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Flu shots

.Andy said:
Your immune system is better than this Surely. If it wasn't you'd be dead long ago. Your immune system can cope with many simultaneous infections and does so every single day. Vaccination does not cause you to become immunocompromised.
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My immune system is fantastic, actually. I have had the flu twice in my life. I get a mild cold maybe once every two years.

This is why I am aiming directly at those two flu shot doses as the cause of my getting ill on those two occasions. The timing and the link between the shot and my getting ill- not once but twice- is more than coincidence.

And in case you missed it:
And to .Andy: Please keep in mind that I am not an anti-vaccine crusader. I just don't feel that the flu shot is beneficial/worth it to me personally, based on my experiences with it.
 
Surely said:
No. Just ate eggs this morning for breakfast.
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Some allergens can induce allergies by ingestion but not injection, and vice versa.

Really? Is that the best you can do? I have taken your posts seriously, why are you not taking mine seriously? Or perhaps you shouldn't have skipped over this part: "I would have preferred drinking myself into this condition. Happy new year to me."
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No, I'm serious. The week between Christmas and New Years is the one time in the winter that people get out and interact socially. This is a wonderful conduit for the transmission of infectious diseases.

I am aware that it is a killed preparation. However, the link is still there for me both times between the shot and the flu.
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So try a third time. Better yet, try the flumist. It's not injectable and does not contain formaldehyde or thimerosal.

Perhaps my immune system was so busy adapting to the vaccine that it was unable to defend properly against the strain that affected me.
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Are you saying that when you were sick, you were diagnosed with influenza by the test for influenza? What years were these two immunizations?

A bad argument. Water and oxygen are toxic at appropriate doses as well.
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No, it's not a bad argument. That's my point - the dose makes the poison. Too little water or oxygen and you die. Too much water or oxygen and you die. The dose in between is not toxic. The amounts of formaldehyde and thimerosal found in the inactivated influenza vaccine are far lower than the toxic doses.

And to .Andy's post below: Please keep in mind that I am not an anti-vaccine crusader. I just don't feel that the flu shot is beneficial/worth it to me personally, based on my experiences with it.
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It's not just about you - it's about your community. The unfortunate reality is that small children and the elderly often do not produce substantial neutralizing antibodies after vaccination because their immune systems are immature or waning, respectively. The vaccine not only protects the immunized person, but it also reduces the number of susceptible hosts in a community, thereby reducing the statistical likelihood that the viruses will efficiently transmit within that community. This, in turn, reduces the risk that those small children and elderly adults will ever get exposed. It's just epidemiology.
 
Surely said:
My immune system is fantastic, actually.
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This is what I said :confused:. I was clearing up that a vaccination won't cause you to be immunocompromised.

Surely said:
And to .Andy: Please keep in mind that I am not an anti-vaccine crusader. I just don't feel that the flu shot is beneficial/worth it to me personally, based on my experiences with it.
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I never said or implied you were an anti-vaccine crusader :confused:. Nor did I say that you have to get the injection :confused:. If you're not in those high risk groups it entirely your own decision if you'd like to be vaccinated (and even if you are in a high risk group it's still you own decision). There's no pressure at all.
 
Cave Man said:
From a community health standpoint, everyone who can be vaccinated should be vaccinated.
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Thanks Cave Man I should have stressed this point. It is important to take into consideration that your vaccination status isn't only for your own health, but the health of others. This should be but one of the factors that you take into consideration when making an informed decision whether or not to get the vaccine.
 
cantthinkofone said:
Thats because they gave you a very low dose of the flu. Your immune system was probably a little below it's normal self.
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The term "low dose" is kind of misleading. It is really a dead strain, which cannot give you the flu.

I got my shot a few weeks ago at my university, only cost $20 which is a good cheap, and painless insurance policy.
 
A Mac Gamer said:
It is really a dead strain, which cannot give you the flu.
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Interesting assumption given the fact that several... many... have testified of personal experiences to the contrary.

