# Concerned about Ebola? Did you get your flu shot? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 6, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558 "2014-10-06T16:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/21 "2014-10-06T21:18:00Z")
I had my flu vaccination back in April. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/22 "2014-10-06T21:29:36Z")
No, and no. I’m certain that there will be additional cases of ebola in the US this year, but I have no fear whatsoever of an epidemic. As for a flu shot…I’m not anti-vaccine; I’m just stubborn. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/23 "2014-10-06T23:02:33Z")
I did have a strange reaction to the flu shot. I woke up that night with my palms itching like crazy. They remained itchy and bright red for two days. They are okay now, but that was weird. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/24 "2014-10-06T23:08:23Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I’m guessing the point is that the average person in the US is far, far more likely to die of the flu than of Ebola. The person scared of Ebola and not getting a flu shot needs to understand statistics a bit better. > > Got mine a week ago. Our medical center has a Sunday clinic. Fast and easy. The risk of dying of the flu is well understood. The risk of dying of ebola in the US is tiny now, but could change considerably in the near future. IOW, the two are not equivalent wrt risk assessment over time. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/25 "2014-10-06T23:09:33Z")
Concerned about ebola? I wasn’t until I saw these picks of a couple of idiots powerwashing ebola patient’s vomit with zero protective gear. Turns out we really are dumb enough to spread it around: > **[Outrage! Ebola vomit washed down storm drain](https://www.wnd.com/2014/10/outrage-ebola-vomit-washed-down-storm-drain/)** > > By Chelsea Schilling and Jerome Corsi America wants to know: Why in the world isn't the Ebola clean-up crew in Dallas, Texas, wearing protective biohazard suits to prevent further spread of the deadly virus? A photo posted online by Dallas/Fort... AS for flu shots, yes, I am a firm believer in taking every chance to educate my immune system. You never know which virus might mutate into something more virulent. Existing immunity can go a long way to protect you in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/26 "2014-10-06T23:17:20Z")
I do not get flu shots because I am allergic to them, as in hives and wheezing and trip to an emergency room sort of allergic. Granted, also having asthma means getting the flu is serious, but so far flu shots have been more life-threatening to me than the actual cases of flu that I have caught. So… I encourage everyone else to get flu shots, because herd immunity benefits me, and I wash my hands a LOT. As for ebola… not concerned at this point in time. I am following the news out of general curiosity but I don’t see it threatening me in the foreseeable future. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/27 "2014-10-06T23:37:11Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > I’m 56 and have never had a flu shot. Did get flu for the first time in my life in 2012, and it was truly awful and I was sick as shit for days. However, I figure I am now immune to most if not all of the current flu strains? Nope. There are a whole bunch of different strains. You are immunized against one. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/28 "2014-10-06T23:50:47Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Nope. There are a whole bunch of different strains. You are immunized against one. So how come in all my life I’ve only had the flu once, and the common cold only three times, and zero any other sort of infection or il,lness, since 1979? And most of those years have been spent volunteering in hospitals, nursing homes and so on. In fact since I was about 19, I have been volunteering in health care facilities one way or another. Each year I dither about whether I should get the vaccination. I am NOT anti vaccination! But a small, stubborn part of me wants to keep going without, just to see how long I can go. Or something. Since I obviously have a very effective immune system and since I get ill so rarely I don’t think I am much of a threat to the herd. Social responsibility would be my only reason, but since I catch a virus approximately once per decade I don’t think I am much of a risk at all. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/29 "2014-10-07T01:29:53Z")
Have signed up for the workplace flu shot, whenever they schedule it. Am keeping aware of what goes on with the Ebola situation but not really worried as of now. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/30 "2014-10-07T01:53:36Z")
I hope to get a flu shot, but just came down with shingles, so not until I’m better. And Ebola scares me to death. Which may be a quicker way to die than Ebola! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/31 "2014-10-07T02:16:55Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > So how come in all my life I’ve only had the flu once, and the common cold only three times, and zero any other sort of infection or il,lness, since 1979? And most of those years have been spent volunteering in hospitals, nursing homes and so on. In fact since I was about 19, I have been volunteering in health care facilities one way or another. > > Each year I dither about whether I should get the vaccination. I am NOT anti vaccination! But a small, stubborn part of me wants to keep going without, just to see how long I can go. Or something. Since I obviously have a very effective immune system and since I get ill so rarely I don’t think I am much of a threat to the herd. Social responsibility would be my only reason, but since I catch a virus approximately once per decade I don’t think I am much of a risk at all. I don’t think the poster was challenging your decision to not get the flu shot, just clearing up the misconception that getting the flu will give you immunity to other strains. It’s good for anyone else reading the thread. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/32 "2014-10-07T04:57:18Z")
No and no. The Flu would not be the worst way to die, and at my age, I have to think about the option. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/33 "2014-10-07T13:29:03Z")
vague concerns about Ebola, but nothing that’d keep me from going about my normal day: more awareness than any fear that I might contract it. And yes, I got a flu shot last week. Both because I work at a large university and deal with students daily and because I have relatives who cannot get one. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/34 "2014-10-07T14:05:38Z")
I think limited ebola spread in the US is likely. I want to get a flu shot, but my doctor refused to give me the flu shot until we can clear up a current respiratory issue. It’s been five months already so I’m not hopeful this will be resolved before flu season really hits. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/35 "2014-10-07T14:28:07Z")
I’m concerned about any fatal disease making its way to the US. I’ve gotten my flu shot for the year. I also exercise regularly and try to eat well. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/36 "2014-10-07T17:04:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The risk of dying of the flu is well understood. The risk of dying of ebola in the US is tiny now, but could change considerably in the near future. IOW, the two are not equivalent wrt risk assessment over time. Ebola wouldn’t have to be much of an absolute risk to be a much greater relative risk than today. Given the way it spreads, it is going to be a smaller risk. That doesn’t mean that you’re not in bigger trouble if you do get it. If the Liberians figure out a way to teleport here, though, we’re screwed. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558/37 "2014-10-07T20:42:02Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Unsure what 1 has to do with the other, but I did get my shot. I get paid to get a flu shot every year - at a medical testing lab. Last time it was to test if it titred out better, worse or the same when injected with an airgun or something, it wasn’t the usual needle. \ At least I get a titre check to make sure I had proper immunological reaction to my injection. And I just got paid to get my MMR updated along with the Shingles vaccination to see how they tire up in combination. I can’t wait to get into another study in January … wonder what I will get paid to get. [I started my guinea pig career with a study done by the Navy, an entire summer - 2 days a week sitting in an air conditioned isolation booth listening for embedded sounds. Now that was fun, profitable and actually interesting.] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerned-about-ebola-did-you-get-your-flu-shot/700558.md?page=1)