# Pro-vax supporters, the flu vaccine. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 2, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434 "2015-11-02T17:33:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/81 "2015-11-04T17:21:06Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > And that’s why the “controversy” comes down to two sides: > > A) People who think influenza is a bad cold or a tummy ache > > B) People who know what influenza actually is, either because they’ve had it or they had to take care of someone who’s had it. C) people who have never had it or known someone who has, but who have a brain and an education. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/82 "2015-11-04T18:31:43Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Don’t know, one was without direct contact with patients one was unknown to me. Will be seeing them again this weekend. Tell the lady whose mother died that she needs psychological or spiritual counseling. Her beliefs may hurt her & others. People have been tortured & killed in the name of Jesus. Should those dreadful events cause one to deny Christianity? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/83 "2015-11-04T19:25:54Z")
If you are reasonably healthy, you don’t get the flu vaccine for yourself. Even if you catch the flu, you’ll likely get over it. Yeah it’s a bitch and will knock you out of commission for a week or so, but you’ll survive. You get the flu vaccine so you don’t catch it and pass it around, which you are likely to do, because that’s how you caught it. And eventually a non-healthy person will catch it and die. So getting the vaccine reduces the spread of the flu and the risks of people dying from it. More people die annually in the US from the flu, than from gunshots, including suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/84 "2015-11-04T23:33:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Can we all agree that “pro-vax” isn’t a thing? > > There are anti-vaxers and there people. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/85 "2015-11-05T03:19:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’ve got plenty of time. What I don’t have is the disposition to give him a free pass to spread crap without opposition. It may be a break-even game at best…but sometimes breaking even is much better than the alternative. He’s not been spreading crap. He asked questions, and explained why he was asking them. Then you decided to harass him, so he had to defend himself. By making him defend himself, you made it more likely for him to believe these other people, and thus are actively causing more ignorance. He has spread absolutely nothing. He’s just explained where he got the ideas he got. He’s not even argued they were true. At most he’s defended the other people for believing it, since you guys were attacking them. I was going to post how this isn’t the same issue, since the flu will not be eradicated via the current vaccine system. Maybe a new universal vaccine would make it work this way, but I have extreme doubts. But, no, I have to have defend yet another Doper from being treated like shit. This is why GD is not a debate forum. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/86 "2015-11-05T04:24:31Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’ve got plenty of time. What I don’t have is the disposition to give him a free pass to spread crap without opposition. It may be a break-even game at best…but sometimes breaking even is much better than the alternative. Yeah but it’s like hitting yourself over the head with a brick. It feels better when you stop. He’s been spreading this kind of thing for years, and he’s not going to quit now. I mean, we’re talking about someone who claims an archangel used a Jedi Mind Trick to get him out of a DUI. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/87 "2015-11-05T04:36:42Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m guessing they are ear-candlers or gnc cashiers. > > I got my flu shot. The only pain was wallet-oriented. The pharmacy cashier looked at my insurance card and told me I wasn’t covered for flu, so I shrugged and paid cash. Later I found out that my daughter (on my plan) was covered. I got screwed. How much was it, if you don’t mind my asking? I get it for free because of my job. The last time I had to pay for it was years ago and that was $25 at the health dept, which at the time was cheaper than my doc’s office. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/88 "2015-11-05T07:22:45Z")
Just heard this on the radio: [State’s 1st Flu Death Of The Season Reported In Santa Clara County](http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/11/04/1st-flu-death-of-the-season-reported-in-california/) Thought it might be of interested here. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/89 "2015-11-05T11:41:24Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > How much was it, if you don’t mind my asking? I get it for free because of my job. The last time I had to pay for it was years ago and that was $25 at the health dept, which at the time was cheaper than my doc’s office. More than $20, less than $40. I never save receipts, but I thought about going back and complaining when my daughter told me we were covered. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/90 "2015-11-05T13:06:41Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > He’s not been spreading crap. He asked questions, and explained why he was asking them. Then you decided to harass him, so he had to defend himself. By making him defend himself, you made it more likely for him to believe these other people, and thus are actively causing more ignorance. Really? You think that’s the thing that has caused **kanicbird** to believe in this woo? What made this woo so different from all the other woo he has been disposed to believe in before this? > [@](#): > > He has spread absolutely nothing. He’s just explained where he got the ideas he got. He’s not even argued they were true. At most he’s defended the other people for believing it, since you guys were attacking them. “Listen guys, I heard from someone else that 9/11 was an inside job. Just sayin’.” Nope, that doesn’t fly as an excuse. People need to stop spreading bullshit, and should be strongly encouraged to engage their brains before their mouths. > [@](#): > > But, no, I have to have defend yet another Doper from being treated like shit. This is why GD is not a debate forum. First, there are clearly ideas that need to be treated like shit. “Don’t get vaccines because they accumulate harmfully in your body” is such an idea. “Hospitals are spraying flu vaccines in the air” is a similarly shitful idea. Secondly, if your concern is debate, let’s focus on debatable premises. These premises are from crazy person woo land. I’m not concerned that GD is a hostile venue to such propositions. We have to have some level of sensible triage. