Survey! C'mon guys!!!? I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need your help!!!?

Have you or someone you know had the flu vaccine (either the shot or nasal spray)? If so, PLEASE stick around for a second and read this!





I only have a week to complete a science fair project and am pretty sure I want to do it on the effectivness of [common] flu vaccines. I need at least 100 people to complete this short survey so PLEASE oblige!! Thanx!





1) What is your (or the person/people you know) age?


2) What is your (or their) gender?


3) Where do you (or they) live (what country)?


4) Have you (or the person/people you know)received the flu nasal spray or shot vaccine (please specify which) this season or in any past seasons?


5) Did you (or the person/people you know) get the flu or any flu-like symptoms during THAT season after receiving the vaccine? If so, approximately how long after you (or they) received the vaccine did you begin having symptoms?


6) Do you believe the flu vaccine (either both or one or the other- plaese specify) is effective?





Thanks SO much!!!!!

Survey! C'mon guys!!!? I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need your help!!!?
Dear J:





I have included most of the important flu vaccine information, and you will see a couple of websites that [usually in just one or two pages] will give you a lot more to work with, if you happen to need much more. [I'm sending this as an "answer," since you issued your question/survey a few times [smart! you're able to reach and survey so many more people via that technique] ... and I can respond to you once per question.





=====================================





The flu vaccine





A relatively-new flu vaccine called CAIV-T [Cold-Adapted Influenza Vaccine Trivalent], available as a nasal spray, has shown itself to be better (more effective) than FluMist, its predecessor (also a nasal spray) at preventing the flu in children, defined [for this particular vaccine] as being at least 6 months but not more than 5 years old. Both of these nasal sprays have been more effective [IN CHILDREN, ONLY] than the injectable flu vaccine; FluMist is slightly better than the flu shot, while CAIV-T users have had even better results, as seen in a research protocol that began in May of 2006.





The same pharmaceutical company (MedImmune) manufactures both of these nasal sprays, and they funded, as well as helped to design, the research methodology that has yielded such excellent, consistent (highly repeatable) data. Their research protocol [i.e., the methodology] was both simple and yet thorough, with one ---- and only one ---- variable manipulated and evaluated during each trial, and all other factors [including the "control" variable(s), as well as some potentially-variable conditions that exist within any research process] held constant by the clinical investigation team. I think that if you decide to do your science fair project on the topic of flu vaccines, you may want to focus your primary effort upon recognizing [identifying] these variables, showing how [and why] they must be deliberately controlled in order to produce scientifically-valid data. Because this data is supposed to differentiate between whether spray or shot is more effective ----- as well as answering the question of whether these vaccine options are equally effective for all age groups, and if there is a valid reason to select one spray over another ----- I think you'll find that organizing your project around the goal of analyzing and then simplifying (for others) the relevant details of the entire research protocol that surrounds the different flu vaccines may be your best approach.





(Source for much of the above info: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot....











Another part of your project should be to inform/enlighten the people who visit you at the science fair about a number of interesting (and clinically-significant) characteristics of different vaccines, including their composition ["what's it made of?"], the manner in which it is delivered [nose/inhale - or - arm/inject],





......[[ **** see below, look for these %26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; to point you to my comment]] .............





and the present prevailing beliefs among physicians as to who should and should not receive the flu vaccine, as well as guidance regarding which vaccine to use on which population.





Here are some of the key points:





Injectable vaccines:


- flu shots are made using inactivated (dead) viruses.


- can be given to healthy people over 6 months of age, as well as to most people who have chronic medical conditions.





Nasal spray flu vaccines:


- inhaled flu vaccines are made using live but attenuated (weak) viruses.


- can be given to people who are between 2 and 49 years of age, and who are also not pregnant; instead of FluMist, CAIV-T should be used when vaccinating those who are between 6 months and 5 years of age.





Both types of flu vaccine:


- trigger the production of antibodies specifically protective against most strains of the influenza virus, within about 2 weeks.


- contain 3 different flu viruses, chosen on the basis of international surveillance by influenza specialists who have extensive experience in this field (but no matter what they decide to put into next year's flu vaccine, it is STILL a guess!).








Please note the following two (recent) statements from the CDC:





(1) "Healthy" is defined as those who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.





