3 ms·
> If you don't immunise then you don't benefit from immunisation. It looks like this year's vaccination provides partial coverage. People often don't know tha
by refurb 2y ago
> If you don't immunise then you don't benefit from immunisation.
It looks like this year's vaccination provides partial coverage.
People often don't know that the flu vaccine manufacturers are guessing which strains will be active each year, because of the lead time required to manufacture it.
"It's important to understand that flu vaccine effectiveness can vary quite a bit from year to year. Over the past decade, effectiveness has ranged from a low of 19% to a high of 60%. During the 2023–2024 season, flu vaccines were estimated to be 42% effective."
https://www.flu.com/Articles/2024/2024-2025-Flu-Vaccine-Effectiveness https://www.flu.com/Articles/2024/2024-2025-Flu-Vaccine-Effe...
- croes 2y agoAt least the social distancing during the pandemic killed one strain https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/05/health/flu-vaccine-yamagata-strains/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/05/health/flu-vaccine-yamagata-s...
- tzs 2y agoOnly about 45% of US adults bother to get flu shots. It's about 33% for ages 18-49, 46% for 50-64, and 70% for 65+. I'm not sure why it is so low, as they are available for free under most major insurance plans (other than HMO plans) at the pharmacies of many major grocery chains including Walmart and Albertsons/Safeway and Target and Costco with no appointment necessary so you can get them during one of you shopping trips.
- clipsy 2y agoMy guess is the side effects of the vaccine, the low effectiveness of the vaccine, and the relative rarity of the flu combine to make it a genuinely questionable choice for most healthy adults -- I get the flu vaccine annually now in an abundance of caution (I have an immunocompromised relative), but prior to that I went more than two decades without getting the flu vaccine and did not once get the flu. Since the vaccine itself reliably makes me feel miserable for 1-2 days and the flu makes me feel miserable for 1-2 weeks I came out substantially ahead. Not saying that's necessarily the right choice from a public health standpoint, etc; just providing my anecdotal experience.
- red-iron-pine 2y agomeasles will kill people, and did. a lot. the flu did too, but most people make it through okay. low risk. can't be bothered, esp. since it's usually something you have to inquire about, wait for, and it involves a needle.