[Andyb]

Originally Posted by billethkid

We will be getting our annual flu shot next week.

It has been over a year since our last covid shot....there is a 2024 update available....I don't see or hear much about pros or cons to getting this update.

We are in our 80's.....have had no reactions (other than prevention) to previous covid shots.

Opinions?

Do the research before deciding.

[DrHitch]

The reward for getting an annual Covid booster vaccine for outweighs any risk. That said, if you're nervous, get a flu shot a week apart from Covid vaccination.

[Chitown]

I get my annual flu shot but am done with Covid vaccine. I had my original 2 vaccines and a booster and still had Covid 3 times since 2020. The first time in 2020 it was like having a cold for 4 days the other 2 in 2021 and 2023 I had no symptoms at all yet the test said positive.

[ndf888]

Originally Posted by billethkid

We will be getting our annual flu shot next week.

It has been over a year since our last covid shot....there is a 2024 update available....I don't see or hear much about pros or cons to getting this update.

We are in our 80's.....have had no reactions (other than prevention) to previous covid shots.

Opinions?

We just had our Pfiser COVID shots from CVS. My arm was sore and I felt fatigued for a day. Last year, we had the Novavax, which is protein based, and I had no side effects at all.

For me, the risk of getting COVID and getting hospitalized (or getting long COVID) outweighs the minuscule potential risks of vaccination. I believe that this technology is one the most stunning achievements in human history. These vaccines have been tested for safety and efficacy more than any other vaccines OR drugs. Sadly, over 230,000 American people died of Covid between June of 2021 and April of 2022 because they chose not to get vaccinated. 4 times more than the number of Americans who died in Vietnam war.

The current variants are less deadly but can still hit you like a ton of brick especially as you get older and your immune system gets weaker. Aside from age, recent COVID infection, and comorbidities, the severity of your illness would also depends on how many virus particles you get exposed to. The doze makes the poison so to speak. I choose not to play a Russian roulette with my health and get my shots.

Planning to get my flu shot in October to make it last through the holiday season.

[RoseyRed]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Unfortunately many people are out and about playing Thypoid Mary

[Pennyt]

Got the new covid shot with no side effects. Both adult kids just got covid and it wasn't pleasant for them. One ran high fever and very sick for over a week. Both still tire easily. Both had covid in past and said this new strain is worse

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

This is not to be construed as medical advice specific to any one individual:

If you are over 65, strongly consider the current booster
If you have any co-morbidities (diabetes, heart disease, obesity, COPD, etc.) consider it strongly as well
If you are going to care for or be in close proximity to any immunocompromised individuals, definitely get it.

I got both the flu shot and COVID booster yesterday, in my case COVID was because I will be overseas traveling for the next month to a relatively remote part of the world. I passed on the previous COVID booster as did most of my colleagues. They are considering this one strongly.

Serious questions here.

I'm 76 with several comorbidities: coronary artery disease, asthma, cancer diagnosis that thankfully went no farther than removal of one small tumor and nothing since. My wife is 72 and healthy as a horse. We're active people: a lot of tennis, golf, walking, etc. We keep our weight down, keep in shape, and most of all keep a positive attitude.

From day one, neither of us wore masks unless mandated to do so. We made it a point to associate with people who didn't wear masks. We both had COVID early on: I got it in 2020 (didn't know it until after it was over and a blood test during my physical confirmed that I had it previously)--not fun but I've had worse cases of the flu. My wife had it a couple of months later--barely sick at all and didn't even think she had had it until, like me, a blood test confirmed it after-the-fact.

I had the shot (one) in early 2021, not because I thought I needed it but I have family up north in a state where any edict from the loonytunes who run the joint is possible and as I travel there relatively frequently I thought it best to have proof that I did have the shot. My wife has never had the shot.

Neither of us have had so much as a sniffle these past two years - plus.

