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Are you getting a Flu shot?

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pixelsmith

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I am wondering how many forum members are going to go get a Flu vaccination this year.
 
Not likely, but I haven't gotten a flu shot in a dozen years...and only then to placate the owner of the business where I work...and haven't had the flu in over 20 years. I do get my share of seasonal colds though; 2-3 a year but thankfully of short duration (48-60 hrs.) I have heard but never looked at the claim that certain infections can't get a foothold uf your body is fighting another infection. If this is true, I'll stick with my 2 1/2 day colds.
 
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The last flu shot I recieved was 4 years ago. My arm swelled from my elbow to my pecs, turned hot and bright red, and hurt to move it. Lasted for several days. My doctor(at the time) told me not to worry about it, that sometimes happens. And that was all she would tell me. She wouldn't comment on the why's or how's, which frustrated and pissed me off to no end.
I refuse to get another one until a medical or pharmacy professional can explain to me exactly why I reacted that way.
I think that's reasonable. Doctors and Pharmacists don't see it that way though, they seem to want me to just shut up and deal with it.
 
The Mrs. and I do it every year. Cost is slight or non-existent. Never had a complication, but some people around us have already gotten flu this season. So we feel lucky — so far.
 
Never will...Thimerasol is 49% mercury. Now I know some will bring up the difference between "Ethyl" and "Methyl" but its like the difference between arsenic and cyanide. Mercury is no good for your neurology. End of story. My son has never been vaccinated and he has never been seriously ill in his life. Strong and healthy, luckily. Don't be fooled by the idea they wouldn't put anything bad in the shots... keep in mind they put fluoride in the water we drink. No officials speak out about that either. Do your own research on the whole vaccine thing. Even if it is not THAT harmful, is it worth say 2-3 % decrease in cognitive ability or neuronal function. One billionth of a percent is TOO much when it comes to my families health. Just not worth it. Rather hug the porcelain pony for a few days that loose IQ points.
 
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exo_doc said:
The last flu shot I recieved was 4 years ago. My arm swelled from my elbow to my pecs, turned hot and bright red, and hurt to move it. Lasted for several days. My doctor(at the time) told me not to worry about it, that sometimes happens. And that was all she would tell me. She wouldn't comment on the why's or how's, which frustrated and pissed me off to no end.
I refuse to get another one until a medical or pharmacy professional can explain to me exactly why I reacted that way.
I think that's reasonable. Doctors and Pharmacists don't see it that way though, they seem to want me to just shut up and deal with it.
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Doctors are not responsible for any adverse reactions or death that may occur from taking a vaccine.
 
That should tell you everything about vaccines, doesn't it. You can't sue vaccine companies either if they kill you or your loved ones.. They have ZERO liability for the crap they want you to pump in your arm. If the forced fluoridation of our water doesn't make you docile and dimwitted enough...vaccines will.
 
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Gene Steinberg said:
Well, I suppose just about anything can kill you. After hearing all the warnings, I've decided to live out my days in a tiny box. :)
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Well I suppose there is such thing as reasonable risk, But Given all the bad mojo I've heard about flu vaccines and the fact that the predicted epidemics (?) Don't seem to pan out I'm glad I haven't shot up year after year after year. All that added preservatives won't be of any help. I've been wearing contact lenses for decades and thermisol was once a prime ingredient and now it's almost impossible to find a product that HAS it, at least in the states probably for good reason as it was used daily. .I don't think an occasional flu vaccine is going to harm you if there is enough evidence that it's going to be especially lethal or debilitating flu season .I.e. the front page is filled with casualties, but that hasn't happened. I suppose there is a segment of the population that will point out this hasn't happened BECAUSE many people did "their part" and got the inoculation but I would be skeptical of that reasoning.
 
I'm planning on getting a flu shot - if I'm able. I tried to get a flu shot last year, but the clinics and pharmacies near where I live were consistently sold out. My mother is exactly twice my age and gets a flu shot every single year. She never gets sick with anything and is among the healthier people I know. On the other hand, she's had friends who have become critically ill from complications of the flu. My friend Sean (whom I've mentioned on this forum) died at the age of 46, partly due to complications from H1N1,

Regarding thimerosal: I've noticed on this forum that those who fear thimerosal choose to either ignore or forget that it isn't used in any single-dose vials of the flu vaccine. This is because single-dose vials are used only once and immediately disposed. In addition, most of the flu vaccinations I've personally seen or used over the past several years are live-attenuated versions (ie, the nasal spray). These never contain thimerosal. I can't remember the last time my pharmacy or doctor even used an injection for the vaccination. For one thing, it's easier for a pharmacist or other medical professional to simply hand out nasal sprays rather than worry about the proper use, storage and disposal of syringes. This is doubtless why the nasal spray versions of the vaccination are so popular.

