Has anyone actually proved that they work to prevent a flu?
Am I the only one who thinks that this is just a big government scam to make money?
2007-10-17 08:48:14 · 4 answers · asked by Ilya S 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Yeah, I don't get it. I'm 37 and I never heard of them until the last few years. I have never had one and I'm fine.
2007-10-17 08:53:29 · answer #1 · answered by Flatpaw 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There is never any guarantees that the shots will work as the flu changes every year. The researchers put their best estimate together of what they think the current year "bugs" will be. In essense they give you a small bit of the virus that is to make your antibodies strong enough to resist when the virus does attack.
If you have no health risks currently and fight off colds etc fairly easily then I'd probably stay away from the shots because they do have ingredients that can cause allergic or later affects. If you've had serious health concerns and you need to be careful then get the shots. Because of my health I've gotten them probably the last 10 years.
2007-10-17 16:07:25 · answer #2 · answered by mystique 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They don't 100% guarantee protection from the flu, but they help lessen the effects if you become infected with the particular strain that is being vaccinated against. They can never guarantee which strain will hit that season, but they try to predict it. It's more important for people with immature or weakened immune systems like children or the elderly or people with AIDS, because a bad case of a flu can be fatal for these populations. Getting the flut shot doesn't hurt, it could only help if in some small way. I don't think its a scam. You can get free flu shots, so who is gaining there?
2007-10-17 15:59:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They help prevent and/or reduce the effects of the flu
Mostly needed for at risk people who can get it easy
2007-10-17 15:55:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anathema-Wrath 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