Did you get a flu shot?

[mjmjr25]

My wife claims they're mandatory at her workplace (a hospital). Apparently if you skip the clinic they'll track you down in your office and jab you.

The Joint Commission requires 100% compliance, but compliance is simply documenting 1 of 3 things - they can not force a shot as terms of employment. They are obligated by JCAHO to track you down though and get one of these 3 things:

1. got the shot at work (signed a document acknowledging shot received)
2. declined the shot (signed document / waiver)
3. got the shot elsewhere (signed document indicating where)

50,000~ Americans die each of year of flu and flu-related illness.

[MrPopo]

Mind giving a break down by age group and any preexisting conditions (e.g. AIDS)? If the old and sickly are dying of flu... that's expected. They're old and sickly.

[8bit]

I have gotten one for the past 5 years and I haven't been sick with the flu any of those years or ever had negative side effects from the shot besides a sort arm muscle for a few days after. The shot is painless, quick, and free with most any insurance plan at your local walgreens or cvs. I like knowing that I'm giving myself the best chance not to catch or spread something.

[mjmjr25]

Mind giving a break down by age group and any preexisting conditions (e.g. AIDS)? If the old and sickly are dying of flu... that's expected. They're old and sickly.

I don't have all the numbers memorized; just the key numbers as part of a committee i'm on - i'm sure they are on both CDC and WHO. Yes younger and older are more susceptible to both flu and flu complications. Also those with any type of respiratory condition, low immunity, or pregnancy.

In 2010, after a continued increase of hospitalizations and deaths, I believe 200,000 and 49,000 respectivily, including 10,000+ H1N1 deaths, the CDC for the first time recommended all US citizens over 6 months old get the flu shot.

Getting exact numbers is difficult. Hospitals are not required to report seasonal flu or stomach flu deaths to the CDC (they do need to report Bird and Swine Flu) - so numbers are estimated. Some sites / organizations combine data, some separate them all out as 4 (or more) types of illness.

[darsparx]

I got it but only because i was already in the doctor's office for a check up/physical yesterday(might as well, eh?). I'd rather be safe than sorry because I don't want to get sick since I don't need to be missing any work...

[Luke]

I gave the flu a Luke shot.

[Hobie-wan]

I gave the flu a Luke shot.

A little Fluke shot never hurt anyone.

[Luke]

A little Fluke shot never hurt anyone.

[Ivo]

The reason the flu shot is yearly is because the flu virus mutates a lot (unlike the other diseases which have vaccines which last longer, or that you only catch once in your life and then have immunity for your entire life or almost).

I think the flu shot is a mix of several strains that the experts will think will be likely to be the "popular" ones for that winter, but the mix changes yearly otherwise it isn't effective.

[J T]

Here is an interesting and frightening talk about how unprepared we are for a deadly strain of flu: