Flu shot or not, that is the question

a reply to: Bluntone22

I'm on call for work this week and each call has been for admission to the hospital due to flu/pneumonia. The most recent was Type A. All of the folks get a flu vaccine around Oct/Nov.
I don't remember the last time that I got a flu shot. I used to take mom regularly though.
*knock on wood* I haven't been too sick this year...or last LOL
I have hand sanitizer on my desk and encourage anyone in my office to WASH THEIR DAMN HANDS!!!!
The incident manager and director of nursing sent out a PSA through the company communication system that basically says, don't go to the ER for trivial things (some folks do!) and wash your hand and use gloves religiously.

I have never gotten a flu shot and don't ever plan to. I'm with you: I think it's just an educated guess on the part of our "health" officials on which strain will make the rounds anyway, and I don't trust officialdom to be completely honest about all of the ingredients in them, so we can't really fully research.

I've been sick twice in the past 5 years, and neither was flu.

I have gotten them a couple of times, but I'd say ~90% of years I've avoided them. I have gotten "the flu" (or what resembles the flu) a couple times, but largely have not been sick. I don't know whether there is any merit to them or not, supposedly there is. But it seems that the flu is only one of a handful of infectious agents to worry about

GF got the flu shot, I didn't. We both had one miserable day and now both of us with a nagging cough that responds well to
Benadril and zodpile tea.

a reply to: olaru12

I had that form of stuff too around Thanksgiving. It was like a minor sore throat that developed into a cough that just wouldn't go away until I started a course of claritin during the day and bendryl at night. It doesn't help that I have just enough exercise induced asthma that I had to hit the inhaler a few times and that's when we had all that nasty cold, dry air in late December ... made me cough and wheeze more than a few times.

www.theguardian.com...

Chicken soup actually dampens a person't immune system if properly made. It also suppresses the ability of the virus to replicate so your body can kill them when there are few.

All those veggies that boost your immune system could lead to major problems when you do get the flu. It pays to go eat at BK and McDs occasionally.

a reply to: Bluntone22

Eat more veggies, lots of HONEY.

You will be as healthy as a viking.

Screw flu shots. That shot is poison and will be used on day to curb our population growth.

a reply to: Bluntone22

My 91 year-old mother in-law is currently in the hospital. While I was there I asked the head nurse what she thought about getting a flu-shot. She said her son fell ill to the flu for a week and he's now changed his perspective about getting a flu shot.

I mentioned to her I was a retired teacher and my wife is currently a teacher and said I never recalled us ever getting the flu or being out sick. I asked her if she thinks that our occupations had a lot to do with our bodies creating its own defenses against the flu bug. (Since teachers are being bombarded with viruses everyday from students who are unknowingly carrying around a virus). She shook her head and said definitely. She said that's one of the reasons why she had to attend to her son's illness because her body is constantly around viruses and ill patients.

The current flu shot is only 30% effective against the current strain, but from what I understand if you did get a flu shot it makes your flu symptoms less than if you didn't get the shot. I'm 58 and never got a flu shot, but I have to admit I contemplated getting one when I heard all the buzz about the flu epidemic this year. I'm retired so I'm not in contact with too many people.

If you're not getting the shot, I would suggest washing your hands as much as possible when you're out in public and avoid touching door knobs, and handles by pushing on the door with your shoulder or using a paper towel when opening the door in public restroom.

a reply to: WeRpeons

Great advice!
I wear my winter gloves at the corner or grocery store. I can't possibly be only the second or third person to touch that product on the shelf OR the grocery cart/basket!

a reply to: TNMockingbird

My wife works in retail and wears those thin rubber gloves you see in hospitals.

Stay away from crowds, eat healthy, take Vitamin C and stock up on the chicken broth before the flu season starts. We all know when that is at this point, so just be proactive about it.

Your body is like a car.......it's easier to maintain it than fix it.

But no.......I'm in my 50's and don't do the shots. Never have.

