School immunizations

[ElysianWort]

Rob it just seems that the risk/ reward ratio just isn't that favorable yet. Not to mention the part about injecting yourself with a needle. A lot of people have a hard time doing that unless it is a surefire benefit. I hate needles. Okay so there's the mist. I'm staying and keeping healthy with other methods until the flu shot improves.

[leilanidude]

So if you get the flu shot and still get the flu, you should realize if you are alive then the whole outcome was a success.

Whereas, prior to getting the flu shot most who got the flu just died.
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Exactly!

[Rob Tucker]

"risk/ reward ratio just isn't that favorable yet."

In a bad year I have heard the CDC say the vaccine was only 30% effective. 30% is 30% and that might include you. If it was a lottery with a 30% chance of winning that would be great.

30% means tens of millions of people avoided the flu. Those millions would include elderly and people of poor health that did not die.

So even 30% effective still properly uses the word effective. There is not much downside. But do as you wish.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

If it was a lottery with a 30% chance of winning that would be great.

You have an 8% chance of coming out ahead in Vegas. You have to fly there, and book a hotel. Yet, the place is packed.

[randomq]

Hey, if hookers and blow will get everyone to get their shots, and thus protect those that can't, I think the ends justify the means. Good idea HotPE!

[jahson777]

quote:

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Originally posted by TomK

To me, it's bloody obvious that those who work in schools or hospitals should get the shot. If not, they should work elsewhere. What's the problem with that?

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You have everyright to ask that people work elsewhere but they have a right to say no. If it's just a personal choice to refuse the flushot I believe there is no antidiscrimination protections. But if it's for religious reasons then those people are protected by antidiscrimination laws. Even if we wanted to change our laws here federal law would prevent it. Probably no religious objections to flumasks and gloves though.

[ElysianWort]

In a bad year I have heard the CDC say the vaccine was only 30% effective. 30% is 30% and that might include you. If it was a lottery with a 30% chance of winning that would be great.

30% means tens of millions of people avoided the flu. Those millions would include elderly and people of poor health that did not die.

So even 30% effective still properly uses the word effective. There is not much downside. But do as you wish.


Okay so that is 30%. However it seems you aren't factoring in the disadvantages. The pig gelatin in your bloodstream, the increased risk of respiratory illnesses, etc. and for me who hates injections, the damn needle being punctured through your skin.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

disadvantages... pig gelatin ... increased ...respiratory illnesses ... damn needle being punctured

Humans are notoriously bad at determining risk. Rationalization allows us to improperly weigh factors which affect our decision, and then, convince us we made the right choice.

[My 2 cents]

A one size fits all vaccine would be great. Not only would it give more confidence for more people to get it, it would also likely be a one time vaccination instead of a yearly injection to account for all the mutations. Perhaps we would see the flu go the way of polio and smallpox.

The part I'm not getting is the desire to eliminate the choice. Many of you exhibit a high level of confidence in the vaccine's effectiveness, but you show a low level of confidence when you don't want to be around an unvaccinated person because they might give you the flu.

Either it will work or it won't, and if it doesn't work for a particular strain that comes to your school then it won't work on that strain when you go to the market or movie theatre either.

Hand washing, eating right, etc. is all good, but to me the biggest threat to containing a virus is the common propensity for people to go out in public when they are sick. There are even tv commercials that push drugs that will allow you to continue going to work, etc. Hey, if you are sick, or even suspect that you might be coming down with something, STAY HOME ALREADY.

I am in no way trying to tell anyone that they should or should not get a flu shot. That's your choice. At least it should be, imo.

[Durian Fiend]

Hawaii has a relatively high rate of vaccination compared with other states.

Someone mentioned a concern that teachers choosing not to get the shot might influence students to do the same. No, that's not the case.
Although the shots are made easily available to staff, they are not pressured to partake. At least, that was my experience out of state.

I don't see how vaccination for this illness could realize herd immunity, even with a high rate of compliance, because it's just not effective enough. 17% last winter in Canada was the estimation. Also, the people most responsive to the vaccine are typically those who need it the least-healthy young people.

Schools are a perfect environment for colds and flu to spread, always have been and always will be. Unless, of course, the universal vaccine Rob mentioned is developed. That would be great!