Officials this year are urging nearly everyone to get a flu shot or nasal spray
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comThird of Americans have gotten flu shot this year
Seeded on Fri Dec 3, 2010 2:42 PM EST (msnbc.com)
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Got mine already- can't risk losing work time if I get sick.
Hopefully you won't get the flu anyway.
I babysat a toddler that got a flu shot and yup, she got the flu and gave it to me. You dont really know what's in that shot.
Lots of mythology around the flu shots:
1) Children's flu shots are mono-valent, protect only against the most prevalent strain of flu and do not contain Thimerosol. The nasal sprays are also mono-valent and do not contain Thimerosol.
2) No vaccine has ever contained elemental mercury. Period. That is just a myth.
3) Adult flu shots contain Thimerosol as a preservative because they contain the 3-4 most likely strains of the flu and as a result the risk of contamination is about 700 times as great as with a mono-valent flu shot.
4) Many people just get the common cold or rhinovirus and call it the flu. If you have the flu, you know it. The flu takes 4-6 weeks to recover completely from.
5) If you get the flu shot, it takes up to 6 weeks for your immune system to completely respond to the vaccine and give you full protection. It is closer to the six weeks for older people and children and closer to 4 weeks for young adults.
6) If you don't get a flu shot, you are depending for protection on about 70% of the people around you getting it. This is what it takes for "herd immunity" which is what you are really talking about.
7) Your body has zero immunity to any strain of the flu that you have not personally had. Period. You can drink all the orange juice and take all the pills in the world. Your immune system requires exposure to produce antibodies. All the new age home remedies in the world won't adequately substitute.
8) Flu shots do not give people the flu. That is an old wives tale.
9) People don't get flu shots because they are scared of shots. They rationalize all day, but the reasons, according to numerous studies are a) afraid of shots, b) too inconvenient, c) too expensive.
I get really tired of whiny Luddites who constantly try to rationalize the irrational. Americans are such cowards --- afraid of everything that moves and a great number of things that don't. If they can't find a bogey man to fear, they will make one up. Get over it.
You do it your way. I'll do it my way.
Exactly, Chris-749391. Americans are afraid of getting the flu so they voluntarily get a shot that contains the flu. The media and medical community pump fear into Americans, which drives them to get an often unnecessary vaccine. Why is it that so many Americans never get the flu shots also never get the flu, while many Americans get the flu shot and still get the flu? Like debtfree said, you do it your way, and I'll do it my way.
I would recommend that anyone thinking of getting a flu shot take the time to actually read what the little booklet has to say about the contents of the vaccine and it's potential side effects.
To me, getting a shot which contains MERCUARY, among other bad things, is not worth the risk. There have also been numerous reports of children who get their flu shots having seizures and getting very sick from them.
I have not been forced to take a flu vaccine since I was in college. I have not been sick at any point in the last 10 years as a result.
Do some research and protect your family from the potential negative side effects of these dangerous concoctions!
BTW: they have been hyping Swine flu since 1973 to trick people into getting vaccinated! don't believe me? Google it.
I got my first flu shot last year. For the first time ever I didn't get the flu during winter. I was the first in line to get a flu shot this year. Apparently they work.
the nasal version of the flu shot does NOT contain thiomersal and neither do flu shots that contain only 1 strain of the virus. also the childrens verson of the shot doesnt have thiomersal either.
AND the 1973 swine flu was a COMPLETELY different strain of last years swine flu.
bisco....
Probably coincidence. I and MANY people have never had the flu shot and have never had the flu. Yet many get the flu shot and then get very sick ( the flu) from it....
Research your options. Unless your immunity is compromissed due to age or illness.....it's luck of the draw.
The last time I got the flu shot I ended up in the hospital deathly ill. I was in 7th grade and missed 6 weeks of school and never really did catch up. I am 50 now, and to this date have never had a flu shot. I get sick occassionally, but never down for more than a day or two. A day or two against 6 weeks..... I will NEVER get the flu shot again. I have had friends and coworkers recently who have been rushing to be first in line for the thing, most of them end up deathly ill. Sorry, not for me.
Live a healthy conscientious lifestyle and you don't need a flu shot.
buffallo patties. Viruses and bacteria don't care about conscientious.
We don't get flu shots in this family. Over the years, my family has built up a natural immunity, to the flu, colds, etc. I'm almost never sick, and when I get sick, I let the virus run it's course. If you do this, your immunity will get stronger over the years. It's because I'm not exposed to every little shot. Besides, I don't trust doctors, let alone their needles. Go listen to George Carlin's fear of germs, or read it, and you'll know what I mean.
With ya!!!
BS!
I, almost, never get sick, and if I do it's a day or two in bed and off to live my life afterword. I caught the N1H1 last year, I did try 'and let it run it's course'. Guess what, I ended up hospitalized four times and had two surgeries. The nurse told me I was one of the most dehydrated people she'd ever seen (my tongue was grey and pitted). It attacked my liver (to the point they accused me of being an alcoholic...I hadn't had a drink in years) and (I'm not sure if I was ripe for it or it would of happened anyway....) gallbladder. I spent four months in and out of the hospital and six months recovery.
