OH goody...Germs heading here from the North

[graciegirl]

Sweetie has had a HEAVY cold for a week and this morning it was bad enough for him to cancel golf. (Which scares the heck outa me) He has a fever and it could be the flu I guess. Anyone else getting sick with this? I want to blame someone so I thought I would say it might be caused by the.... umm....... annual migration.


Dr. Mom says a fever at the end of a nasty cold may be a secondary infection so I sent him to a real doctor.

[Jima64]

Time to get the flu shots. Most VA centers are givng them free for vets.

[golfing eagles]

Sweetie has had a HEAVY cold for a week and this morning it was bad enough for him to cancel golf. (Which scares the heck outa me) He has a fever and it could be the flu I guess. Anyone else getting sick with this? I want to blame someone so I thought I would say it might be caused by the.... umm....... annual migration.


Dr. Mom says a fever at the end of a nasty cold may be a secondary infection so I sent him to a real doctor.

I hope both of you got your flu shots, as well as having pneumonia vaccines up to date

[cmj1210]

I hope both of you got your flu shots, as well as having pneumonia vaccines up to date


Agreed. They take 4-6 weeks to be effective. The earlier in the season you get them the better off you will be.

[Callaway Guy]

They're baaaaaaaaaack!

[bonrich]

Not yet......

[njbchbum]

Ya mean Sweetie might have 'snow'bird flu?

Hope he feels better soon and that you and Helene do not come down with it!

[raynan]

I was at my Dr. Monday and she said they've already seen flu cases here in The Villages.
Many people on my street have had really severe sinus infections that started with allergies and have been hard to shake. 3 weeks with antibiotics to clear these infections up.

[Mleeja]

Sweetie has had a HEAVY cold for a week and this morning it was bad enough for him to cancel golf. (Which scares the heck outa me) He has a fever and it could be the flu I guess. Anyone else getting sick with this? I want to blame someone so I thought I would say it might be caused by the.... umm....... annual migration.


Dr. Mom says a fever at the end of a nasty cold may be a secondary infection so I sent him to a real doctor.


Just returned from a visit to Indiana. I brought back a cold and sinus infection.... But it was a nice visit!

[CFrance]

Agreed. They take 4-6 weeks to be effective. The earlier in the season you get them the better off you will be.
I thought that too. But the pharmacist at Walgreens in Pinellas told us two weeks. Maybe it's somewhere in between those two times?

[golfing eagles]

I thought that too. But the pharmacist at Walgreens in Pinellas told us two weeks. Maybe it's somewhere in between those two times?

About 14 days to START building immunity, 4 weeks or so for full immunity. The unanswered question every year is---did the CDC get it right and how effective will this year's shot be? But no matter how that turns out--ALWAYS get your flu shot, even when you hear something negative on TV or the net.

[Barefoot]

I hope both of you got your flu shots, as well as having pneumonia vaccines up to date
Should everyone get a vaccination for pneumonia? I've only ever had flu and shingles shots.

[golfing eagles]

Should everyone get a vaccination for pneumonia? I've only ever had flu and shingles shots.

Prevnar is recommended as posted in post #15. Some insurers will not cover it , but that is changing, so check with your insurance co. And , as usual, the vaccine is expensive. Our cost, ordering hundreds at a time is $158.76/shot. Chain pharmacies ordering tens of thousands may get a better deal from the vaccine manufacturer, but you can use our cost as a guideline----if you see a pharmacy charging $230 and above, you are getting ripped off---about $190 should be the max

[Barefoot]

Prevnar is recommended for everyone over 50. Some insurers will not cover it until you are 60, but that is changing, so check with your insurance co. And , as usual, the vaccine is expensive. Our cost, ordering hundreds at a time is $158.76/shot. Chain pharmacies ordering tens of thousands may get a better deal from the vaccine manufacturer, but you can use our cost as a guideline----if you see a pharmacy charging $230 and above, you are getting ripped off---about $190 should be the max

Thanks very much for this comprehensive information.
Our free provincial health insurance does not pay for Prevnar. Is it required yearly, like a Flu shot?
As you suggested, I will check with our private insurance company to see if they cover Prevnar.

[golfing eagles]

Thanks very much for this comprehensive information.
Our free provincial health insurance does not pay for Prevnar. Is it required yearly, like a Flu shot?
As you suggested, I will check with our private insurance company to see if they cover Prevnar.

It is generally a once in a lifetime vaccine, unless you have some very specific medical conditions

However, just when you thought it was safe to come into the water, CDC just changed their recommendations (again). So forget the age 50 bit, which was the manufacturer's guideline, here is the new CDC/ACIP schedule

For people through age 18 years, consult “Summary of Recommendations for Child/Teen Immunization” www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2010.pdf.
All people age 65 yrs or older should receive
• 1-time dose of PCV13 (if previously unvaccinated) and 1 dose of PPSV23, separated by 1 yr; if possible, give PCV13 first.
People younger than age 65 years should receive
• 1-time dose of PCV13 and 1st dose of PPSV23 if they have functional or anatomic asplenia, immunocompromising condition (see below), CSF leaks, or are a candidate for or recipient of a cochlear implant,
• 2nd dose of PPSV23 if at highest risk of serious pneumococcal infection, including those who
– Have anatomic or functional asplenia, including sickle cell disease.
– Have an immunocompromising condition, including HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, generalized malignancy, chronic renal failure, or nephrotic syndrome.
– Are receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy (including high-dose corticosteroids).
– Have received an organ or bone marrow transplant.
• PPSV23 only (not PCV13) if younger than 65 yrs and they have chronic cardiac or pulmonary disease (including asthma), chronic liver disease, alcoholism, diabetes, smoke cigarettes, or live in special environments or social settings (including American Indian/Alaska Natives age 50 through 64 yrs if recommended by local public health authorities

just so you know, PCV 13 is Prevnar, PPSV23 is pneumovax

[rubicon]

My wife and I had our initial pneumonia vaccine 7 years ago. This past August based on recommended changes we received the booster.

