Very Tired of All the Flu Hype

[emmy526]

It seems as tho all a person sees/hears everywhere,  is about the flu, and how everyone should run out and get a shot.  Even in commercials on the radio...the hype is worse this year, than i've ever seen before in the last 15yrs, outside of the swine flu debacle..  i'm sick of seeing and hearing about it.  

[kathymuggle]

I wonder if it is regional?  I have heard very little about flu shots this year….(oh, wait I did hear an ad about flu shots in Novemeber on the radio…it was annoying as it way oversold it on efficacy).  I wonder if ads are held to any sort of truth in advertising standard?  This one did not seem to be, but I digress. 

That being said, I wonder if the media in your area is pushing back because the flu vaccine has gotten some negative press in the last year?

ETA:  I googled truth in advertising plus vaccines and came up with this grim <pun!> piece.

http://www.naturalnews.com/033917_CVS_flu_shots.html

[serenbat]

Quote:

I wonder if it is regional?  

you clearly must not be in the northeast 

my local area had it's first death yesterday- it's almost hourly on our NPR! - all local papers, TV, blogs, etc

any everyone is talking about flu

[hxcmama]

Yup, I just came from the store and the newspaper had a big red box with a FLU HITS MASS HARD and going on about the 18 reported deaths (all elderly). The local news is also reporting that 700 reported cases when there were only 70 last year - thew first thing I thought was, wow such round numbers. It was unclear if these are self-reported "flu" or clinical tests. A close friend of mine who is a NURSE and runner complained last week that she had the flu since she could only run a couple of miles. I had to explain to her that if she could get out of bed and go downstairs, it isn't 'flu and she believes that it is, and that the vaccine she gets every year just set her up for a "milder case". I don't have an emoticon for the face I am making right now.

I just made soup with bone broth and turmeric, that's my flu shot. I don't know what to do amidst the hysteria. I just hunker down and hope no one gets in my grill about my family having no vaccines. I just never even know where to begin. I want to comfort the fears of those around me, but again, I am just not sure where to begin.
 

[emmy526]

Originally Posted by hxcmama 

Yup, I just came from the store and the newspaper had a big red box with a FLU HITS MASS HARD and going on about the 18 reported deaths (all elderly). The local news is also reporting that 700 reported cases when there were only 70 last year - thew first thing I thought was, wow such round numbers. It was unclear if these are self-reported "flu" or clinical tests. A close friend of mine who is a NURSE and runner complained last week that she had the flu since she could only run a couple of miles. I had to explain to her that if she could get out of bed and go downstairs, it isn't 'flu and she believes that it is, and that the vaccine she gets every year just set her up for a "milder case". I don't have an emoticon for the face I am making right now.

I just made soup with bone broth and turmeric, that's my flu shot. I don't know what to do amidst the hysteria. I just hunker down and hope no one gets in my grill about my family having no vaccines. I just never even know where to begin. I want to comfort the fears of those around me, but again, I am just not sure where to begin.
 

see, that's totally different than what i heard...i heard 18 children died, not elderly....isn't it nice how the media can screw things up and  report it as fact? 

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

you clearly must not be in the northeast 

Canada - about 1/2 an hour away fron NY state

Edited by kathymuggle - 1/11/13 at 10:57am

[hxcmama]

I misquoted, Boston proper reports four deaths, all elderly; I was not able to find breakdown of the "18 deaths" and whether those 4 are included or the ages of all the people, nor what sort of agency was responsible for determining and reporting the cause of death. The same headline, with various stories is showing up all over the country - google news "boston declares public emergency". I remember about 8 or so years ago a Boston measles epidemic, there were varying reports of how many were infected, etc. Either way, as soon as that "XX deaths" shows up, it becomes very hard to reason with anyone.

[Magali]

I'm sick of hearing about it too. 

[serenbat]

Quote:

Canada - about 1/2 away fron NY state

you didn't miss the NY governor today did you? he took on in the arm for the state

we listen to NPR on and off from 4 to 6 PM tonight - EVERY break my local NPR did something on the flu death we had (an infant- PA) and I heard it at least 4 time from regular NPR in that time frame

not ONCE did I hear anything but "get the shot", no conversation that even mentioned washing hands, NEVER do you hear about vit C-----only the shot!

[HippieIncognito]

Here is an article that seems to clear up some of the numbers. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2013/01/infant_influenza_death_reporte.html

[MountainMamaGC]

Alberta is having an outbreak of Norovirus and Influenza. I thought my daughter had norovirus because of all the puking, but now that I am sick too I am pretty sure its influenza. Its not uncommon for children to vomit when they have it. Plus norovirus tends to clear up after 1 or 2 days, and she is on day 3 of fever and bodyaches. She is also very weak, and tired.

Been doing fluids, and letting her have the fever as much as possible. I am going to start some sambucol for her tomorrow if she can keep it down. I feel like ass. Seriously my skin and hair hurts.

