Flu

[She Mate Me]

Flipping channels early this morning. There has been at least a mention and at least two extended segments for the the coming flu outbreak on every single mainstream news broadcast I have stoped on. 5 and counting at this point. All focused on getting those flu shots.

Please don't make your answers overly political, but does anybody have inside info on exactly how the pharmaceutical industry gets these stories put on the air so consistently. It's every year. Just a barrage of segments.

I haven't had the flu in decades and have taken the flu shot once in my life.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but it just feels like a massive marketing effort rather than an annual national emergency.

 

[Dawgbite]

Pharmaceutical companies are huge advertisers. I’m sure their suggestions to the tv world are listened too with keen ears. I used to take the flu shot religiously but haven’t taken it in years.

 

[FactCheckerBot]

Fact:
the flu vax is a crap shoot. From personal experience as well as observations of family and friends, it’s never a guarantee and the excuse given is always that the vax was for a different strain.

 

[Ozarkdawg]

I took the shot this year. Nurse said that based on the southern hemisphere results, it prob wasn't going to help a lot. Not trying to be an expert on its effectiveness, just repeating what the nurse said.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I sure hope you typed that with a mask on and were 6 feet from your keyboard.

 

[The Peeper]

I couldn't tell you when the last time was that I took the shot. I haven't had the flu either, until I did, last year. I thought I was dying for 5 days (missed a full week of work) and even after that it took a couple weeks to get back to normal. I had zero energy, slept almost 24/7, and hurt all over during that time.

 

[Dawgbite]

I couldn't tell you when the last time was that I took the shot. I haven't had the flu either, until I did, last year. I thought I was dying for 5 days (missed a full week of work) and even after that it took a couple weeks to get back to normal. I had zero energy, slept almost 24/7, and hurt all over during that time.

I had it once years ago. Wife and I both had it at the same time. I literally couldn’t stand up without passing out. I would crawl on my hands and knees to the bathroom or the kitchen. Worst I’ve ever felt and it was during the time when I took the yearly shot.

 

[She Mate Me]

There's no question the flu exists, and it sucks.

That's not really what I was asking about here though.

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

I haven't had the flu in decades and have taken the flu shot once in my life.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but it just feels like a massive marketing effort rather than an annual national emergency.

I get the flu shot every year and I haven't had the flu since probably 2005.

ETA: I got Covid vaxxed also and have never had covid and I work around a lot of people. American vaccine companies know what they're doing.

 

[Dawgbite]

There's no question the flu exists, and it sucks.

That's not really what I was asking about here though.

Advertising dollars is your answer. Eliminate the pharmaceutical advertising and you’ll eliminate the constant news blurbs. Sorry I made it political.

 

[FormerBully]

Pharmaceutical companies are the top spenders on ads each year. It is insane the amount of money they drop and no one is stopping them.

 

[She Mate Me]

Advertising dollars is your answer. Eliminate the pharmaceutical advertising and you’ll eliminate the constant news blurbs. Sorry I made it political.

I don't consider that political. I guess it is if your favorite politicians are financially tied to that money train somehow.

 

[22yardpunt]

My wife and son have flu currently. Docs say the flu strain is different than the flu shot and is why we’re dropping like flies out here. They develop the flu shot earlier in the year to get it to market in time but that also means the actual strain may evolve thereafter.

 

[She Mate Me]

My wife and son have flu currently. Docs say the flu strain is different than the flu shot and is why we’re dropping like flies out here. They develop the flu shot earlier in the year to get it to market in time but that also means the actual strain may evolve thereafter.

Sorry y'all are sick.

I'm sure that's true about the reason the shots are not particularly effective. I hope it's true because they've been using it as an excuse for at least 25 years.

 

[HailStout]

As a lot of you know, I am a board certified pulmonologist. The flu shot is safe and clinically proven over decades to be effective in helping to prevent transmission of the flu. Can you still get it when vaccinated? Yes. But then it can help to minimize duration, severity, and viral shedding. This helps keep people out of the hospital and also helps minimize spread. It does vary in efficacy from year to year. This years appears not so great. The media push you are talking about is a recognized important part of getting more people vaccinated.

as for the “I haven’t had the flu, what’s the point”. Same thing could be said about wearing you seatbelt.

and keep in mind getting the flu shot by as many people as possible helps to minimize spread. That’s the point.

The flu shot has been a recognized and important part of standard health care for decades. I get it. My family gets it. My patients get it. And I get zero dollars from pharmaceutical companies

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Flipping channels early this morning. There has been at least a mention and at least two extended segments for the the coming flu outbreak on every single mainstream news broadcast I have stoped on. 5 and counting at this point. All focused on getting those flu shots.

Please don't make your answers overly political, but does anybody have inside info on exactly how the pharmaceutical industry gets these stories put on the air so consistently. It's every year. Just a barrage of segments.

I haven't had the flu in decades and have taken the flu shot once in my life.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but it just feels like a massive marketing effort rather than an annual national emergency.

