Saw the first billboard for flu shots today. Do you believe in them? No? I happen to have a fear of needles so I've never got one. Also have a fear of snakes and tall women but that's another story. I can count on one hand how many times I've had the flu in my life but last year I honestly felt like I was going to die. Seriously thinking about getting one this year. I imagine that flu season could have a negative impact on SPs as if they probably have a higher risk of getting sick. Thoughts?
Flu season
- Thread starter Slapshot1
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I've not been vaccinated for anything since elementary school and I am healthy as a horse. Rather than be vaccinated for whatever ails a person occasionally, I supplement my diet with the appropriate vitamins and minerals and plenty of water and rest. As with the ingestion of antibiotics weakening the immune system I think vaccinations do the same, generally speaking of course.
Getting the flu (or whatever else is common to humans) and living through it only makes your immune system stronger to withstand a future outbreak of illness. By "living through it" I mean - taking care of yourself, lots of fluids, rest and patience - old school medicinal advice.
Our "health care system" (even if it is better than anywhere else) depends on people being blind-sided by the nonsense that we start off sick and need to be made healthy. Really, shouldn't we be thinking that we are healthy, sometimes get sick and then heal and become healthier? Why then, do people just keep getting sicker and sicker?
I'd say forego the vaccination shot and just up your intake of vitamin C ... you made it this far haven't you, why fuck with a good thing? :nod:
Getting the flu (or whatever else is common to humans) and living through it only makes your immune system stronger to withstand a future outbreak of illness. By "living through it" I mean - taking care of yourself, lots of fluids, rest and patience - old school medicinal advice.
Our "health care system" (even if it is better than anywhere else) depends on people being blind-sided by the nonsense that we start off sick and need to be made healthy. Really, shouldn't we be thinking that we are healthy, sometimes get sick and then heal and become healthier? Why then, do people just keep getting sicker and sicker?
I'd say forego the vaccination shot and just up your intake of vitamin C ... you made it this far haven't you, why fuck with a good thing? :nod:
I get one every year. I am definitely getting one this year, as my system is still recovering from the major infection I had this summer. I would feel better knowing that everyone I see had the same beliefs as myself regarding vaccinations, but I don't plan to ask! That said though, if you have an appointment booked with me and you feel like you might be coming down with something, BY ALL MEANS, please rebook when you're well again! I really enjoy kissing, and I don't want to say that I don't wanna kiss you because I might get sick! Whatever you believe keeps you well and healthy, do it! Wash your hands often, take a nap when you can, hydrate properly....
and get a flu shot!
100% my reason for never getting the shot.
I really dislike the Govt getting into bed with the pharmaceutical companies and forcing health care workers to get the shot or the flu mist inhaler. If they don't get the shot they have to wear a mask or be fired for insubordination. Total Bull Shit. Whatever happened to people having choices?
call me reactionary, but after having an aunt die from multiple strokes after getting VERY sick from a flu vaccine - then 6 months later reading a tiny article of page 86 of the Sun about this 'unusual anomaly' of heart attacks and strokes in a 'small number' of patients as a result of taking the vaccine the previous Fall... well, i'm proud to say that i've never had the vaccine
and further, i have told this story to every single person with whom i have ever shared a conversation regarding flu vaccines. i hope i have saved somebody from an early death in the process
(...DANG! this tin foil cowboy hat is getting good use lately...)
and further, i have told this story to every single person with whom i have ever shared a conversation regarding flu vaccines. i hope i have saved somebody from an early death in the process
(...DANG! this tin foil cowboy hat is getting good use lately...)
Could someone address, from a medical perspective, the notion that has been raised a couple of times in this thread, that vaccines will damage or impair the immune system. My (non-medical) understanding is that vaccines trick the immune system into an immune response (antibody production) by introducing dead or weakened virus cells into the body. Whether these are the right antibodies or not will depend on the stability of the virus - if mutation or other factors result in the eventual 'real' virus the body is exposed to being slightly or substantiallly different than the vaccine virus (and the antibodies that the body produced from exposure to the vaccine), then the vaccine may not give protection against the virus. As referenced before, this protection will be a may or may not thing, depending on a bunch of factors; but we pretty much cannot say in advance with 100% certainty that the vaccine will or will not be effective (and how completely effective).
Now I can see that there can be a number or potential side effects with a vaccine; it may not be effective (see above); the body may become sensitized to components in the vaccine (eg: egg proteins used to be sometimes used in the vaccine carrier medium); if you have a bunch of vaccines (or exposure to a bunch of different infections) in a short time, its possible the immune system might be temporarily overwhelmed. Can somebody tell me whether there is some other mechanism by which vaccines are known to compromise the immune system?
