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To Konraden: Yes, isn't it incredible how some people can just ignore what scientists know and accept the paranoid rantings they find here and there on the internet? Just today I read an estimate that 35% of adults in the U.S. have had their flu shots. How irrational can people be? Do they enjoy being sick?
The flu vaccine is sometimes only 60% effective and no guarantee that you won't catch the flu. It's not mandatory where I work yet so I opted not to take it this year. One year when I took it I was sick every other month for almost 8 months. Another year when I took the shot it was for the wrong strain It's not perfect but I do agree with children, the elderly, and immunocompromised getting the vaccine. Some protection is better than none. I would have taken the H1N1 vaccine had it been available before we both caught it. For me it was like the worst cold I ever had. For my husband it paralyzed a muscle in one of his eyes for a few weeks. I watched people die from it in their 30's and others paralyzed and on ventilators for weeks. I believe that prevention is the best medicine when it comes to the flu. Wash your hands and face frequently. I carry around a package of wipes in public and use them on surfaces like shopping carts. Keep your hands away from your face. I work with much more dangerous bugs at work so the flu doesn't scare me. I haven't even had so much as a cold in over a year now by just being careful about good hand hygiene.
" ...The flu vaccine is sometimes only 60% effective and no guarantee that you won't catch the flu..."
60% doesn't sound too shabby to me and life itself comes without any warranties. If we (society) were only willing to accept medical procedures which came with a warranty we'd spend a lot less on healthcare, populations would be lower and life expectancy would be shorter. Where I live, people were encouraged to get their annual flu shot in September - long before the first cases appeared. Those who did so had ample time (assuming that their bodies did indeed recognise the flu shot) to produce antibodies.
I wonder how many people who have a flu shot do so comparatively late and get the flu a few days later? (before their bodies have had time to produce antibodies?)
I've no doubt that the WHO, CDC and a few other organisations have detailed statistics relating to the probability of flu infections in populations which receive no flu shots and those in which 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% etc receive flu shots.
From the CDC Website:
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common. (See upcoming season’s Vaccine Virus Selection for this season’s vaccine composition.) Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the current season's vaccines are available.
Some people may feel that the CDC make those recommendations because individuals employed by the CDC get a financial 'back hander' from the vaccine manufacturers. Others may feel that they make those recommendations because years of statistics indicate clearly that:
1. The more people in a given population who are vaccinated, the fewer people become infected.
2. The fewer people who become infected the lower the 'time off sick' rate, hospitalisation rate and mortality rate.
Children are being denied the chance to experience robust health because of vaccines, which have now damaged far more than they've ever helped...unvaccinated children are extremely healthy because their immune systems are running at 100%...vaccination is the biggest scam of ALL time.....Secret government documents reveal vaccines to be a total hoax
" ...The flu vaccine is sometimes only 60% effective and no guarantee that you won't catch the flu..."
60% doesn't sound too shabby to me and life itself comes without any warranties. If we (society) were only willing to accept medical procedures which came with a warranty we'd spend a lot less on healthcare, populations would be lower and life expectancy would be shorter. Where I live, people were encouraged to get their annual flu shot in September - long before the first cases appeared. Those who did so had ample time (assuming that their bodies did indeed recognise the flu shot) to produce antibodies.
I wonder how many people who have a flu shot do so comparatively late and get the flu a few days later? (before their bodies have had time to produce antibodies?)
I've no doubt that the WHO, CDC and a few other organisations have detailed statistics relating to the probability of flu infections in populations which receive no flu shots and those in which 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% etc receive flu shots.
From the CDC Website:
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common. (See upcoming season’s Vaccine Virus Selection for this season’s vaccine composition.) Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the current season's vaccines are available.
Some people may feel that the CDC make those recommendations because individuals employed by the CDC get a financial 'back hander' from the vaccine manufacturers. Others may feel that they make those recommendations because years of statistics indicate clearly that:
1. The more people in a given population who are vaccinated, the fewer people become infected.
2. The fewer people who become infected the lower the 'time off sick' rate, hospitalisation rate and mortality rate.
Some people might just keep up on current studies. It's not 60% effective in the elderly or children, see the link below from the CDC. They want it to be, but, it's not turning out that way. They've just released a more potent vaccine for seniors in hopes that it does actually work for them. My mom just tried it, we'll see how that works out. But, for now, it's not working as well as once thought.
Seniors who are healthy survive the flu, seniors who are not, can die from it. Regardless of the vaccine. There bodies don't build up enough immunity to it. But, hopefully, we will discover the miracle were looking for one day. Until then, wash your hands, don't bite your nails or touch your face habitually and you should get fewer flu's and colds this season.
