Flu

By some measures we are looking at the worst flu season in a decade. There is no sign of it peaking despite some hope that it had just run up early and would peak earlier as a result.

Early signs were that the flu vaccine was poorly matched, but more recent data suggests it’s doing a fair job of building immunity.  

Even a poorly matched vaccine is believed to provide some benefit by attenuating infections that break through vaccine treated individuals.

For all the anti vaccine people- this isn’t MMR (not getting into that). It cannot give you the flu. And even if you are a super butch ***-kicker who ain’t afraid of no flu, the reason to get vaccinated isn’t YOU, silly goose!

It’s the little old man behind you at the checkout line, the pregnant woman sitting next to you at the bar (I know right???) or the newborn at the gym (she’s going to be a power lifter). THEY are super vulnerable and they can die from a flu infection. As in dead. Killed by something your super tough guy self can handle with just a little whining and pants wetting.

Just go get the shot. The flu kills more people than most of the things people passionately get bent about and yet... they don’t get the vaccine. Surely that won’t hurt anyone! Lots of people don’t get the vaccine.

No drop of water, of course,  believes it is responsible for the flood oh oh

5 minutes in and out at Walgreens, covered by most plans, cheap even if it’s not.


https://www.walgreens.com/pharmacy/immunization/immunization_index.jsp


This is a five-star post.  snake 


Although I've been getting the shot in recent years, I've never had the flu in my life.  Never had fever and/or body aches combined with cold symptoms.  I'm wondering how common that is.  Anyone else?



bub said:

Although I've been getting the shot in recent years, I've never had the flu in my life.  Never had fever and/or body aches combined with cold symptoms.  I'm wondering how common that is.  Anyone else?

Funny you should mention that because I was going to add it but thought it was overkill. 


There is some research that suggests that many flu infections do not end up like classic flu. For whatever reason ppl just end up feeling like they have a cold. And as you’d expect, they go around their day a little under the weather instead of being laid out effectively in quarantine... but still spreading it.


Sorry Bub.... get the jab!


As noted, I get the jab.  I'm on an area first aid squad. We get it as a precaution before the flu season starts. 



bub said:

As noted, I get the jab.  I'm on an area first aid squad. We get it as a precaution before the flu season starts. 

Ah good, when you said “recent” I assumed that meant you stopped! You’re probably in a better position than anyone to see disease creepin and crawling through the community.

I can think of 2 or 3 times I’ve been jacked by something that wasn’t just a bad cold. That’s not a lot over the decades which makes me wonder if I’m not in a boat similar to the one you’re sailing on. Strains contribute to some level of protection to similar strains, so maybe we just got jacked a lot as kids.

There’s some suggestion that this one is hitting younger folks (50-65) harder than normal because it doesn’t look much like things their immune system has seen, which is not common. Usually that age group is the proper mix of experience and youth, immunologically speaking, to handle most things with some aplomb. That’s the belief, at least.


I hate colds with a passion but I don't think even the worst I ever had really forced me to stay in bed although I'd try to sleep my way through one as much as possible.  I don't think the no-flu thing is rare.  I read that you can have it and be asymptomatic (so technically I guess that's not immunity).   The strains change every year so I suppose the luck can run out too.  I also suspect a lot of people use the word flu to describe a particularly bad cold they are suffering from.      



bub said:

I hate colds with a passion but I don't think even the worst I ever had really forced me to stay in bed although I'd try to sleep my way through one as much as possible.  I don't think the no-flu thing is rare.  I read that you can have it and be asymptomatic (so technically I guess that's not immunity).   The strains change every year so I suppose the luck can run out too.  I also suspect a lot of people use the word flu to describe a particularly bad cold they are suffering from.      

Asymptomatic means you have flu infection but are light or void symptoms. Sort of a Typhoid Mary thing. The paper (and yes it was a paper for what it’s worth) I read suggested exactly what you are saying- most flu infections DO NOT lay people out... which is bad news. It means more people get infected than we supposed, and that means more flu circulating. It means virulence is higher than the number of people “getting the flu” would suggest. 


That would make getting a flu shot more important for the community than for many individuals. One of those things we should just do for our fellow humans, regardless of whether it helps us.


Which you already obviously know and live, since you volunteer to expose yourself to all manner of things just because you’re a good dude, so thank you for that.


count me as typoid Author................except for chills and unable to look at food.

