Flu

[Futbalfantic]

I refuse to get the flu shot. There are multiple problems with it in what research I could find:

1) sequential flu shots lower your protection year to year.

Study: Prior-year vaccination cut flu vaccine effects in 2014-15

2) getting a strain of the flu that was not apart of the vaccine increases duration and severity.

Study raises red flag for universal flu vaccine; may explain 2009 ‘Canadian problem’

I have found a third reason but it's on my computer and can't for the life of me remember it

 

[k5-1402]

I have had to get the flu shot for the last fifteen years for work. While I can't say I haven't had the flu since; I have only had it a couple times and it was not from getting the shot.

 

[CasterTroy]

I
I have found a third reason but it's on my computer and can't for the life of me remember it

There's a computer/virus (flu) joke in there somewhere, but only 1/5 way thru this first cup of coffee

 

[XJsavage]

Never had her.

 

[JSJJ388]

Havent had the flu vaccine in years, this year was the first time Ive been sick since HS. Went to doc with "flu-ish" symptoms, doc said I had a bad sinus infection (I call BS- 102 fever, had it coming out both ends, cold sweats/hot flashes, ect) and an asthma flare up. I was down for three days. My wife had the exact same symptoms and was told she had the flu........ Same doc, same time. Too many risks for me to get the shot, as well as it being proven ineffective. My thought is if you eat right and keep yourself healthy, you can fight most any bug or virus off fairly easily. My wife has done a metric crap ton of research and refuses to get it as well, more so when she is pregnant.

 

[justjeepin86]

I always get the shot. Honestly, I can't tell you when the last time I had the flu was.

 

[ckruzer]

If you're referring to the mercury used in thimiserol, that's (1) an ethyl mercury, which passes right out of the body quickly... as opposed to methyl mercury which is the one that is the actual problem (found in some fish etc),

etHg and aluminum have shown to have neuro effects on newborns, young children, etc. aluminum has been linked to alzheimer's.

There is alot of good info out there that is doing good to raise the proverbial hand.
Exposure to mercury and aluminum in early life: developmental vulnerability as a modifying factor in neurologic and immunologic effects. - PubMed - NCBI

Safety levels of these heavy metals have never been established... so a claim that it "leaves the body quick" is irrelevant and unfounded to the subject matter. The question is the toxicity, regardless of how expediant it is traversing through the body.

thimerosal Hg left the blood quicker than meHg. but collected in the brain in the brain...
Comparison of blood and brain mercury levels in infant monkeys exposed to methylmercury or vaccines containing thimerosal. - PubMed - NCBI

delayed neuro development as a result of etHg has been seen experimentally and in population studies...
Low-dose mercury exposure in early life: relevance of thimerosal to fetuses, newborns and infants. - PubMed - NCBI


Anywho. These days... many things are not as black and white as they are supposed to be. When the executive chairs at CDC, Big Pharma, FDA, DOJ, etc all interchange so easily... Its not hard to believe or desire a change. "Whats right and proper' no longer rules legislation, or formulae approvals - but rather who has the deepest pockets.

the efficacy rate of the flu vaccine this year is at a near all time low. So by using this years efficacy levels is a bit...disingenuous.

They've never had 'great' numbers, so no its not disingenuous.

 

[RatLabGuy]

etHg and aluminum have shown to have neuro effects on newborns, young children, etc. aluminum has been linked to alzheimer's.

There is alot of good info out there that is doing good to raise the proverbial hand.
Exposure to mercury and aluminum in early life: developmental vulnerability as a modifying factor in neurologic and immunologic effects. - PubMed - NCBI

Safety levels of these heavy metals have never been established... so a claim that it "leaves the body quick" is irrelevant and unfounded to the subject matter. The question is the toxicity, regardless of how expediant it is traversing through the body.

thimerosal Hg left the blood quicker than meHg. but collected in the brain in the brain...
Comparison of blood and brain mercury levels in infant monkeys exposed to methylmercury or vaccines containing thimerosal. - PubMed - NCBI

delayed neuro development as a result of etHg has been seen experimentally and in population studies...
Low-dose mercury exposure in early life: relevance of thimerosal to fetuses, newborns and infants. - PubMed - NCBI


Anywho. These days... many things are not as black and white as they are supposed to be. When the executive chairs at CDC, Big Pharma, FDA, DOJ, etc all interchange so easily... Its not hard to believe or desire a change. "Whats right and proper' no longer rules legislation, or formulae approvals - but rather who has the deepest pockets.



They've never had 'great' numbers, so no its not disingenuous.