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/91 "2015-11-05T13:39:07Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > But, no, I have to have defend yet another Doper from being treated like shit. Gosh. You’re the biggest hero since Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer put together! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/92 "2015-11-05T14:13:50Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > He’s not been spreading crap. He asked questions, and explained why he was asking them. Then you decided to harass him, so he had to defend himself. By making him defend himself, you made it more likely for him to believe these other people, and thus are actively causing more ignorance. Actually, a long series of posts that followed the OP featured both evidence-based reasons to get the flu vaccine, and personal accounts of how miserable influenza can be. Then the OP doubled down on the crazy in full Just Asking Questions mode and a certain amount of derision ensued. He already has well-developed immunity to rationality on this subject, so it is highly unlikely anyone here can be blamed for driving him into the antivax camp. Note: while I am not singling out anyone, it is SOP for tone trolls in these sorts of discussions to ignore a bunch of rational, civil posts to zero in on a relative few snarky ones, in order to blame non-woo posters for supposedly turning an innocent questioner into a raving, reality-denying loon. It is a tiresome tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/93 "2015-11-05T15:58:11Z")
Per my mom, you can get the shot at Costco for $15. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/94 "2015-11-05T16:03:46Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Per my mom, you can get the shot at Costco for $15. I hear you can get a free aerosol administration just by walking around the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/95 "2015-11-05T16:13:15Z")
> **[Where to Get Free or the Cheapest Flu Shots (2023 Prices Update)](https://20somethingfinance.com/where-to-get-cheap-or-free-flu-shots/)** > > How & where to get a free flu shot or the cheapest flu shot in 2023. Flu vaccine prices at Walmart, Costco, CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, Sam's Club, Rite Aid, Publix, Safeway, Target & Meijer. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/96 "2015-11-05T18:02:08Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > But, no, I have to have defend yet another Doper from being treated like shit. Who the hell appointed you Straight Dope White Knight? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/97 "2015-11-05T18:25:50Z")
I did. Now leave the man be. He’s doing Gods’ Work. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/98 "2015-11-05T19:28:03Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > He’s not been spreading crap. He asked questions, and explained why he was asking them. Then you decided to harass him, so he had to defend himself. By making him defend himself, you made it more likely for him to believe these other people, and thus are actively causing more ignorance. > > He has spread absolutely nothing. He’s just explained where he got the ideas he got. He’s not even argued they were true. At most he’s defended the other people for believing it, since you guys were attacking them. > > I was going to post how this isn’t the same issue, since the flu will not be eradicated via the current vaccine system. Maybe a new universal vaccine would make it work this way, but I have extreme doubts. > > But, no, I have to have defend yet another Doper from being treated like shit. This is why GD is not a debate forum. Thank you (and several others who have defended me and others over the years,) that is helpful and very much appreciated and encouraging and needed. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/99 "2015-11-06T02:36:09Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Thank you (and several others who have defended me and others over the years,) that is helpful and very much appreciated and encouraging and needed. Encouraging to you, discouraging to most people of science who have read your crap posts over the years. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434/100 "2015-11-06T21:45:16Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > And that’s why the “controversy” comes down to two sides: > > A) People who think influenza is a bad cold or a tummy ache > > B) People who know what influenza actually is, either because they’ve had it or they had to take care of someone who’s had it. > > If there’s anyone from Group B here who doesn’t want a flu shot, let them speak up. Exactly. I’ve gotten the flu three times in my life. Each experience is indelibly etched into my memory. In the first two cases, I was out of commission for over a week. I was delirious. I could not function at all. After the first case, I became convinced that the flu shot was a good idea, and started getting them if it was convenient to do so. After the second case, I vowed to never miss a flu shot again (and I’ve gotten my flu shot religiously ever since). In the last case, I, along with my wife and son, came down with the flu several months _after_ we all got the flu shot that year. It was a _much_ more mild case. We were all able to actually sit up in the living room and suffer together (as opposed to being unable to get out of bed). I hear people say stupid, ignorant things about the flu all the time, like the co-worker who said that she “gets the flu all the time, and it’s no big deal.” :smack: No, moron, you didn’t have the flu last week when had the sniffles at your desk. Here’s a good description of what having the flu really means: [ul] [li]If you have the sniffles or feel a little off, you don’t have the flu.[/li][li]If you can go to work and treat your symptoms with cold medicine, you don’t have the flu.[/li][li]If you’re so sick that you’re afraid you might die, you \*might \* have the flu.[/li][li]If you’re so sick that you are actually praying for death, then there’s a good chance you have the flu. :D[/li][/ul] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-vax-supporters-the-flu-vaccine/736434.md?page=6)