Had my shots and life time pneumonia shots............way way under the weather..........but this too shall pass


I used to get the flu shot off and on before my husband got sick and I couldn’t get the flu with his compromised immune system. Although he passed away 5+ years ago, I’ve been getting the flu shot every October since. I’ve had the flu and was completely miserable. I advocate getting the shot for everyone who can get it. 


I’ve had the jab every year since my 7 yo son had the flu 10 years ago. We ended up in the ER with a 106 fever. All they could do for him is administer an IV to cool him and give him more Tylenol. He actually tested positive for a strain of flu that wasn’t in that year’s vaccine. He still remembers how horrible having the flu was and gets a shot every year. 


This may help those unclear as to whether they have flu or cold symptoms. 


So, what is the flu looking like this year?  Is it like a bad cold as people seem to say?  I had the flu back in the early 1980s and I was sick to my stomach and felt weak and achy and could hardly walk.  Also, chills and fever. It lasted for a few days.  Is this flu different? 



bub said:

Although I've been getting the shot in recent years, I've never had the flu in my life.  Never had fever and/or body aches combined with cold symptoms.  I'm wondering how common that is.  Anyone else?

I always thought that people who caught the flu and complained about how awful they felt were wimps.  That was before January, 2008.  That month I somehow managed to succumb to two different strains of the flu back to back.  It was awful.  Ever since that time I make sure to get my flu vaccine.  


That's the thing. The people who say, "oh, what's the big deal about a little flu" have never had the flu. Anyone who has ever had genuine influenza would never say that. It's a very big deal.


Yes, that list is helpful.  I remember the flu was nothing like a cold. Yet, people keep saying they have this cold that last for 12 days and calling it the flu.  I also remember having the flu another time in the 1970's and it hit me when I was at the beginning of a dinner party.  One minute I was fine and the next I was flat out on my back. 



bub said:

Although I've been getting the shot in recent years, I've never had the flu in my life.  Never had fever and/or body aches combined with cold symptoms.  I'm wondering how common that is.  Anyone else?

Never had the flu either and rarely get colds (every couple of years).  

I DO have the shots though, herd immunity and all that...


I have the flu right now and I was diagnosed long after I thought I just had a cold. No fever. No nausea. A few muscle aches that’s all. Now I’ve been in bed for a week with no end in sight. I am also someone who never gets sick, never had the flu prior to this year, and frankly thought about the shot as optional. This flu is different. 



nan said:

Yes, that list is helpful.  I remember the flu was nothing like a cold. Yet, people keep saying they have this cold that last for 12 days and calling it the flu.  I also remember having the flu another time in the 1970's and it hit me when I was at the beginning of a dinner party.  One minute I was fine and the next I was flat out on my back. 

We may be finding that the flu can be very much like a cold.... and that is a problem.


https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/03/17/290878964/even-if-you-dont-have-symptoms-you-may-still-have-the-flu


We all may have flu more often than we know. There’s any number of theories why one strain may impact an individual more than another, but sufficient to say “vulnerable” populations are likely weak to all of them. 



we discussed this a few months back, as Australia was ending our flu season, and you were beginning your Fall. At the time, I mentioned it was the worst season in years, with many hospitalisations and some deaths. 

What happened for us was that the actual presenting strains were complicating (if that's the right phrasing) the ones in the vaccines. The vaccines had a combo of four strains, and then many international visitors brought in the most virulent strains from their last stops. So we landed up with a 'soup' of about 6 strains, 4 really strong and 2 we weren't prepared for. My clients were dropping like flies, even the usually resilient ones. 

It's not easy to shake, if you get this one. You'll think you're almost over it, then it'll knock you flat on your back for days. Then you'll get a lasting cough for weeks, or just be always tired for weeks. At this stage, you're a target for norovirus too. 

Best protection is is the jab, good hand hygiene, and don't go out if you don't feel 100%. No point in being a martyr. 


oh, FWIW, both D and I had the shots early in the season and caught flu just after mid-way, me after his second-wind extended bout. He’d clearly caught a nasty version from public transport; as an asthmatic and diabetic, cancer survivor who doesn’t sleep well, his immune system is always on alert. 

So many of my staff and clients were unwell, plus D, I had a rough 3 weeks too. I can’t take anything to alleviate symptoms - it was ghastly. 