Unfortunately, some people can get infected with an influenza virus that is included in the vaccine despite getting vaccinated. Protection provided by influenza vaccination can vary widely, based in part on health and age factors of the person getting vaccinated. In general, the flu vaccine works best among young healthy adults and older children. Some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses may develop less immunity after vaccination. While vaccination offers the best protection against influenza infection, it's still possible that some people may become ill after being vaccinated. Influenza vaccination is not a perfect tool, but it is the best tool currently at our disposal to prevent influenza.
Approximately 30,000 VAERS reports are filed annually, with 10-15% classified as serious (resulting in permanent disability, hospitalization, life-threatening illnesses or death). Anyone can file a VAERS report, including health care providers, manufacturers, and vaccine recipients or their parents or guardians.
Hard to connect the dots with these things but you can check them out and see what people are saying about side effects and weigh the difference of the effectiveness for your age group.
Children are being denied the chance to experience robust health because of vaccines, which have now damaged far more than they've ever helped...unvaccinated children are extremely healthy because their immune systems are running at 100%...vaccination is the biggest scam of ALL time.....Secret government documents reveal vaccines to be a total hoax
I'm not sure hype in either direction is healthy in any way. I don't think it's a hoax. I think they are trying to help, just haven't perfected it much yet. IMO, of course.
Are there any previous threads here that debate the issue of vaccines at all?
This week my doctor asked me if I wanted to get my flu shot, and my Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis shot. I politely declined because I've read enough about the adverse side effects of vaccines to convince me to let my immune system build its own immunity. Plus, my sister, a nurse, told me there's a specific blood test you can get which shows if you're immunity to a vaccine has worn off, or is still good.
One of the ingredients in vaccines that scares me is Thimerosal. It's a neoplastigen and teratogen compound that is dangerous to the environment, and poisonous if inhaled or swallowed. Why on earth would vaccine manufacturers put that in a vaccine? As if the aluminum, Formaldehyde, and latex aren't bad enough.
Besides, I think it's crazy for the manufacturers to throw 3 diseases together in one vaccine. Has it always been that way?
The science on this has long been settled. Vaccinations are safe for the overwhelming majority of people, and the dangers of unchecked pandemics are far more serious than any potential dangers of vaccinations. Unfortunately, huckster like Andrew Wakefield are still telling people vaccinations are dangerous despite all evidence to the contrary. It is really a disgrace.
The science on this has long been settled. Vaccinations are safe for the overwhelming majority of people, and the dangers of unchecked pandemics are far more serious than any potential dangers of vaccinations. Unfortunately, huckster like Andrew Wakefield are still telling people vaccinations are dangerous despite all evidence to the contrary. It is really a disgrace.
Science is never "settled"
Science isn't a religion and doesn't benefit from belief in the unknown, it searches constantly for changes, and variables. They are still studying vaccine effectiveness, long term health and those outcomes will change as time goes on. The CDC is who I've quoted above about the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. The dangerous side effects of the vaccine depend on variables. It's not a one size fits all.
I'll tell you what does have a better success rate currently. Washing your hands and staying clear of ill people. If we changed school and work policies regarding people with the flu we could cut transmission and flu cases in 1/2. We want it all but we just haven't managed to attain it yet.
Science isn't a religion and doesn't benefit from belief in the unknown, it searches constantly for changes, and variables. They are still studying vaccine effectiveness, long term health and those outcomes will change as time goes on. The CDC is who I've quoted above about the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. The dangerous side effects of the vaccine depend on variables. It's not a one size fits all.
I'll tell you what does have a better success rate currently. Washing your hands and staying clear of ill people. If we changed school and work policies regarding people with the flu we could cut transmission and flu cases in 1/2. We want it all but we just haven't managed to attain it yet.
Oh, please. So is the idea that germs cause disease not settled yet, either? How about the fact the earth revolves around the sun, and not vice vera? Is the jury still out on that? Yes, science leaves itself open to having its propositions debunked. But let's not get ridiculous...
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It's not perfect but I do agree with children, the elderly, and immunocompromised getting the vaccine. Some protection is better than none. I would have taken the H1N1 vaccine had it been available before we both caught it. For me it was like the worst cold I ever had. For my husband it paralyzed a muscle in one of his eyes for a few weeks. I watched people die from it in their 30's and others paralyzed and on ventilators for weeks. I believe that prevention is the best medicine when it comes to the flu. Wash your hands and face frequently. I carry around a package of wipes in public and use them on surfaces like shopping carts. Keep your hands away from your face. I work with much more dangerous bugs at work so the flu doesn't scare me. I haven't even had so much as a cold in over a year now by just being careful about good hand hygiene.
