topic Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot in Community Chat

Why I'll never get the flu shot

Helen Erth — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 05:51:14 GMT

I’m 54 years old, and I’ve never gotten a flu shot. Here’s why.

The effectiveness of the flu vaccine is exaggerated. The strains for the vaccine are selected a year in advance. That’s important for you to know because researchers guess on what strain will prevail each flu season. They have no other way of knowing. And if they guess wrong, the vaccine is useless.

So, many people who get the flu vaccine wind up getting the flu anyway. But it’s worse than that because the flu vaccine comes with some pretty significant toxins, like:

Thimerosal – a preservative used in multi-dose flu vaccines. It contains 49.6% mercury by weight.1 Mercury has been linked to brain injury, organ failure and muscle weakness.
Triton X-100 – a detergent and mercury derivative
Polysorbate 80 – a potential carcinogen
Formaldehyde – classified as a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency

What’s more, it really isn’t good for the very young or the very old – the folks who are supposed to need it most. For example, more people than ever age 70 and older are getting flu shots.2

Meanwhile, the University of Alberta did a study in which one group of people got a flu shot, and one didn’t. More people died in the group that didn’t get the vaccine … but when researchers looked more carefully and adjusted for other factors like existing health conditions, there was no difference between the groups.3

Children as young as six months are being recommended for flu shots, too. But get this: One study presented at an American Thoracic Society conference in San Diego revealed that children who took the flu vaccine had three times the risk of being hospitalized soon after taking the shot, compared to those who didn’t. For children with asthma, the number was even higher.

But this isn’t the only side effect of the flu vaccine. It can cause everything from headache, vomiting, fever and muscle aches to encephalitis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome4 and neurological disorders.

www.alsearsmd.com/why-ill-never-get-a-flu-shot

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

ECBG — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 05:56:38 GMT

As a teacher, we were all offered the flu shot and I began taking it after having the real honest to ___ flu. Our fourteen year old son was genuinely afraid I was dying.

After that I got the shot-retired from teaching, now in sales, and have never had the flu again. My medical doctor also takes it. The flu is too violent on the elderly.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

circles — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:00:54 GMT

Gee, Thanks....I was at the doctors today...I received a flu shot and a pneumonia shot...I am 72....I have been getting them for several years...and luckily haven't gotten the flu...or any other ill effects from them....(hope I didn't just jinx myself)....

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

Plaid Pants — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:02:03 GMT

I get the flu shot every year. I'm not worried about the remote possibility of the ""side effects"".

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

MaggieToo — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:03:41 GMT

I have never gotten a bad result from having taken the flu shot. I guess you could call me elderly. I also got the pneumonia shot this year. My arm was a tiny bit sore for a couple of days.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

sunshine45 — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:08:58 GMT

i did not get one, but my 74 year old mom got one and my 19 year old daughter got one because it was required at her work.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

Melania — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:09:56 GMT

Seems this topic gets recycled periodically. Hmm...wonder if there is a shot for that.

There are two types of shots this year. Which means they have covered more of the strains of flu. One covers two and the other three.

Why instill fear that isn't real? The benefits outweigh the risk.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

kittymomNC — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:11:20 GMT

The CDC estimates that about 36,000 people die in the U.S. from the flu each year. They also estimate that about 90% of child deaths from flu are children who did not get the flu shot.

If that many people died in this country from getting the flu shot, I think there would be a huge uproar about it, and so far, I haven't seen anything. So I think I'll continue to take my chances with the flu shot.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

JustJules — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:15:56 GMT

Interesting post from someone named "H*ll on earth".

I never used to get the flu shot, figured I would take my chances. Then I came down with that nasty flu in January and was terribly sick for over two weeks. At the time I was caring for my 88 year old father, and fortunately he always got his flu shot. We were able to prevent him catching it from me, but being so ill was enough for me to not risk it anymore. I got my flu shot back in October. A person is much more likely to get sick from contact with all the public than they are from any side effects from the flu vaccine itself. Of course there are always exceptions to every rule, but unless your physician has a reason they don't want you to get a flu shot, I wouldn't gamble with your health. The elderly are extremely susceptible and have a more difficult time recovering from the flu, not to mention that it can lead to pneumonia if not treated in time.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

KYToby — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:16:40 GMT

Nothing but junk science and hokum from someone who thinks 30 s4econds on Google is the equivalent of medical school!

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

dobiesrule — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:21:39 GMT

I have been getting a flu shot for about 15 years and will continue to get one yearly.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

september — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:22:52 GMT

I got the shot for many years, because my job required it. And I never got the flu during all those years, in spite of working with the public.

Then, I took my chances for a few years after I left that job, until I got a flu that knocked me down for a month.

Back to getting the shot after that, and once in a while, I have a bit of a reaction, but it's nothing compared to being out of commission for an entire month.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

kze — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:23:14 GMT

You haven't gotten the flu because so many of the rest of us HAVE gotten the flue shot. I'm 72 and I've gotten the flu shot almost every year it's been available. Many years ago I got the full blown flu and I've never been so sick. I certainly hope your luck holds out.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

raven-blackbird — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:34:21 GMT

OP.............have to say I'm in agreement with you...........I am NOT getting a flu shot and have never gotten a flu shot.............the one time I did get the flu, I was only down a few days and then back to my normal routine.................................................raven

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

Love my grandkids — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:34:22 GMT

The flu shot does NOT repeat NOT cause the flu, unless you believe junk "science."

I'm 66 and have gotten this shot (the senior version now) since I was 40 and haven't had so much as a cold. I also have gotten the pneumonia vaccine and the one for shingles.

Keep your head in the sand, it seems to be a good fit!! And yes, you don't catch it as others are responsibly getting it and not spreading it around.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 07:01:50 GMT

I haven't had a flu shot in about 30 years ....... and have never had the flu.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

foundinlv — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 07:03:46 GMT

I got the flu shot and have been recovering from something....cough, sore throat, sinus headache. I doubt I'll get the shot next year.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

september — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 07:11:49 GMT

On 12/1/2014 ILikeShade said:
I got the flu shot and have been recovering from something....cough, sore throat, sinus headache. I doubt I'll get the shot next year.

The flu can include some of those symptoms, but usually there is more to it, including something that I can only describe as "being hit by a truck". Everything hurts, and you're just too weak to do much of anything.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

Shorty2U — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 07:17:52 GMT

Its all a matter of choice.

My husband has to get the flu shot each year. He is severely asthmatic to the point of using a machine to breathe medicine. If he were to get the flu he would be very ill and not be able to breathe and could die!

He has not had the flu since he was a child because he gets the flu shot.

I do not get the flu shot b/c I used to be allergic to eggs. Although I can eat eggs now I limit them to this day. My Dr said they are working on one that doesn't include eggs in the future.

I did get a pneumonia shot.

Lastly- FYI our Dr has a flu shot with OUT that Thimerosal in it.

Re: Why I'll never get the flu shot

BeckiWV — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 07:21:02 GMT

All I know is, whenever I have gotten the flu shot, I never got sick other than a few mild colds.

Last year, I did not get the shot and I got the flu on Christmas day and it was the worst flu I have ever had in my life. I was really, really sick. My husband was too. He really scared me with how sick he was. I said to him "never again."

This year we both got our shots in October.