Thinking of skipping your flu shot? Here’s why you should reconsider.

 

Four recent CDC studies highlight the necessity of getting this year’s vaccine.

...

Influenza can lead to severe complications.

As in past seasons, the most common complication among hospitalized patients with influenza was pneumonia, affecting approximately 30 percent of cases. More than 18 percent of patients developed the life-threatening, body-wide infection known as sepsis, and about the same amount ended up with acute kidney failure. Six percent required mechanical ventilation, and 3 percent died in the hospital.

 

Flu is most dangerous for people with underlying conditions.

As in prior years, most hospitalized patients last season (89 percent) had one or more medical conditions that made them more vulnerable to severe illness. Among children, asthma was the most common underlying issue. Among older adults, cardiovascular issues and metabolic diseases such as diabetes predominated. Age itself is another major risk factor. The highest hospitalization rates were among adults 75 and older. Influenza-related deaths among children were most frequent in infants younger than 6 months.

 

However, healthy people can also become very sick from the flu.

Severe influenza isn’t limited to those with preexisting conditions. A significant portion of people hospitalized for flu complications were previously healthy. This pattern is especially pronounced in children: Roughly half of pediatric flu deaths occurred in children with no known underlying medical conditions. Likewise, about half of those who developed IAE had no prior health issues."

 

Vaccination reduces severe illness.

Two-thirds of hospitalized patients last season were not vaccinated against influenza. Among children who died, 89 percent were not fully vaccinated. The flu shot is far from perfect; you can still become sick after getting it. But it does reduces your risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death. [emphasis added]

 

(more)

 

Washington Post

https://archive.ph/Hehoc

 

At 48 ill take my chances. Pass.

5 minutes ago, blaze master said:

At 48 ill take my chances. Pass.

 

My answer to that is the following:

 

Quote

 

However, healthy people can also become very sick from the flu.

Severe influenza isn’t limited to those with preexisting conditions. A significant portion of people hospitalized for flu complications were previously healthy."

 

 

5 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

My answer to that is the following:

 

 

 

Thats great and all but.... pass. You go ahead if you feel the need to take it. 

6 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Thats great and all but.... pass. You go ahead if you feel the need to take it. 

 

I did already.... On the plus side of 65, so it's especially important for me...

 

But overall, the medical research and recommendations are compelling...  And I'm not an anti-vaxer, so I believe in evaluating the credible research and recommendations on the topic, and then following the best course to protect my health.

 

The CDC should hang its head in shame. Never read such codswallop.

 

The body is constantly eliminating stuff it don't want. And, we are usually not even aware that this rejuvenation process is going on. 

 

We, as humans, are a complex mix of bio-chemical. bio-electrical, bio-water, emotion, vibrations etc. In a nut-shell we are what we eat, drink, breathe, and experience, both in the present, and that of the past.

 

All our essential minerals are found in nature. These minerals, in the form of bio-minerals work with each other to keep us, not only in the best of health, in terms of replacing dead cells and decaying tissue, but to eliminate entities that we accumulate, quite naturally, through the course of living.

 

A well-nourished body will take life's nasties in its stride. However! A body that is lacking, will store up the undesirables, until it decides 'enough is enough' and elimination begins. This elimination is what we call the flu.

 

Hope Kennedy get's to grips with the $$$$$ compromised CDC.

47 minutes ago, blaze master said:

At 48 ill take my chances. Pass.

At 70 I'll take my chances, pass.

All the anti-vaxers are in bloom...

 

 

--AI assisted

 

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

All the anti-vaxers are in bloom...

 

 

--AI assisted

 

Utter nonsense! CDC again I see. Hope Kennedy can sweep this shower of quacks onto the dole queue.

 

..Common sense assisted.

Of course, with the flu, you also have to consider the increased risk of dementia!

 

 

--AI assisted

 

Influenza and dementia

New evidence suggests that vaccination against viral illnesses can protect against neurodegenerative diseases.

