Why you'd have to be a complete idiot to take a flu shot
- Thread starter Big Sleazy
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What were the symptoms that kept you in bed for a month? If you were that sick, you should have gone to see a doctor to determine the cause. Most people with egg allergies can safely have the flu vaccine. The worst possible reaction is difficulty breathing which would happen shortly after receiving the injection. It's not likely the flu vaccine made you sick.
Never have got a flu shot (unless I got one as a kid and don't remember).
I get sick maybe once every 3 years. And each time, I have sniffles and feel stuffed for maybe 2-3 days. I'll go through a tissue box blowing my nose. Then I'm back to normal. Not sure if that's a flu bug or not.
Unless I'm on my deathbed due to a disease and will try anything, I'll never get a flu shot or any other preventative thing. Who knows what's in it. Every once in a while you hear about someone who was injured and needed some blood.... and it turns out it is tainted with HIV. It's rare, but happens. So it goes to show these types of injections are not 100% safe.
I get sick maybe once every 3 years. And each time, I have sniffles and feel stuffed for maybe 2-3 days. I'll go through a tissue box blowing my nose. Then I'm back to normal. Not sure if that's a flu bug or not.
Unless I'm on my deathbed due to a disease and will try anything, I'll never get a flu shot or any other preventative thing. Who knows what's in it. Every once in a while you hear about someone who was injured and needed some blood.... and it turns out it is tainted with HIV. It's rare, but happens. So it goes to show these types of injections are not 100% safe.
I went to the physician on a regular basis, and nothing helped me. I was assuming that it could have been an allergic reaction to whatever was in the vaccines. I am NOT a fool to have stayed ill for that long without going to seek medical help. All I know is that both times I was sick, and fro about a month, it was after the flu shot. I have not had any flu shot since, and not fallen as ill as I did with the flu shots. Even the physician suggested that I had allergic reactions to the shots. You tell me what I am supposed to conclude from my experiences.
Or, maybe, the flu shot was not effective and actually induced one of the strains of the flu the flu in me.
Alberta health officials question effectiveness of this year’s flu shot
Allan Maki
CALGARY — The Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Oct. 09, 2015 7:52PM EDT
Last updated Friday, Oct. 09, 2015 7:53PM EDT
It is not quite influenza season yet and already Alberta health officials are troubled by what they’re hearing: that the new vaccine is showing little effectiveness against this year’s flu virus.
A year ago, Alberta was ravaged by a flu virus that put 1,874 people in hospital and left 103 others dead. It was caused by an A-type strain (H3N2) that mutated to the point where the vaccine was of no help. There have been three outbreaks of flu reported in British Columbia already – more than expected for this time of year, and before most people get vaccinated.
The hope for this autumn was to get the right ingredients together to work their magic before the start of winter. Instead, there is a growing concern that the mix is off and, once again, people are at risk, especially the elderly and the very young.
“There have been some changes made to the vaccine based on last year’s very poor performance,” said Glen Armstrong, a University of Calgary professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases.
“The problem with all the vaccines is the H3N2 component,” Prof. Armstrong said. “If that turns out to be dominant – and there have been a couple of cases in B.C. that suggest this is the strain that hit first – then the vaccine has never been that good.”
Adding or subtracting strains to best combat a virus is in many ways a roll of the dice. Doctors and Alberta Health Service workers pass their flu data on to the province’s Ministry of Health, which passes it along to Public Health Agency of Canada. All that is available to the World Health Organization (WHO), which surveys its member countries before deciding what should be done to flush the flu.
The WHO examines trends and what kinds of viruses are coming out of southern hemisphere countries in time to infect northern hemisphere countries preparing for winter. There is also a timing matter. The vaccines take six to nine months to be manufactured. Provinces have to look at yearly trends, then decide how many vaccines are needed.
“The thing we have to remember is that in the course of a flu season there is usually more than one strain,” said Gerry Predy, Alberta Health Services senior medical officer. “Last year’s vaccine was protective against two strains but not against one. That’s the thing we try to emphasize, that the vaccine is trying to protect against three different strains, and it’s not unusual during the course of a season to see at least two circulate.”
For this coming flu season, the AHS has what it calls multiple vaccine products. There are five products available through the province’s flu program – two of the five products are quadrivalent, meaning they can safeguard against four strains – and three are trivalent. All products protect against the strains expected to circulate this season. Albertans will be immunized with the available product most appropriate for them, based on age, health history and health status.
