This is one of the saddest things I've seen in a long time.

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I hope somehow she gets better, because this is heartbreaking. What a gorgeous woman, she had so much going for her.

Oh yes it is tragic but its very very rare and very freaky. As the video said the chances are 1 in a million that you will get a immunologically mediated side effect like this one. There was a scare when shots for measles first came out. It was said that the shot caused cases of MS as a side effect and that caused tragic events for those who refused the shot. The chance of getting Guillain-Barre syndrome is small but its never easy looking at those who are suffering from it.

This made me teared up. And this is why i dont get flu shots. I really hope she gets better.

I was offered a free flu shot from my job and refused it. I'm way too scared about it, and this made it worse.

I found another interview with her struggling to speak the words: "I don't want this to happen to anyone else." I instantly started crying, it's so sad. I hope and pray that somehow she can get through this.

As a medical student I do want to say that the risk of getting GBS is there but you are more likely to get hit by lightning. Your chances of getting the flu however are greater. Its not a minor thing since the side effect isn`t a small problem but an ever lasting neurological disorder so I am not going to force my ideas on anyone. It is up to the individual if they want to take the shot or not.

I'm technically in one of those "high risk" groups for H1N1, which includes fat people. So I'll probably wind up getting the vaccine when it becomes available in my area.

I figure I'm a moderately health adult, I can risk the flu. Hell, whatever doesn't kill me will make my immune system stronger (which is the main reason I forgo flu shots, not because I'm afraid of getting a slim side affect.)

That is terrible what happened to the girl, though. Even if it is a slim chance, it sucks when it happens. :-/

This broke my heart when I first saw it aired.

My prayers go out to her.

People get your flu shot. In fact, you're at a higher risk of death and causing sickness to other people if you don't. Guillian-Barre Syndrome is exceptionally rare to get, only about 100 people get this a year in the US. Approximately 35,000 people die from the flu and secondary bacterial infections caused by the flu each year in the US alone.

Get your flu shot, in fact it's probably better to get the Flu mist vaccine (not the shot). Either one will work, but the flu mist is an attenuated live virus (can't make you sick) which will allow your immune system to really put up a good response. Clinical trials so far have indicated that the FluMist is better than the flu shot, although the flu shot is better for those who are immune-suppressed (HIV patients, transplant patients, pregnant women) because the flu shot is not a live virus, just dead viral particles and proteins.

Some people are worried that the FluMist may transmit a flu virus that can mutate back to being virulent because you shed live virus for around 7 days. But that's not the case. You DO shed live virus, but again it's been mutated so that it CAN'T make you sick, and in a human study transmission of the virus only happened one time and the child didn't actually get sick.

Loversheart, I normally wouldn't advise people either way on medical treatment stuff but I really feel strongly about this.
Melonie, and everyone else, PLEASE GO GET YOUR FLU VACCINE!! Even if you don't get the flu, if you give it to someone you could be putting their life at risk. I beg you, please get it. It's not hard, it's cheap, and I know it sounds cliche and all that crap, but you really will be helping save people's lives by getting one. Elderly people and little children are at a severe disadvantage and even if you get minor symptoms, they might not if they pick it up from you.

quote:

Clinical trials so far have indicated that the FluMist is better than the flu shot, although the flu shot is better for those who are immune-suppressed (HIV patients, transplant patients, pregnant women) because the flu shot is not a live virus, just dead viral particles and proteins.

I think that a common misconception people have about vaccines. Everyone please listen. Vaccines aren`t made from active viral clusters but from viral protien cases. The methodology is that your white blood cells can produce antibodies that can identify and target the virus`protien case. Active viral clusters are not needed for this.

Thank you tibbsy for putting this up. I feel like I should have done this.

I saw another take of this video, the "I'm probably going to Hell" version.

quote:

Originally posted by loversheart:

quote:

Clinical trials so far have indicated that the FluMist is better than the flu shot, although the flu shot is better for those who are immune-suppressed (HIV patients, transplant patients, pregnant women) because the flu shot is not a live virus, just dead viral particles and proteins.

I think that a common misconception people have about vaccines. Everyone please listen. Vaccines aren`t made from active viral clusters but from viral protien cases. The methodology is that your white blood cells can produce antibodies that can identify and target the virus`protien case. Active viral clusters are not needed for this.

Thank you tibbsy for putting this up. I feel like I should have done this.

Sure thing. We've been talking about this a lot lately as I'm in grad school for microbiology, and my organism is a major cause of flu-related deaths.

