Flu Shot vs No Flu Shot

[Mingwan]

This is the perfect opportunity for them to inject mind control nano-bots in you. No thanks.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Mingwan

This is the perfect opportunity for them to inject mind control nano-bots in you. No thanks.

Oh c'mon. Everyone knows the preferred delivery methods for mind control nano-bots are Starbucks coffee, supplements and energy drinks.

[Mingwan]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Oh c'mon. Everyone knows the preferred delivery methods for mind control nano-bots are Starbucks coffee, supplements and energy drinks.

Haha, kind of reminds me that monster energy drink lady.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Oh c'mon. Everyone knows the preferred delivery methods for mind control nano-bots are Starbucks coffee, supplements and energy drinks.

Where's that con-trail control board image when you need it??? For those of us who STILL won't drink Starbucks.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by usshelena725

There is essentially no cost for the person receiving the vaccine. Nearly all health insurance plans, mine included, cover 100% of the flu shot without any co-pay or deductible. There are also plenty of locations that offer the shot for free to those who wish to have one, including many employers. For those on government assistance, the shot is provided at no cost within most hospitals, public health offices, and drug stores.

There absolutely is a financial cost to getting the flu shot. People that pay into health plans are largely covering the cost for the majority who don't have coverage. Drug companies sure as hell aren't giving away vaccine shots

As for the flu shot, unless you're older 65ish and/or any some health condition that results in a reduced immune system, I personally think the flu vaccine is a total waste. I feel the same way about many of the other vaccines out there as well.

Just because you can develop a vaccine for a particular disease (not necessarily talking about the flu) doesn't it mean it's always the right thing to do for numerous scientific and health reasons I won't go into. Drug companies are looking for all sorts of avenues to make money. Developing vaccines for rare conditions is one of them. There's a ton of money to be made. They prey on people's fear and ignorance.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Where's that con-trail control board image when you need it??? For those of us who STILL won't drink Starbucks.

Here you go! Where did insanecoder go?

[minn19]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

There absolutely is a financial cost to getting the flu shot. People that pay into health plans are largely covering the cost for the majority who don't have coverage. Drug companies sure as hell aren't giving away vaccine shots

As for the flu shot, unless you're older 65ish and/or any some health condition that results in a reduced immune system, I personally think the flu vaccine is a total waste. I feel the same way about many of the other vaccines out there as well.

Just because you can develop a vaccine for a particular disease (not necessarily talking about the flu) doesn't it mean it's always the right thing to do for numerous scientific and health reasons I won't go into. Drug companies are looking for all sorts of avenues to make money. Developing vaccines for rare conditions is one of them. There's a ton of money to be made. They prey on people's fear and ignorance.

Yup, you are right, the flu is always in the top ten for US (and worldwide) causes of death every year. Totally unnecessary and only fear mongering..........

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by Real Dodger

Here you go! Where did insanecoder go?

I found insanecoder. On the 3 series platform talking about the nonsense of moonlandings. I thought bimmerpost politics crossed these boundries?

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Real Dodger

I found insanecoder. On the 3 series platform talking about the nonsense of moonlandings. I thought bimmerpost politics crossed these boundries?

I saw him ranting that he was kicked out of the polysci section (for being right of course), but I didn't think it was the whole OT area.

[UncleWede]

I'm not completely against vaccines, but I am selective in their application. I weigh the cost/benefit and make a decision.

I have all the major ones, and had my children receive the same. But there are certain ones that I did not agree to, and didn't apply to my children. One in particular that bothers me is chicken pox/varicella. We had CP parties instead. Of those who didn't die (a VERY small number) how many need "booster" parties??? If the varicella vaccine is so good, why does it not convey lifetime immunity like when you immune system fights it off the first time? Granted, there is shingles that may come visit, but why is it a DIFFERENT vaccine for that?

[1MOREMOD]

So they can make more money bro.

[TXSTYLE]

Me and my sons got ours today.

[bbbbmw]

Some thoughts on this thread:

The flu morphs constantly, and there are thousands of strains. Each year various strains are stronger, and the vaccine companies have to guess what to include in the shot. It's an educated guess, but a guess - which is why it sometimes doesn't hit the target for that year. This is very different than vaccines for things like polio (which someone said before).

Getting the shot every year can accumulate resistance to many strains, so if you always get the shot, you have far more than just that year's targeted flu. So it has a cumulative beneficial effect.

Some years ago, several of the vaccine makers exited the market because they couldn't make any money on it. More people got the flu that year, and it was very concerning that we wouldn't have vaccines. I believe that's when congress passed the law that the companies couldn't be sued, to reduce the cost of the vaccine.

As for the whole. "Drug company profit" mindset - it's not a crazy thought, but when you look at the margins in a flu shot, it's crazy - if you pay cash, it's $20/yr or less - figuring the cost of the needle, distribution, medical record and reporting, and a medical person to administer it, there's very little profit in it. Much less, if your insurance pays, there's the cost of billing and payment.

The flu strain that hit in 1918 killed more people worldwide than all who died in WW1 - estimated at 50-100 million (3-5% of worldwide population at the time). One of the highest rates of death was people 25-34 years old:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu

Not to be overly political, but we have tens of millions of people in the US (illegals) who have never been vaccinated against anything - which has led to current outbreaks of diseases like measles, mumps, and tuberculosis- which we had eradicated in the US. Think of the Ebola outbreaks a few years ago; ease of travel has the potential to expose everyone worldwide to anything.

Life is a gamble. Increase survival odds for yourself and this around you - it's more important now than ever, that the "herd" be as immune as possible.

[1MOREMOD]

Actually has very high margin now that responsibility has been shifted from doctors to pharmacists. We dont get paid more or extra staff to do additional work. Have quotas to meet as well.

[bbbbmw]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Actually has very high margin now that responsibility has been shifted from doctors to pharmacists. We dont get paid more or extra staff to do additional work. Have quotas to meet as well.

Do you administer the shots? I wasn't aware that pharmacists did that? Insurance companies have to pay for preventive care, which includes vaccines, and the amount billed is far less than the negotiated contract amount, of course.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by bbbbmw

Do you administer the shots? I wasn't aware that pharmacists did that? Insurance companies have to pay for preventive care, which includes vaccines, and the amount billed is far less than the negotiated contract amount, of course.

I though nurses or med techs give the shots.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by bbbbmw

Do you administer the shots? I wasn't aware that pharmacists did that? Insurance companies have to pay for preventive care, which includes vaccines, and the amount billed is far less than the negotiated contract amount, of course.

I got mine this year and last from a Walgreens pharmacist.

[kscarrol]

Yep, go to my local Walgreens for the shot..

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by bbbbmw

Do you administer the shots? I wasn't aware that pharmacists did that? Insurance companies have to pay for preventive care, which includes vaccines, and the amount billed is far less than the negotiated contract amount, of course.

Yes we will do over 3k flu vaccinations this season at out location. Most doctors dont give shots nearly as often anymore. Except for infants. Adults get shingles, tetanus, hepatitis, flu, mmr, yellow fever and so on at pharmacy. We have collaborative agreement allows us to prescribe and give shots.

Some states may not allow this but it's a skill that takes 5 minutes to figure out.

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by bbbbmw

Do you administer the shots? I wasn't aware that pharmacists did that? Insurance companies have to pay for preventive care, which includes vaccines, and the amount billed is far less than the negotiated contract amount, of course.

I can CONFIRM that Pharmacists can and do administer the shot.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

it's a skill that takes 5 minutes to figure out.

Did you learn with an orange? That's what they gave me in the hospital when I was diagnosed with the "sugar diabetus"

[kscarrol]

@UncleWede