Our best friends are having twins (expected to go early) and their doc is requiring all folks that visit have the flu shot. My wife is very anti-vaccine and just by a little googling I don't see any reason to get a flu shot. I've had the shot a couple times in my life and have had the flu (or flu symptoms like 2 times).

As long as my wife is breast feeding there is no chance she will get it and if she doesn't I'm not. What do we do? I've proposed gloves and masks but they still say no. Any thoughts?

10/24/2011 11:46:26 PM

Either play by their rules or sit the fuck home and like it.

10/24/2011 11:57:31 PM

in the last 10 years i've never bothered with a flu shot. only had one year when i got all that sick during flu season.

as for you, either tell your friends to get a new doctor or tell them you'll see them when they are able to go home. p.s. don't tell your friends to get a new doctor

10/24/2011 11:58:43 PM

Um, don't visit them right now and wait to see the babies.


Are you seriously trying to convince people who are going to have premature children to let you in there without all vaccines right after their birth?

^ I don't get them either, but I can see where the doctor is coming from. And even after they go home I wouldn't be surprised if the doctor still had those recommendations

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 12:00 AM. Reason : .]

10/24/2011 11:59:42 PM

Umm..how anti-vaccine?

10/25/2011 12:06:50 AM

He said all of flu season. I mean I understand but there are alternatives right? Vitamins, sleep, exercise? The shot isn't even guaranteed to work?

10/25/2011 12:07:07 AM

SCRUMPLES ARE YOU READING THIS

10/25/2011 12:10:22 AM

It's called "herd immunity."

The doctor is doing the right thing.

I guess in our "free market" they can find another doctor can't they?

10/25/2011 12:10:33 AM

Quote :

"Either play by their rules or sit the fuck home and like it."

Seriously, anyone who is anti-vaccine is seriously uneducated, indoctrinated or a hypochondriac, or all of the above. Does more research need to be done on vaccines? Absolutely. Are there a trace number of side-effects to vaccines? Sure. But the odds and statistics for vaccines (in terms of success rate) far outweigh any slight .0001% chance that something would react adversely to a vaccine. In fact vaccines have cured (and are curing) more diseases than previously naturally possible. By not taking vaccines you are REVERSING the good that vaccines have done all these years by putting YOURSELF, those you CARE ABOUT, and the entire GENERAL PUBLIC at risk. It's these people that are to blame, not vaccines. In fact the entire last DECADE of "anti-vaccine" campaigns have been based on a 12-year old study that was RETRACTED FOR BEING FALSE!

</rant> I'm sorry your wife is anti-vaccine. She needs to read more medical journals and less blogs.

^what he said.

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 12:19 AM. Reason : ,]

10/25/2011 12:16:19 AM

Quote :

"He said all of flu season. I mean I understand but there are alternatives right? Vitamins, sleep, exercise? The shot isn't even guaranteed to work?"

I... what? Do you really think vitamins and sleep is the equivalent of the flu shot?

Quote :

"Seriously, anyone who is anti-vaccine is seriously uneducated, indoctrinated or a hypochondriac, or all of the above. Does more research need to be done on vaccines? Absolutely. Are there a trace number of side-effects to vaccines? Sure. But the odds and statistics for vaccines (in terms of success rate) far outweigh any slight .0001% chance that something would react adversely to a vaccine. In fact vaccines have cured (and are curing) more diseases than previously naturally possible. By not taking vaccines you are REVERSING the good that vaccines have done all these years by putting YOURSELF, those you CARE ABOUT, and the entire GENERAL PUBLIC at risk. It's these people that are to blame, not vaccines. In fact the entire last DECADE of "anti-vaccine" campaigns have been based on a 12-year old study that was RETRACTED FOR BEING FALSE! </rant> I'm sorry your wife is anti-vaccine. She needs to read more medical journals and less blogs."

It frustrates me too, but as long as the discussion is limited to flu shots I'm not particularly polarized about it. As far as extending the consistency into other vaccines... yea, then it'll get questionable.

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 12:20 AM. Reason : f]

10/25/2011 12:18:54 AM

And even aside from all that, he and his wife's opinion count for precisely jack shit in this situation, anyway.

10/25/2011 12:19:15 AM

Quote :

"It frustrates me too, but as long as the discussion is limited to flu shots I'm not particularly polarized about it. As far as extending the consistency into other vaccines... yea, then it'll get questionable. "

fair 'nuff

10/25/2011 12:22:07 AM

sucks.

10/25/2011 12:23:09 AM

^^^Yep. There's nothing here to change. Either they suck it up and don't see their best friend's newborn twins until flu season is over, or they get a shot and they do. Not really any discussion.



Personally, I had the flu almost every year of my life until I started getting the flu shot every season. It's made an immense difference for me and for my family as a whole--especially since like 5 of my family members are school educators.