 

"Influenza (also called flu) is a very contagious viral infection of the airways. It affects people of all ages but is especially serious for older people as well as young children and babies, pregnant women, and people with underlying medical conditions such as dementia. Influenza can require hospitalisation and can even cause death.

Influenza and future brain health

A large population-based study published in January this year found that avoiding severe flu in middle-age may protect future brain health. In the study, people who had been hospitalized for flu, with or without pneumonia, were two- to sevenfold more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, all-cause dementia, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s dementia or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease."

 

https://forwardwithdementia.au/news/influenza-and-dementia/

 

 

37 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

At 70 I'll take my chances, pass.

At 68, I'll take my chances, pass. 

Just like I did in the previous 67 years of my life...

Life is full of choices, I get  flu shot every year, sometimes twice - can’t actually prove it works or not, just I can’t remember last time I had the flu - over 15 years at leasrt, when I didn’t get the ‘regional shot’ - I applaud those who don’t need it, shows their immune system is strong, me? I won’t take any chances, I am over 75, and want to live another 25 years or so.    Just got both the Covid booster (number 7) and flu shot in same day.    Cheers

8 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I did already.... On the plus side of 65, so it's especially important for me...

 

But overall, the medical research and recommendations are compelling...  And I'm not an anti-vaxer, so I believe in evaluating the credible research and recommendations on the topic, and then following the best course to protect my health.

 

 

There yiu go with the anti vaxxer assumptions.

 

 

7 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

There yiu go with the anti vaxxer assumptions.

 

 

Prove me wrong.

 

This subforum is almost daily awash with the most absurd, non-credible, debunked claims and false content from a wide range of disreputable anti-vax sources, including anonymous internet bloggers who have trafficked in misinformation, anti-vax doctors who've had their medical licenses or board certifications revoked for spreading anti-vax and COVID misinformation, and just plain quacks who've earned ratings as pseudoscience and conspiracy theory spreaders.

 

I don't need to be making any assumptions. The facts speak for themselves.

 

 

7 hours ago, Explorator en Actione said:

Life is full of choices, I get  flu shot every year, sometimes twice - can’t actually prove it works or not, just I can’t remember last time I had the flu - over 15 years at leasrt, when I didn’t get the ‘regional shot’ - I applaud those who don’t need it, shows their immune system is strong, me? I won’t take any chances, I am over 75, and want to live another 25 years or so.    Just got both the Covid booster (number 7) and flu shot in same day.    Cheers

Same as me

4 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Prove me wrong.

 

This subforum is almost daily awash with the most absurd, non-credible, debunked claims and false content from a wide range of disreputable anti-vax sources, including anonymous internet bloggers who have trafficked in misinformation, anti-vax doctors who've had their medical licenses or board certifications revoked for spreading anti-vax and COVID misinformation, and just plain quacks who've earned ratings as pseudoscience and conspiracy theory spreaders.

 

I don't need to be making any assumptions. The facts speak for themselves.

 

 

 

You said anti vaxxer in a response to my comment. Which is making an insulation that I am one of those. 

 

I simply said at 48 ill pass on taking a flu shot which I feel i dont need. 

 

Credible sources is a debate in itself. But you have made up your mind no matter what anyone replies. The whole situation is far more complex than you make.it.out to be. 

 

Humans are fallible. Even when it comes to science. 

I never had the flue shot, but had the necessary covid shots for traveling in and out of Thailand 2022, and that’s when I got my first covid and only covid so far I know. Never taken flu shot, and last time I had severe flu, was in 2016. Still fit so I will not take any other shots before it is recommended. 

 

Im not sure Norway have different recommendations than rest of the western world, but my mom never had a flu shot, and only one covid shot, and as far we know she did not had any covid either. And not been sick with flu as long I can remember. 

16 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I never had the flue shot, but had the necessary covid shots for traveling in and out of Thailand 2022, and that’s when I got my first covid and only covid so far I know. Never taken flu shot, and last time I had severe flu, was in 2016. Still fit so I will not take any other shots before it is recommended. 

 

Im not sure Norway have different recommendations than rest of the western world, but my mom never had a flu shot, and only one covid shot, and as far we know she did not had any covid either. And not been sick with flu as long I can remember. 

