Dem staffers get vaccinated before travelling to dangerous places like...

[osprey4]

NASCAR events!

Democratic House staffers, who were attending the Bank of America 500 race as part of a fact-finding mission of health and homeland security issues, took the unusual step of getting inoculated against several rare diseases and a sexually transmitted illness.

Can't be too careful, I suppose, especially if they plan to mingle with the locals.

[The Real Bingo]

Elitists? No, never...

[shawshank62]

hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria and influenza

Those are all standard immunizations, and every american should have them regardless. Let's not turn this into something it's not.

[The Real Bingo]

Those are all standard immunizations, and every american should have them regardless. Let's not turn this into something it's not.

I don't recall recently (or ever) getting an immunization for any of those things...and I don't feel at all susceptible to any of those illnesses. Why some dickhead, elitist Democrats need 'em is beyond me.

[jokostel]

Do they have lead immunizations?

[no1_vern]

I don't recall recently (or ever) getting an immunization for any of those things...and I don't feel at all susceptible to any of those illnesses. Why some dickhead, elitist Democrats need 'em is beyond me.

So, how many strangers do you get close(say, 2 or 3 feet of) to on a daily basis?? 4 -5 ?? How many strangers do you shake hands with or hug on a daily basis? 1(maybe)? When it becomes 50 or 100 daily, let us know about your opinion on vaccinations then. Also, arent you pretty young?? Many of the staffers are in their 40s/50s/60s as a person get older they need more protection.

[The Real Bingo]

So, how many strangers do you get close(say, 2 or 3 feet of) to on a daily basis?? 4 -5 ?? How many strangers do you shake hands with or hug on a daily basis? 1(maybe)? When it becomes 50 or 100 daily, let us know about your opinion on vaccinations then. Also, arent you pretty young?? Many of the staffers are in their 40s/50s/60s as a person get older they need more protection.

I get within "touching" range of a lot of people everyday, seeing as how I have to walk through a college campus every day.

I don't know much about these illnesses, and I don't know how they're spread, but what I do is make sure I keep my hands out of my face - my eyes, mouth, nose mostly. I try to keep any cuts I have away from contact with anything that can carry germs. And I also wash my hands whenever I can.

I also go to the gym 5 days a week, and that's a breeding house for germs. When I'm finished there, I always rub my hands with two squirts of Purell anti-bacterial liquid auto-dry stuff. Seems to do the trick, as I haven't gotten sick in over a year (which is pretty good for me, and, interestingly, about when I started implementing these procedures).

And yes, I am young - 20. So what? My mom is 51 and she never gets sick - it's probably been 10 years. Some people have a strong immune system, some people take precautions as to not get sick (no, not immunizations), and some people are just pussies who think redneck, hillbilly NASCAR fans don't shower more than once a month.

[shawshank62]

I don't recall recently (or ever) getting an immunization for any of those things...and I don't feel at all susceptible to any of those illnesses. Why some dickhead, elitist Democrats need 'em is beyond me.

You may not "recall" getting immunized for any of those illnesses but if you attended public school (which you did), then you were immunized.

Here is information from the CDC on immunization for children, adolescents, and adults.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm

And yes, I am young - 20. So what? My mom is 51 and she never gets sick - it's probably been 10 years. Some people have a strong immune system, some people take precautions as to not get sick (no, not immunizations), and some people are just pussies who think redneck, hillbilly NASCAR fans don't shower more than once a month.

Regardless of your immune system you are still vulnerable to hep A, hep B, diphtheria, tetanus, and influenza. (And if you are immunocompromised you are especially vulnerable!). Thats why it's necessary to receive booster shots throughout one's lifetime to have continued protection from these horrible diseases.

[The Real Bingo]

You may not "recall" getting immunized for any of those illnesses but if you attended public school (which you did), then you were immunized.

