Actually there’s not much scientific evidence that handwashing prevents flu – though it definitely reduces bacteria, so it’s worth doing anyway.
But never mind that. I’m doing a happy dance because I just “got shotted” (as my son the Tiger used to say) against swine flu. Yippee! It may not protect 100% either, but there’s good evidence that it offers substantial protection. I’m relieved that I got it early enough for antibodies to develop before I’m back in the classroom in January, dodging my students’ germy germs.
My university, which had previously received just a few hundred doses for high-risk folks, suddenly got a shipment of 7000 doses. No, that’s not a typo. Seven thousand! I’m bemused at how quickly we went from the vaccine being more precious than gold to being seemingly awash in the stuff.
Regular readers know I’ve been slightly paranoid about this flu, so you won’t be surprised to hear that I got to the clinic more than two hours early. Luckily, the nurse was not only kind but very smart, and she’d already started giving shots, so I was out of there in 20 minutes. I probably was number 10 or so out of those 7000.
Here’s to your health, dear readers! I hope you’ll get shotted soon, too, if you’ve been waiting.
Patron cat of Kittywampus (1985-2001)
I got the nasal vaccine last month :3
I know it’s not 100% effective but by now I should be mostly protected. If I do get sick maybe it will just be a regular flu to me. Which still sucks but it’s better than a high risk situation.
I’m glad you were able to get it. And yes, you should be fine. The NEJM just had a study in which something like 97% of non-elderly adults had a vigorous antibody reaction within the first few weeks. That was the shot, but I don’t think the stats are very different for the intranasal version.
I get the impression that the supply has really loosened up. I talked to my sister in California last night and she also got the shot earlier this week at her doctor’s office, without be classified as personally high risk.