# The flu sucks **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 24, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355 "2019-01-24T23:20:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/41 "2019-01-30T03:29:39Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > Word. You can’t get the flu from a flu vaccine since it contains a dead, inactivated virus. > > Why the hell can’t people understand this? We can’t understand it because when we fact check your statement we find it’s BS. Some do contain a attenuated but live virus, which can lead to infection. That’s why we can’t understand this, because what you say is simply not true. And the more you repeat it the less and less credibility you have. Perhaps learn about something before acting like a expert on it. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/42 "2019-01-30T04:14:27Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > Word. You can’t get the flu from a flu vaccine since it contains a dead, inactivated virus. > > Why the hell can’t people understand this? > [@kanicbird](#): > > We can’t understand it because when we fact check your statement we find it’s BS. > > Some do contain a attenuated but live virus, which can lead to infection. > > That’s why we can’t understand this, because what you say is simply not true. And the more you repeat it the less and less credibility you have. Perhaps learn about something before acting like a expert on it. I think you are intentionally being obtuse, **kanicbird**. The only live virus used in a flu vaccine is the one in the nasal spray flu vaccine. The flu virus in the shot is indeed inactivated (killed). See [here](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm) and [here](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm). > [@CDC](#): > > Flu vaccines given with a needle (i.e., flu shots) are currently made in two ways: the vaccine is made either with a) flu viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ (killed) and that therefore are not infectious, or b) using only a single gene from a flu virus (as opposed to the full virus) in order to produce an immune response without causing infection. > [@CDC](#): > > The nasal spray flu vaccine does contain live viruses. However, the viruses are attenuated (weakened), so that they will not cause influenza illness. The weakened viruses are also cold-adapted, which means they are designed to only multiply at the cooler temperatures found within the nose. The viruses cannot infect the lungs or other areas where warmer temperatures exist. The bottom line is that if you are so concerned about a vaccine that contains a live virus, then DON’T GET THE NASAL SPRAY VACCINE! Simply get the shot instead. FWIW, I’ve always gotten the shot. I’ve never gotten the nasal spray vaccine. In my experience, the shot is by far the more common type of vaccine offered anyway. Also, in recent years, the CDC keeps going back and forth as to whether the nasal spray vaccine is recommended for people under a certain age or over a certain age, or if it is as effective as the shot, or if it is recommended for people with asthma or allergies, etc., etc. Easier to simply get the shot. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/43 "2019-01-30T05:44:44Z")
Former microbiologist here. Side effects from flu immunization won’t kill you. The flu can kill you. Not odds I would play. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/44 "2019-01-31T03:13:56Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > We can’t understand it because when we fact check your statement we find it’s BS. > > Some do contain a attenuated but live virus, which can lead to infection. > > That’s why we can’t understand this, because what you say is simply not true. And the more you repeat it the less and less credibility you have. Perhaps learn about something before acting like a expert on it. We can’t understand you because when we fact check you we find you BS. ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/45 "2019-01-31T03:34:06Z")
Back in the day, I’d mostly get a flu shot, but if for some reason I had to go much out of my way, I figured ‘no big deal’. Then one year I didn’t, and I got the flu. The real flu, not just a bad cold. I had fever and chills, in bed for days, and out of work for over a week and a half. I felt like I’d been worked over by a bunch of pissed off 5 year olds armed with ball peen hammers. Now I get the shot every year, just as soon as it’s available. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/46 "2019-01-31T13:35:00Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > We can’t understand it because when we fact check your statement we find it’s BS. > > Some do contain a attenuated but live virus, which can lead to infection. > > That’s why we can’t understand this, because what you say is simply not true. And the more you repeat it the less and less credibility you have. Perhaps learn about something before acting like a expert on it. I think you know I was referring to the shot, not the nasal spray. And your paraphrasing came from the CDC, whose link I shall produce here for you since I don’t think you bothered to read the whole thing. [https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm) By the way, you’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/47 "2019-02-01T04:52:23Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > We used a different test for the flu then you use, it was tested by a doctor via a nasal swap and confirmed to be the flu. Tamiflu was prescribed and seemed to work as the really bad stuff didn’t last that long, about 36 hours, and seems to be pretty much back to normal in 5 days. > > In the previous years of the flu shot produced a bad reaction that lasted longer, the bad stuff for 4-5 days, and pretty much back to normal in 10 days or so. The bad stuff was not as bad as the flu bad, but still stay in bed and cry type of bad. Reading this again, it’s possible that your child got the flu vaccine and ended up getting flu anyway, which happens. I won’t pretend for a moment that I can diagnose when I’m a) not a doctor and b) not there with you. What I can tell you is that the flu vaccine is extremely successful, and by successful I mean in three ways: 1. preventing people from getting flu 2. reducing the severity of flu if they get it 3. (this is the big one) reducing the likelihood of an epidemic…if everyone gets vaccinated. The flu vaccine isn’t there simply to inoculate an individual such as your child; it’s to prevent your child from spreading the infection to other family members and other people in your community. Getting vaccinated isn’t simply a choice; it’s a civic duty unless you can establish that your child is in potentially serious danger of long-term harm by receiving the vaccine. Has a doctor actually made that determination? ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/48 "2019-02-02T13:30:31Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > That was tongue-in-cheek, more about mocking myself for not getting the shot in time. But to assuage your concern, I stayed isolated in a basement room and did not speak to anybody for 5 days except to ask them to slide food under the door and yell at them to stay away from the basement room. > > Edit: I do not contest the fact that I’m an asshole, except for this particular situation in which I was as conscientious as circumstances allowed. I don’t know who you are, and only vaguely, if ever, remember seeing your name. But right now, you are officially my favorite Doper in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/49 "2019-02-02T13:47:12Z")
> [@Dobbs](#): > > Back in the day, I’d mostly get a flu shot, but if for some reason I had to go much out of my way, I figured ‘no big deal’. Then one year I didn’t, and I got the flu. The real flu, not just a bad cold. I had fever and chills, in bed for days, and out of work for over a week and a half. I felt like I’d been worked over by a bunch of pissed off 5 year olds armed with ball peen hammers. > > Now I get the shot every year, just as soon as it’s available. Pussy. If had contracted the _real_ flu, you would have felt like you had been worked over by a bunch of pissed off lumberjacks. 😲😀 ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355/50 "2019-02-02T14:10:32Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Just what the title says. > > Motherfuckers, get your shots and/or stay home when you’re sick. Like I’m doing. > > I’m taking my collection of rehydrating fluids and going back to bed. I truly feel your pain. 14 days ago I went from feeling just fine, to two hours later going to bed and sleeping more or less 21 hours straight. Somewhere in the middle of that a fever started up, broke, and then started up again…and endless coughing, and my asthma getting triggered. And then three more days of the same. Two weeks later and I’m not at 100%, but I sure feel better than I did. I did get the flu shot, but someone close to me didn’t, and she was diagnosed about a week before it was transmitted to me. Next year everyone around me is going to be more goddamn diligent, I promise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flu-sucks/828355.md?page=2)