Here is information from the CDC on immunization for children, adolescents, and adults.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm

Regardless of your immune system you are still vulnerable to hep A, hep B, diphtheria, tetanus, and influenza. (And if you are immunocompromised you are especially vulnerable!). Thats why it's necessary to receive booster shots throughout one's lifetime to have continued protection from these horrible diseases.

Hmm, OK.

I have a few questions...

1. How often do "normal" people (not congresspeople's servants) get these vaccinations?
2. How many people in the USA currently have the aforementioned diseases?
3. How easily are these diseases transmitted?
4. And why is the flu vaccine so publicized, but these aren't?
5. This one you probably can't answer, but...do these congressional butlers get these vaccinations when they go to any other large event or meeting?

[no1_vern]

1.Flu-once yearly. For hep A, hep B, diphtheria CDC schedule here

2. Many millions.

3. (4)For flu getting within 3-5 feet of an infected person, and the strongest flu strain changes eachyear, jeopardizing peoples' health. ANY given year you may have 1 or 2 strongly infectious strains in the wild with another 5-10 in the background knocking off the weaker people. That is why it is treated much more often.

Being around/touching people who have had strains of Hep A/B or Dip can cause you to be infected IF you dont have your shots.

For tetanus its a toxin - any open wound can cause tetanus. You need BOOSTER shots every 5-7 years IF you do not work around metals. If you work around metals it is a good idea to have yearlys.

5. anyone who deals with large numbers of unknown people should get them or who may be at risk. These "congressional butlers " as you call them may be asked to be in a crowd of thousands.

[shawshank62]

Hmm, OK.

I have a few questions...

1. How often do "normal" people (not congresspeople's servants) get these vaccinations?
2. How many people in the USA currently have the aforementioned diseases?
3. How easily are these diseases transmitted?
4. And why is the flu vaccine so publicized, but these aren't?
5. This one you probably can't answer, but...do these congressional butlers get these vaccinations when they go to any other large event or meeting?

1. The CDC's Immunization Schedules for children, adolescents, and adults.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm

2.
Hepatitis A - This is spread through feces, and most will recover w/o complications.
Hepatitis B - 1.25 Million Americans
Hepatitis C - 4.1 Million Americans
Diphtheria - "Approximately 0.001 cases per 100,000 population in the U.S. since 1980"
Tetanus - During 1998-2000, there were 124 reported cases of tetanus
Influenza - 1/5 of the population will get the flu. (~35,000 will die from it)

3. All of these disease are easily communicable (that's why you need the vaccine!). Hepatitis A, B, C are all caused by a virus and are typically transmitted through body fluids. Tetanus is a bacterial infection that occurs to an open wound. Influenza and diphtheria are spread through airborne particles and direct contact.

4. These other vaccines don't need to be publicized because most people receive the immunizations through childhood and adolescence. And then other boosters throughout the rest of their life. The effects of these diseases are devastating, and thus vaccination is necessary. To prevent the spread of these diseases most of the population has to be vaccinated (herd immunity) and thus that's why everyone gets these shots.

The influenza virus is always changing; that's why every year you hear about people getting the vaccine. Influenza ranges from mild to severe to deadly. Certain segments of the population are more at risk than others; children, older adults, and immunocompromised people. About one-fifth of the population will get the flu every year, and what the vaccine does is builds up immunity and help prevent severe illness and complications.

5. If someone is not up to date on their immunizations it is a good idea to get them. Especially when traveling out of the country, additional immunizations are required.

[The Real Bingo]

1.Flu-once yearly. For hep A, hep B, diphtheria CDC schedule here

Thanks.

2. Many millions.

For all these diseases combined, or each? And what's "many millions". Could you possibly be more specific?

3. (4)For flu getting within 3-5 feet of an infected person, and the strongest flu strain changes eachyear, jeopardizing peoples' health. ANY given year you may have 1 or 2 strongly infectious strains in the wild with another 5-10 in the background knocking off the weaker people. That is why it is treated much more often.

OK.

Being around/touching people who have had strains of Hep A/B or Dip can cause you to be infected IF you dont have your shots.

