Flu Shots

[alivenwell]

Are you planning on getting a flu shot this fall?

[RobinN]

Nope... they still put thimerisol in them.

Plus I would rather focus on keeping healthy prior to the season. I made it through this whole year without any cold, flu or migraine.

[Bernard]

I have never had a flu shot and I never plan on getting one.

[morgan381]

I have never had one, don't plan on ever getting one either. Luckily, I've never had the flu either...hope to keep it that way

[Crazy Monkey]

I have had a flu shot every year and have done since my teens, knock on wood I have gone 30 years without having flu, whether it is down to the flu shot or luck I don't know, but something is working.

[Loudmouth]

After how bad the flu made my seizures this year (i had 'flu in march) I had to have my meds doubled, new ones added, I was in and out of NCSE for 3 days solid, the hospital wouldn't keep me in, kept sending me home, to rest (with 3 kids - HA!). I WILL DEFINATELY HAVE THE FLU JAB THIS YEAR. i NEVER want to feel like that again!!! I was running a temp of 104 and having to drag myself up to get the kids to school just so I could get the rest while they were out!!!

[alivenwell]

My initial flu shot made me feel lousy. But, every year after that point has prevented me from getting any serious version of the flu if they accurately predict it.
I think Loudmouth's experience will inspire me to get the shot again this year.

[RobinN]

I have a friend that was forced to get the shot, and she had a horrendous reaction. It has ruined her health and she has had to quit working. She had a career in health.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...-part-two.aspx

Dr Mercola's view of the flu shot:

Please don't put your hopes and trust for preventing the flu in a vaccine that doesn't work. You can review my flu vaccine alternative article for ways in which you can authentically avoid and treat the flu.

What you MUST understand is that people are dying from the flu because they are already sick and have compromised immune systems. The ultimate treatment for the flu is proactive prevention. Eat the right foods, avoid the junk, get plenty of rest and stay emotionally balanced--all presented in detail in my new book--and you and the flu symptoms will likely never meet.

Start focusing NOW on eating properly. That means STOP with the junk foods and fast foods, STOP with the sugary foods, the processed grains, and the trans-fats. That means INCREASE the healthy and essential fats like the omega-3 found in cod liver oil, the good carbohydrates like those in vegetables, and the healthy proteins like those in clean, naturally raised meats (i.e., NOT the kind you typically find in grocery stores) like free-range chicken. That means learn your metabolic type as soon as possible so you know what proportion of fats, carbs and proteins are ideal to build YOUR immune system (and help you optimize your weight, and increase energy, and avoid premature aging).

I guarantee that this--and not vaccines and pills--is the answer. I have spent over two decades developing my dietary program, and through my respected clinic it has proven to help tens of thousands of people build their immunity, overcome disease (most far more serious than the flu), optimize their weight and increase their energy.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...art-eight.aspx

[speber]

I have a friend that was forced to get the shot, and she had a horrendous reaction......

My brother-in-law's older brother took one a few years back.
He went from being the strapping owner and operator of his own gym (he was in GREAT shape) to dependent on others and wheelchair-bound for life. He can barely walk...has use of only one arm...and can't sit upright.

I won't be taking a flu shot anytime soon.

[skillefer]

Nope....I never get the flu shots. They tend to make me sick. I know, sounds weird, but I swear I get a case of the flu every time I get the flu shot. So, for the last couple of years, I haven't gotten the shot. I figure my immune system works pretty good since I get exposed to every germ and bug that enters my classroom thanks to the students.

[Molly97]

After reading what Dogtor J says about viruses in the body, there is no way that I'm getting one.
Last year, we got our flu shots like good little people; two months later, hubby came down with some flu strain that had him out of work for three weeks and feeling lousy for another three weeks.

[Cinnabar]

My brother-in-law's older brother took one a few years back.
He went from being the strapping owner and operator of his own gym (he was in GREAT shape) to dependent on others and wheelchair-bound for life. He can barely walk...has use of only one arm...and can't sit upright.

I won't be taking a flu shot anytime soon.

First fews shots, still got the flu. Just past years ago, have been talked into it by my doctor. OK in the winters but after hearing your account of what happened to your brother-in-law, I'll be reconsidering! Always Laurie

[Cinnabar]

Nope... they still put thimerisol in them.

Plus I would rather focus on keeping healthy prior to the season. I made it through this whole year without any cold, flu or migraine.

What on earth is Thimerisol? Sounds like a cross between some kind of liquid cold remedy and the the household cleaner, Pine Sole. (And God knows what's in that! I'm cleaning "green", now).

But way, back to the point. What is it that's been injected into my arm? This Thimerisol? I've had flu shots because I have a weakend immune system - Epstein Bar Syndrome and have fear of getting sick and run down. But after reading Speber's story about his brother-in-law, I'll never have another one again! Always Laurie

[epileric]

So I looked it up.... here ya go.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal

I also researched it a bit & the scientific studies haven't shown it to be harmful, despite having taken it out of most the vaccinations.

RESULTS:
The authors found no statistically significant associations between thimerosal exposure from vaccines early in life and six of the seven latent constructs. There was a small, but statistically significant association between early thimerosal exposure and the presence of tics in boys.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21785120

CONCLUSIONS:

In our study of MCO members, prenatal and early-life exposure to ethylmercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines and immunoglobulin preparations was not related to increased risk of ASDs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20837594

Also, "Dr" Mercola has been known to be rather incompetent in most medical circles.

Mercola.com is a horrible chimera of tabloid journalism, late-night infomercials, and amateur pre-scientific medicine, and is the primary web presence of Joseph Mercola. Unfortunately, it is also one of the more popular alternative medicine sites on the web and as such is uncommonly efficient at spreading misinformation. I am not a fan, and have addressed his dross in the past.

http://getbetterhealth.com/joseph-me...ion/2009.10.23

As a followup to my post a few weeks ago on scare-mongering about influenza vaccines, I want to point out a beautiful dismantling of Dr. Mercola's latest nonsense by my colleagues over at Science-Based Medicine.

It seems that Mercola posted an article on his website titled "Do NOT Let Your Child Get Flu Vaccine -- 9 Reasons Why". (I'm not providing the link because I don't want to increase his web traffic, not even a tiny bit.) Not surprisingly, every single reason is wrong, misleading, stupid, or all three. As Dr. Joseph Albietz writes in his post, "There are so many mistakes, so much misinformation in so little space, it’s almost a work of art."

More misinformation on the flu from Mercola

[hawke86]

I have to get the flu shot cause of where I work. It's a requirement.

[Cinnabar]

So I looked it up.... here ya go.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal

I'll check it out. Laurie

[Cinnabar]

I have to get the flu shot cause of where I work. It's a requirement.

You do what you have to do. I'm sure it won't be the end of the world! Laurie

[Georgiagirl88]

We get them every yr. and will continue to. We have all asthma and our son has a strong history of Pneumonia. We cannot afford to get a bad case of the flu..which kills people each yr. It is good it is a personal thing and we can choose. I PRAY WE DON'T GET IT EACH YR.!!

Michelle

[Cinnabar]

Hi Michelee - With all that I'm hearing ??? Glad you back...Laurie

[RobinN]

What on earth is Thimerisol? Sounds like a cross between some kind of liquid cold remedy and the the household cleaner, Pine Sole. (And God knows what's in that! I'm cleaning "green", now).
[/I]

Thimerisol is a preservative. It is MERCURY. Mercury is a neurotoxin