PLEASE consider getting your Flu Shot before PAX East!

Chorazin

Boston is currently exeriencing an extremely rough flu season, and the Mayor has declared a Public Health emergency. "Thousands and thousands" of people have the Flu NOW, and 18 have already died, and the flu season lasts through May. Source: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/01/09/dph-18-dead-from-flu-in-massachusetts/

So please, for your sake and everyone else's, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get your flu shot! This year's shot is extremely compatable to combat this strain of the virus, so if you get it AT LEAST TWO WEEKS before the con (it takes two weeks to build full immunity), you should be good to go. Most insurances will cover the shot fully and even if they don't, it's no more expensive than a new video game.

Be healthy so everyone has a great time at the Con, and doesn't go home to a week in bed (or worse!)

tvethiopia

this is excellent advice, i know so many people who are very sick right now. i'm getting my shot today!

Raughn

I normally don't get these things, but you're making a pretty convincing argument. I was already planning to take Airborne to PAX anyway since it sounds like a lot of attendees tend to get sick, but if I can build a super-power against a specific virus that will likely be there, I might as well.

Vapok

I'll add that the Boston Mayor has declared a Public Health Emergency.

http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=5922

EDIT: and by "add" I mean concur.. lol I fail at reading

Raughn

I got mine (and a childish band-aid) from Target today. So, I'm invincible now, right?

sassfactor4

I normally get a flu shot but was delaying it this year for some reason. Then I read this:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm and it kicked me back into gear.

Unless you hate science or are allergic to eggs, get a flu shot. Remember they take ~2 weeks to provide immunity. At least stop touching your face, and start washing your hands

VegaObscura

Got mine in October. Bring it on.

jdixon1972

Aww, crap. I knew I was forgetting something this year. Usually get it every year, but for some reason I forgot. Gotta rush to the CVS tomorrow morning!

sillyzombie666

yeah i think im going to get one, i got hit on the 1st and im just finally getting over it, it was once of the worst sicknesses i've had

and yes im an hour from boston

Vapok

I was sick for two weeks around Christmas with this nasty bug. The difference in this years flu strain is the lack of nausea. 107 degree temperatures for two days.. not fun.

dmautz

I have had the flu only once, about 8 years ago and I have never had a vaccination. Maybe I should get one this time.

bushisprez

I agree get your shots now to be better safe than sorry. I reading alot of posts on previous PAXs that the flu pretty much finds its way into the convention every year. Most people don't realize how many hands touch the controllers, keyboards, & mouses that you use when your playing the new games coming out at the show floor. Made it a necessity to wash my hands before I ate! ;-)

Direwolf

As someone who got the flu at PAXEast last year (started Sat night and lasted for 5 days), I cannot support this enough. And if you live in MA, you should be able to get the shot for free.

lunkhead

bushisprez wrote: »

Most people don't realize how many hands touch the controllers, keyboards, & mouses that you use when your playing the new games coming out at the show floor

This is exactly why I carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with me during PAX. As soon as I'm done touching anything, out comes the bottle. I'm not saying this should be a replacement for the flu shot, more aptly, a second line of defense. It may make me look a little OCD, but I haven't gotten sick at a PAX yet.

jdixon1972

Just got mine today. Had to check with many pharmacies before I could fine one that had the transdermal shot (freakin' hurts, btw). Even my doc and others in his set of offices didn't have any. Besides, though, I always get ultra paranoid around xmas because I want NOTHING to intefere with PAX!!!!!!

earthwulf

Aw, the transdermals aren't THAT bad. Full shots leaves your arm sore for a couple of days...

xenard

Looks like most of the places in my area are all out until further notice.

paplebon567

i got it in november and get it every year

Malgaras

And don't forget that the flu shot doesn't make you completely immune, and does nothing for all the other crap running around, so practice common sense hygiene and wash your hands often, cover your coughs etc. Your fellow convention goers thank you.

Chorazin

jdixon1972 wrote: »

Just got mine today. Had to check with many pharmacies before I could fine one that had the transdermal shot (freakin' hurts, btw). Even my doc and others in his set of offices didn't have any. Besides, though, I always get ultra paranoid around xmas because I want NOTHING to intefere with PAX!!!!!!

I had no problems with the transdermal, way better than the intramuscular one! :-D

JerYnkFan

I got mine today so I'll be good to go. Plus the plague has been going around my office.

kropotkin

Good advice on the flu shot thing. Also, washing your hands with soap and water before eating as well as every other hour is a good idea. It is way more effective than the sanitisers.

macrogeek

I get the shot every year. 3 paxes, no flu thus far.
Iron Guard & sanitizer FTW.

