Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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This is the time of the year when most of the major companies in South Africa arrange for their staff members to get flu injections. It is also the time of the year when staff members run around with doctor certificates explaining that they cannot get a flu injection and while there are some valid reasons, most people who are opposed to vaccinations or flu injections simply have it wrong. There is not a shred of evidence, for example, to show that vaccinations cause autism, even though there are some prominent believers in that theory, including Ernie Els, that has led to a trend, in some States in America, where people have stopped getting vaccinations for their children. The fact that their children then don’t fall ill from dreaded diseases like smallpox is proof to them that the vaccinations are not necessary.
They of course forget that they are surrounded by people that have been vaccinated and that as the numbers of those who are skipping and avoiding vaccinations grow, so too will the reoccurrence of these terrible diseases. Flu is not the same, but the principle is similar. Those who try to avoid having the injection are actually riding piggy-back on those that do have the injection and quite honestly I think it is unfair. It is a minor little prick, it is nothing for anybody to be scared of and particularly in offices where a lot of people work together, in the same space, it is essential. My offices used to be plagued with flu issues during the peak of winter before I started arranging for, and paying, a nurse to attend at my offices to give everybody the injection and since my staff members started having the injection, we never had a serious outbreak of flu at our offices again.
It is particularly important when some of those in the office, for example, are pregnant. Making sure that everyone around them has had the flu injection also adds considerably to their safety. Doctors in particular recommend that the elderly get the injection, because as we all know flu can quite often be fatal for the elderly and for anybody with a compromised immune system.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 28-Mar-14
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Comments
Caron said:
on Tuesday 01-Apr-14 08:28 AM
Not being someone who's prone to viruses, haven't had the flu in two decades and a cold in a decade and a half. First flu injection last year. I'm not a believer and do follow Ernie Els' belief.
My horse is injected bi-annually for African Horse Sickness and see how he suffers each time having been injected with a live virus.
Lourien said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 05:31 PM
I don't mind to get a flu injection as normally I don't get sick and I am very healthy, but for as some reason as soon as my exams come up, my immune system just drops as my stress levels increase, I really wont mind getting an injection for that as well...
Thabitha said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 04:43 PM
If doctors are recommending it, it is a good thing to have your flu injenction
Lizanne said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 04:28 PM
I do not have a problem getting the flu injection. I am not a sickly person but since i started getting the flu injection in 2011 i think i had the flu once of twice. I could really recommend this to everyone.
Yolandi P said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 10:27 AM
I have no issues getting an injection. Its part of life and not something we can always avoid.
Brenda said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 09:47 AM
My reasons for not wanting the flu injection every year was purely for my fear of needles. The tiniest needle would look the size of an elephant enema to me and i would work up a sweat and hyperventilate as that needle neared my skin. My house doctor has actually had to come up with some strange distractions to get my mind off that needle that was coming. But, the saying goes, all good things come to an end and i believe that all bad things too. After being hospitalised in November last year i had to overcome my fear of needles as i was poked with needles more times than someone going for acupuncture, and I realised that my nerves and working myself up to a panic only makes the situation and pain worse.
That being said, i realised the reason behind the flu injection, and while you will still get the sneezes, a runny nose and little chesty cough, it does prevent the more serious illnesses such as swine flu etc. so I will get the injection every year to prevent more serious illness.
Sorea said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 09:44 AM
I am not a sick person to begin with. The flu injection is a requirement, which is why I got it.
Alexis said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 09:22 AM
I have never taken the flu injection in my life - it is not that i do not believe in it - but it is not a good idea for me to do so as recommended by my doc. I rarely get sick in any event
Catherine said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 08:55 AM
I believe the point of the flu vaccination is not to stop one from getting flu, but to shorten the recovery duration because the immune system has been boosted. Having said that, last year I got very sick from flu just after the injection worse that any other time I can recall.
Catherine said:
on Monday 31-Mar-14 08:55 AM
I believe the point of the flu vaccination is not to stop one from getting flu, but to shorten the recovery duration because the immune system has been boosted. Having said that, last year I got very sick from flu just after the injection worse that any other time I can recall.
Joyce said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 05:51 PM
I think flu injection helps in preventing getting flu
Henrietta said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 05:46 PM
I don't have any complains about the flu injection. I am not someone who get sick easily, in fact in January I had the flu for the first time in 3 years so maybe this flu injection does help some and just have a negative effect on other we are after all different and our immune systems differ...
I have to say that since I have been getting the flu injection I have not suffered from flu like I have before. It is definitely worth getting it.
Nicky said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 04:53 PM
I suppose that the flu injection-like other medication-affects each person differently.
I generally avoid going to the doctor and will rather self-medicate and anything that aids in my self-medication and avoiding the doctor gets a thumbs up.
Angelique said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 04:13 PM
Forgot to add this - aren't we meant to get our 'free' dose of vitamin C tablets when getting the flu injection?