My family, We all got the flu shots this year...
I don't even remember when I have had the flu. Maybe never. I never get the shots, either. I'll do it when I get a little older. But I never take health tips from George Carlin, either.
I agree with y'all. I can't remember the last time I had a flu shot (has been AT LEAST 20 years), and I've NEVER gotten the flu (knock on wood). And after learning what I've learned about the medical community and pharma companies over the past 5 years, I have no plans of getting a flu shot any time soon. And why does this article not mention that the flu shot does not always protect you against the flu, as there can be many different strains. Flu shots must be a money maker. Why else insist EVERYONE get one? No thank you. I do my own research.
Got my shot about 3 weeks ago. Im very fit and healthy. But ive had the real flu and dont want it again. Its bad news.
When you care for the children and elderly affected by the flu in the emergency room setting you would have full understanding of why the flu vaccine is a smart choice. I have been in healthcare fo 25 years and have had the vaccine every year with no ill side effects, ever. We all have a choice mine is for vaccination and yes, I have researched vaccines.
Multi dose vial flu contains thimerosol not mercury, there is a very big difference. Do some study on the difference between ethyl and methyl mercury and then you won't have to spout off scare tactics when your science is painfully absent.
One thing you failed to mention is the number of children and adults who die every year because they fail to get a flu shot. Ask their parents if they now think it's a good idea. I would say death is a pretty big risk as well
Last but not least, you can request a thimerosal free flu vaccine in either the .25 or .5 dose.
http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004876.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/55507.php
"There is a big gap between policies promoting annual influenza vaccinations for most children and adults and supporting scientific evidence," said epidemiologist Tom Jefferson, Cochrane Vaccines Field, Rome, Italy, who coordinated the comprehensive analysis for the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration. "Given the significant resources involved in annual mass influenza campaigns, there is urgent need for re-evaluation of these strategies."
I know this isn't going to change anybody's mind, but I have gotten the flu shot every year for decades now, with no side effects. I did get the flu one year, before I started getting the vaccine, and was sicker than I have ever been in my life, for a month! No thank you....not taking that risk again.
You need to let your body work for you. Getting vacccines don't let your body buld up it's natural immunities. I have never had the flu shot and have never gotten the flu...?! Yet I know many who get the flu shot every year and still get the flu.
Go figure....eat well, sleep well, good handwashing and using common sense precautions has fared well for my family.
Heck no to the flu shot. It is just the flu, people, and the prevention rate of the vaccine is crappy if it works at all.
I am a Family Physician in CT.
1) 12,000 deaths from the flu last year - just in the U.S.! not "just the flu."
2) Not heard of one death from vaccine that I know of.
Don't mislead the general public here doc.......
The "FLU" hasn't caused any deaths. The deaths came from complications from being ill. Folks with already compromissed immunity systems fall victim to respiratory issues, dehydration issues and so forth.....
flu doesn't kill people......it's complications do.
And your point is what? .... that we shouln't get flu vaccines because it's the "complications" that will kill people? Doesn't make much sense. Either/or... flu shots save lives.
My point is be clear in your statement. Don't mislead the public by stating the "FLU" kills people because it doesn't......and if you are a medical professional than you know that.
We also don't know if flu shots SAVE lives...that's a very controversial and subjective statement. Many folks who get the flu shot get sick none the less and have complications as well. As many people who don't get vaccinated and get the flu and are fine.
My daughter has asthma, I make sure she gets the shot every year. One year, before she started to get the shots she caught the flu and was a very very sick little girl. Yes, complications kill. How did those unlucky 12,000 get these complications?
I agree with Doc!
It's not the fall off the building that kills you, it's the complication of hitting the ground.
Wow... Actually 100% of all deaths are from lack of oxygen to the brain. But if you want to get technical, the complications of flu don't kill people, the complications of those complications kill people. Most that die from flu, actually die from complications of pneumonia (a complication of flu). Some die from complications of diarrhea and vomiting (a complication of flu).
And people do die (or have serious complications) from the flu vaccine, just like any other vaccine. I almost died from DTaP. It was the pertussis vaccine I had a reaction to. I am now not protected against Pertussis.
And to the people who say you got the flu from the flu vaccine... You don't get the flu from the vaccine. You get flu-like symptoms. My son has gotten sick everytime hes gotten vaccinated for anything. (No flu shot yet but he will this year) He has flu-like symptoms everytime. Fever, diarrhea, congestion, etc... Its your body fighting the vaccine that you got. Yes some people get a 'live' flu vaccine, but I got one flu shot in my life. It wasn't a live vaccine, it was an actual shot. The live vaccine is the nasal dose. I got sick. I didnt get the flu, I had a reaction to the shot.
I thought that we were supposed to lose millions with the world wide pandemic we had. I guess we're just lucky to be posting here.
