DiscussMormonism.com

Like many of you, I routinely get my flu shot each year. My insurance provides it to me free of charge and I do a lot of work with the public so it seems like a no-brainer. I think I can count the number of times I've had the flu on one hand and I credit immunization coupled with solid personal hygiene tactics with that success rate (thanks Mom for teaching me to wash my hands). However last week I found myself at the doctor's office getting some Tamiflu to try to rejoin the land of the living and he shared a few things with me about this flu season:

It appears this year is shaping up to be one of the worst flu seasons in quite a while. If you are interested you can track flu statistics from the CDC here on a weekly basis. Although the immunization typically reduces your risk of getting the flu by about 40-60% this is only an average and there is some speculation by experts that this year the flu vaccine may be closer to only 10% effective.

Looking at the heat maps provided by the CDC you can get a generally good idea of what your state looks like and can know how readily you need to prepare for the end . Seriously though folks, take care of yourself. Even though it may not be quite as effective it is still worth getting the shot. Many clinics and pharmacies offer it at a nominal fee even if you don't have insurance. And if you begin to experience any flu symptoms I can't recommend enough finding a doctor or np to get you a swab test and tamiflu if applicable. I got tamiflu early and although it was a miserable couple of days I have fared far better than some friends who tried to "tough it out." As always good health habits are helpful in prevention as well (good diet, proper sleep, hand washing, etc.).

Remember, only you can prevent the zombie apocalypse.

I ended up getting the flu shot, but I still got the flu this season. The flu shot is only about 10% effective this season.

Xenophon wrote:
Looking at the heat maps provided by the CDC you can get a generally good idea of what your state looks like and can know how readily you need to prepare for the end .

I had the flu in 1999, I believe as a result of a winter airline flight. Thought I was gonna die. Went back and forth for a good 3 weeks to the docs on base (treat the symptoms, treat the symptoms, treat the symptoms-B to the S), eventually pulse ox went low and went to the ER. Docs thought I had pneumonia, xrays said not--bronchitis. Repeat this with me: Never again! Never again! Never again!

Sage advice from a preschool teacher for children:

1. Wash your hands
2. Keep your hands and fingers out of the holes in your head
3. Wash your hands.
5. Sneeze and cough into your sleeved elbow
6. Wash your hands

Additional adult rules:

1. Wash your hands
2. Religiously use disinfectant wipes on shopping carts, car steering wheels, door knobs, faucets, knobs/doorhandles/appliance control pads in kitchen, table tops, remotes, phone, computer, airline seats and tray tables, your keys, you get the idea.
3. Wash your hands
4. Use disinfectant wipes on children's toys. Run plastic toys through the dishwasher in mesh bags.
5. Wash your hands.
6. Stay out of crowded stores as much as possible.
7. Wash your hands.
8. Keep your distance from other humans waiting in line.
9. Wash your hands.
10. Run your toothbrush through the dishwasher.


p.s. Wash your hands.

Stuff for your young children:

Best book on germs and hand washing ever!

https://www.amazon.com/Disgusting-desag ... 1BCEQ9ZM5S


Hand washing and tooth brushing timer:

https://www.amazon.com/Intellitec-LPL82 ... hing+timer

(Encourages both hand washing and tooth brushing. You might want to enclose it in a Ziploc bag to keep it a bit more waterproof than it already is)

Mesh bag to run toys and whatever through the dishwasher. You can get these at Walmart, Target, etc.




If you feel weird about running toys through the my wife (don't!) then use the mesh bags as dunk bags. Soak toys in soapy water, dunk and rinse in a bleach water solution. Let drip outdoors if you can.

Over sanitation and isolation is no good. I never get flu shot s because they literally make no sense, even though they do make good profit.
Take the evolutionary high road.

I don't know why this thread has sucked me into it. I'm now acting as the flu prevention monitor.

I'm convinced that if I ever get the flu again, I'll die from it and I'm not exaggerating. I get a flu shot every year and even managed to talk one medical professional into giving me a pneumonia shot on account of the work I engaged in. Even so, flu shots are a crap shoot every year because the makers of said potion have to make a prediction on what strains need to be fought against. Apparently this year, they miscalculated.

Airline travel. To start with, I carry a pack of wipes with me wherever I go. There's always a pack in my purse and in my car. When I board a plane, I automatically wipe down everything my hands will touch and I don't care who knows it. Seat belts, tray table, arm rests. Crank up the air blower and aim it at my head--the cabin air is likely the culprit for many a communicable airborne illness--keep the air moving.

The last two flights I made, I wore a hoodie. Ate my food, went to sleep with the hoodie covering my face. If I don't have a hoodie, I use a scarf to cover my face.

I don't care how weird I look. My goal is to prevent my untimely death and public impressions be damned.

subgenius wrote:Over sanitation and isolation is no good. I never get flu shot s because they literally make no sense, even though they do make good profit.
Take the evolutionary high road.

No one has suggested over sanitation or isolation. You're a moron.

subgenius wrote:I never get flu shot s because they literally make no sense, even though they do make good profit.
Take the evolutionary high road.

What you actually do is rely on herd immunity.

Thanks, Jersey Girl for all the extra sources.

Although not super common it isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility to assume the flu can kill you, it can be a nasty bugger especially to those in at-risk pools. If you've ever had a relative going through chemo or some other immune-system affecting treatment you know how harsh any sort of illness can be on them (speaking generally here, I'm fairly certain Jersey Girl understands the risks).

JerseyGirl wrote:What you actually do is rely on herd immunity.

NEETs in basements laugh at your normie herd immunity!