Let's contemplate this for a moment to see if we can make sense of this question. Last year I got the flu shot in late October, 2007. In August of 2008, 10 months later, I became deathly ill with the flu. When I say deathly, I mean sicker than I have every been before. Does this mean that the shot that was supposed to protect me for the year did not work? Or did the virus mutate?
In fact, many people got sick during the 2007-2008 flu season just like I did and because I was so intrigued with the topic, when Trisha Torrey, About.com's Guide to Patient Empowerment did an interview with Onondaga County's (New York) Health Commissioner Cynthia Morrow, MD MPH, I jumped at the chance to share it with you.
Read Trisha's Article here:
"What's With This Year's Flu?"
Read more about how getting a flu shot can prevent COPD exacerbation:
Flu Shots Help Prevent COPD Exacerbation
What about you? Did you get sick after last year's flu vaccine? Please take the poll and leave a comment.
I have never had a flu shot, and this is precisely why. Even my doctor who wants me to get the shot every year admits that it only prevents TWO different strains of the flu (at least this was the count the last time I talked to him about it). There are many different strains and it mutates all the time. I know this is frowned upon in general, but I just don’t think it’s worth it.
Last year was the only year I got the flu after having a flu shot. Since 1998 when I started getting them because of being a nurse, I was never sick. For me, one year out of 10 is pretty significant so I will keep getting them.
Last year was the only year I got the flu after having a flu shot. Since 1998 when I started getting them because of being a nurse, I was never sick. For me, one year out of 10 is pretty significant so I will keep getting them.
Also, if you read Trisha’s article that I posted in the blog, last years flu vaccine was composed of 3 different strains and the fact that people got sick was a matter of poor prediction and not virus mutation. Just an FYI, it is a great article.
Another reason you may have gotten the flu after you got the flu shot is that it only protects you for about 6 months. So the fact that you got the flu 10 months after the flu shot would have been a possibility any year, regardless of how effective the vaccine was that year. Also, the flu vaccine does mutate each year, but not generally fast enough to create lots of different strains in a given season. There are generally only two or three strains that cause the flu each year and that is why there are three strains in the flu shot. Unfortunately it is an educated guess on the part of the researchers who develop the vaccine each year. They base it on the strains that made people sick the year before, strains that are making people sick in other parts of the world and how they think it might change before this year’s flu season. It’s not an exact science, but they are generally pretty accurate. Unfortunately that just wasn’t the case this past year. Thanks for the great post Deborah, since I’m the Cold and Flu guide, it’s definitely a topic I care about!
I wish I could get my son the flu shot, as he has asthma. But the flu shot is not available for those with egg allergies, so he can’t get the shot.
Since food allergies and asthma often go together, I find it frustrating that the flu shot isn’t there for a kid who really needs it!
I only ever had the flu once. I was in my early twenties and not taking care of myself. Like many at that age, I had a job with no health insurance, so I didn’t get the flu shot. I had a fairly bad bout of it, and then got a bacterial sinus infection a week or two afterwards because my system was so run down. I never missed a flu shot after that.
I think that there is a big misconception about what the flu really is. Many people who say they get the flu after getting the shot are not very sick (it might just be the shot’s side effects) or don’t have the flu at all, but some other illness. Unless your health care provider runs the tests to see if you have the influenza virus, it’s hard to say if it is really the flu or not.
Kristina, thanks for the great comment, I did not know it only lasted 6 months, would love it if you could answer the comment below you, if you see it. I will give it a shot….
Rachel,
Would like to know how severe your son’s egg allergy is and if it is a true egg allergy and not just a sensitivity to it. It is generally not recommended for those with severe egg allergies.
Barb;
You are right, people often think they get the flu after the flu shot when what they are really experiencing are side effects of it, which mimic the flu…malaise, achiness, etc etc.
Thanks for all your comments.