I am given to understand that there are several different kinds of flu virus, and the vaccine is reformulated each year to protect against the 2 most likely strains for the coming season. You can get the shot, then get flu of a different strain because you were not protected from that strain. My guess is that getting the shot makes people vulnerable to the strains they were not vaccinated for. I’m not a fan of playing russian roulette
I’m a physician and I can tell you influenza kills thousands of people every year, including otherwise healthy individuals, even children. What bothers me is those who “do not believe in” (as though it was a religion) preventive vaccination are the first ones in the ED looking for a “cure” when they get sick. BTW, there is no cure. They also continue to go to work and send children to school so the flu virus gets proliferated.
I got my first flu shot in 1991. Came down with symptoms of bronchitis in 18 hours and flu blown bronchitis a day later. Antibiotics did not help. Got another flu shot on 1992. Worse results. Did not get a shot in 1993 and 1994. Healthy. New wife made me get one in 1995. Pneumonia. To make it worse I was flat on my back when my 49ers were on their way to their 5th Superb Owl victory. Got one this year because I am now “old” according to the Mrs. Another 2 weeks of bronchitis symptoms. Never again.
My mother was a chain smoker who died at 53. Before the malignancy which was behind her lungs and pressing on her vagus nerve she had three years of undiagnosed severe pain (with one doctor telling her it was all in her imagination) and then half her diaphragm stopped working. Before that she suddenly collapsed like a stiff log falling to the side and caught her face on the back of a dining room chair on the way down. Before that and besides the pain from the undiscovered tumor she began COPD. And before any of those she spent years every morning coughing so hard that each morning began with the dry heaves from irritation. Yet, when a diagnostic test left her unable to do the double inhale of smoking she would go to my sister’s room and try to wave my sister’s side stream smoke into her nose. (Oh, and besides her setting the stage for my sister to begin smoking as a preteen, I wound up with asthma from their smoke.)
Please, before you add to this site, look up the distinctions among influenza (flu), upper-respiratory infection (colds), food poisoning, lung cancer, etc.
If this short list of comments is typical of the medical “knowledge” of our world population including Jef Mallett’s, there is little doubt in my mind as to why the money we spend on health care does so little good.
If you’ve never spent at least three days in bed with aches, fever and a general weakness, you never have had the flu that relates to the shots in question. Know the difference between a virus and bacteria. There are lots of each and they do mutate. One reason older people get so few colds is that you never get the same infection twice and are eventually immune to the ones around. Kids have to go through a slew of them to reach that level of immunity. That’s their way of getting “cold shots”.
I know a guy who got a flu shot and, the next day, he was run over by a truck and killed. Never get a flu shot! (Makes as much sense as some of the above statements.)
Some people — an awful lot of people — seem to live their lives as a walking, breathing public service announcement, a teachable moment, a dire warning. And so many other people opt not to heed, or even acknowledge their warnings. I wonder if that hurts the first group’s feelings or gives them a little sense of relief. If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, maybe it didn’t make a noise. Maybe it can convince itself it didn’t fall at all.
Flu shots are a multi-billion dollar industry. If you look past all the ads for the shots you can find some simple truths. Because it takes months and months to produce, vaccines are based on “projections” of what will be the problem flu next year. We would call them guesses, because they usually are wrong. Two type A guesses, and one type B. Even the CDC, the biggest flu shot proponent, admits only 50% success at their guesses hitting the target. Historically, it is much closer to one in six. They try to claim even the wrong guess will lessen the flu’s impact, but it is only by a laughable 10%. There are natural ways to fight the flu, but there’s no money in them. They are essentially everything your mother told you to do. Eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, getting outdoor exercise, getting enough sleep.
mddshubby2005 almost 5 years ago
The flu shot – a pinch to (ensure you) grow an inch.
lee85736 almost 5 years ago
I can see this as a poster for getting your flu shot…
Lyons Group, Inc. almost 5 years ago
My cousin got a flu shot two months ago, and a week later, he caught a cold.
Wlly Blly almost 5 years ago
Love the Honk, Gak, Hocka-hocka! in the last panel.
asrialfeeple almost 5 years ago
People urged me to get the flu shot. I’ve been looking for people to shoot the flu.
posse1 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I love the double negative. Works perfectly!
Caretaker24523 almost 5 years ago
How about the new “Senior” flu shot for people over 65? It’s got FOUR TIMES the standard dosage! No thanks!