(2) On October 24, 2007, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of the nasal spray flu vaccine (FluMist) to include healthy children ages 2-4 years old (24-59 months old) without a history of asthma or recurrent wheezing. There is no change in the present ACIP guidance regarding healthy persons aged 5-49 years who are not pregnant --- FluMist is still recommended for use by this group.





(Source: the 2nd website, below:)


======================================...





SEE THIS PAGE FOR AN EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF OTHER VACCINE-RELATED INFO:





[#1] http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts....





(And THIS page is the CDC's main "flu" page --- VERY useful:





[#2] http://www.cdc.gov/flu/





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[[****]] ..... %26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;


An interesting thought just crossed my mind:


Prior to the widespread, routine use of the nasal spray flu vaccine, all flu vaccines were injected, usually into the upper arm region. I do not know if any of our younger recipients ----- whether part of a research group, or simply one of the many vaccinated pre-schoolers nationwide ----- have ever cried or acted up in order to cause a change in the standard flu-shot-delivery route, getting the driver of the Vaccine Van to turn off Arm Avenue and make the delivery via Butt Boulevard. (Now that we have some improved vaccines, as well as better research data at our disposal, perhaps that particular injection site should only be used when astrological signs indicate a rare celestial confluence between the Moon and Uranus.) [OK, that was "duh."]





======================================





Almost forgot to mention some of the ways that researchers use to minimize potential sources of error, such as an overlooked (or uncontrolled) variable:





(1) when investigating the effectivity of flu shots, one group got flu shots, while the other group received a harmless injection of a glucose (sugar) solution;





(2) for inhaled vaccine, one group got the real stuff, while people in the second ("control") group were given a mild, harmless, neutral saline solution (similar to dilute tears);





(3) when testing the effectivity of both nasal spray flu vaccines, as well as comparing them to each other, to see which spray worked better, four different groups were used: one group for each real spray, and one group acting as a control group for each of the two groups that received real vaccine.
Reply:1. 70


2. female


3. USA


4. yes, shot


5. no


6. shot, somewhat


-
Reply:1- 14


2- female


3- US


4- shot this season and past seasons


5-i didnt get flu symptoms but i got colds.


6- yes i think it is effective. i think the shot would work better than the spray though.
Reply:22


Female


America


Shot in Winter


No


Yes
Reply:1. 39


2. Female


3. USA


4. Flu Nasal Spray in the winter


5. No


6. Yes.......... Zycam
Reply:Answering for myself


1. 28


2. FM


3. BAltimore, MD USA


4. No


5. NA


6. No





Answering for my daughter





1. 4


2. FM


3. Baltimore, MD USA


4. Yes - Shot


5. Got flu like symptoms


6. NO!!!
Reply:25


female


USA


Yes- flu vaccine


No- not yet but flu seaon not over with


Yes
Reply:1) Almost 37


2)Female


3)New Jersey, USA


4)I got it this past October %26amp; get one every October because of my Diabetes.


5) Nope *knock on wood!*


6)Yes!





You're welcome!!
Reply:1) 40


2) Female


3) USA


4) Not this season, but I have in the past..


5) When I have had the vaccine I did not have symptoms...


6) Yes, because this year I have had flu like symptoms....





Peace.
Reply:girl! grab a phone book and start making sh*t up, there you can find many names and as for the shot, run from it my King got it and he got so sick from it, it is another way for the gov. to get rid of the weak ones who cant' survive the flu, my King is so into his health he came out of it with tons of medication to counter act the crap they put in the shot,
Reply:my age is 44.


I'm female


USA Ohio


two years ago


flu shot


one day after. lasted that day. Nothing serious just stomach ache.


Haven't gotten one since and haven't had the flu. I work with the public!
Reply:37


female


usa


shot vaccine this season and evry year past


no


it is effective but as a supplement ..good handwashing and taking care of your self can help but not prevent it..
Reply:1. 35


2. female


3. USA


4. yes present%26amp; past


5. no


6. yes
Reply:this is my cousin


1) 18


2) girl


3) california, USA


4) shot vaccine, a few months ago, i dont know exactly when


5) yup, a week or two later


6) it helps sometimes, but sometimes it might make matters worse!





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Reply:46


m


uk


shot


no


yes
Reply:51, male, USA, shot last season, no flu symptons last season, yes, seems to work for me.

apricot