Most of the time the media blitz that’s put on for the flu vaccine comes from the government and more of a PSA type message, which would be kind of surprising being who is in charge of HHS now.

The flu vaccine is always just an educated guess based off of several strains of influenza that they detect early on and they just pick one that they feel might be the more active strain of influenza to make the vaccine for this year so sometimes it does work and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m a big believer in vaccines, but I usually don’t ever get the flu vaccine just because I’m not at high risk and it’s just a crapshoot, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt anything either especially if you are immuno compromised elderly, or have young children or babies around you.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

The only time I ever got the flu shot, I got the flu. That was in the late 90s or early 00s. Never got the shot again. I have gotten a mild case of the flu three years ago and COVID twice after I took those two initial COVID shots.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

The only time I ever got the flu shot, I got the flu. That was in the late 90s or early 00s. Never got the shot again. I have gotten a mild case of the flu three years ago and COVID twice after I took those two initial COVID shots.

Not to get bogged down in this, but oh well. The Covid shot was not designed to prevent Covid.

 

[8dog]

All I know is whoever invented Xofluza should get a statue

 

[TheDawg-Pound]

Flipping channels early this morning. There has been at least a mention and at least two extended segments for the the coming flu outbreak on every single mainstream news broadcast I have stoped on. 5 and counting at this point. All focused on getting those flu shots.

Please don't make your answers overly political, but does anybody have inside info on exactly how the pharmaceutical industry gets these stories put on the air so consistently. It's every year. Just a barrage of segments.

I haven't had the flu in decades and have taken the flu shot once in my life.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but it just feels like a massive marketing effort rather than an annual national emergency.

Flu a is rampant right now which is likely why they are encouraging you to get vaccinated. And because it's flu season.
They are a business, do you not expect them to advertise?

 

[TheDawg-Pound]

Fact:
the flu vax is a crap shoot. From personal experience as well as observations of family and friends, it’s never a guarantee and the excuse given is always that the vax was for a different strain.

It's not a force field. It helps you get less sick, even if it's the wrong strain.

 

[TheDawg-Pound]

Delete

 

[She Mate Me]

As a lot of you know, I am a board certified pulmonologist. The flu shot is safe and clinically proven over decades to be effective in helping to prevent transmission of the flu. Can you still get it when vaccinated? Yes. But then it can help to minimize duration, severity, and viral shedding.

If I wanted to go down the rabbit hole to see the actual summaries of the studies that backup the term "clinically proven", where would I start?

 

[TheDawg-Pound]

I get the flu shot every year and I haven't had the flu since probably 2005.

ETA: I got Covid vaxxed also and have never had covid and I work around a lot of people. American vaccine companies know what they're doing.

Or you got it but the vaccine worked.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

All I know is whoever invented Xofluza should get a statue

Reading the replies to see if anybody had mentioned this. One pill, while expensive as hell, but it plants its foot deep and hard in the flu's ***.

 

[She Mate Me]

Flu a is rampant right now which is likely why they are encouraging you to get vaccinated. And because it's flu season.
They are a business, do you not expect them to advertise?

They're not allowed to in almost every country in the world, so it is certainly not obvious to everyone that it should be allowed.

They're not selling radiators.

How do you know flu is rampant? Not being a smart ***, just wondering?

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

If I wanted to go down the rabbit hole to see the actual summaries of the studies that backup the term "clinically proven", where would I start?

Influenza vaccine outcomes: a meta-analysis revealing morbidity benefits amid low infection prevention - PubMed

Despite higher infection rates, vaccination against H3N2 remains as highly effective as vaccination against H1N1 and IBV in reducing influenza-related morbidity and mortality in all age groups. Detailing vaccine effectiveness in terms of infection protection and disease burden across different...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[dgsmith15]

Currently recovering from the flu and it was surprisingly rough this time around. Last year I managed to test positive for flu, covid, and strep simultaneously and I still didn’t feel as ****** as I have with the flu this time around.

And guess who wishes he got his vax earlier in the fall…

 

[aTotal360]

All I know is whoever invented Xofluza should get a statue

I've said that about the Decadron shot. I can go from feeling like hammered dogshlt to running the Boston Marathon within an hour of getting it. I can EASILY see how people get addicted to roids. The only drawback is that I eat like a medieval king for the next 3 days.

 

[The Cooterpoot]

Flu shot ain't nothing but a guessing game, Good luck!

 

[Ranchdawg]

Hamilton, MS and Smithville schools shut down yesterday because most of their students were out sick. We've been hit hard in Monroe county. People we know that are sick were tested for flu and the COVID but were negative. My wife and I are going through it right now. We were the last to get it in our family. It feels like the flu, muscle aches, sinus infection, weakness, light headed and chest congestion.

 

[thatsbaseball]

I've said that about the Decadron shot. I can go from feeling like hammered dogshlt to running the Boston Marathon within an hour of getting it. I can EASILY see how people get addicted to roids. The only drawback is that I eat like a medieval king for the next 3 days.