The decision to get vaccinated or not is of course a personal choice; advocating to others to get vaccinated or not, it would be nice to have as complete and accurate information as possible.
VCC: posted before seeing your post. Cardiac connection is interesting to me. Thx
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I completely agree with the health care system being behind on the latest strain. I was always brought up to "eat some dirt". Some people get sick, some don't. Is it because we take care of ourselves through nutrition, exercise, and an overall "healthy lifestyle? Nope! I treat my body like shit. I smoke, drink on occasion, eat the worst food imaginable, and other than work, I don't exercise. I rarely get sick. Could geography play a part? By not having hundreds or thousands of people coming into contact with me on a daily basis may have some part to play. Growing up on a farm and eating my fair share of dirt as a kid could also have an impact on health. I'll probably chance it again this year and not go. For people to decide whether or not to get a shot, I believe, it's their health history that makes the decision for them.
Isn't it interesting how there's so much information and personal experience available to help reframe one's thinking and it seems to just make people stick to the same-ole same-ole, yet death is mentioned and immediately thinking is reframed!
To each their own, I guess. Personally, my vaccination booklet has more stamps in it than my passport!
I think with this "job" it is important that I protect myself and my clients by being up to date on my vaccinations for HepA, HepB, HPV/genital herpes, MMR, smallpox, diphtheria and course the flu.
I also do a lot of international travel to developing countries so I've made sure to be immunized for polio, yellow fever, etc etc.
In fact, I am headed to the pharmacy today to pick up my cholera vaccine booster for my trip to Africa in November. Now if only there were an ebola vaccine!!
I think with this "job" it is important that I protect myself and my clients by being up to date on my vaccinations for HepA, HepB, HPV/genital herpes, MMR, smallpox, diphtheria and course the flu.
I also do a lot of international travel to developing countries so I've made sure to be immunized for polio, yellow fever, etc etc.
In fact, I am headed to the pharmacy today to pick up my cholera vaccine booster for my trip to Africa in November. Now if only there were an ebola vaccine!!
On, but off the subject ...
"Using evolution as a lens, Dr. Moalem refocuses us from the 'whats' to the 'whys' that will challenge everything you thought you knew about disease. Fascinating!" - Mehmet Oz.
A book that helped me understand a lot of what scientists talk of
Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease
by: Dr. Sharon Moalem (2007)
"Using evolution as a lens, Dr. Moalem refocuses us from the 'whats' to the 'whys' that will challenge everything you thought you knew about disease. Fascinating!" - Mehmet Oz.
A book that helped me understand a lot of what scientists talk of
Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease
by: Dr. Sharon Moalem (2007)
what i didn't say is that i can see the use of them for a person whose immune system is temporarily or permanently compromised. so in your case erica i would say go for it
You certainly have gone on some great trips Emmy. Hopefully we can meet someday and compare notes about places we visited
For me, very much so. I dodged a bullet in the summer; the internist told me so. If I had gotten this infection 4 years ago when I weighed 300 pounds, I might not have survived it. I am enjoying my life far too much these days to want to see it threatened by anything that can be avoided. I can't take a lot of antibiotics anymore because of severe adverse reactions, so I have to be very careful about infections. I have to protect my immune system and my health. Additionally, my partner has a chronic health condition that makes it dangerous for him to get sick (plus it turns him into a whiny baby....) from something he might get from me. So yeah, I weigh everyone's opinion carefully.
... and yet the ones who are being unnecessarily vaccinated/medicated seem to be the ones who are sick at regular intervals progressing to, possible, chronic states.
Perhaps those vaccines/medications are not THEE culprits to a compromised/weakened immune system, but when a collective is ignorant to their own body's healing intelligence, soliciting drugs certainly may lend a helping hand (why I pair vaccines with medications is because one usually follows the other).
In any situation, I agree, do whatever makes you feel better - free will - but be clear about what is making you feel better.
Absolutely. If one were to Google BC Health + Flu Vaccine you would get four pages of propaganda from the Govt plus the pharmaceutical companies. The BCNU used to have a lot of very good content on their FB page but is since removed after they lost in Supreme Court on this issue.
There are some excellent articles from the British Medical Journal dating back over a decade. They tracked the US and Canadian Health Authorities as they moved towards mandatory vaccinations. They point out that there is no real conclusive evidence to show that all 100% vaccinations actually decrease the numbers of sick from hospitals! care facilities etc.
I'm on my iPad at the moment and feeling unmotivated to provide the links / text etc.
Take a look at BMJ + flu vaccine