It comes down to protecting yourself if your immunity is already compromissed due to illness or age.
Very young, very old and those who can't fight infection well should get vaccinated. For those who are healthy and strong...it's still up for debate. Do I want unnecessary vaccinations running through my body....um...not sure. Vaccines in principle I agree with...but I also want natural immunities to build up in my system.
Judgement call. Both of my teens and myself have never had a flu shot and have never been sick. Husband got flu shot 3 seperate times and was very sick.....
go figure!
Well nobody at Walmart in Spencer, Iowa got one this season. Those guys were all hacking and coughing and blowing their noses all over my groceries this morning.
I have not had the flu (that I know) while an adult and have not missed a day of work for any kind of illness for the last 36 years. Yet, each year, for at least the last 10 years, I have taken a flu shot so that the infirm in my family, both those who are older and who are younger so that I will not pass a flu germ to them.
RUN THE SKY IS FALLING!! Get a flu shot and get sick. I stopped getting flu shots and stopped getting the flu. the last few years the federal gov. has said the flu will kill millions. More people died from boredom than the flu.
I talked to a lady who got the shot last week and said "I got the flu shot and it gave me the flu".
I'v never had the shot, but I did get the flu a couple of years ago and it was pretty bad. I thought I was going to die. That was the only day of work I missed in 6 straight years. My wife wanted to take me to the hospital, but I said I don't think I could survive the ride in the car. It was miserable.
After researching this flu vaccine, I decided to vaccinate my son this year. I did not vaccinate last year, but since the reactions were minimal, and H1N1 is still active, I decided the benefits outweighed the risks. He did fine with the nasal mist, I think it was the right thing to do. I am extra cautious about vaccines for him because he did have a reaction to the DTaP when he was an infant, but I think those of us who can vaccinate have a responsibility to those who can't, like infants, pregnant women, and people with egg allergies, to vaccinate when we can.
6 years without the flu shot, 6 years without the flu. Prior 6 years mandatory vaccination (Navy regulations), 6 years of 3-4 days SIQ with the flu. I'll pass.
ANYONE EVER HEARD OF "thimerosal"?
it's a fancy word for "MERCURY".
and SOME of your "flu-shots",
contain this !! IF YOU THINK I'M FULL OF $H!T,
GOGGLE IT. OF COURSE, YOUR GOVT, THAT "REALLY CARES"
ABOUT YOU, WILL SAY, "it's o.k., a little won't kill you ".
bu!!$h!t ......not to mention that all you are getting is
LAST YEARS FLU STRAIN, how does that help you this year ?
it does'nt. but it probably WILL make you sick.
it's a money making scam & your govt, who loves you so much,(phooeey),
is the beneficiary. WAKE UP AMERICA ....
Actually its not last years flu strain... they find out what flu is circulating in Asia at the beginning of the year and base the vaccine off of that. It is true that it may not protect you well from the actual strain that makes it around to us, but it is sometimes better than nothing. Also thimerosal is not mercury, don't believe me then google it. It is an organic compound that contains mercury. Have you ever heard of seafood? Did you know that mercury is in seafood? If you didn't then google it. In fact mercury is actually in just about anything you eat, though seafood has the greatest concentrations of it. Yes it can cause issues and be deadly in high doses, but the small amount in the flu vaccine won't kill you. And by the time the next year comes around the mercury you got from the shot would be gone from your body (though probably replaced by food you eat on a normal basis.
If you are worried about mercury in your flu-shot then don't get the shot, get the nasal spray.
And yes you just might get sick, just like any other vaccine you had as a child. But it is nothing like the actual flu. You may be sick for a few days (mild cold-like symptoms). When you get the flu you are sick for weeks, and im not talking about runny nose, I'm talking about I really shouldn't go to work because I am having trouble getting out of bed sick.
If you don't want to get a shot then don't. I am only doing so because I have a toddler. I will get a shot for a few more years to help protect him and then probably stop just because I dont like shots. I also dont want the nasal spray because I have alot of sinus issues.
Just because I don't get a shot every year doesn't mean I spread misinformation.
Becca- you're a know it all that really doesnt know much..
by the way , this is NOT a myth, i have a family member that has
worked @ a hospital for over 20 years. but it's your life, your choice.
See my above post, I have lots of family members that have worked in hospitals for years plus I am a nurse... Please stop spreading misinformation
I was debating on getting the flu vaccine this year. I get it most years, but this year it only came with the H1N1 in it. I was unsure about this addition. In October, my husband found out that one of his friends' husband was in the hospital with paralysis. It had come on him so suddenly that as he was talking to 911, he could no longer hold on to the phone. After getting to the hospital and then being transfered to a teaching hospital, the doctors told him that all they could figure was that it was due to the flu shot he had gotten a couple weeks before. I was shocked! Doctors were actually saying it was due to a flu shot. I then read that flu shots jump=start your immune system and sometimes they cause it to attack the sheaths around nerves. I think I'll take my chances with the flu.