I know quite a few folks who have had it (only one that has died, but that was because of a heart attack while he was in the hospital well on his way to recovering from COVID). An odd thing...seems as if the folks I know who feared it the most, many after the vaccine and booster, ended up the sickest when they DID catch it.

The questions :

1. What part does fear play in the course of a disease in an individual; and

2. Did the FEAR of COVID, as peddled by the powers-that-be, have a positive, neutral, or negative effect on the course of the pandemic overall?

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Serious questions here.

I'm 76 with several comorbidities: coronary artery disease, asthma, cancer diagnosis that thankfully went no farther than removal of one small tumor and nothing since. My wife is 72 and healthy as a horse. We're active people: a lot of tennis, golf, walking, etc. We keep our weight down, keep in shape, and most of all keep a positive attitude.

From day one, neither of us wore masks unless mandated to do so. We made it a point to associate with people who didn't wear masks. We both had COVID early on: I got it in 2020 (didn't know it until after it was over and a blood test during my physical confirmed that I had it previously)--not fun but I've had worse cases of the flu. My wife had it a couple of months later--barely sick at all and didn't even think she had had it until, like me, a blood test confirmed it after-the-fact.

I had the shot (one) in early 2021, not because I thought I needed it but I have family up north in a state where any edict from the loonytunes who run the joint is possible and as I travel there relatively frequently I thought it best to have proof that I did have the shot. My wife has never had the shot.

Neither of us have had so much as a sniffle these past two years - plus.

I know quite a few folks who have had it (only one that has died, but that was because of a heart attack while he was in the hospital well on his way to recovering from COVID). An odd thing...seems as if the folks I know who feared it the most, many after the vaccine and booster, ended up the sickest when they DID catch it.

The questions :

1. What part does fear play in the course of a disease in an individual; and

2. Did the FEAR of COVID, as peddled by the powers-that-be, have a positive, neutral, or negative effect on the course of the pandemic overall?

Both interesting questions, but unfortunately it is an intangible postulate. Since we cannot quantify "fear", it is impossible to do a study to determine its effect either on individual illness or on a population.

Now, if you want something anecdotal, just look at the idiocy that fear of a vaccine produced in some previous posts on this thread.

[oldtimes]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Serious questions here.

I'm 76 with several comorbidities: coronary artery disease, asthma, cancer diagnosis that thankfully went no farther than removal of one small tumor and nothing since. My wife is 72 and healthy as a horse. We're active people: a lot of tennis, golf, walking, etc. We keep our weight down, keep in shape, and most of all keep a positive attitude.

From day one, neither of us wore masks unless mandated to do so. We made it a point to associate with people who didn't wear masks. We both had COVID early on: I got it in 2020 (didn't know it until after it was over and a blood test during my physical confirmed that I had it previously)--not fun but I've had worse cases of the flu. My wife had it a couple of months later--barely sick at all and didn't even think she had had it until, like me, a blood test confirmed it after-the-fact.

I had the shot (one) in early 2021, not because I thought I needed it but I have family up north in a state where any edict from the loonytunes who run the joint is possible and as I travel there relatively frequently I thought it best to have proof that I did have the shot. My wife has never had the shot.

Neither of us have had so much as a sniffle these past two years - plus.

I know quite a few folks who have had it (only one that has died, but that was because of a heart attack while he was in the hospital well on his way to recovering from COVID). An odd thing...seems as if the folks I know who feared it the most, many after the vaccine and booster, ended up the sickest when they DID catch it.

The questions :

1. What part does fear play in the course of a disease in an individual; and

2. Did the FEAR of COVID, as peddled by the powers-that-be, have a positive, neutral, or negative effect on the course of the pandemic overall?

My spouse and I had the original J&J shot but nothing since. Spouse had Covid once, thought it was Strep. I have not to my knowledge had it. All of the people I know who did not get the shots have not been sick and all of the people I know that did have all their boosters have had Covid multiple times and some were pretty sick. This is not scientific by any means but is good enough for me. I have trust issues.