Hemagglutinin and neuraminidase are the two surface proteins that the flu vaccines are made from (H and N) and that's what the cells target. The shot is a bunch of types of these proteins that are 'deactivated' so your cells target these but you don't have a real reaction. The FluMist spray vaccine is actually a live strain, just mutated in a lab so that it can't cause disease. It's great because your immune cells can really mount an effective response and memory response to the vaccine.

Lovers where are you in school?

Hmmm... I never considered getting a flu shot to prevent passing it along to other people. I always figured, "Meh, if I get the flu, I'll stay home a few days and let is pass. Odds are I won't die from it."

Of course, I have a tenancy to not miss work if I like the work, which throws a wrench into those plans.

How terrible. Especially since she was planning on being such an important figure in societ... wait...

It is horrible what happened, but for this story to be the leading reason as to people not getting flu shots is rather ignorant. You probably have a higher chance dying by choking on a finger hiding in a Wendy's chili.

Bad science drives me crazy. Every-time I hear someone explaining that X product is good because it is "natural" and not made from "harmful chemicals" I want to scream. EVERYTHING ON THIS F-IN PLANET is made from chemicals.

The other one that annoys me is "organic."

For whatever reason this country (the united states, for our international friends) has become afraid of doctors and science. I can only assume that is because most people are poorly educated or dont bother to learn.

Ok I am ranting...

As someone who has watched a loved one have the swine flu (thanks pax), you do not want it. And for the sake of those around you, GET YOUR FRAKIN SHOTS.

I have not had a flu shot in about 10 years.

sure I still get sick. for a few hours at least.
I had the flu 2 years ago for about a day and a half.
My wife gets her shots and she takes all of hr suppliments and is sick all the time. In fact she is sick right now. has been off work for the last 3 days.

The problem I have always seen with flu shots is that the virus mutates. Sometimes within the same season. So what is the point.

@Expo; ORGANIC just means it was grown without the use of steroids or other growth hormones. My wife had Cancer. She only eats organic veggies when she buys fresh.

quote:

Originally posted by theexpozay:
Bad science drives me crazy. Every-time I hear someone explaining that X product is good because it is "natural" and not made from "harmful chemicals" I want to scream. EVERYTHING ON THIS F-IN PLANET is made from chemicals.

The other one that annoys me is "organic."

Expo, you're a great person. Honestly, I'm neither a fan or disbeliever of organic products. Yes there's cases where I'll choose organic over the other kind, but it's not always the case. Yes some chemicals in food products can be bad for people, but organic options are not always better either.

Some types of food are just really not good for people at all (organic or not), but marketing and lifestyles have made them a common staple. Me...I'm practically a Vegan now for almost a year. I eat the same amount of food, have lost over 20lbs of body fat, have almost flawless health, and honestly have never felt better. All I changed was what I eat with better alternatives. Simple as that.

As for the shot. I have a trip in about 3 weeks, and will probably try to get my shot before leaving (don't want to catch what some sick kid has).

How very sad indeed

quote:

Originally posted by zeeEVIL1:
I have not had a flu shot in about 10 years.

sure I still get sick. for a few hours at least.
I had the flu 2 years ago for about a day and a half.
My wife gets her shots and she takes all of hr suppliments and is sick all the time. In fact she is sick right now. has been off work for the last 3 days.

The problem I have always seen with flu shots is that the virus mutates. Sometimes within the same season. So what is the point.

@Expo; ORGANIC just means it was grown without the use of steroids or other growth hormones. My wife had Cancer. She only eats organic veggies when she buys fresh.

Zee, it's probably because of your wife's immune system. Is she had cancer, her immune system may still be suppressed depending on how long ago it was and what kind of half-life the treatment she used has. You should still get your shot though, the virus doesn't really mutate within the same season, and even if it does you'll still have some immunity. They put 3-4 types of H and N in each vaccine so typically it works. As far as year to year, yeah that's why you have to get another one each year. But as I stated before, even if you aren't in a high-risk group, you probably know someone who is. The flu really is a nasty thing for certain people and the swine flu right now seems to have a really long-lasting effect on children and has a slightly higher mortality rate for kids than the seasonal flu.

I got the Flu shot once and got the Flu a few weeks later, so I said screw it and don't get it anymore.

Not to mention, I don't get a shot unless I have to. My sister got diabetes from the hepatitis group of shots about 10 years ago