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Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by Almost Canadian
(Post 11779702)
...I anticipate that more people die every year travelling by car than are killed by the flu.
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Re: The annual flu shot thread
My employer offers flu shots to all employees for free. I'm in the private sector & I believe it makes good sense from a corporate perspective to minimise potential impacts of flu on your employees and, by extension, the business.
My wife is a teacher. She gets flu jab's from her employer for free also which seems equally sensible given her higher risk of exposure. All of this is moot as we have a 3.5 year old with some complex and undiagnosed medical issues. She is particularly susceptible to respiratory problems so I very much want her to be protected. The neuromuscular clinic she attends offers free and priority jabs to patients & their immediate families. So, as a family we'll have the flu jab one way or another to ensure maximum protection. To me, not being an anti-vaxer loon, it's a no brainer.;) |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 11779753)
Trying to find out how many deaths/hospitalisations can be attributed to flu is difficult. There are millions of search results, many of whom are deniers and conspiracy theorists through to doubters and on to those who allegedly include unproven flu causes.
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Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by Alan2005
(Post 11779741)
Here you go. It's not hard to find this information - it's the first result on google.
Reported Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths in Canada: 2009-10 to 2014-15 - Public Health Agency of Canada You can see the effect of last years vaccine not being very effective. That's 3000 extra hospitalizations and about 300 extra people dead. I'm not sure how cynical you have to be to think that in general that's not worth preventing if possible. I am happy for people to take it if they wish to, and for the government to pay for them to be able to do so. I don't believe that I will ever take it. |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by Almost Canadian
(Post 11779851)
So.... would you argue for, or against, mandatory vaccinations? :p
I am happy for people to take it if they wish to, and for the government to pay for them to be able to do so. I don't believe that I will ever take it. I do think that if not doing so will put others at risk you should take it really - especially for doctors. You'd think for them not having it is sort of contrary to the hippocratic oath - but then it's difficult enough to get them to do even simple things like wash their hands. And like you, I don't bother with it now; but I can't say I never will with any confidence. Especially if I get past 70 (as I expect the elderly make up the majority of deaths/hospitalizations for flu). |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
True there probably are people who do qualify for the free one and not know it, govt likely wants it that way as they dont tend to order enough to meet the demand of those who do know.
The walk in clinic nor the clinic where our GP works out of so flu vaccines, have to get them at a pharmacy. My wife is waiting to get one, but the govt funded ones are not in yet.
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 11779642)
I think someone suggested it was free for all in Ontario? Most provinces seem to have it as free for similar, if not the same, groups.
There might be an awful lot of people who don't have to pay but don't actually know it. It's free for example for household contacts of people who qualify. Just as one example, it's estimated that 10% of the population have diabetes. 70% of Canadian households have more than 1 person, about half with 3 or more and a quarter with 4 or more. That looks like a sizeable chunk of the population right there, just with a diabetes connection. We get ours done at our family doctor and while we all qualified as a mixture of individuals and household contacts I have the distinct impression that our doc just does everyone who wants one. |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
CDC in US reports 90% of flu related deaths there are persons over 65. I wouldnt think Canada is much different.
Originally Posted by Alan2005
(Post 11779885)
I'm not arguing for mandatory vaccinations.
I do think that if not doing so will put others at risk you should take it really - especially for doctors. You'd think for them not having it is sort of contrary to the hippocratic oath - but then it's difficult enough to get them to do even simple things like wash their hands. And like you, I don't bother with it now; but I can't say I never will with any confidence. Especially if I get past 70 (as I expect the elderly make up the majority of deaths/hospitalizations for flu). |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by Alan2005
(Post 11779796)
Do you not trust health Canada's figures? The data has it's limitations, but I doubt that it is wildly inaccurate.
But looking at the Canadian stats, last winter's of around 600 doesn't seem that high given it was higher than usual from a less than effective flu shot. 300 or so in the previous two years doesn't seem high. On the other hand, if an ineffective vaccine causes double the deaths last winter compared to the previous ones then it must be important to have it. Which I do. |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11779900)
...the govt funded ones are not in yet.
I had mine three weeks ago. NB 1-0 BC :lol: |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 11779905)
I dunno. When I wrote "allegedly include unproven flu causes" I really meant USA figures that people doubted as they could, apparently, include other causes. I figure that if the doubt is genuine it might be applied to any set of stats.
But looking at the Canadian stats, last winter's of around 600 doesn't seem that high given it was higher than usual from a less than effective flu shot. 300 or so in the previous two years doesn't seem high. On the other hand, if an ineffective vaccine causes double the deaths last winter compared to the previous ones then it must be important to have it. Which I do. From a public health perspective I think that Canada (and the UK which I believe has a similar policy) have it about right. |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by Alan2005
(Post 11779885)
And like you, I don't bother with it now; but I can't say I never will with any confidence. Especially if I get past 70 (as I expect the elderly make up the majority of deaths/hospitalizations for flu).
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Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by Almost Canadian
(Post 11779851)
So.... would you argue for, or against, mandatory vaccinations? :p
I am happy for people to take it if they wish to, and for the government to pay for them to be able to do so. I don't believe that I will ever take it. In my house, dad's a dr, we all have to get it, no choice. Fine, I don't care. Its not even a jab, he gets an inhaler mist that does it. But when I move away and don't have to have the shot, I won't get it. In Europe, AFAIK the flu shot was totally useless last year. Its not a 100% guarantee. Maybe when i'm older and if they start distributing the mist instead of a jab I might get it, but for now, i'm in the no camp. |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
Originally Posted by Gozit
(Post 11783210)
+1.
In my house, dad's a dr, we all have to get it, no choice. Fine, I don't care. Its not even a jab, he gets an inhaler mist that does it. But when I move away and don't have to have the shot, I won't get it. In Europe, AFAIK the flu shot was totally useless last year. Its not a 100% guarantee. Maybe when i'm older and if they start distributing the mist instead of a jab I might get it, but for now, i'm in the no camp. They did botch the guess work for last years vaccine, but when it comes to the flu so many strains they just have to do educated guesses from what I have read and have no way to guarantee the strains in the vaccine will be the ones circulating around for the season. |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
The way I figure it is that last year it made "the news" that it was ineffective.
That makes it newsworthy. Which makes it an exception. Which means they usually get it right. No brainer. |
Re: The annual flu shot thread
It's England but on topic
Thousands risking health by shunning flu jab, warn GPs | UK news | The Guardian |
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