Well, to my recollection, I haven't had my shots...I'm not too worried.

For tetanus its a toxin - any open wound can cause tetanus. You need BOOSTER shots every 5-7 years IF you do not work around metals. If you work around metals it is a good idea to have yearlys.

I'm not sure when my last booster was, but thank you.

5. anyone who deals with large numbers of unknown people should get them or who may be at risk. These "congressional butlers " as you call them may be asked to be in a crowd of thousands.

Oh boo hoo. I'm in a "crowd of thousands" every day. Hell, I've been to Philadelphia sporting events, many a time, without a second thought to getting an STD. Many people deal with large crowds all the time.

Maybe they were all due for their STD shots and the other shots all at the same time. Maybe it's one big coincidence. But I doubt it.

I think this pretty much tells the tale...

"There is clearly no justification for these shots," a Republican committee staffer said. "Even the House physician said they do not recommend the shots for domestic travel.

"Despite Democratic claims, we have yet to hear of a single health official that would recommend shots for this trip," the staffer said. "There is zero precedent that there is a need for this."

Mr. Poston added : "No one is telling NASCAR fans to get immunization shots."

[no1_vern]

TRB: For EACH.

no< Your in the SAME CROWD each day.

[shawshank62]

Stop looking at it from a Democrat / Republican issue, and just look at it as a good common sense health issue. If these people weren't up to date on their immunizations then its a good thing that they are now.

Oh boo hoo. I'm in a "crowd of thousands" every day. Hell, I've been to Philadelphia sporting events, many a time, without a second thought to getting an STD. Many people deal with large crowds all the time.

You can't get a STD from casual contact or respiratory droplets...so you don't have to worry about that. And you've already been immunized for all the other diseases, so you can rest easy....Though you may want to check on the last time you got a tetanus shot.

[The Real Bingo]

TRB: For EACH.

no< Your in the SAME CROWD each day.

I consider America the same crowd each day. Like the staffer said, getting immunizations to attend a domestic event is unprecedented.

Stop looking at it from a Democrat / Republican issue, and just look at it as a good common sense health issue. If these people weren't up to date on their immunizations then its a good thing that they are now.

I don't understand how it's a "common sense health issue" if it's only these aides getting their vaccinations. If this NASCAR event is so treacherous, why isn't the whole crowd getting a recommendation to be inoculated?

[shawshank62]

This is pointless, I think you just feel like arguing.


Was it necessary for the staffers to get the immunizations? Probably not.
Does it hurt anyone? Nope.
Who cars? Not me.

[The Real Bingo]

This is pointless, I think you just feel like arguing.

I'm always up for a good debate (see my title). I don't know what "arguing" is, though.

By the way...that's what I'd say, too, if I knew I couldn't win the "argument".

[no1_vern]

The whole crowd IS being told to do so. Many simply distegard it as an unneeded precaution. So they go without proper precautions, infect others or are infected themselves. Its the best of both worlds. Darwins rule -either you survive or you dont.

Look at it this way. Immunizations are like rain coats or an umbrella. You have one to keep from getting wet when it rains. Some people have them some dont. Those that dont get wet.

[The Real Bingo]

The whole crowd IS being told to do so. Many simply distegard it as an unneeded precaution. So they go without proper precautions, infect others or are infected themselves. Its the best of both worlds. Darwins rule -either you survive or you dont.

Look at it this way. Immunizations are like rain coats. You have one to keep from getting wet when it rains.

I haven't gotten a flu shot in years - I think I had one when I was going through chemo 7 years ago, but that was the last time. All the flu scares were directed at the elderly and infants - people who have a weak immune system. My guess is these staffers were no older than 50 and in decent enough health that they didn't need any of these.

[shawshank62]

It doesn't matter, anyone can get a flu shot! The flu is not something to fool around with. While it is absolutely necessary for the young, elderly, and immunocompromised, it is still a good precaution for anybody.