This isn't to say that thimerosal is never used in flu vaccines. Sometimes, the vaccine can be produced in multi-dose vials, though this usually happens only in larger vaccination campaigns. If this is the case, only small amounts of thimerosal might be used in order to prevent dangerous or deadly strains of bacteria from forming in the vials. Thimerosal has been safely used as a preservative to prevent bacterial growth in vaccines for more than 70 years. We should also keep in mind that while thimerosal contains 49% ethylmercury, flu vaccinations only have traces of thimerosal - if they have any thimerosal at all. Most of the vaccinations that are available to us are either going to be the live-attenuated sprays or shots from the single-dose vials. Therefore, fear of thimerosal really shouldn't impact whether or not we get a vaccination. If anyone is concerned about thimerosal in a vaccination, it's easy enough to ask the medical professional about the type of vaccination being used. One phone call tell us if the vaccination is in a spray form, a single-dose vial or a multi-dose vial. If we don't like the answer at one place, we can call around to other clinics and pharmacies in the area.
 
pixelsmith said:
Doctors are not responsible for any adverse reactions or death that may occur from taking a vaccine.
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That's good to know Pixel, but (not being a smart ass here) I'm more interested in why my body reacted to that vaccine.
Am I allergic to it? If not, then what?
I received what feels like gallons of vaccines while in the Army, but I never had such a bad reaction to them before.
Seriously there can be only two reasons Dr's and pharmacists won't give me a straight answer:
1. They don't know why and won't admit it.
2. They don't want me to know,...and won't admit it.

So until medical persons come clean about it, I'll just wash my hands and spray everything with Lysol.
 
I wonder if you have an accumulation of "stuff" left in you that reacted with new "stuff"?
 
I'm a 60+ year old diabetic so the choice in my case was fairly clear. Don't think I have ever had any reaction of consequence from flu vaccine. I believe Renaissance Lady's assessment of the thimerosal issue is accurate. It has been gradually phased out over the years in favor of other formulations and is mostly not found in flu vaccinations at all. Although, the vaccinations I get for flu have always been by injection and never a nasal spray.

Have to admit the mercury issue has always seemed puzzling. On the one hand "they" tell us mercury is a deadly poison to be avoided in all concentrations and at all costs. Then they put it in vaccines and dental fillings and tell us not to worry. Go figure.
 
I have had the flu shot only once and that was to avoid bringing home diseases to the new born babe in our home. Having my first child made me listen to the rhetoric of innoculation. But then i quickly reverted to my old ways and old attitudes which have always been, whatever doesn't kill you makes your antibodies stronger.

Working in a school setting is like being bathed in germs every day so I feel each year, like Wade, I get a minor illness and move on. It's rare that I get knocked down for more than a couple of days, if at all. I'm banking on the natural anti-bodies I've made.

I know, from reviewing the literature that vaccines do not cause autism, and that a lot of disease has been eradicated by vaccines so my kids have all the big ones to avoid sudden death now, as we see those teens who get meningitis drop two days later, or to prevent those adult disasters who never got measles or mumps while young. My kids have never gotten a flu shot though.

There's a strange random prediction game that comes with the flu shot as they guess which strains will dominate next year and this can be wrong, and then herd innocukation is bogus. I'm concerned about reactions like exo_doc describes as these tell me that this vaccine is still in development or unique personal bio-chemistry is having unpredictable reactions - that is a normal event. Sometimes, it's good to let new vaccines ripple through the population for 5-10 years to see all the impacts before doing what should be logical, protecting yourself against known disease with the best medical option.
 
boomerang said:
I'm a 60+ year old diabetic so the choice in my case was fairly clear. Don't think I have ever had any reaction of consequence from flu vaccine. I believe Renaissance Lady's assessment of the thimerosal issue is accurate. It has been gradually phased out over the years in favor of other formulations and is mostly not found in flu vaccinations at all. Although, the vaccinations I get for flu have always been by injection and never a nasal spray.

Have to admit the mercury issue has always seemed puzzling. On the one hand "they" tell us mercury is a deadly poison to be avoided in all concentrations and at all costs. Then they put it in vaccines and dental fillings and tell us not to worry. Go figure.
Click to expand...
RL is correct but she doesn't mention other additives. I would be interested in hearing of any vaccine induced side effects people here experience this year.
 
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