Again - maybe there are potential concerns with thimerosal Hg and neural development.... and this is why it is not in ANY child doses nor has it been for a very long time. It's not like these concerns are being ignored. You're pointing to problems that have already been dealt with.
I think we all share the same skepticism of the incentives of leadership at government agencies, but I do trust the scientists and the people who actually put for the recommendations for them.

 

[ckruzer]

this is why it is not in ANY child doses nor has it been for a very long time.

Have not seen this. Ill look into it. Thanks

 

[Ron]

@RatLabGuy what do you do again?

 

[Cherokeekid88]

I was against my wife getting the flu shot this year being pregnant, but she decided after talking with her Dr. to get it. Makes me really nervous reading all this stuff about and here we are two months and some change away from our little girl being born...

 

[RatLabGuy]

Have not seen this. Ill look into it. Thanks

Its on the CDC page I linked in my first reply to you.

 

[RatLabGuy]

@RatLabGuy what do you do again?

I'm a neuroscientist for the Army Research Lab. Well, these days I'm more of a biomedical engineer. I lead a program developing the future, next-next generation devices for neurophysiological (brain, body) sensing in real-world conditions, more efficient Human-AI teaming etc.
Basically a professional nerd making cool gadgets to make life better for soldiers and everybody else. Not an epidemiologist by any stretch but I know how science and government-sponsored research works (and doesn't).

That, and professional NC4x4 keyboard jockey, shadetree mechanic and washed out racer.

 

[tlucier]

I'm a neuroscientist for the Army Research Lab. Well, these days I'm more of a biomedical engineer. I lead a program developing the future, next-next generation devices for neurophysiological (brain, body) sensing in real-world conditions, more efficient Human-AI teaming etc.
Basically a professional nerd making cool gadgets to make life better for soldiers and everybody else. Not an epidemiologist by any stretch but I know how science and government-sponsored research works (and doesn't).

That, and professional NC4x4 keyboard jockey, shadetree mechanic and washed out racer.

Your career sounds really cool, but I'm sure it can be extremely frustrating with working for the government.

 

[BigGreenMonster]

I have never had the flu shot. This is the first time I have had the flu... That I can remember. I do not plan on getting the flu shot next year. I am pro all for vacsenies (sp) but I do not think that one is really worth it. But that is me

 

[trailhugger]

Again - maybe there are potential concerns with thimerosal Hg and neural development.... and this is why it is not in ANY child doses nor has it been for a very long time..

Can't speak for all providers, but mine only offered the one without thimerosal when I was pregnant and they definitely encouraged all pregnant women to get it.

 

[1stgenxxx]

I have refused to get a flu shot for the last 5 years or so. The hospital makes me wear a mask during flu season and it has been pretty bad this year. Two years ago they told us we had to get a flu shot or we couldn't work at the hospital....myself and two other techs threatened to quit so they backed down and said the mask was ok. A large number of coworkers who get the shot still get sick.

 

[RenegadeT]

How old is the flu shot? I even never heard of it til about 15 yrs ago. Growing up, I’m pretty sure I never got one. Now, many years later, I have a good job with medical insurance, they now offer flu shots at work. I got it once or twice, then decided I’d rather not. Our kids got the flu shots when they were younger (3-10 yrs old maybe), but not any more. I forget a lot of stuff, but I do remember one time my wife had a super high fever and all the flu like symptoms, she just stayed home and hated life for many days. That was probably the flu.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Your career sounds really cool, but I'm sure it can be extremely frustrating with working for the government.

Correct on both accounts. From here I get to see both the best and the worst of what our government does.

 

[shawn]

Got the flu shot about 20 years ago and got the flu 4 days later. Only time in my life I’ve had the flu. No more shots for my ass.

It takes two weeks before the shot is effective. Results last about six months.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Got the flu shot about 20 years ago and got the flu 4 days later. Only time in my life I’ve had the flu. No more shots for my ass.

If you're getting your flu shot in the ass, it's time for a new doctor.

...Unless she's really cute.

 

[shawn]

Everyone’s response is different yes. But as long as effective percents are as low as 17%, I’m not a fan for infants, children, pregnant women, cancer patients or elderly who’s organs perhaps are not best suited to the symptoms.

Where are you getting these numbers?

Interim estimates of 2017–18 season vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza A and influenza B virus infection associated with medically attended acute respiratory illness in the United States was 36% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 27%–44%). VE was estimated to be 25% (95% CI = 13%–36%) against illness caused by influenza A(H3N2) virus, 67% (95% CI = 54%–76%) against A(H1N1)pdm09 virus and 42% (95% CI = 25%–56%) against influenza B virus (7).

Keeping in mind, of course, that if you test positive for the flu, it counts against the efficacy rate regardless of whether you only ran a low grade fever for 6 hours and suffered mild fatigue.