I will not be getting one myself

Woof, Woof – Dawg
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.Andy said:
I never said or implied you were an anti-vaccine crusader :confused:. Nor did I say that you have to get the injection :confused:. If you're not in those high risk groups it entirely your own decision if you'd like to be vaccinated (and even if you are in a high risk group it's still you own decision). There's no pressure at all.
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Exactly, it is my choice. And, based on my two past experiences, and no matter the excuses of coincidence that are given (it was probably something else- it couldn't have been the shot), or the guilt-trip "for the sake of the community" argument, I will not be getting the flu shot this year or anytime in the foreseeable future. I'll take my chances. It is what I feel is right for me, personally. What you or anyone else chooses to do is your business.

Oh, I never said that you called me an anti-vaccine crusader. I was just pointing out, for the record, that I am not one.
 
I should go and get mine I suppose since I do a lot of volunteering in a homeless medical clinic. I could just give it to myself, we've got it there.

SLC
 
MacDawg said:
Interesting assumption given the fact that several... many... have testified of personal experiences to the contrary.
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The formaldehyde- or BPL-inactivated influenza vaccine is tested for infectious virus after it is bottled. On top of that, it is packaged in thimerosal (the adult vaccine), which would inactivate any infectious virus if it somehow managed to escape inactivation. This is required by the FDA prior to releasing a lot for use.
 
I pass on the flu shots too. There is some not good stuff put in those, and they only carry a handful of the strains that tend to run through society anyway.

I take pharmaceutical grade vitamins (GNC FTL!!!!), and rarely ever get sick.

Good diet, good vitamins, good hygiene, and "sleep" help keep people healthy (IMHO).

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840quadra said:
I pass on the flu shots too. There is some not good stuff put in those, and they only carry a handful of the strains that tend to run through society anyway.

I take pharmaceutical grade vitamins (GNC FTL!!!!), and rarely ever get sick.

Good diet, good vitamins, good hygiene, and "sleep" help keep people healthy (IMHO).

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It's the hygiene more than anything else. If you're exposed to a novel infection that your system has never encountered before, you're more than likely going to get sick. How sick you're likely to get has a lot to do with the good diet and sleep end of your triangle of health.

But why people pay what they pay for "pharmaceutical grade" vitamins is beyond me. You do realize that if you do in fact eat a well balanced diet, you're getting nearly 100% of the vitamins and minerals that your body can handle anyway right?

And you should do some reading on Hypervitaminosis, can have some nasty side effects, and although very very uncommon, when you eat right and take a high concentration supplement you're essentially just inducing a mild state of hypervitaminosis in yourself. Too much vitamin E for example can cause blood coagulation problems, you could have a difficult time stopping the blood loss when you injure yourself somehow. Why would you pay money for something that you almost certainly receive no benefit from?

SLC
 
SLC Flyfishing said:
You do realize that if you do in fact eat a well balanced diet, you're getting nearly 100% of the vitamins and minerals that your body can handle anyway right?
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You could go one step further here SLC. If you're eating a balanced diet (and there should be no reason why any of us here aren't exept perhaps strict vegans) you are getting 100% of your vitamins and minerals. For most of us, unless we're prescribed them vitamins are just an expensive placebo. Nothing you put in your body is without side effects. To add to your vitamin E example, taking Vit E supplements may also increase people's risk of lung cancer.

A healthy diet rich in fruit and veges, regular exercise, and no smoking are arguably the best primary health care preventions that one can do themselves. Popping a vitamin from the supermarket is no substitute for any of these nor are they a worthwhile adjunct for the vast majority of people.
 
I agree, supermarket vitamins are worthless. There are quite a few independent studies to support that, hence why I only support purchasing pharmaceutical grade for my own needs.