Jhony-Yermo almost 5 years ago
Not only a great lesson but funny as hell too. Great Comic. Yes, I always get my flu shot. Without fail.
fuzzbucket Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I thought you’d know, Frazz. You need a mop to clean up spilled coffee.
e.groves almost 5 years ago
Maybe she has a hairball.
cervelo almost 5 years ago
It’s a bit like vaccination, it works a lot better if a critical percentage of the population gets the shot. Herd something or other…
lagoulou almost 5 years ago
Had a flu shot every year since they were first available…..never had an adverse reaction…only had flu as a young ‘un….I’m 76 now
Herb L 1954 almost 5 years ago
Former smoker’s still cough.Our family still smoke,knowing that it will kill them at a young age ;(
lsapphire almost 5 years ago
I am given to understand that there are several different kinds of flu virus, and the vaccine is reformulated each year to protect against the 2 most likely strains for the coming season. You can get the shot, then get flu of a different strain because you were not protected from that strain. My guess is that getting the shot makes people vulnerable to the strains they were not vaccinated for. I’m not a fan of playing russian roulette
christinejohnstone almost 5 years ago
I’m a physician and I can tell you influenza kills thousands of people every year, including otherwise healthy individuals, even children. What bothers me is those who “do not believe in” (as though it was a religion) preventive vaccination are the first ones in the ED looking for a “cure” when they get sick. BTW, there is no cure. They also continue to go to work and send children to school so the flu virus gets proliferated.
Teto85 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I got my first flu shot in 1991. Came down with symptoms of bronchitis in 18 hours and flu blown bronchitis a day later. Antibiotics did not help. Got another flu shot on 1992. Worse results. Did not get a shot in 1993 and 1994. Healthy. New wife made me get one in 1995. Pneumonia. To make it worse I was flat on my back when my 49ers were on their way to their 5th Superb Owl victory. Got one this year because I am now “old” according to the Mrs. Another 2 weeks of bronchitis symptoms. Never again.
SukieCrandall Premium Member almost 5 years ago
My mother was a chain smoker who died at 53. Before the malignancy which was behind her lungs and pressing on her vagus nerve she had three years of undiagnosed severe pain (with one doctor telling her it was all in her imagination) and then half her diaphragm stopped working. Before that she suddenly collapsed like a stiff log falling to the side and caught her face on the back of a dining room chair on the way down. Before that and besides the pain from the undiscovered tumor she began COPD. And before any of those she spent years every morning coughing so hard that each morning began with the dry heaves from irritation. Yet, when a diagnostic test left her unable to do the double inhale of smoking she would go to my sister’s room and try to wave my sister’s side stream smoke into her nose. (Oh, and besides her setting the stage for my sister to begin smoking as a preteen, I wound up with asthma from their smoke.)
AndrewSihler almost 5 years ago
I think Mrs Olsen is living proof that you never really recover from a heavy smoking habit. Or it takes a loooong time.
Great illustration of a coughing fit.
Old Girl almost 5 years ago
Please, before you add to this site, look up the distinctions among influenza (flu), upper-respiratory infection (colds), food poisoning, lung cancer, etc.
If this short list of comments is typical of the medical “knowledge” of our world population including Jef Mallett’s, there is little doubt in my mind as to why the money we spend on health care does so little good.
If you’ve never spent at least three days in bed with aches, fever and a general weakness, you never have had the flu that relates to the shots in question. Know the difference between a virus and bacteria. There are lots of each and they do mutate. One reason older people get so few colds is that you never get the same infection twice and are eventually immune to the ones around. Kids have to go through a slew of them to reach that level of immunity. That’s their way of getting “cold shots”.
rozthebabysitter almost 5 years ago
Former smoker + any virus = misery.
garysmigs almost 5 years ago
The closest I have been to death was in my Navy years early 70’s when the flu shots were mandatory. I will never ever ever ever have another one!
kozmikgal almost 5 years ago
I know a guy who got a flu shot and, the next day, he was run over by a truck and killed. Never get a flu shot! (Makes as much sense as some of the above statements.)
Stormcloud Silverlining Snowpaws almost 5 years ago
If you come down with flu after getting the shot, that means you were already exposed. So get your flu shot. Flu can kill you,
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 5 years ago
Blog PostsFrazz15 hrs ·
Some people — an awful lot of people — seem to live their lives as a walking, breathing public service announcement, a teachable moment, a dire warning. And so many other people opt not to heed, or even acknowledge their warnings. I wonder if that hurts the first group’s feelings or gives them a little sense of relief. If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, maybe it didn’t make a noise. Maybe it can convince itself it didn’t fall at all.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 5 years ago
True that.
Da'Dad almost 5 years ago
Flu shots are a multi-billion dollar industry. If you look past all the ads for the shots you can find some simple truths. Because it takes months and months to produce, vaccines are based on “projections” of what will be the problem flu next year. We would call them guesses, because they usually are wrong. Two type A guesses, and one type B. Even the CDC, the biggest flu shot proponent, admits only 50% success at their guesses hitting the target. Historically, it is much closer to one in six. They try to claim even the wrong guess will lessen the flu’s impact, but it is only by a laughable 10%. There are natural ways to fight the flu, but there’s no money in them. They are essentially everything your mother told you to do. Eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, getting outdoor exercise, getting enough sleep.
finzleftright almost 5 years ago
That made a LOT more sense than the comment you were replying to,
Jhony-Yermo over 1 year ago
Screaming funny cartooning. Thx Jef