<p>It appears that I (and also S who lives in ny) got some kind of upper respiratory flu bug, and this is after having received the flu shot. I’m just wondering of the timing of getting the flu shot is important, because we did receive it late in the season - with mine just within 2-3 weeks ago and S shortly before that. I’m inclined to think that maybe it’s better to get it in the Fall, as soon as it’s available instead of waiting until Dec./Jan.</p>
<p>Influenza is not an upper, but rather a lower respiratory viral infection. The flu shot will not prevent all those URIs/colds. Different viruses. You do not want the flu shot too early in the season if you want coverage at the end of flu season, the gamble in waiting is in getting the flu before you get immunized.</p>
<p>I typically get mine in October/November as soon as they’re available. The past few years I’ve been fine, but right now I’m fighting off some sort of upper respiratory “thing”–hopefully just a cold!</p>
<p>I wonder how long it takes for the flu shot to take in terms of being immunized. Since this was my first time ever getting it, I view it as an experiment to see whether or not I should bother getting it next year.</p>
<p>Vaccine takes 6 weeks to provide full immunity. It is NOT too late to get it though.</p>
<p>In formulating the flu shot for the upcoming season, they project which viruses have the best chance of becoming the ‘flu’ for that year. It is a combination of three viruses. There are other viruses, and they could guess wrong, though my impression is that they ‘guess’ fairly well in most years, and immunity is heightened.</p>
<p>I’ve not heardmuch about the flu virus on the news this year. It must not be as virulent as the ones in years past—or else, the economy and the upcoming election have crowded out just about everything else. My H came home a couple of days ago and said he’d heard that Virginia is currently experiencing widespread flu outbreak, a revelation which surprised me. I had not heard anything of the sort, and know no one who has or has had the flu this season. But I went online and did a little investigating, and sure enough, Virginia seems to be the midst of a widespread outbreak. I’ve not had my shot this year, have only gotten the shot sporadically in past years, and have not had the flu since 1974 (knock wood). I rarely even catch cold, and when I do (maybe once a year), it’s generally pretty mild. I wash my hands often and keep my hands away from my nose and eyes (very vulnerable points of entry, I’m told).</p>
<p>It took the shot in October but still have it now. I have been coughing in the last 3 days.</p>
<p>Someone told me recently that her doctor told her the flu shot is most effective for about 3 months, and if you got immunized in October it would be a good idea to get another now.</p>
<p>S and I got ours in December and January, and now we both have it. We just compared notes via telephone, and it sounds like we have the same thing. S also said that it’s going around ny - he knows a lot of people who have had it. I guess it’s not foolproof, or this is a different strain.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, H received the shot when it first came out, and he’s fine - running even in the cold weather hasn’t set him back. D is overseas, and she got the shot in Jan., so hopefully she won’t come down with it.</p>
<p>
This might be because it’s been over-hyped by the media in the past couple of years and they ended up with egg on their face when there was no massive outbreak. It used to be the flu shot was only recommended for the elderly and those with immune system issues. Now it seems to be offered everywhere and pushed to everyone and everyone thinks they need it. It still sounds like over-hype to me. I’m sure there are some drug companies doing just fine by it though.</p>
<p>Anyway, to those that have it, drink lots of broth (chicken or veggie) - the matzoh balls help, too, and lots of herbal tea, and feel better.</p>