[Blt178]

CNN had Anderson Cooper on last night with BREAKING NEWS about the flu becoming EPIDEMIC!! This was followed by the newest school shooting in California. Really? Are these two things even close in importance?

[emmy526]

Gotta wonder what is making this year worse than previous ones....is the vaccine making the outbreak worse?  Are people getting vaxed, coming down with a mild form, and then passing it on to everyone they come in contact with, spreading it around?   Not to mention, a person is susceptible to flu/illness for two weeks after getting the flu vax...getting the vax seems to be the main focus in all the reports on tv/radio.   

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by emmy526 

Gotta wonder what is making this year worse than previous ones....is the vaccine making the outbreak worse?  Are people getting vaxed, coming down with a mild form, and then passing it on to everyone they come in contact with, spreading it around?   Not to mention, a person is susceptible to flu/illness for two weeks after getting the flu vax...getting the vax seems to be the main focus in all the reports on tv/radio.   

I am not sure it is worse than in previous years.  Every year (it seems) they say "this flu season is very bad!"  It is a little bit like the boy who cried wolf.  This is one area where I think observations are the way to go; do people in your area seem to becoming down with the flu (the real flu) in numbers greater than you have seen in previous years?  Personally, I have not seen an upswing this year - but he flu runs through this area in late February - I still have a bit to go!

Edited by kathymuggle - 1/11/13 at 7:12am

[hxcmama]

I have seen one person on my FB friend list (who is not local to me at all) complaining of symptoms that sound like influenza (extreme body aches, unable to leave bed etc). I have seen/talked to several people with cold symptoms, still up and about who are calling what they have "the flu". What I am wondering is, who is verifying cases of actual influenza and how?

[Jennyanydots]

Sounds bad. I don't know how much a shot will help, and we wont be vaccinating, but I sure hope we can avoid getting it. This article says the 18 deaths were children:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/09/health/us-flu-season/index.html

[serenbat]

Quote:

 What I am wondering is, who is verifying cases of actual influenza and how?

in my area - be it dr, urgent care, or ER they are swabbing inside the nose and they are verifying

I know several that have had to go to the dr without influenza symptoms and they ask you prior to coming in what you have, the are keeping those patients segregated at some places and doing a good job at it.

They are reporting the number of cases to the state and that goes to the federal.

[kathymuggle]

Edited by kathymuggle - 1/11/13 at 10:35am

[sassyfirechick]

Originally Posted by Blt178 

CNN had Anderson Cooper on last night with BREAKING NEWS about the flu becoming EPIDEMIC!! This was followed by the newest school shooting in California. Really? Are these two things even close in importance?

Yes and the other night he was talking with a Doc and reported "it kills over 50,000 people every year" - I was like really? The actual flue itself?  Not likely, more like they were already sick or had underlying issues that were componed by the flu, but didn't die specifically of the flu virus.  Hate when they throw out large numbers like that without the true breakdown.

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

I am not sure it is worse than in previous years.  Every year (it seems) they say "this flu season is very bad!"  It is a little bit like the boy who cried wolf.  This is one area where I think observations are the way to go; do people in your area seem to becoming down with the flu (the real flu) in numbers greater than you have seen in previous years?  Personally, I have not seen an upswing this year - but he flu runs through this area in late February - I still have a bit to go!

Exactly.  And I think the more the media hypes it up, the more the hypochondriacs out there let the idea get into their head that it IS worse and bc they think it's worse, they 'feel worse'.  I've had a few friends get swabbed to confirm it, but then they are on FB posting something every 5mins about how they are so sick, they feel like death, blah blah - well if you seriously feel that bad get off your computer or phone and take a nap!

I can honestly say that in 30 years, I've probably had the flu a total of 2 or 3 times, and I've never had the vax.  Also never been tested to confirm, but going on duration and severity (so illness lasting over a week), and none of that has been within the last 7-10years - so for something that keeps getting 'worse and worse' I would think I'd be be catching it more frequently especially since I don't vax! (sarcasm)

[Taximom5]

There is definitely a double standard going on.

If you have complications from a flu shot, well, very sad, but you must have had an underlying disorder, and you were probably going to have those complications whether you had the shot or not, and it was probably a coincidence anyway.

If you have complications from the flu, then OMG THE FLU IS A KILLER AND EVERYONE MUST GET A SHOT

When severe reactions from flu shots are reported, they are assumed to be a coincidence.

When flu-like symptoms are reported, they are assumed to be influenza.  When reported cases of influenza in a given year are said to be mild and infrequent, it is said that "the flu shot saved us," with no mention of the massive campaign for hand-washing, staying home when ill, antibacterial cart wipes in the grocery store, and children sent home from school with the slightest sniffle.

And it's never ever ever ever EVER reported that the recent independent studies conclude that the flu shot is as effective as...a placebo. But over and over and over we read that "it's the best weapon we've got."  (yeah, right.)  And the media seems to not to be permitted to even mention severe reactions to a flu shot.