Flu shot - Its that time of year again (Northern Hemisphere)

[Jim Allen]

Just as a reminder, it's that time of year again.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2023-2024.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/summary/summary-recommendations.htm

HIV & Flu:
https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/other-related-health-issues/flu-and-people-with-hiv/

Previous year's flu threads:

The 2022 flu thread: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=76498.msg
The 2021 flu thread: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=75644.msg
The 2020 flu thread: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=74732.msg
The 2019-20 flu thread: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=73108.msg
The 2019 flu thread: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=70623.0
The 2017 flu thread: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=67382.msg
The 2016 flu thread: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=64072.msg
The 2015 flu thread: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=60394.0

[Jim Allen]

Getting my flu jab on the 25th of Sept.

[leatherman]

don't forget that pesky new Covid booster vaccine too.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0912-COVID-19-Vaccine.html

As it's getting closer to Fall, start thinking about wearing masks again in the right situations.

[kentfrat1783]

I'm waiting till around mid-October to get my flu & COVID booster. Usually they do a flu shot clinic at work so easiest to get it their.  Just not sure where I'll get the COVID shot as I haven't heard about it much yet. 

[J.R.E.]

I received my second Shingles shot today.  While at the clinic, I asked if I could get he Flu shot at the same today.  Short answer no, but I could get it in about 3 weeks.

The flu shot can be given at he same time as the latest Covid vaccine, so I will probably get those both in a month or so.

The flu shot could not be  given at the same time as the shingles vaccine, because if one had a bad reaction, it would be difficult to know which vaccine caused the reaction. At least that was how it was explained to me today.

Meanwhile, Florida ranks highest in the country right now, for hospitalizations due to covid, and people are urged to not use emergency rooms unless absolutely necessary,


Ray

[J.R.E.]

PS I had no reaction to the first shingles vaccine.

Ray

[leatherman]

Short answer no, but I could get it in about 3 weeks.

The flu vaccine takes about 2 weeks to reach effectiveness and lasts for about 6 months. That's why it's often not suggested until late Sept or early Oct so that it will cover the months most people are more likely to be exposed to the flu.

[numbersguy82]

The flu vaccine takes about 2 weeks to reach effectiveness and lasts for about 6 months. That's why it's often not suggested until late Sept or early Oct so that it will cover the months most people are more likely to be exposed to the flu.

Hmmmmm I had no idea about this!?!?!?

[leatherman]

[Loa111]

Ah Yes, flu shot time again, thanks for the reminder.

I'm back for the 4 monthly visit to the Vampires mid-October, so I will more than likely be given it then.

[zach]

I'll be at the clinic on the 4th anyway

Can we get a COVID/flu cocktail? Will they give both at the same time?

[Jim Allen]

I'll be at the clinic on the 4th anyway

Can we get a COVID/flu cocktail? Will they give both at the same time?

I know we are being offered the flu shot when we get our covid booster, but I am not sure if that's the case in the US.

[leatherman]

Can flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines be coadministered?
Yes, flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same visit if you are due for both vaccines.

Is it safe to get a flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time?
Studies conducted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic indicate that it is safe to get both a flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same visit. A CDC study published  this summer showed people who got a flu vaccine and an mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine at the same time were slightly more likely (8% to 11%) to have reactions including fatigue, headache, and muscle ache than people who only got a COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccine, but these reactions were mostly mild and went away quickly. The findings of this study are consistent with safety data from clinical trials that did not find any safety concerns with giving both vaccines at the same time.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/coadministration.htm

[joemutt]

My doctor says flu shot is too early but covid booster now. I got the latter yesterday and will get flu shot next month.
We get both for free, without a script or invitation, and administrated at a pharmacy this year for the first time.
Shingles shot I couldn't afford at 170 euro x 2.

[Charles.M]

Went to Id doctor 9/22 she reccomended I get the flu shot and part 1 of the Hep A/B vaccine. I got them and asked about Shingrix, she wants to wait abit till my CD4 are higher. Also asked about Covid booster and she told me to wait till after round 2 of Hep A/B.

[Jim Allen]

Well goty flu shot today. Still no 5g network 😂

No drama and next up is a covid booster.

[Loa111]

Well goty flu shot today.

How do you feel after your flu shot today Jim?

I always feel a bit tired & achy after mine, maybe not a bad thing, as it forces me to have a restful Netflix evening each year lol

Looks like in Ireland the Covid booster shot will be a separate journey.

[Jim Allen]

How do you feel after your flu shot today Jim?