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 12:23 AM. Reason : f]

10/25/2011 12:23:29 AM

Quote :

"My wife is very anti-vaccine"

Reminds me of:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0yXn9XA-5c&NR=1

And I know it's only tangentially related to the situation here

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 5:49 AM. Reason : ]

10/25/2011 5:43:16 AM

Quote :

"I've had the shot a couple times in my life and have had the flu (or flu symptoms like 2 times)."

technically, you can't get sick from the flu shot because it's made up of in-activated virus.

10/25/2011 6:37:45 AM

^not saying the shot caused the flu.

Also, not expecting them to give us a free pass to come see them. Just wondering
If there is something else we can propose. I asked about gloves and some
Type of mask but they said that won't work.

10/25/2011 6:44:45 AM

Why don't you go get a flu shot and go see your friends kids? Let your conspiracy theorist wife stay at home. Seriously, it will take 5 minutes at Walgreens.

10/25/2011 7:51:55 AM

^ This.

I really can't believe you're willing to risk giving the flu to two children with weak immune systems because you don't want to get a shot that's most likely covered by your insurance

And I hope by

Quote :

"My wife is very anti-vaccine"

you just mean the flu shot. You'd feel like a real asshole if your kid got mumps or whooping cough when they're completely avoidable.

10/25/2011 8:22:20 AM

my flu shot is free, so i got one...if i had to pay for it, i wouldn't have

as has been said several times, get the flu shot or get over it...if you refuse to get one because your wife won't get one, then you have no one to blame but yourself if you can't see your best friends in the hospital

Quote :

"My wife is very anti-vaccine"

yeah, i hope your wife is what wolfpackgrrr said...because being anti-vaccine is just stupid

i get the anti-flu shot while breastfeeding thing, though

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 8:32 AM. Reason : .]

10/25/2011 8:25:39 AM

Quote :

"And even aside from all that, he and his wife's opinion count for precisely jack shit in this situation, anyway. "

This.

also, the anti-vaccine people are fucking retarded.

all of them.

10/25/2011 8:35:25 AM

Quote :

"i get the anti-flu shot while breastfeeding thing, though"

To be honest, I don't. It's an inactivated vaccine and the antibodies your immune system will make against it are no different from the other antibodies floating around your system and getting into your breast milk. Now if you're the sort of person that never really has contact with the general populace then sure, skip it. But for me, I work in a school, and if there's one place you're guaranteed to get the flu, it's in a school

10/25/2011 8:39:35 AM

Why would you not get the flu vaccine while breastfeeding?

"Influenza vaccine does not affect the safety of mothers who are breastfeeding or their infants. Breastfeeding does not adversely affect the immune response and is not a contraindication for vaccination." From the US Centers for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5208a1.htm

I found that "just by a little googling"

Get the vaccine and see and share these happy times with your best friends, or just don't.

10/25/2011 8:40:39 AM

why in the world would you want to risk the health of the babies? sounds pretty selfish to me. they're not your kids, you don't get to make that call.

get the shot, or stay at home.

Quote :

"And even aside from all that, he and his wife's opinion count for precisely jack shit in this situation, anyway."

this

10/25/2011 8:42:20 AM

Quote :

"My wife is very anti-vaccine "

fucking hipster shit

10/25/2011 8:44:19 AM

Was this really a question that needed to be asked? Dumb bitch wife and dumb bitch husband (OP).

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 8:57 AM. Reason : .]

10/25/2011 8:56:42 AM

Just tell them due to the situation you think it is best for you to stay at home.

Quote :

"I've had the shot a couple times in my life and have had the flu (or flu symptoms like 2 times). "

The only two times I had the flu since being a child was the two years I received a flu shot.

10/25/2011 8:58:48 AM

Lol she's the opposite of hipster. I'm still torn about it all but I'm on my wife's team.

10/25/2011 8:58:59 AM

I can see I'm not needed here. Good job all.

10/25/2011 9:12:20 AM

Quote :

"also, the anti-vaccine people are fucking retarded. all of them."

+1

10/25/2011 9:28:52 AM

Quote :

"I'm still torn about it all but I'm on my wife's team."

I just hope to God your wife's team isn't the "I'd rather risk my kid getting measles than give them a shot" team, because those people are assholes

10/25/2011 9:36:28 AM

There aren't any other options. Stay at home.

Gowns, gloves, and masks help reduce the transmission of illness, but it doesn't prevent it entirely. Trust me. We spent over a year on isolation with my son and all of the precautions didn't keep him 100% free of communicable illnesses. Just think about how you'd feel if one of the babies died and keep your ass at home. It's not worth it.

I know immune suppressed children who have DIED from preventable disease because they're are forced to rely on herd immunity that the anti-vaccine crowd is helping destroy.