Agent00

Raughn wrote: »

I normally don't get these things, but you're making a pretty convincing argument. I was already planning to take Airborne to PAX anyway since it sounds like a lot of attendees tend to get sick, but if I can build a super-power against a specific virus that will likely be there, I might as well.

Just had to put this out there: Airborne is a sham

Five Things You Buy That Don’t Actually Work The Way You Think

Raughn

Agent00 wrote: »

Raughn wrote: »

I normally don't get these things, but you're making a pretty convincing argument. I was already planning to take Airborne to PAX anyway since it sounds like a lot of attendees tend to get sick, but if I can build a super-power against a specific virus that will likely be there, I might as well.

Just had to put this out there: Airborne is a sham

Five Things You Buy That Don’t Actually Work The Way You Think

Hah, part of me was thinking as much. I think I was hoping for a placebo effect.

And I have a childish fascination with dissolving tablets.

zerzhul

Let's not make this an "argue about what is really the best thing for health" thread. Given the exceptional spread of flu this year, the flu shot awareness is a good idea, but the rest doesn't need to be re-hashed over and over.

Red Regex

If you get a flu shot at one of the big chains (CVS, Target, etc.) and insurance doesn't cover it, be sure to ask about discounts because most of them have pretty significant ones available if you ask. Showing my AAA card knocked it from $35 to $8, and they listed about a dozen similar ways to get a discount.

Cloud25XD

I was in Boston all day walking around town then at a show a few days ago. I think im good. I was also there for 2 weeks this summer.

Cloud25XD

Also it will be gone by the time Pax arrives.

SpicyMeats

If anyone else is flying out from b.c. (Victoria woot), I went and got mine from a shoppers drug mart and there free with your bc care card (this may be general knowledge but I had never gotten one before and was presently suprised)

tortured3

Already got it

Agent00

Cloud25XD wrote: »

I was in Boston all day walking around town then at a show a few days ago. I think im good. I was also there for 2 weeks this summer.

This is irrelevant. There will be tens of thousands of people from far and wide converging in a small area, not to mention fellow travelers going elsewhere on connecting flights. There is absolutely no reason to not get a flu shot other than cost, and it really should be another cost factored into your budget for PAX.

Cloud25XD wrote: »

Also it will be gone by the time Pax arrives.

Not necessarily: cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2012-2013.htm#peak

zerzhul

Agent00 wrote: »

There is absolutely no reason to not get a flu shot other than cost, and it really should be another cost factored into your budget for PAX.

Ok, last warning. This is not a debate thread.

nimrodblack

Geeking out:
There is a lot of bad information out there about the flu shot lets be specific. Its based on a protein strand that they believe will be contained in most of the prevelant virus in a given year. There is a lot of work that goes into the building of the vaccine and in a given year it will give you a 60-90% protection rate from year to year. There is a lot of evidence being discovered lately that these proteins are similar among other bugs that are passed around this time of year. So although its not advertised this vaccine is actually helping versus other things as well.

Think of it like a game. Would you take a +60-90% chance of repelling Debuffs/StatusEffects/and DoTs? I think we all know what needs to be done.

lots of good info in this thread...washing hands, showering, changing clothes daily....hand sanitizer.

Also this year there are really good reports coming our from health care providers saying if you do get the flu this year Tamiflu (sp?) is working very well.

I have lived in Boston for years and travel quite a bit. The Flu will not be over in March. Be smart and stay healthy.
----This message brought to you by a local geek.

Agent00

I am not debating. I am educating. I feel this is a very important topic and one where bad information should be debunked. If you feel you need to take action, do it.

zerzhul

Like it or not, saying that a flu shot needs to be in someone's pax budget and that there's no reason to not get a shot is absolutely debate territory.

If folks in this thread would like to debate the potential merits of flu shots, that's a topic for the Debate and Discourse subforum.

vttym

I would like to add that to those of you who have already gotten the flu, you should still consider a flu shot - there are 3 dominant strains (H1N1, H3N2, and this year, and you likely only picked up one of those. The flu shot will help protect you from all 3, so it helps reduce your chance of getting the others.

Some info on the vaccine for this season: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/vaccine-selection.htm

PoisonPinkFluff

I missed my flu shot last year and yes, I cam home from PAX sick and tested positive for influenza. A shot is a good idea. I have never been that sick in my entire life.