We both waited until this weekend to get our flu vaccine because it is our understanding that the efficacy of a flu vaccine lasts about three months only
My wife gets the higher dose flu vaccine . I tried it once three years ago and ended up that night in the hospital. The nurse told me I wasn't the first to show up for the same reason.?? Clearly more isn't always better.

[graciegirl]

My wife and I had our initial pneumonia vaccine 7 years ago. This past August based on recommended changes we received the booster.

We both waited until this weekend to get our flu vaccine because it is our understanding that the efficacy of a flu vaccine lasts about three months only
My wife gets the higher dose flu vaccine . I tried it once three years ago and ended up that night in the hospital. The nurse told me I wasn't the first to show up for the same reason.?? Clearly more isn't always better.

I don't think twice about having the high dosage. Not all flu or severe upper respiratory infections will be immunized against but it is the best shot every year...no pun intended.

We are planning to get Prevnar and we did get the first immunization against pneumonia. A one shot deal I thought.

We got the shingles shot and wonder about being re-immunized against pertussis and other childhood diseases. We don't have young grandchildren anymore (DANG) but friends do and I would always like to do what is safe for little ones.

[golfing eagles]

I don't think twice about having the high dosage. Not all flu or severe upper respiratory infections will be immunized against but it is the best shot every year...no pun intended.

We are planning to get Prevnar and we did get the first immunization against pneumonia. A one shot deal I thought.

We got the shingles shot and wonder about being re-immunized against pertussis and other childhood diseases. We don't have young grandchildren anymore (DANG) but friends do and I would always like to do what is safe for little ones.

It can't hurt to get Tdap (Adacel, the adult tetanus and pertussis vaccine). You never know when your children may get a "surprise", and you might have close contact with someone else's newborn, In addition, from a public health perspective, it helps to develop "herd immunity" among a bunch of 55+ residents living in the same community.
I feel sorry for Ruby---it is highly unusual to have any reaction other than a sore arm from any flu shot, much less one requiring hospitalization. Despite that experience, one's risk from the flu is far, far greater than the risk of the shot

[Rango]

If you think it's the flu, you should see an MD. There is a drug for the flu. The flu is serious.

[golfing eagles]

If you think it's the flu, you should see an MD. There is a drug for the flu. The flu is serious.

High fever, body aches and headaches, prostration to the point of difficulty getting out of bed are all signs it may be flu. Your doctor can do a nasal swab to test for it, and prescribe Tamiflu if appropriate. Also, everyone living in the household should be treated at the same time

[Bjeanj]

It can't hurt to get Tdap (Adacel, the adult tetanus and pertussis vaccine). You never know when your children may get a "surprise", and you might have close contact with someone else's newborn, In addition, from a public health perspective, it helps to develop "herd immunity" among a bunch of 55+ residents living in the same community.
I feel sorry for Ruby---it is highly unusual to have any reaction other than a sore arm from any flu shot, much less one requiring hospitalization. Despite that experience, one's risk from the flu is far, far greater than the risk of the shot

I ended up with Pertussis about 1-1/2 yrs ago, so had to get a booster. My nephew's girlfriend recently came down with mumps (what, her parents never had her vaccinated?) and there was scrambling in that household to verify the rest of them either had mumps when small, or the vaccine!

[golfing eagles]

I ended up with Pertussis about 1-1/2 yrs ago, so had to get a booster. My nephew's girlfriend recently came down with mumps (what, her parents never had her vaccinated?) and there was scrambling in that household to verify the rest of them either had mumps when small, or the vaccine!

Always a problem. Children didn't start to get vaccinated for the mumps, usually as a MMR vaccine, until the mid to late 60's. I never had the vaccine, but did get the disease. Many people just don't know. For the younger generation it's easier---better vaccine records, and the requirement by colleges that students have TWO MMRs prior to matriculation, ever since the early 90s

[Bjeanj]

///

[tomwed]

Ya mean Sweetie might have 'snow'bird flu?

Better than chirpies. That's not tweetable.

[murray607]

I think snowbirds can't be blamed for this one :BigApplause:

The flu usually spreads from west to east as the source generally is from Asia with the first cases on the West Coast around December then a gradual spread over the following weeks.

But then again West Coast Snowbirds could be to blame :plane:

[inthemindofanurse]

What does /// mean? Tdap is recommended where I work. Unfortunately, it is generally not covered by ins. The vx is $95.

[graciegirl]

What does /// mean? Tdap is recommended where I work. Unfortunately, it is generally not covered by ins. The vx is $95.



/// means that a person has deleted a post. It requires that you put three symbols or figures of some kind when you remove the post.


I often delete a post when I have spoken in the heat of emotion and thought my words would hurt or anger someone...and sometimes I leave my posts and they do.


We are all...............just people.