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I've always wanted know how many people who don't wash their hands and shower on a regular basis fare, vs. those who do. Not just in a single season, but over many years of their lives. Too many variables to ever know for sure, but it would be interesting. There have been a lot of suggestions that we're TOO clean these days.
My husband's step mother freaked out on me last summer because the kids had been out playing in her yard and I didn't tell them to wash their hands when they came in for lunch. TBH, unless they've been mucking stalls or some similar activity, I never make them wash up. I also didn't bathe them daily when they were little. They are so seldom sick that the last time I took them in to their pediatrician (in 2012) for anything other than mandated vaccines or yearly check-ups, she said, "What are YOU doing here?"
I get what you're saying...however, the spread of the flu is a bit different then the spread of other germs from playing in the dirt.
If a person with the flu coughs and expels something on your desk and you touch that and then touch your mouth, you've swallowed the flu. In this case, handwashing is a good thing during flu season.
I'm not a big hand sanitizer or wipes user during most of the year, but I am careful at this time.
One of my best friends - a healthy, vibrant woman in her 30s - died alone in her apartment from the flu two weeks ago. We've since learned she didn't get her shot. People in her social circle who developed the flu at the same time all had their shot and were only out of commission for a week.
Get your damn flu shot. It may not prevent the flu this season, but it will lessen the severity and may prevent another person like me from finding their dear friend dead in her apartment.
Exactly. The vaccine conspiracy nuts are a threat to us all. In the Trump era this lack of faith in science will only continue to grow. Sorry about your loss.
I think what it boils down to is whether we should error on the side of caution or play Russian roulette.
I have no vested interest this year in the vaccine; I am not working for personal reasons. But anybody that wants to gamble on catching this virus is stupid. Years ago, when I was driving long distance truck, I had one heck of case of the flu. I never thought that I would live to make it home. It can really wipe you out. If anybody has ever suffered from a severe case they would not wish it on themselves or their loved ones - if there was any way to avoid it. Maybe the vaccine is not 100% perfect; but anything that can help is worth taking that chance.
You do what you have to do. Personally, I think that "stomach bug", or food poisoning, is far worse than the flu. Ok, it is generally over quicker but it ain't no fun hugging your toilet bowl if you know what I mean.
One year when we were visiting our kids and grandson, he gave everyone that stomach virus. My husband had to go back to work and drove back from NY to Florida wearing Depends, drinking Gatorade, and eating bananas.
You do what you have to do, and what is right for YOU.
I haven't had the flu vaccine in probably 30 yrs, and didn't have a flu since Asian flu in 1957 I think was the year.
I keep my immune system healthy with what I do and it's not pumping vaccines into my body.
I don't see the push as I got rid of cable but hear the fear on the r a d i o.
The MAJORITY of the population do not do anything to strengthen their immune systems. They think the vaccine does it.
I nearly died from the Asian flu in 1957. I was five. I get the flu shot every year because I want to take as many measures as possible to avoid going through that again.
I also believe in hand washing, good nutrition, and sufficient rest and exercise. None of these things is mutually exclusive with regard to the others.
You do what you have to do. Personally, I think that "stomach bug", or food poisoning, is far worse than the flu. Ok, it is generally over quicker but it ain't no fun hugging your toilet bowl if you know what I mean.
One year when we were visiting our kids and grandson, he gave everyone that stomach virus. My husband had to go back to work and drove back from NY to Florida wearing Depends, drinking Gatorade, and eating bananas.
You do what you have to do, and what is right for YOU.
Flu is far more serious that a stomach virus, although severe nausea is no joke. Stomach virus is rarely if ever fatal. It is the respiratory distress of influenza that generally kills people, viral pneumonia or lung damage. Here's a good article on it.
I think what it boils down to is whether we should error on the side of caution or play Russian roulette.
I have no vested interest this year in the vaccine; I am not working for personal reasons. But anybody that wants to gamble on catching this virus is stupid. Years ago, when I was driving long distance truck, I had one heck of case of the flu. I never thought that I would live to make it home. It can really wipe you out. If anybody has ever suffered from a severe case they would not wish it on themselves or their loved ones - if there was any way to avoid it. Maybe the vaccine is not 100% perfect; but anything that can help is worth taking that chance.
The vaccine has an efficacy of about 30% per the CDC. And people are NOT dying in droves. Not even close. It's an AVERAGE year.
I wish people would actually ACKNOWLEDGE, CONSIDER, UNDERSTAND and ACCEPT these two UNDISPUTED FACTS.
But people are brainwashed, truly. It's really sad. They believe that people are keeling over, dying on the street and the ONLY, SOLE reason other people are not dead is because they took something that may or may not be 30% effective. NO other factors need apply.
It's ludicrous how far critical thinking skills have fallen in this country. Absolutely ludicrous.
The vaccine has an efficacy of about 30% per the CDC. And people are NOT dying in droves. Not even close. It's an AVERAGE year.
I wish people would actually ACKNOWLEDGE, CONSIDER, UNDERSTAND and ACCEPT these two UNDISPUTED FACTS.
But people are brainwashed, truly. It's really sad. They believe that people are keeling over, dying on the street and the ONLY, SOLE reason other people are not dead is because they took something that may or may not be 30% effective. NO other factors need apply.
It's ludicrous how far critical thinking skills have fallen in this country. Absolutely ludicrous.
The only person who has said that is you.
Numbers indicate that this is the worse flu year in about a decade. Basically you don't believe most things published about influenza, so it would not be expected for you to believe this either.
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Visit your local emergency room for a clear assessment of how serious this flu season is.
My Dr. said this is the worst he's seen it.
Complicating this season is that, especially on the east coast, there is an adenovirus that is rampant and has all the same symptoms of the flu. Feels just as bad but, fortunately, rarely causes the complications the flu does.
If you read the CDC data, they show that XXX number of people visited the emergency room for "flu like" illness on any given week. I think the last report I read said that of those XXX number people, 26% were positive for flu.
There are a lot of people showing up at the ER just thinking they have the flu. I think it's wise of the media to report the dangers but it also has the added effect of scaring people to run to the ER because they think they're gonna die.
My FIL who in normally a smart man, heard someone died of an allergic reaction to flu shop decades ago, and so stopped getting them (um, people die from peanuts and he eats those ).
So yeah, he has the flu this year and is very sick, and then my MIL caught it and she is down. Cousin has it....
We have few family parties over the holidays, and many were out sick this year which is unusual.
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