I always feel a bit tired & achy after mine, maybe not a bad thing, as it forces me to have a restful Netflix evening each year lol

Looks like in Ireland the Covid booster shot will be a separate journey.

I felt fine thanks. A little bit tired the day afterwards but that was it, so happy days.

[numbersguy82]

Well goty flu shot today. Still no 5g network 😂.

Oh man that means your videos will still buffer 

[leatherman]

Finally got Larry and me scheduled up for flu and covid vax tomorrow. All the pharmacies in our area have been out for several days. Please try back tomorrow. ugh. But finally, after an exhausting entry of insurance numbers and consent forms, etc for two people, I got us scheduled.

We have to drive to the next town over, but that'll let us pass all our favorites restaurants on our way back home. I had to nix the Mexican. That ALWAYS comes with a pitcher of margaritas and I'm thinking getting buzzed on tequila right after the vaccinations probably isn't the best thing. LOL If we hit the Chinese buffet back in town, we might be feeling crappy from the shots; so BBQ it is, and I ain't unhappy with that! I Loooooovee me some good shredded pork BBQ with cole slaw and baked beans.

Two of Larry's co-workers have their vaxes scheduled just before us. And, sadly, only about 24 out of 160 people that work at the local Lowes Home Improvement here in rural SC will get vaccinated. (4 or 5 people from the store have already had covid in the last 2 months!!!) Between the MAGA folk and, quite simply, the under-educated people in my state, I'm amazed they haven't all died off from Covid, the flu, STIs, and their own stupidity

[leatherman]

well, I sure sounded happy about the flu/covid shots and BBQ yesterday but, ugh, only the BBQ turned out good. I'd like to blame the way I'm feeling on the margaritas - but that's right, we didn't drink anything yesterday like good patients.

Went to bed feeling fine, until I work up 4 hrs later and couldn't go back to sleep. Plus my arm where the shots were given hurts like hell and every joint aches. However, we did wait until a Friday to get these vaccines "just in case" and it looks like my precautions paid off.

Ugh. Is this what normal 61year olds feel like this all the time?!?! Thanks anyway but I'll stick with my regular 61yr old I'm-gonna-live-forever-because-AIDS-didn't-kill-me attitude and body  ....as soon as I recover from these shots. And by recover, I mean drag my kindle and a cooler of beer to the backyard to inaugurate the firepit I built this summer.

[numbersguy82]

Ugh. Is this what normal 61year olds feel like this all the time?!?! Thanks anyway but I'll stick with my regular 61yr old I'm-gonna-live-forever-because-AIDS-didn't-kill-me attitude and body  ....as soon as I recover from these shots. And by recover, I mean drag my kindle and a cooler of beer to the backyard to inaugurate the firepit I built this summer.

Kindle and beer sounds like the perfect Saturday to me… now if only you had that pitcher of margaritas (so disappointed in you) 🤣

[leatherman]

I checked the frig. I'm drinking Twisted Teas (there's only one orange bud lite left) and Larry is going to finish off the bottle of margaritas we made up a few weekends ago. While I'm reading, he'll be watching football. LOL

[numbersguy82]

I checked the frig. I'm drinking Twisted Teas (there's only one orange bud lite left) and Larry is going to finish off the bottle of margaritas we made up a few weekends ago. While I'm reading, he'll be watching football. LOL

Is he watching the UF/Vanderbilt game at 4pm??? That’s going to be a good game #chompchomp #gogators

[leatherman]

Is he watching the UF/Vanderbilt game at 4pm??? That’s going to be a good game #chompchomp #gogators

sorry. All I'm reading is "blah, blah, blah and some other words. ROFLMAO

The only things I know about football are:
1) WHITE PANTS are the best for those nice asses
2) Larry and friends like all the ORANGE TEAMS
......for 1 pt extra credit I also know that most times those orange teams WIN
......for 1 pt extra credit I also know that CLEMSON is in my state
3) ANNOUNCERS sound like they're reading from a smutty MM romance book
.....in the hole, wide receivers, tight ends (mmm those white pants), etc. I usually have earbuds in listening to music while Larry is on the other sofa watching football. In that few seconds silent gap between songs, I hear stuff sometimes. Can't those straight announcers hear themselves? Hasn't anyone ever told them? O-o-o-o-r is there simply a lot of unresolved testosterone tension and enough subliminal homoeroticism that straight men don't get it but it still appeals to/arouses them? 

btw, these shots are kicking our asses. we both thought we were feverish for a while with symptoms but Larry was 98.6 normal and I was my usual degree cooler at 97.7. Still achey. and while I've felt better off and on today, Larry has not improved - but he hasn't gotten worse, so there's that. We're going to bed early, early tonight....and waking up rested and feeling better in the AM.

