Just got my flu shot. How about YOU?

[Article Accelerator]

samintx wrote:
I don't know if it helps or not but I get it ever year. At my age it is highly recommended.

Well Suzanne, just fire up Safari on your Mac and you can find out for yourself:

Study Raises Questions About Flu Vaccine's Effectiveness
Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Lower Than Usual
Studies Fail To Demonstrate Safety or Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine In Children and Adults

...and some primary sources:

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness among Elderly Nursing Home Residents: A Cohort Study
Influenza vaccine effectiveness among 50-64-year-old persons during a season of poor antigenic match between vaccine and circulating influenza virus strains

In other words, there's a good chance it won't help.

[Yoyodyne ArtWorks]

space-time wrote:
why is the flu virus spreading easier during the winter months than during the summer?

Less moisture in winter air leads to drier mucous membranes (sinus, throat), which are more susceptible to viral infection.

[space-time]

Yoyodyne ArtWorks wrote:
[quote=space-time]
why is the flu virus spreading easier during the winter months than during the summer?

Less moisture in winter air leads to drier mucous membranes (sinus, throat), which are more susceptible to viral infection.
would using an humidifier at home and at work reduce the risk of getting the flu then?

[Black Landlord]

Yoyodyne ArtWorks wrote:
[quote=space-time]
why is the flu virus spreading easier during the winter months than during the summer?

Less moisture in winter air leads to drier mucous membranes (sinus, throat), which are more susceptible to viral infection.
Established concensus, or personal theory?

I think it could be because of filthy forced air systems bombarding us with allergens. Or weakened immune systems due to hypothermic episodes.
Good question, in any case.

[bfd]

Article Accelerator wrote:
[quote=samintx]
I don't know if it helps or not but I get it ever year. At my age it is highly recommended.

Well Suzanne, just fire up Safari on your Mac and you can find out for yourself:

Study Raises Questions About Flu Vaccine's Effectiveness
Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Lower Than Usual
Studies Fail To Demonstrate Safety or Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine In Children and Adults

...and some primary sources:

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness among Elderly Nursing Home Residents: A Cohort Study
Influenza vaccine effectiveness among 50-64-year-old persons during a season of poor antigenic match between vaccine and circulating influenza virus strains

In other words, there's a good chance it won't help.
The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) is a non-profit, educational organization (http://www.nvic.org) founded in 1982 and is dedicated to preventing vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and defending the informed consent ethic

Well, at least there's no question about who's supporting those so-called "meta-studies".

[sunfalcon]

I took it up the nose a couple weeks ago - yeah baby - put that live virus in me!!

I love the Air Force!!!

[cbelt3]

Next thursday. I'm looking forward to becoming autistic. Or harboring some alien DNA baby thing.

Heck, I'm hoping I just don't get the damn flu. Took 10 days last year to get better.

[Yoyodyne ArtWorks]

Black Landlord wrote:
[quote=Yoyodyne ArtWorks]
Less moisture in winter air leads to drier mucous membranes (sinus, throat), which are more susceptible to viral infection.

Established concensus, or personal theory?
From http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/UVA...ricold.cfm

Cold weather and colds:

Contrary to popular belief, cold weather or getting chilled does not cause a cold, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). However, more colds do occur during the cold season (early fall to late winter), which is probably due to a variety of factors, including the following:

* schools are in session, increasing the risk for exposure to the virus
* people stay more indoors and are in closer proximity to each other
* low humidity, causing dry nasal passages which are more susceptible to cold viruses

[NewtonMP2100]

Never used to but now that it is free. . . Why not . . .scheduled for next week. . .