every year. As you know, my kids get enough of the other sicknesses throughout the year to build up their antibodies, we just can’t take the chance with the flu. Glad Ian is getting better:-) Love you all!! xoxo
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No shots here, but I really think it depends on your lifestyle. We go somewhere twice a week, church, and the grocery store (just my season of life!). We do a lot to make sure we are investing on the front end (cod liver oil, sleep, sunshine, herbs) but not everyone can do that. And we may still end up with it… but so far, so good. I guess it just seems like there’s not one answer for everyone. Glad you are over the worst!
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