[numbersguy82]

Amen about the white pants 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Orange is ok, so long as it isn’t TN Vols orange!

Btw your commentary on all of this had me howling with laughter! You should absolutely be a commentator for a fresh football perspective!

I hope you guys wake up this morning feeling wonderful and enjoy your Sunday!

[leatherman]

I hope you guys wake up this morning feeling wonderful and enjoy your Sunday!

OMG! It was only 6am on a sunday and the whole house (us and 2 dogs) was already up.....that's was 2 hrs earlier than normal but we were all feeling really good. A shower after breakfast washed away the last of my achiness and we were back to normal.
 

You should absolutely be a commentator for a fresh football perspective!

i would just dub in the soundtrack off something from pornhub


Oh, and don't let our bad experience with the vaccinations put anyone off from getting them in the very near future. Several of our friends had shots just before us in line and we were the only ones who had any side effects besides a sore arm. Feeling crappy for a day wasn't all that fun and was a pain in the butt; but I'd rather deal with one day of being tired than hospitalization of dying from the flu or covid in the next 4 months.

[numbersguy82]

A shower after breakfast washed away the last of my achiness and we were back to normal.

Yea sure… you are many things, but def not normal 🤣

[leatherman]

you are many things, but def not normal 🤣

damn right, brat. 

Larry and I did realize this evening, as I had his wrists pinned against the wall over his head  , that our arms still had a little ache left at the injection sites but all the other vaccination side effects are completely gone. Yes, everything is back to our normal here

[Jim Allen]

Tomorrow, I'll be getting my COVID-19 autumn booster. Not expecting any issues but had to go to a different pharmacy for the COVID shot as my regular pharmacy was only doing flu shots.

[numbersguy82]

Tomorrow, I'll be getting my COVID-19 autumn booster. Not expecting any issues but had to go to a different pharmacy for the COVID shot as my regular pharmacy was only doing flu shots.

Also didn’t your other pharmacy figure you out???

[Jim Allen]

Also didn’t your other pharmacy figure you out???

Yeah, they did. I was asked about my viral load when picking up an unrelated prescription, so I said it was in the millions, and they immediately had that "oh shit" shock horror look on their faces as I paid in cash... 

It's a side effect of the U=U nonsense; it just hides the uneducated and bigots a little better, so I have decided that whenever I get asked from now on, I will say it's in the millions to see how people react.

[leatherman]

so I have decided that whenever I get asked from now on, I will say it's in the millions to see how people react.

OMG! I'm soooo in <3 with U! That's so f-ing funny! ROFLMAO

VL in the millions? Yeah, I would have made you pay cash too. No credit for you. LOL

I remember back in the bad ol' days, having that kind of VL and deadly sick and using dark humor to screw with doctors/nurses all the time. People are just so serious when you're dying. LOL

I haven't done anything like that in ages though and now wish I could go back in time to the pharmacy where we got shots the other week. The nurse was really nice as we chatted and laughed. She would have gotten a kick out of me answering that way and then saying just kidding. 

[Jim Allen]

Just got called asking if they could move my appointment to Sunday due to unforeseen circumstances ... My brain wants to overthink this but I've told myself to get a grip as this happens to everyone from time to time in life.

OMG! I'm soooo in <3 with U! That's so f-ing funny! ROFLMAO

VL in the millions? Yeah, I would have made you pay cash too. No credit for you. LOL

I remember back in the bad ol' days, having that kind of VL and deadly sick and using dark humor to screw with doctors/nurses all the time. People are just so serious when you're dying. LOL

I haven't done anything like that in ages though and now wish I could go back in time to the pharmacy where we got shots the other week. The nurse was really nice as we chatted and laughed. She would have gotten a kick out of me answering that way and then saying just kidding. 

 

Well, I do have a dark sense of humour, not everyone likes it, and that's okay, I have to laugh at problems in life. I mean I also am known for coughing deeply and then apologizing, to whoever is standing too close to me by saying "Don't worry, it's just AIDS" and then watching them back away at warp speed. It's great if you want more room in a crowded space.

With U=U, some activists think it's going to resolve everything  while others, including healthcare workers, only digest part of the message, resulting in them still thinking silly shit like sitting on a toilet seat is an HIV risk, so no change there but in addition they now think this is only a risk if your not U=U  Or they think they should know your VL when its none of their business and the simply don't need to know.

[Jim Allen]

Anyhow, back on topic. I had the flu shot and now the COVID-19 shot will be on Sunday instead of Friday.

[Jim Allen]

So that's the covid shot done. Still no 5g network ☹️