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* While I’m feeling much better than I did a couple of weeks ago, I still have it and I’m still miserable…

Of the 30 U.S. children who have died from the flu so far this season, some 85 percent had not been vaccinated, said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, who urged Americans to get flu shots amid one of the most severe flu seasons in years.

“My message is, if you haven’t gotten a vaccine, please get a vaccine. Also, please get your children vaccinated,” said Fitzgerald, who is urging citizens “to take every advantage that you can to protect yourself.”

The dominant strain during this flu season is an especially nasty type called influenza A (H3N2) that in seasons past has been linked with severe disease and death, especially in the elderly and young. This year’s seasonal flu epidemic is especially severe.

In its latest report, the CDC said the virus is present in every state, with 32 states reporting severe flu activity.

Although the vaccine is only estimated to be about 30 percent effective against the H3N2 strain, it has been shown in studies to reduce severity and duration if people do become infected, said Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fitzgerald conceded in a telephone interview that reports that the flu vaccine in Australia was only 10 percent effective may have caused people to think the vaccine would not be worth the trouble.

Thirty kids. Wow.

I really wish I had ignored those “10 percent effective” stories and gotten the vaccine.

* The Question: Your own 2018 influenza stories?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:09 pm

Comments

It struck in our neck of the woods. I haven’t got it, but la Señora del Camino was hit. I think the vaccine kept it from being debilitating and made it merely drawn-out and exhausting. Drink plenty of OJ and hunker down till it passes.

Comment by Ray del Camino Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:14 pm
I got the flu New Year’s Day. Tested positive for Influenza A. First week, I slept. Second week, I was moving but only for a couple hours a day, then rest and sleeping. Third week, beginning to function normally. I did not get a flu vaccine. Doctor told me it wouldn’t have made a difference for me.

Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:16 pm
I got the shot, but still got the flu. They say if you get the shot and you still get the flu it reduces the severity of the symptoms, so that’s something. I got it in the throat and had a really sore throat for about 4 days. Drank more hot tea than I ever have before in my life. Some chest congestion and fatigue, but otherwise it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever had.

My advice is, the second you have chills and can’t get warm for more than 3 hours, get yourself to a clinic to get whatever meds they will give you (assuming you test positive for the virus as I did), and then try to avoid infecting your whole family. Buy masks and Lysol wipes and don’t touch anything or breathe on anyone.

Comment by Team America Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:20 pm
I got flu shot. I have had runny nose,sore throat for four weeks. Not incapacitated, but certainly not 100%.

Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:34 pm
My family of 4 got the flu the week before Christmas and all of us received the vaccine in October. My oldest son and I were pretty miserable for a couple of days, but the Tamiflu got us feeling better pretty quickly. My youngest son took the Tamiflu once his brother tested positive, so he got off easy with a mid-grade fever for part of a day, same with my wife, started Tamiflu when my symptoms hit and had a fever for part of a day.

I’m a state employee with one of the HMO plans and the cost of Tamiflu for each of us was about $100, but if you are showing symptoms and can afford it, I recommend you try to get a Tamiflu prescription for your whole family, it seemed to lessen the effects.

Comment by Swift Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:36 pm
It just sucks. The end.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:36 pm
None. I got the extra strength shot for geezers and so far, so good. But the fat lady hasn’t sung yet - I think she may have called in sick.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:41 pm
So far, so good. Did not get a flu shot. Discussed getting a shot with my physician in late Nov. and she neither encouraged or discouraged it. Her ambivalence to it sort of tipped the scale in that regard. I did consider not signing up to be an election judge for the March election because that seemed like it could have high potential for exposure to a lot of germs and viruses. In the end I did decide to take the risk and signed up because serving at the polls is just too much fun to pass up.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:42 pm
I’d only gotten the flu shot once before when my wife was pregnant with one of our kids and the bird flu pandemic was around. As an adult I don’t think I’ve ever had the flu so I figured why bother. But as reports of people dying started to proliferate, this year I bit the bug and got the shot. I’m ten days in so not fully protected yet. Fingers crossed.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:43 pm
I get the shot like religion every year. Knock on wood I haven’t gotten anything. Rich, I’m glad you’re staying on top of it with your Doc. Maybe the work you did on the ole ticker effected your immune system. Regardless, I’m worried that one of these years we’re going to get hit with a really bad strain.
I hope that you shake it soon.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:44 pm
So far so good. Avoiding crowds. Got the Flu shot as always. The Flu is a life threatening illness. It is trying to kill you. Its not a bad cold. The Flu attacks every organ in the body. That’s why you go to bed and don’t want to get up. When you hear about healthy people dying, that is what happened in the 1918 Flu Pandemic. It primarily killed 20-30 year olds. Their immune systems overreact with a Cytokine storm. That’s what is killing healthy people now. Get the shot…

Comment by Anotheretiree Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:45 pm
I got the flu shot ::knocking wood::

Someone told me they closed the Illinois Math & Science Academy for a week over the flu.

Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:45 pm
I got the flu shot, and, thanks be to God, have not experienced any symptoms so far. Having said that, a good friend of our family was not so lucky. He had the flu, and it went into sepsis. He passed, only in his early 60s, after only a day and a half in the hospital.

This stuff is serious.

Comment by Silent Budgeteer Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:48 pm
About a quarter of my staff is out due to the flu. Either they or one of their children have it. It’s pretty much an even split on those had the shot and those who didn’t.

To those that do have it, hope you all get to feeling better soon. This strain is, as others have said, exceptionally nasty.

Comment by Fixer Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:49 pm
Seems like this is everywhere, and it’s a very nasty bug. I hope you’re back to normal soon Rich.

I got the shot and so far, so good. I ride the el everyday and have kids in grade school. Given all of the sneezing, coughing and sniffles I hear during my commute, I can’t believe I haven’t gotten this yet.

I think I’ll go and wash my hands again just thinking about it.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:56 pm
I spent considerable time at home over the holidays with two pretty sick grown kids. I had gotten the flu shot….still knocking on wood I didn’t catch it, but neither of them got a the vaccine. By Jan. 2nd, my husband caught something and is still sick.

Comment by Because I said so.... Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:57 pm
Both my wife and I caught it 2 days after X-Mas. My wife went to the ER due to being 3 months pregnant. Stayed there for 16 hours to boost hydration and nutrient levels back up with IVs. $5435.00 later she and her pregnancy are alright. Left us both feeling very thankful to have insurance.

Comment by Seats Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 1:58 pm
We got the shot.
So far so good.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:11 pm
No flue shot here. No flu yet either, knock on wood. Must be all the alcohol. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.

Comment by L.A. Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:19 pm
My employer provides the flu shot. I always get one. So far so good.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:19 pm
I was just at our regional hospital on a non-flu outpatient visit. Quite a few of the staff and outpatients were wearing masks. When you start seeing that, it’s serious. Got the shot first time ever this year, so I figure it’s inevitable I’ll catch the flu at some point.

Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:35 pm
Did the flu shot thing as recommended. One on his own son got it. Thankfully it wasn’t long lasting.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:54 pm
I did not get the shot, just been too busy at work and I have been very lucky. Especially since I work in hospitals and clinics. I have a doctor appointment next month and getting the shot then.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 3:02 pm
You know whats sad? I would rather talk about the flu than state or national politics these days. I need spring to get jere.

Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 3:15 pm
Jocko–
Yes, IMSA is closed for a week. They sent everyone home so they can disinfect everything. Hope that doesn’t just spread the virus by sending the students home to spread it, or conversely to get infected at home and bring it back to the campus.

Comment by Deputy Registrar Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 3:28 pm
I always get the shot. For nothin’ this year.

Four weeks in and I’m still not back at full speed.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 4:31 pm
Never had a flu shot, no flu and I feel great. I exercise 6 days a week, eat healthy, and work in healthcare and I’m around sick people 4 days a week.
Wife has never had a flu shot, she had a little sinus and bronchitis thing for 2-3 days just mild.
What they tell us and what the evidence supports are not exactly the same.

Comment by Tequila Mockingbird Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 4:52 pm
I’ve taken flu shots every year for 15 years. I haven’t had the flu in 15 years.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 4:52 pm
Got a flu shot late October. Got sick just after Christmas. Chills, fever and fatigue for about
6 days. Fatigue was the worst of it.

Comment by anonlurker Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 4:53 pm
My work did a thing for the kids at Lurie Children’s last week and we were told only people who got their flu shots more than 2 weeks ago could participate.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 5:44 pm
Got shot. Take my hand sanitizer everywhere…use it after I touch anything. Will call for tamiflu if I get any of those early symptoms you mentioned. Then stay in bed and order pizza. Coke always helps my throat.I hear there are shots avaiable get one.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 6:20 pm
Got the shot as did the kids. Only my son got the flu and his case was very mild.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 8:48 pm
I always get the flu shot and have never gotten the flu. Get the shot. Get the shot. Get the shot.

Comment by Me Again Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:19 pm