10/25/2011 9:41:28 AM

Quote :

"also, the anti-vaccine people are fucking retarded. all of them"

while i completely agree with that, i was anti-anthrax vaccine while i was in the military and don't think i fall in that category

10/25/2011 9:49:11 AM

Yeah that one's a bit different from denying your kids MMR.

10/25/2011 9:51:08 AM

Quote :

"Dumb bitch wife and dumb bitch husband (OP)"

I know it's the lounge and all but I agree

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 9:57 AM. Reason : .]

10/25/2011 9:57:47 AM

You people getting all up in arms with your "SOMEBODY THINK ABOUT THE BABIES!!!!" stuff can calm down. I'm pretty sure he would know if he had the flu and not go visit the babies during that time. There are these things called "Symptoms" that most rational people know to look for.

And really, if you say you got it at Sam's Club are they going to ask you for proof?

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 10:07 AM. Reason : s]

10/25/2011 10:06:58 AM

This is about to get good

10/25/2011 10:08:05 AM

You do realize the flu has an incubation period of up to 4 days right?

10/25/2011 10:08:30 AM

You start shedding the virus before you have symptoms.

And what kind of friend would he be for lying and not going by their wishes?

10/25/2011 10:09:13 AM

A good friend.
Maybe even BFF!

oops...I didn't realize this was the lounge. Sorry guys.

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 10:13 AM. Reason : s]

10/25/2011 10:10:52 AM

I don't get it. Is there are reason why you just can't wait until after flu season or wait until the babies have stronger immune systems? They'll still be around in a few months, visit then.

Of course this is coming from someone that isn't quite normal when it comes to social niceties. I don't get the MUST... VISIT... AT... ALL... COST mentality.

10/25/2011 10:13:46 AM

having an infant myself and ALSO breastfeeding, I got the flu shot as recommended by MY doctor AND my son's pediatrician.

i went out and got the Tdap vaccine after our little guy was born b/c of the increase in pertussis (whooping cough) these past couple of years. as did my husband. my mom spends enough time with him that I'm *this* close to asking her to get it as well as our pediatrician recommended that all caregivers that spend a lot of time with him to do so. vaccines are good folks. i understand wanting an alternate vaccine schedule so babies aren't given so many at once, but overall vaccines are good.

Quote :

"I know immune suppressed children who have DIED from preventable disease because they're are forced to rely on herd immunity that the anti-vaccine crowd is helping destroy."

this can't be stressed enough.

get your flu shot if you want to visit, otherwise stay home. you've gotta respect your friends' wishes in this circumstance in keeping their kids safe and healthy. if your wife is that against it, she should stay home.

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 10:17 AM. Reason : ]

10/25/2011 10:15:18 AM

^^ I don't think any of us are getting it They'd probably appreciate it more if you stopped by with a hot meal once they're home from the hospital, said hello, and then skidaddled real quick.

[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 10:16 AM. Reason : a]

10/25/2011 10:16:15 AM

+a million on a hot meal and skedaddling.

10/25/2011 10:18:25 AM

Quote :

"also, the anti-vaccine people are fucking retarded. all of them."

10/25/2011 10:26:41 AM

I'm not anti-vaccine, just skeptical, especially of flu vaccine. I see no reason as a healthy adult to get it. It is only ~75% effective and only protects against 3 strains from previous years. The fact that it wears off and has to be administered year after year means it's not that effective of a vaccine anyway, since you can get a shot or series of shots in your youth that protect you for life against other illnesses. Not to mention the other crap they put in there, like formaldehyde and thimersol. I'll take my chances of getting sick and letting my body heal itself.

Now in your case, I can't tell you what to do. I guess if you want to see the kids and the parents won't budge on the issue, then you are stuck.

Quote :

"also, the anti-vaccine people are fucking retarded. all of them."

Like I said, I'm not anti-vaccine but I know people that are and I disagree with your comment. They are making a decision based on information provided to them, just like you, they are just interpreting it differently. Or perhaps they are doing more research and not taking the majority opinion at face value, instead getting information from sources outside of the government and vaccine manufacturers. That said, my kids have been vaccinated against the big / common diseases but I don't see a reason to get them the flu shot.

10/25/2011 10:42:14 AM

So let's say I got it today. The CDC says its 2 weeks before it come effective. That means that the people that are getting their shots today are just as likely to spread the flu as I am?

10/25/2011 10:43:00 AM

Can you explain why your wife is anti-vaccinations?

10/25/2011 10:43:10 AM

Just curious... when you say "anti-vaccine", do you really mean "she's afraid of shots"? I know there is a group of people out there that think shots can give children autism and other diseases, but if it's *really* that she's just afraid of shots, maybe this is a good opportunity to motivate her to 'get over it'.

For the record, I can't stand needles, either, but if someone says I have to go get one $20 shot to see a child that I feel close to, so be it.

10/25/2011 10:48:27 AM

Josh Hamilton isn't afraid of needles

10/25/2011 10:50:54 AM