<p>My kids are both living in a metropolitan area in a state that is being hard hit by the flu. I contacted our new (as of January 1) insurance carrier yesterday to find out which pharmacy walk-in clinics were covered by our policy. I then texted the kids, urging them to get the flu shot. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from my son (he must be following the news and is showing a new maturity) saying that he’d get one before the weekend. My daughter said she paid $10 to get one last fall at a campus flu shot clinic she helped organize (?!what?!). She also said that her college has sent out an email to students urging everybody to get the flu shot before returning to campus later this month. I have an underlying health issue and got my flu shot last fall and I have convinced my husband, who hasn’t had one in years, to get one this weekend.</p>
<p>zoosermom, sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she recovers soon.</p>
<p>DD is recovering from surgery and has been home but has immune issues…I am not in any rush to get her back to school…flu cases so far this year have surpassed all of last year so far in our state–last year was mild but this is still early season for our state.</p>
<p>I don’t normally get the flu shots. I’ve found I get sick either way. But I just texted my bf and told him we’re going tomorrow. Our area hasn’t been hit yet but I work in a shelter and well… EVERYTHING goes there.</p>
<p>Neither of us are insured so it’s going to cost us a bit but we’ll deal. I’m trying to find subsidized shots around here now. </p>
<p>ZM, best wishes to your mom.</p>
<p>Thanks for the good wishes. I think she will be fine but I wish mom would be a little les difficult. One of the many things I like about my job is the annual free flu shot and snack program they hold</p>
<p>I work for the state and last year they had a free flu shot program. This year, they encourage everyone to get one but I haven’t heard a peep about subsidizing the shots. Boo :(</p>
<p>^^ our insurance didn’t cover it but the cost was minimal if it keeps us from getting sick</p>
<p>I got my first flu shot 1 month ago because my volunteer work takes me to daycares and schools. I coincidentally caught a terrible cold right after the flu shot that turned into a sinus infection that I am just now getting over. I was skeptical, but my doctor who I trust and respect, assured me it was coincidental. My wife hasn’t gone yet. I went to Walgreens and paid nothing: My self pay individual BCBS health plan covered it.</p>
<p>It’s worth its weight in gold. Just get it.</p>
<p>Bottom line is if you get the flu this winter you aren’t going anywhere for at least four days. In our area norovirus is also making the rounds which is the “stomach” crap. The flu fever seems to last several days, then breaks and from anecdotal reports you still feel crappy and sick for a couple days after the fever breaks and some people are still coughing and hacking for a week or two more after that. I think almost a week in bed and several weeks of feeling crappy is alot to pay for not getting a simple shot that is free or a very small cost. My college boy didn’t make it home for Christmas when I would have escorted him for a flu shot and I’ve told him several times to go get a flu shot in his college town. Maybe now that his brother has been regaling him with tales of how crappy HE feels and how many days of work he’s missed, college boy will go get the shot.</p>
<p>I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t get a flu shot. I got mine in October, DS got his at school in Oct. and DH got his at work in November. It’s such a simple, inexpensive solution. I don’t get why people wait until flu season in full swing either. </p>
<p>Zoosermom, +++++ for you mom. I hope after this her doctor will insist she get a flu shot and the pneumonia shot.</p>
<p>Since vaccine is starting to run short, I think they should poll everyone on their belief in evolution before they can have a shot. Those that don’t believe don’t get one (as the evolution of the flu virus is what causes the need for new shots every year). That should beef up the supply for everyone else. No… they (public health officials) wouldn’t really do that, but it is tempting.</p>
<p>Finally got my flu shot today. DD got the mist. DH (physician) got his in October. Both sons swear they got shots this fall at their colleges. I hope they did.</p>
<p>Our county health department is still holding shot clinics one day a week. A friend said the line there today was an hour long. </p>
<p>People are just now starting to take it seriously. I count myself among them. Shame on me, too busy/lazy to get one earlier this fall. </p>
<p>Lots of norovirus around here, but not many cases of true flu yet.</p>
<p>emilybee, I get a flu shot every year because I have asthma, but none of my kids has ever had the flu, so they are reluctant to get the shot. I texted my D in DC and son at college yesterday to tell them to get a vaccine, but I don’t know if they will. They are rarely sick, so they don’t think they will get the flu!</p>
<p>DH and I did not get a shot this year and both came down with flu right after Christmas. Fortunately, we got started on tamiflu immediately and that seemed to shorten the course. But I am still coughing and getting really tired quickly. We will be getting that shot next year.</p>
<p>We have a nurse at work who does flu shoot. There is just not reason for me not to have one. So far, so good. </p>
<p>Since most of my co-worker have had the shoot, we really have not seen many people got sick yet. Knocking on wood.</p>
<p>[ORL</a> Productions: Watch ORL Production Videos](<a href=“http://www.coughsafe.com/watch-videos.html]ORL”>http://www.coughsafe.com/watch-videos.html)</p>
<p>Scroll down to the link that says “Why don’t we do it in our sleeves?”</p>
<p>Funny but good educational video about how to cough with the least transport of germs.</p>
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<p>Antibiotics do nothing against the influenza virus, though they may cause disruption of one’s digestive flora or breed resistant strains of harmful bacteria. There are antivirals specifically for influenza virus, but they must be taken early in the infection to do anything useful.</p>
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<p>Call around local pharmacies. Seems that the going rate is around $30 around here.</p>
<p>romanigypsyeyes–GET HEALTH INSURANCE!!!</p>
<p>Also, people that get “sick” probably aren’t sick with influenza. This is not a stomach virus, it’s an upper respiratory virus that causes a high fever, severe body aches and can lead to pneumonia or worse. It’s not a 24 hour bug type thing. It’s a week long, at least, can’t get out of the bed type illness. You will KNOW if you have had influenza. The anti-virals will shorten the time it takes you to feel better but they don’t “cure” you .</p>