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This^^^^^ AND they guess (scientifically) which variation of the flu will spread in that given year, and they put two A strains and a B (?? not positive on this, doing stuff from old memory).
You CAN catch an influenza strain that isn't in the vaccine.
If you are just coughing and have a stuffed up nose, it is not influenza.
Last time I had it (2002) I was running a 103 fever, just lied in bed too sick to be bored. So sick going to the doctor seemed like an insurmountable task.
It kills about 30K a year, and when you have it, you understand why.
The last time I had the flu as an adult (many times as a child) was in 1972. Yes, I know the difference. As you said, you cannot get out of bed. I had a fever of 102. Aching and chills. As a young woman living alone, my Mom had to stay at my apartment to take care of me. Did she catch the flu from me with all that contact? Nope, and she was well into her late 40's then.
I have never had the flu since then, and never had a flu shot in my life. As an older woman, I have held sick little children, been around family members with the flu, etc., and just don't catch it any more.
Sorry, but I cannot say that the flu was the sickest I have ever felt in my entire life. I suppose that depends on an individual's perspective.
The idea of an universal flu vaccine that is good for years or our lifetime; is very appealing. Maybe it will be a reality one day? I am of retirement age now and it would not bother me if I was fully retired because we have a better way that saves millions of lives. But testing/licensing and marketing can take many, many years.
In the meantime we continue to plug away with the traditional (egg based) technology. We are constantly gambling (with the CDC's help) what will be next years major flu outbreak. Our Weather Channel is telling us that Flu is spreading this year with 12,000 new cases each week: https://weather.com/health/cold-flu/...lu-season-peak. With our Government's help many of these vaccinations are 'free' or very reasonably priced. Even if you have not had the flu for many years it does not mean that you will not contract the particular strain that is common this year.
I just had this discussion with my granddaughter who is a nurse practitioner a few days ago. She said people who say they got the flu from the shots are wrong: it takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to take effect; that is why so many think they got it from the shot. They already have the starting before they had the shot. I have to admit, I rarely get a shot, but I also realize I am kidding myself if I think the shot does no good or will cause me to get the flu.
I just had this discussion with my granddaughter who is a nurse practitioner a few days ago. She said people who say they got the flu from the shots are wrong: it takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to take effect; that is why so many think they got it from the shot. They already have the starting before they had the shot. I have to admit, I rarely get a shot, but I also realize I am kidding myself if I think the shot does no good or will cause me to get the flu.
Every year our CDC tries to anticipate our next flu season. There is a lot of science and some guess work on which strains will be our prevalent strains in the next flu season. From this CDC link: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/...cid=rr6505a1_w.
"Recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) will be available in a trivalent formulation (RIV3). In light of concerns regarding low effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in the United States during the 2013–14 and 2015–16 seasons, for the 2016–17 season, ACIP makes the interim recommendation that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) should not be used. Vaccine virus strains included in the 2016–17 U.S. trivalent influenza vaccines will be an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)–like virus, an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)–like virus, and a B/Brisbane/60/2008–like virus (Victoria lineage). Quadrivalent vaccines will include an additional influenza B virus strain, a B/Phuket/3073/2013–like virus (Yamagata lineage)." Next year's flu season will or could be different than this years.
We traditionally start gearing up for the next season in January. That is ahead of when the CDC releases their guidelines for the next flu season. Of course we have scientist working hand and hand with the CDC - but their final decision is not always set in stone. If we 'guess' wrong millions of dollars in production can be lost.
^^That is all correct. nmnita's granddaughter is also correct that it takes two weeks for the vaccine to work once you have received it. If you get the flu in that two week interim, it's not from the shot but from circulating virus.
^^That is all correct. nmnita's granddaughter is also correct that it takes two weeks for the vaccine to work once you have received it. If you get the flu in that two week interim, it's not from the shot but from circulating virus.
The one thing that our news and even the CDC do not religiously release are what strains are prevalent during the current flu season. I have to presume, that every time somebody test 'positive' for the flu virus that they do identify which strain they contracted. Of course maybe the general public is not that interested in strains and only health care officials and manufacturers would be interested?
I have been told and maybe it's wrong; that if you contract a flu strain that is similar, but different than the strain you were vaccinated against, that you would still have some protection. Possibly you might have a mild case of that strain? On the other hand, if the strain is completely different than your vaccination; you still might contract the full blown flu. Please feel free to correct me.
The one thing that our news and even the CDC do not religiously release are what strains are prevalent during the current flu season. I have to presume, that every time somebody test 'positive' for the flu virus that they do identify which strain they contracted. Of course maybe the general public is not that interested in strains and only health care officials and manufacturers would be interested?
I have been told and maybe it's wrong; that if you contract a flu strain that is similar, but different than the strain you were vaccinated against, that you would still have some protection. Possibly you might have a mild case of that strain? On the other hand, if the strain is completely different than your vaccination; you still might contract the full blown flu. Please feel free to correct me.
FluView. It updates the situation with flu weekly:
The one thing that our news and even the CDC do not religiously release are what strains are prevalent during the current flu season. I have to presume, that every time somebody test 'positive' for the flu virus that they do identify which strain they contracted. Of course maybe the general public is not that interested in strains and only health care officials and manufacturers would be interested?
I have been told and maybe it's wrong; that if you contract a flu strain that is similar, but different than the strain you were vaccinated against, that you would still have some protection. Possibly you might have a mild case of that strain? On the other hand, if the strain is completely different than your vaccination; you still might contract the full blown flu. Please feel free to correct me.
The rapid flu tests differentiate between Type A and Type B. Blood tests done at a lab are more specific.
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