Mid last month, I have written about the dangers of driving in foggy weather and actually the most dangerous driving hazard. Then three days ago it rained and when it rain it pours so much that it causes some floods in some areas around the city that has no drainage system. It is almost all day long that I haven’t seen the sun that it made the ground soaked with the early morning heavy downpour. And I believe that it is official that winter has arrived then earlier this month our Flu Vaccine campaign started as well.
I have to schedule myself later next week for my own flu shot or probably will just show up one of this day and get a flu shot. While it is not mandatory for all staff to get the flu vaccine but everyone was encouraged to have the vaccine considering that it is free. The influenza vaccine for this year is the same with last year as experts believe that three flu strains are present that made people sick the previous year.
Many would say that influenza vaccine is not for everyone, that they get sick if they have the shot and is perfectly fine without it. And so far it is effective, it has protected me for eight straight years now and never been on sick call. But late last month I have read about a disturbing finding of a new study that the commonly used flu vaccine may be far less effective than we thought it is. New research indicates that it is only about 60% effective in healthy adults. The trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) is what the search is referring into which accounts for about 90% of flu shots used for children and adults.
Many of the infectious disease specialists believe that the world needs a new generation of flu shots. An expert from University of Minnesota said that, we are stuck with a vaccine that has been around for 60 years and not changed much. But the newer type of vaccine that uses live attenuated (weakened virus) influenza vaccine (LAIV) through nasal spray was 83% effective in protecting against flu virus yet it is only approved for people aged 2 through 49.
On the contrary, some experts said that flu vaccines definitely work to prevent influenza but the argument lies on just how effective they are. Compounded to it is the extra weight people are carrying that may hinder the effectiveness of flu vaccines.
NB: Image from wikimedia commons.
I’ve never gotten one yet, and haven’t had a flu for, I dunno, 10 years? No guarantees, of course, but I’ll take my chances.
sharkbytes recently posted..Choose Your Weather
my family wanted to have that flu shots…kaya lang very expensive eh
reese recently posted..Katas ng Sweldo
People have different perception on the effectiveness of flu vaccines. I myself am in favor in getting one for myself, and for my child. However, we haven’t had our dose lately yet. Which reminds me that I need to go to our provider so we can get ours which is I believe I need for us here in the frozen tundra where colds and flu is very common during the start and end of the winter season. So far, I can say that flu shots have lowered our chances of getting sick. If we ever got sick, it wasn’t severe at all but very tolerable and manageable with the help of GRAPEFRUITS and more fruits rich in Vitamin C!
Rcel recently posted..Oh Chicago!
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