I am not exactly sure what portion of my post indicated that the vitamins I take are in ultra high doses, but that is a common misconception that I often hear. The difference between normal vitamins, and pharmaceutical grade, lies in the bioavailability of said nutrients to the body from digestion. Many of the compounds in normal multivitamins are both sensitive to gastric juces, and some have a secondary problem of being hard for the body to absorb all together. Pharmaceutical grade vitimins ensure that 80% (often more) of the amounts listed on the package are actually bioavailable. The FDA only requires that 10% (from memory) is actually required to be in the package, while none of it has to actually be bioavailable! (admiralty my numbers on the FDA could be off, I need to look that up)

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is great, and I won't argue with that (because they are 2/3 of my daily diet), however I know it is impossible for me to buy the correct variety or quantity to correctly supplement what I believe is needed for my age, and activity level.

Regardless of what I think, I have no doubt that each side can post up an equal amount of studies to support their beliefs, but in the end, it is your personal choice what you put into your body (much like the flu shots).

I have attended nutrition seminars, read books, and listened to podcasts regarding both sides, and decided to go the route I did. Either way, I believe both are better than eating McDonalds every day, and sitting on your couch watching Daytime television ;) .

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840quadra said:
I agree, supermarket vitamins are worthless. There are quite a few independent studies to support that, hence why I only support purchasing pharmaceutical grade for my own needs.

I am not exactly sure what portion of my post indicated that the vitamins I take are in ultra high doses, but that is a common misconception that I often hear. The difference between normal vitamins, and pharmaceutical grade, lies in the bioavailability of said nutrients to the body from digestion. Many of the compounds in normal multivitamins are both sensitive to gastric juces, and some have a secondary problem of being hard for the body to absorb all together. Pharmaceutical grade vitimins ensure that 80% (often more) of the amounts listed on the package are actually bioavailable. The FDA only requires that 10% (from memory) is actually required to be in the package, while none of it has to actually be bioavailable! (admiralty my numbers on the FDA could be off, I need to look that up)

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is great, and I won't argue with that (because they are 2/3 of my daily diet), however I know it is impossible for me to buy the correct variety or quantity to correctly supplement what I believe is needed for my age, and activity level.

Regardless of what I think, I have no doubt that each side can post up an equal amount of studies to support their beliefs, but in the end, it is your personal choice what you put into your body (much like the flu shots).

I have attended nutrition seminars, read books, and listened to podcasts regarding both sides, and decided to go the route I did. Either way, I believe both are better than eating McDonalds every day, and sitting on your couch watching Daytime television ;) .

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Can't argue with that
 
.Andy said:
Thanks Cave Man I should have stressed this point. It is important to take into consideration that your vaccination status isn't only for your own health, but the health of others. This should be but one of the factors that you take into consideration when making an informed decision whether or not to get the vaccine.
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Maybe others should get vaccinated if they're worried about it?

I don't worry about it. I have never, as far as I can recall, had the flu. Maybe when I was a little kid, but in recent memory? Never had it, so apparently my immune system is doing something right. I'm not going to get a flu shot if there's a good chance the shot itself will make me sick. Screw that. I'll take my chances and hope that my immune system gives me another flu-free winter.
 
yg17 said:
Maybe others should get vaccinated if they're worried about it?

I don't worry about it. I have never, as far as I can recall, had the flu. Maybe when I was a little kid, but in recent memory? Never had it, so apparently my immune system is doing something right. I'm not going to get a flu shot if there's a good chance the shot itself will make me sick. Screw that. I'll take my chances and hope that my immune system gives me another flu-free winter.
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There's actually no chance that the flu injection will make you sick. That would be impossible; it's a dead virus.

By getting vaccinated, you're not only protecting yourself, but also countless others who could die as a result of receiving the virus from you. You need to remember that not everyone is eligible (or can afford) the vaccine.
 
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I actually currently have the flu. :(
My parents, even when I was little, never let me get the flu shot. My father just said that they just "give" you the flu so your body grows immune to it.
But I'm suffering, but not too too bad. I was going to go to work today since I was feeling better, but the flu backfired on me again :(
 
well nowadays its not a 'shot' anymore..

mine.. are shot up my nose!!! >_<

so i guess its better than needles, but my nose is stuffy all day and i taste FLU in my mouth! aaaahhhhhh X_X
 
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