 

Well, you should consider yourself lucky... Not everyone catches or dies from the flu, obviously, but many do, and your odds increase by being unvaccinated.

 

In this world, people do get to decide whether they want to play Russian roulette with their health every year...

Influenza (seasonal)

28 February 2025

 

Key facts

• There are around a billion cases of seasonal influenza annually, including 3–5 million cases of severe illness.
• It causes 290 000 to 650 000 respiratory deaths annually."

 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)

 

Already done and open to any new vaccines they come up with.

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Well, you should consider yourself lucky... Not everyone catches or dies from the flu, obviously, but many do, and your odds increase by being unvaccinated.

 

In this world, people do get to decide whether they want to play Russian roulette with their health every year...

Influenza (seasonal)

28 February 2025

 

Key facts

• There are around a billion cases of seasonal influenza annually, including 3–5 million cases of severe illness.
• It causes 290 000 to 650 000 respiratory deaths annually."

 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)

 

 

Norwegian health authorities do not reckon me as in the group who should take it. 

 

The following people are at increased risk of serious illness and death from influenza, and are therefore recommended to get the influenza vaccine: Residents in care homes and nursing homes Everyone over the age of 65 Pregnant women after the 12th week of pregnancy (2nd and 3rd trimester). Pregnant women in the first trimester with other additional risks should also be offered the flu vaccine Prematurely born children, especially children born before week 32 of pregnancy, from 6 months (chronological age) to 5 years Children and adults with: chronic lung disease with impaired lung function, and asthma chronic cardiovascular disease, with the exception of well-controlled high blood pressure diabetes chronic severe liver disease chronic severe kidney disease chronic severe neurological disease, especially people with impaired functional level, lung capacity and/or cough power, for example in multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease or ALS impaired immune system due to disease and/or immunosuppressive treatment, for example in organ transplantation, cancer, autoimmune diseases obesity with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m2 or higher other serious and/or chronic disease where influenza poses a serious health risk, after individual assessment by a doctor, such as people with congenital chromosomal abnormalities (for example Down syndrome) and genetic syndromes.

 

 

Thailand seems to be following the WHO's model for what groups are recommended to receive influenza vaccinations:

 

"Presently, Thailand recommends seasonal influenza vaccine for all groups recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, which includes pregnant women, older adults (65 years and older), people with comorbidities, and health workers, plus additional groups in Thailand like poultry cullers, young children, people with mental disabilities, and people living or working in prisons."  [emphasis added]

 

Also:

 

"In 2023, with supportive evidence from surveillance data and epidemiologic cohort studies, Thailand ACIP expanded the influenza vaccine recommendation for young children from 35 months to 60 months. Modeling studies from a prospective cohort of children during 2013 and 2014 showed that vaccinating children against influenza was cost effective, and that expanding vaccine recommendation among children up to age 5 years with coverage of 50% could prevent 121,000 medical visits annually in this age group.^72,73 The same study found that hospitalization for an influenza-associated acute respiratory illness could cost 28–42% of a family's median monthly household income."

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lansea/article/PIIS2772-3682(25)00134-9/fulltext

 

 

The CDC in the U.S. has a broader recommendation influenza vaccines:

 

Aug. 28, 2025

 

"Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications."  [emphasis added]

 

But the CDC also has subgroups within that near universal recommendation that it considers high-priority targets for vaccination due to higher risks of serious illness that generally match the WHO's policy,  including: young children, anyone 65 years and older, pregnant people, people with chronic health conditions, etc etc.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/hcp/acip/index.html

 

Regarding young and middle aged adults:

 

 

--AI assisted

 

 

Younger and especially middle aged adults are not exempt from serious flu outcomes including death:

 

Number of deaths due to influenza during the 2023-2024 flu season in the United States, by age group

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1127698/influenza-us-deaths-by-age-group/

 

Pattaya Memorial have a good offer at the moment - 650 baht all in.  No appointment required.  I got mine and my son's last week and we were in and out in 30 minutes.