On Wed, 19 Aug 2020 13:59:02 -0000 (UTC), Justan wrote:

On 8/18/20 9:42 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 18 Aug 2020 18:48:06 -0000 (UTC), Justan wrote:

On 8/18/20 10:44 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 18 Aug 2020 15:00:25 -0000 (UTC), Justan wrote:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/hea...-be-looking-to

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It seems logical to me that the term "herd immunity" is a bit of a
misnomer. If 70% of the populace has anti-bodies, that leaves 30% who
are still capable of getting infected if exposed. So what kind of
immunity is that? Better to get vaccinated in my opinion assuming
that the vaccine is safe and effective. I think the experts use herd
immunity to imply that the risk of rapid spreading is statistically
reduced.

I never get flu shots and I'm reluctant to get whatever they come up with.

===

I had a really nasty case of the flu 6 years ago, the sickest I can
ever remember, and never want to be that sick again. We now get our
flu shots very faithfully every year. I have known rwo people who
died from the flu, middle aged, active and otherwise healthy.

I read somewhere there's about a 15% likelihood that the flu shot for any
given year will immunize you from whatever flu is going around that year. I
dont like those odds.

Hey, 15% is better than 0%! I've been taking them pretty religiously, and have
never, to my knowledge, had the flu.

Here's some interesting reading (note that there is no mention of a flu shot
being dangerous):

How effective is the flu vaccine in the elderly?
In numerous studies since 2010, flu vaccines have helped protect adults 65 years
of age and older against influenza A(H1N1) viruses and both lineages of
influenza B viruses. Specifically, flu vaccines have reduced the risk of
medically attended illness caused by H1N1 or B by more than 60% on average among
people age65 and older (1). Flu vaccines also have reduced the risk of flu
hospitalization among adults age 65 and older by 54% against A(H1N1) viruses and
by 31% against influenza B viruses on average (2).

However, protection against influenza A(H3N2) flu viruses has been less
consistent. On average, flu vaccines have reduced the risk of doctor visits with
A(H3N2) flu by 24% and reduced the risk of hospitalization with A(H3N2) flu by
33% in adults age 65 and older (1,2). During seasons when the H3N2 vaccine
component has been like (well-matched to) the flu viruses circulating in the
community, the benefit from flu vaccination has been higher. During these
seasons, flu vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalizations with A(H3N2) flu by
43% on average (2). But when the vaccine component was less similar to viruses
in the community, the protection has dropped to 14% (2).

If older people have weaker immune responses to flu vaccination, should they
still get vaccinated?
Despite the fact that some older adults (65 years of age and older) have weaker
immune responses to the influenza A (H3N2) component of flu vaccines, there are
many reasons why people in that age group should be vaccinated each year.

First, people aged 65 and older are at increased risk of serious illness,
hospitalization and death from the flu.
Second, while the effectiveness of flu vaccines can be lower among some older
people (particularly against influenza A(H3N2) viruses), there are seasons when
significant benefit can be observed (this is particularly true against influenza
A(H1N1) and influenza B viruses).
Third, flu vaccine may protect against more serious outcomes like
hospitalization and death. For example, one studyexternal icon concluded that
one death was prevented for every 4,000 people vaccinated against flu (1).
Flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness
in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
In frail elderly adults, hospitalizations can mark the beginning of a
significant decline in overall health and mobility, potentially resulting in
loss of the ability to live independently or to complete basic activities of
daily living. While the protection elderly adults obtain from flu vaccination
can vary significantly, a yearly flu vaccination is still the best protection
currently available against flu.
Fourth, it’s important to remember that people who are 65 and older are a
diverse group and often are different from one another in terms of their overall
health, level of activity and mobility, and behavior when it comes to seeking
medical care. This group includes people who are healthy and active and have
responsive immune systems, as well as those who have underlying medical
conditions that may weaken their immune system and their bodies’ ability to
respond to vaccination. Therefore, when evaluating the benefits of flu
vaccination, it is important to look at a broader picture than what one study’s
findings can present.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-wor...fectiveelderly
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