Angelique said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 04:08 PM
I must admit that ever since I had the flu injection, I feel ill most of the time. Perhaps it works for some people and not for others. In the office, there are many people always off ill - in my opinion either they are taking chances (which is annoying as the rest of us suffer when we really are sick!) or the flu injection (dead virus) is infecting people. But I'm not a qualified doctor that's just my opinion.
Jade said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 04:05 PM
This was the first time I had a flu injection. Luckily, I can say that I did not feel ill after the flu injection. I'm sorry to hear that so many people have not felt well since then. My arm was very stiff for about two days after, I still have a bruise on my arm, and for days after the injection, I had a large red mark just below where I was injected which would not go away for a week after. Completely bizarre. Looked it up and I read that it may be a mild allergic reaction. But I am not allergic to eggs! I am at a loss.
Otherwise, I'm grateful that it was paid for and that I should not be getting flu, which I hear is much worse than one sore arm!
Refilwe said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 03:39 PM
I'm sorry but im against the whole flu injection thing, firstly i have a phobia for needles and tend to start panicking, but luckily for me Sinead was there to hold my hand, although i did squeeze it a bit too tight, sorry Nead.
Secondly i have a very strong immune system and if i get sick it is only literally once a year and i agree with Stephanie, I too have not been feeling well since that injection was jabbed into the side of my arm. If i get sick anytime soon, I'll definitely know the cause of it!
im sorry but these injection vaccination "what whats" are actually what make people sick___ hmmm so much for "vaccination"
Sinead said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 03:24 PM
The injection this year was way worse than last year. The needle was huge! Just thinking about it, makes my arm sore...
I don't normally get sick during winter. If I experience any signs of illness, I take vitamins and I'm fine. With or without the flu injection, I'll still live.
Elektra said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 02:52 PM
I must admit it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I was expecting it to be a lot worse. A BIG thanx to Cindy who was my support at the time. xxx
Elektra said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 02:52 PM
I must admit it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I was expecting it to be a lot worse. A BIG thanx to Cindy who was my support at the time. xxx
Simone said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 02:34 PM
I have to say that since I have been getting the flu injection I have not suffered from flu like I have before. It is definitely worth getting it.
Sarah said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 01:53 PM
I can say is I hardly get flu but after the flu injection I really don't feel well at all. I also read on Google :Studies have shown that the flu jab definitely works and will help prevent you getting the flu. It won't stop all flu viruses and the level of protection may vary between people, so it's not a 100% guarantee that you'll be flu-free, but if you do get flu after vaccination it's likely to be milder and shorter-lived than it would otherwise have been
Sheena said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 01:47 PM
I have had the flu injection for the second time this year and I cant say that it prevented me from getting flu but will wait to see what effect it has this year.
Stephanie said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 01:42 PM
I have a strong Immune System, never get sick. The injection did not to do a thing to me, I remembered just being a little tired after the injection I don't know if it's normal or just all in my head?
Lucretia said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 01:10 PM
this is a controversial topic. There are doctors with strong cases both for and against the flu injection. If the medical professions cannot make up there mind, how on earth can the layman give their views.
Liesl said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 01:06 PM
Last year I was very ill with flu for 3 weeks after the injection. When I went to the GP and inquired about why I had such a bad spell of flu when I had the flu injection she explained that the flu vac isn't just for a normal case of flu but actually vaccinates you against deadly flues such as swine flu for example. This year, touch wood, although I got some sniffels, I took vitamin c which seems to keep the flu in abeyance.
Bianca Els said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 01:00 PM
It's the first time that I got this flu injection. I don't normally get sick in the winter, so I think this injection was a waste of time...
Bianca R said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 01:00 PM
I have nothing against the flu injection at all, my entire family ensures that they all have the vaccination yearly without fail.
zelda said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 12:59 PM
I must admit i am really not a fan of injections no matter what they are for... i am one of those people who will rather be sick than have someone put a needle in my arm. Everyone's opinion differs, but everyone who has had the flu injection, got the flu not long afterwards and i didn't get the injection, but i feel fine...
Juliet said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 12:57 PM
I have nothing against the flu injection I just dislike needles. It will be great when everything can be taken in pill form. Luckily this year I get to avoid it!
Kaylee said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 12:56 PM
I really hate injections, even though it is a little prick in your arm, I cannot handle injections. I also always feel worse after the flu injection, because after all are you not injecting yourself with the actual virus? Anyway, I had the flu injection for the second time in my life this year, so I will see whether it has any effect, mind you I haven't been sick in years, so I am not sure whether I will be able to tell whether it helps me not get flu. I generally try keep healthy and have avoided getting sick so I will keep this approach along with the flu injection I have already had
Jessica said:
on Friday 28-Mar-14 11:50 AM
Well thanks to my flu injections my nomination to go to a children's home this weekend is out of the question, was going to take sweet's and stuff for the kids who have been abandoned but now I have the flu. So ya not my friend this flu injection.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