I used to get the flu shot every year when I worked at a clinic. Every year I got sicker than a dog. No more.

It seems to weaken my immune system, which is already struggling due to an autoimmune disorder. Combine that with the fact that even the CDC admits the flu shot is less than 10% effective, and this H3N2 strain is a 'mutated' strain, not covered by the shot, and all you will do to yourself by getting the shot is making your immune system more stressed.

It takes them a YEAR to make these shots, they take a guess as to the strain or strains, and mostly, they are way off. By the time the shots are ready, the flu has mutated.

As far as I'm concerned, these shots are probably creating more mutations in the viruses than they help with keeping people well.

My doctor does not advocate the shots, either. She doesn't give them to her family (and neither did my last doctor in another state when I lived there), and doesn't recommend them to me.

I'm just your average paranoid ATSer who feels it's part of Agenda 21, and they create more disease with these shots than they prevent.

i personally wouldnt get a flu shot. u realize theres the lucky few who get the "loaded" flu shot that can have whatever they want to test in it. dont believe me look into how many times the govt has used flu shots and vaccines to infect people so they can monitor it. plenty of declassified evidence

Personally I can't have the flu shot, I'm allergic. I got it once, and my body rejected it, and it encapsulated in my arm, making me sick, and eventually having to be surgically removed. The one and only time I get one, and that happens. No sir, I do not believe in them myself, and do not recommend them to anyone.

a reply to: Bluntone22

I got the flu shot- I do every year due to working with the overly germy public- but still got the flu this year. This will not stop me from getting the flu shot next year. Each year they make educated guesses at which flu strains will be prevalent for the upcoming flu season and they put those in the flu shots that year. Most years they get it right and I pass through the flu season with very little if any symptoms of the flu. This year a strain prevailed that was unexpected and therefore not included in the innoculation.

The first year at my current job I decided not to get the flu shot and nearly lost my job from missing so many days terribly sick with the flu. Since then I get the vaccine every fall and have thankfully avoided the flu until this particular year. I'd rather take the chance and get the shot and most likely be protected than not get it and definitely be sick as heck as there is no escaping exposure to the flu at my job.

a reply to: WeRpeons

Tagging off your post. Also be aware of the credit card machines where you swipe your card and use the pen to sign, grocery carts, gas pumps.

I do not get flu shots because in the long run they are harmful, Alzheimer's etc.

This years flu shot is only 10% effective:

kwbe.com...

a reply to: Bluntone22

I look at a Flu shot as a personal decision one has to make based on the information that person has.
Because of medical issues , I was cautioned against taking a Flu shot ever. That was nigh on 15 years ago , The general practitioner did not expand on the reasons and I did not ask as it was more of a hint-hint , wink-wink , hush-hush moment . But , this doctor did not adhere to the "go with the money" style of doctoring today...

I.E. You make that decision , not us

No more flu shots for me. Last time I had one, about 4 years ago. I broke out around the injection site and it took a couple of years to get over it. A dermatologist finally treated me with liquid nitrogen to kill the virus on my shoulder. My Doc said it had nothing to do with the shot but I remain sceptical.

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: Lab4Us

I know people that get the shot every year and they still get sick.
The shot only covers the strains they guessed on months earlier.
Roll of the dice really.

I don’t disagree, but I gamble many more $ on other things...30% pretty good odds. If I could get 30% odds on lottery tickets I’s probably buy some every day!

I know there are tons of “the government is trying to kill me with immunizations” people on ATS...I am NOT one of them...

a reply to: Bluntone22

Yeah, absolutely. I'll have a flu-shot this year.

originally posted by: SoEpic
I only had 1 flu shot about 12 years ago - before I knew better. Most have mercury in them and there is a much higher chance of getting alzheimer's if you take it regularly.
I am on the at risk list as I have asthma but will never get another shot of the vaccination.

Thimerosal in Flu Vaccine- CDC

Past exposure to vaccines and subsequent risk of Alzheimer's disease - NCBI

So, nope.