I used to think a little pain or discomfort was good for us..........it keeps us humble  Now I realize I was out

of my mind


It's good - if you survive and recover fully.

author said:

I used to think a little pain or discomfort was good for us..........it keeps us humble  Now I realize I was out


of my mind



Excuse my ignorance but can't you still catch the flu even if you get the flu shot?


I hope those feeling unwell recover soon!

Try hard to be patient and gracious, allow others to do things for you if they offer - it’s good for both of you. (I’m not a good flu patient)


This thread is interesting and enlightening.  I had the flu shot in October as recommended.  Then I got back-to-back colds, bad colds, that lasted about 6 weeks in all.  My doctor said this flu shot was about 10% effective and that my cold might be related.  I still feel tired and without energy.  



MrSuburbs said:

Excuse my ignorance but can't you still catch the flu even if you get the flu shot?

Yes. And you can still die from food poisoning if you cook your pork chops. 


YES - the flu shot targets specific strains on influenza.  If there is an outbreak of a different strain, the shot won't prevent you from getting it. 

MrSuburbs said:

Excuse my ignorance but can't you still catch the flu even if you get the flu shot?




Njjanyce said:

This thread is interesting and enlightening.  I had the flu shot in October as recommended.  Then I got back-to-back colds, bad colds, that lasted about 6 weeks in all.  My doctor said this flu shot was about 10% effective and that my cold might be related.  I still feel tired and without energy.  

Hmm an odd thing for a doc to say. “Cold” viruses are completely unrelated to influenza. There are a couple hundred viruses that cause upper respitory infections. The flu is not even distantly related to them (rhino, corona, adeno etc).


As for 10% effective, early in the season because the flu circulating in the southern hemiphere (we tend to swap flu virus each winter) was poorly matched it was believed that we too would be poorly matched with the current vaccine. From what I read we are getting better protection than had been anticipated- around 40%. 60% is average.


Remember “vaccine failure” is when you get the vaccine and still get sick. Research suggests that even when you do have an infection that breaks through the vaccine, the course of the illness is less severe. So there is a benefit beyond just having a full on shield.




erins said:

YES - the flu shot targets specific strains on influenza.  If there is an outbreak of a different strain, the shot won't prevent you from getting it. 

MrSuburbs said:

Excuse my ignorance but can't you still catch the flu even if you get the flu shot?

Each year flu shots are created around 3 strains- an (A)H3N2, an (A)H1A1, and a B. The A strains are seen as more “seasonal” and the B is less common but pops up year round. The A’s are also nastier, and the H3N2’s are particularly noted for being nasty.


Sadly, H3N2 is what is circulating this year in large part.


So you are probably covered as far as strains go- but you can get mutations within a strain that make it a poor match against the circulating strain. Most vaccine research is attempting to key in on the things that do not change on the virus, or do not change as often. Viruses “drift” commonly and “shift” less commonly. It seems as though this year’s H3N2 did both, which makes it more different from the version the vaccine trained your immune system to look out for.  


The new research focuses on aspects that neither shift nor drift, which would be a universal vaccine. If you’re interested in such things there have been plenty of interesting stories of progress, some quite recent. We’re getting closer.





erins said:

YES - the flu shot targets specific strains on influenza.  If there is an outbreak of a different strain, the shot won't prevent you from getting it. 

MrSuburbs said:

Excuse my ignorance but can't you still catch the flu even if you get the flu shot?

There’s science to suggest that built in antibodies from getting flu shots, give you a better chance of not succumbing to severe symptoms, should you contract the flu. I’m not so sure how true it is. I got the flu once in 1999, and I’ve gotten the flu shot since then and never had it again. It was the worst 10 days of my life. 

I’ve been following keenly the articles about the seemingly otherwise healthy people who have died of this years flu and majority of them are noted as not having had the shot. There’s no telling if the flu shot would’ve prevented these tragedies,  but it’s terrifying and not worth taking the chance. We get it mid October each year. 



annielou said:

I have the flu right now and I was diagnosed long after I thought I just had a cold. No fever. No nausea. A few muscle aches that’s all. Now I’ve been in bed for a week with no end in sight. I am also someone who never gets sick, never had the flu prior to this year, and frankly thought about the shot as optional. This flu is different. 

I never understand the thinking of "I never get sick, never had the flue before." People say this all the time. What are they thinking is the relevance? "I never got cancer before."  Says no one ever. 


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