Civic duty

[jethrien]

I've got the day off, so not only have I voted, I've also given blood. Yay for being all dutiful and such!

Comments

[cubby-t-bear.livejournal.com]

Do not give blood and get a flu shot on the same day!

[freekofnature.livejournal.com]

It's OK to donate the blood FIRST, and then later in the day to get the flu shot. Although most sane people will wait a three day interval between procedures... More important, get the Pneumovax 21 at the same time, just in different arms... This is really important, Pneumovax 21 protects against the dreaded "flesh eating bacteria" and, of course, Pneumonia. (Lots cheaper than a week in the Hospital, I can assure you!)

[cubby-t-bear.livejournal.com]

No, both are terrible ideas. One way, you introduce a virus into your system and weaken your immune system at the same time.

The other way, you introduce a virus into your system, weaken your immune system, and infect the blood supply.

The second is much worse, since people getting blood transfusions are probably even weaker than you are after donating blood, but both strike me as stupendously bad ideas.

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

Yeah, seriously, what's wrong with waiting a few days?

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

You're not allowed to do the second. One of the questions on the form is specifically about whether you've had an immunization recently.

ummmm,

[freekofnature.livejournal.com]

Actually donating blood strengthens your body. It stimulates the spleen and liver into generating new blood cells and hemopoiesis (making immature red blood cells stored up, mature into adult red blood cells) and strengthens your response in case of a future injury. Regular blood donors survival rates, in car crashes, are much much higher than those who do not.

Also getting vaccines, any vaccines, strengthens and activates your immune system! Keeping it in shape to ward off a real infection by real bacteria and viruses, instead of the weakened, half dead, and dead ones (viruses aren't "alive" but they can be made "non-infectous" easily) that they use to make vaccines...

Like anything else in or on your body, "Use it, or lose it!"

Re: ummmm,

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Ummm, yeah. Long term. Not an hour later. You've weakened your system for several hours afterwards, at least, which is why they tell you not to do stuff like exercise.

In summary, flu shot and donating blood are good. On the same day is a really, really stupid idea.