Asked if the province has ordered and stored away enough vaccine to handle a wave of outbreaks, Dr. Predy answered: “It’s [the ministry’s] decision. It isn’t an easy decision to make, but they make it based on the info that they have. We certainly believe we have enough vaccine this year.”
For its 2015-16 needs, Alberta Health has enough vaccine to cover 40 per cent of the population. More than a million people were vaccinated last year. That meant 29 per cent of Albertans were immunized.
Follow Allan Maki on Twitter: @AllanMaki
I have never taken the flu shot nor would i. Your body if working properly will fight it on its own.
That's what I thought as well, but the flu out this year is really nasty.
Until you've had to go to emerg with the flu, you won't understand.
After this year I'll start taking the shot.
The body doesn't always work properly that's the reason for getting the shot. At some point most people are going to come in close contact with a contagious person or their immune system is going to be weakened (late night/boozing/partying). The flu shot hedges you against contracting the strain. It's not close to foolproof but it cuts your chances quite considerably. I trust the advice of my family physician.
Yes, the flu shot is a prediction of the major strains that go around. The predictions are not always accurate. Even if the strains are predicted accurately, the vaccines are not 100% effective in creating immunity but if you include herd immunity, the chances of exposure go way down.
That said the down side is very minimal.
I have never taken the polio shot nor would i. Your body if working properly will fight it on its own.
We don't need no stinking flu shot!
It's very simple:
Stay away from processed foods and keep deep fried foods to a minimum - yes I know DF foods are delicious. Eat foods that tickle your immune system's fancy: like blueberries, rapini, quinoa and ramen (buckwheat) noodles, just to name a few.
It's very simple:
Stay away from processed foods and keep deep fried foods to a minimum - yes I know DF foods are delicious. Eat foods that tickle your immune system's fancy: like blueberries, rapini, quinoa and ramen (buckwheat) noodles, just to name a few.
Sounds poetic and hopeful.. but influenza is not so simple.
I tried to stay out of this one the basis that people already have made up their minds etc.
But if I can help ONE person ...
It is a medical fact that our immune system only responds to, and is strengthened by exposure to a pathogen. It is not improved by eating blueberries, rapini, gluten free, organic feel good stuff. Unless it is dirty blueberries, rapini, etc.
Of course, if you are healthier, you will be better able to preservere through the disease of your immune response... but your immune system ONLY responds to, and is improved by exposure.
IF you are unvaccinated and exposed to (one of many) influenza virus' for the first time and in sufficient quantity and a sufficiently virulent strain, you WILL get influenza. Dependant on how virulent it is will determine how sick you get. However, you likely won't get that strain of influenza again.
The fact that someone has never suffered from influenza is based almost wholly on our lack of exposure to a virulent strain. Not how many blueberries we eat or how much echinacea we consume.
As those who have had actual influenza can attest to, it is absolutely debilitating. It is NOT a "cold". You get high fever that makes you delirious, you are bedridden and often vomit and have [FONT=Lato, Arial, sans-serif]diarrhea. 8,000 Canadians were hospitalized with influenza last year. If you are not otherwise healthy or not strong you can indeed die from influenza as 600 Canadians did last year.
[/FONT]http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/influenza/flu-stat-eng.php[FONT=Lato, Arial, sans-serif]
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[FONT=Lato, Arial, sans-serif]Who knows how high the numbers would be without widespread vaccination we have in the country..
There is widely reviewed factual scientific evidence and broad consensus that vaccination is effective. Why a certain segment discounts this broad scientific and medical consensus and instead looks to rely on fringe claims, often from discredited sources, is easily explained by confirmation bias.
Anecdotal "evidence" and personal experience saying the flu shot gave them the flu is understandable but factually and medically impossible. The influenza vaccine has DEAD virus'. D-E-A-D
As for the minuscule trace amounts of mercury and thimerosol that only the flu shot uses... the World Health Organization have themselves stated that these are both safe and in low enough concentrations to be of absolutely no consequence. So people who are so concerned about the minuscule chance of long term complications are really just grasping at straws to confirm their bias.
The diseases that vaccines protect against are a far higher risk and with far more dire immediate and long term consequences than any risk of side effects.