Those shots seemed to be "watered down" a bit a few years ago but I had one last month and they're baaaack .

 

[Podgy]

As a lot of you know, I am a board certified pulmonologist. The flu shot is safe and clinically proven over decades to be effective in helping to prevent transmission of the flu. Can you still get it when vaccinated? Yes. But then it can help to minimize duration, severity, and viral shedding. This helps keep people out of the hospital and also helps minimize spread. It does vary in efficacy from year to year. This years appears not so great. The media push you are talking about is a recognized important part of getting more people vaccinated.

as for the “I haven’t had the flu, what’s the point”. Same thing could be said about wearing you seatbelt.

and keep in mind getting the flu shot by as many people as possible helps to minimize spread. That’s the point.

The flu shot has been a recognized and important part of standard health care for decades. I get it. My family gets it. My patients get it. And I get zero dollars from pharmaceutical companies

And there you have it. Doctors are all clearly bought and paid for by the pharmaceutical industry****

My wife, brother-in-law and doc friends all recommend vaccines although a couple have expressed slight reservations about the Covid vaccine but none think it's gonna cause all sorts of health issues. My pulmonologist friend, and wife, strongly suggested I get all three, I got two already and I'm going today to get the Covid vaccine (only because I keep forgetting to get it). I have a few vaccine skeptics in my family and my wife, no fan of the behavior and policies of some insurance and pharmaceutical companies, gently and respectfully dismisses their concerns and opinions derived from their own research unsuccessfully. Medical science is amazing. The average life span in the U.S. just over a century ago was around age 50. Vaccines, especially childhood vaccines, save and prolong lives. The behavior of some of the medical community during Covid and the Great Awokening did cause some to not unreasonably question their honesty.

 

[Podgy]

Flu a is rampant right now which is likely why they are encouraging you to get vaccinated. And because it's flu season.
They are a business, do you not expect them to advertise?

They should be like NASCAR and avoid advertisements.

 

[HRMSU]

As a lot of you know, I am a board certified pulmonologist. The flu shot is safe and clinically proven over decades to be effective in helping to prevent transmission of the flu. Can you still get it when vaccinated? Yes. But then it can help to minimize duration, severity, and viral shedding. This helps keep people out of the hospital and also helps minimize spread. It does vary in efficacy from year to year. This years appears not so great. The media push you are talking about is a recognized important part of getting more people vaccinated.

as for the “I haven’t had the flu, what’s the point”. Same thing could be said about wearing you seatbelt.

and keep in mind getting the flu shot by as many people as possible helps to minimize spread. That’s the point.

The flu shot has been a recognized and important part of standard health care for decades. I get it. My family gets it. My patients get it. And I get zero dollars from pharmaceutical companies

^ this.....minimizing spread and protecting more vulnerable are the best arguments for the flu shot....there should be virtually 0% safety concerns for a flu shot at this point. As I talk out the other side of my mouth I haven't had either in decades

 

[leeinator]

As a lot of you know, I am a board certified pulmonologist. The flu shot is safe and clinically proven over decades to be effective in helping to prevent transmission of the flu. Can you still get it when vaccinated? Yes. But then it can help to minimize duration, severity, and viral shedding. This helps keep people out of the hospital and also helps minimize spread. It does vary in efficacy from year to year. This years appears not so great. The media push you are talking about is a recognized important part of getting more people vaccinated.

as for the “I haven’t had the flu, what’s the point”. Same thing could be said about wearing you seatbelt.

and keep in mind getting the flu shot by as many people as possible helps to minimize spread. That’s the point.

The flu shot has been a recognized and important part of standard health care for decades. I get it. My family gets it. My patients get it. And I get zero dollars from pharmaceutical companies

My doctor told me to get the seasonal flu shot and the Covid booster. Primarily due to my age and comorbidities I have. Otherwise, he said he doesn't recommend the Covid shot......only the seasonal flu shot.

 

[Podgy]

Flu shot ain't nothing but a guessing game, Good luck!

There's no science behind it?

 

[HRMSU]

They should be like NASCAR and avoid advertisements.

In case you want to see your physician's sponsors since they aren't like NASCAR****

CMS Open Payments

The official U.S. government website that houses data collected and published by Open Payments, a federally mandated program that collects information about payments that reporting entities, including drug and medical device companies make to covered recipients like physicians.

openpaymentsdata.cms.gov

Obviously doesn't reflect non-reported benefits or nefarious relationships.

 

[60sdog]

I get the flu shot every year and I haven't had the flu since probably 2005.

ETA: I got Covid vaxxed also and have never had covid and I work around a lot of people. American vaccine companies know what they're doing.

I got the two vaccine shots and have had 2 separate cases of bad covid over the past 2.5 years.

 

[Podgy]

"Businesses advertise to make money" reminds me of comments and opinions of an old Marxist sociologist talking about the evils of capitalism.