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I agree with what you say, and I am immunised for almost everything else. However, the flu shot is one vaccine that I have had serious issues with; that is just my body and the way it works. For me, I have to pass, although I would very much welcome the the benefits.Yes, the flu shot is a prediction of the major strains that go around. The predictions are not always accurate. Even if the strains are predicted accurately, the vaccines are not 100% effective in creating immunity but if you include herd immunity, the chances of exposure go way down.
That said the down side is very minimal.
I have never taken the polio shot nor would i. Your body if working properly will fight it on its own.
No, you had a cold. You'd know it if you had the flu, it's brutal. I didn't use to get the flu shot until after I got the flu when I was 25. I couldn't believe how sick I was. High fever, chills, headache, runny nose, cough, every muscle and joint in my body ached and I was totally fatigued. I missed an entire week of work. At one point it was so bad I didn't care if I died. That's the flu!
The combination of the flu shot and a bit of luck, I haven't had the flu since. I never want to go through that again if I can help it.
I'm sure your parents had you vaccinated for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps and rubellahaemophilus influenzae type b which is why you didn't get one or more of those diseases. You should also get Tetanus and diphtheria booster every 10 years. Have you done that? You're an idiot if you haven't. Everyone should also get Twinrix which protects you from Hep A & B.
This sentence makes absolutely no sense!
Sounds more like a coincidence.
Impossible.
So let me get this straight. It's just the flu shot we don't need, or vaccines period?
So bang on! ^^^ :clap2:
So, I don't know what happened to me those two times that i got the flu shot. This is from the CDC website, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htmNo, you had a cold. You'd know it if you had the flu, it's brutal. I didn't use to get the flu shot until after I got the flu when I was 25. I couldn't believe how sick I was. High fever, chills, headache, runny nose, cough, every muscle and joint in my body ached and I was totally fatigued. I missed an entire week of work. At one point it was so bad I didn't care if I died. That's the flu!
The combination of the flu shot and a bit of luck, I haven't had the flu since. I never want to go through that again if I can help it.
I'm sure your parents had you vaccinated for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps and rubellahaemophilus influenzae type b which is why you didn't get one or more of those diseases. You should also get Tetanus and diphtheria booster every 10 years. Have you done that? You're an idiot if you haven't. Everyone should also get Twinrix which protects you from Hep A & B.
This sentence makes absolutely no sense!
Sounds more like a coincidence.
Impossible.
[h=5]What about people who get a seasonal flu vaccine and still get sick with flu-like symptoms?[/h] There are several reasons why someone might get a flu-like illness, even after they have been vaccinated against flu.
- One reason is that some people can become ill from other respiratory viruses besides flu such as rhinoviruses, which are associated with the common cold, cause symptoms similar to flu, and also spread and cause illness during the flu season. The flu vaccine only protects against influenza viruses, not other viruses.
- Another explanation is that it is possible to be exposed to influenza viruses, which cause the flu, shortly before getting vaccinated or during the two-week period after vaccination that it takes the body to develop immune protection. This exposure may result in a person becoming ill with flu before protection from the vaccine takes effect.
- A third reason why some people may experience flu like symptoms despite getting vaccinated is that they may have been exposed to a flu virus that is very different from the viruses the vaccine is designed to protect against. The ability of a flu vaccine to protect a person depends largely on the similarity or “match” between the viruses selected to make the vaccine and those spreading and causing illness. There are many different flu viruses that spread and cause illness among people. For more information, see Influenza (Flu) Viruses.
- The final explanation for experiencing flu-like symptoms after vaccination is that unfortunately, the flu vaccine doesn't always provide adequate protection against the flu. This is more likely to occur among people that have weakened immune systems or people age 65 and older.
I started getting the flue shot for the last 3 years and I have not had a full out flu for the last 3 years. I used to always get the full out flu at least once a year, now even when I'm around someone who has it and I "catch it" the symptoms are very mild and it never develops into a full out flu. I can feel it it in back of my throat like like it's trying to fully explode but the flu shot fights it off and the next day it's gone completely.
As I expected, you likely contracted the flu or some other virus shortly before or after receiving the flu shot. In other words, the vaccine had nothing to do with making you sick. Simply a coincidence.
Possible. But twice in a row? And I have not had any flu or flu symptoms since I had the shots back in 1998 and 2000?
Also, how certain are you that I got the flu? Were you there 15 years ago to take a sample to grow a viral culture, to know for sure that it was the flu? The physicians I saw said to me it was NOT the flu, in both cases; and neither did the symptoms match any strain of the flu at the time.
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