Caturday
10 minutes ago
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Flu shots?
I’m not a doctor so I don’t practice medicine. There, got that out of the way.
I don’t get a flu shot. My reasoning was based on observing the people who did. It appeared that the shot actually made some people sick. Now we have an article about flu shots in The Vancouver Sun. People who took the shot got sicker.
I’m one of the groups that the medical profession recommends take the shot: those with a history of respiratory problems. The thing is, my lovely wife used to work in a hospital as a medical lab technician. At one hospital she worked at the infection control officer would not take the shot and “unofficially” recommended against it. One has to wonder what’s going on.
Even if the shot worked as expected, it’s still a crap shoot. The shot is for strains of flu that is their best guest at which ones will manifest over the flu season. Some years they guess wrong.
It seems that flu shots are being given out all over the place. As far as I know, you can’t get one at the drive through window at the local burger place, but that might be in the works. Flue shots are heavily promoted. There’s a fair bit of societal pressure to get one. Being a contrary cuss, that’s almost reason enough for me not to get one.
What am I doing instead of a flu shot? I’m washing my hands like crazy, with real soap and water. That will certainly reduce my chance of getting an infection, and I know there are no bad side effects.
-Sixbears
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And your hands will be cleaner in the process! I don't get the shots, either. I don't even wash my hands more unless I know I'm around someone who has it.
ReplyDeleteIt's become a habit, one of my few good ones.
DeleteI've heard of people washing their hands of things but to get rid of germs!
ReplyDeleteSounds too good to be true.
I'm definitely going to try that.
They give free flu shots in New Zealand too and a lot of people who have them get sick.
We live in interesting times...
Interesting times indeed, even in Kiwi land.
DeleteMy doctor doesn't want to believe I got sick whenever I got the flu shot. I refuse to get it and I don't care what he thinks. I know me best.
ReplyDeleteDoctors almost killed me a time or two, so they really have to prove their case to me these days -not that I've seen any docotors in the last few years.
DeleteI got a flu shot once in the 90,s got the flu a week later was the last i had either of them.If you want to make your doctor think use this saying on them. A PRESCRITION PAD HAS KILLED MORE PEOPLE THAN GUNS.
ReplyDeleteI think prescrition medicine is something like the 5th leading cause of death in the US.
DeleteMy wife and I don't get the flu shots. Between the crap shoot that they chose the right strain to protect against, the confirmed, if sporadic side effects, and the observation that we all know people who get the shot and also get the flu, there is no real reason to get one.
ReplyDeleteI see that I am far from alone here.
DeleteI got the flu in my early 50s, it was a little bit scary friends. The shots are a worry also. Anything promoted by the Gov as in our best interest throws up a big red flag for me. Most years I do not get the flu shot.
ReplyDeletePeople have to make their own choices, and it's tough to weigh all the pros and cons sometimes.
DeleteWe do not get flue shots. A friend of mine when we used to live in Pennsylvania, got French Polo from a flue shot which completely paralized kim. He had to be on a huge breathing machine. He got some better but never worked again and never got back to normal.
ReplyDeleteThat's certainly a cautionary tale. Sorry about your friend.
DeleteI've had the flu three times in my life, and those were the three years the Navy made me take a flu shot. Never again!
ReplyDeleteThat's the sort of thing I've been hearing from people.
DeleteI can't have the flu shot. I have allergies to certain meds, eggs, ect....
ReplyDeleteAs you can see, I'm still around and healthy.
Those allergies might have saved you. :)
DeleteMy Mom just recently got a flu shot, and for the next two days felt really bad! When I told her (again) it was probably because of the shot, she snorted!
ReplyDeleteI had a nurse at the VA tell me once (on the QT) never take one if you have a choice!
I've seen the same thing when friends got the shot. Hit them hard.
Deletekinda funny because of the topic ad choice is onsite flu shots and walgreens.Do a post on jack daniels and absolute to see what ads appear. LOL
ReplyDeleteYeah, that always amuses me. They are paying me to slam them.
Deletebad medicine = flu shots
ReplyDeletesimple now?
Wildflower
simple, yet I think there's truth here.
DeleteWhen I was in 3rd grade, a long time ago, I had what they called the Asian Flu back then. I was sick for 31 days. I've never had the flu since and never had a flu shot. I'm 66 and never had the flu of any strain again. I will never take a flu shot. Commonsense around other people and hygiene works the best for me! I believe you let the body's immune system do its job.
ReplyDeleteThe Asian Flu was a nasty one. Lucky you haven't had the flu since. Keeping the immune system healthy is a good approach.
DeleteI too have allergies & am the one in whatever number who will get thee horrid side effect to a medication so I stay away from flu shots & most meds too.
ReplyDeleteA recent trip to the pharmacy to pick up George's meds taught me to trust no pharmacy. The ONE time I didn't check the package before leaving the counter I came home with a script for a BP med his doctor changed a month ago and a script for SOMEONE ElSE!
That pharmacy did a serious error. That 's the sort of thing that kills people. Good thing you caught it.
DeleteI can't take the flu shot because of my CIDP. But my Mom went to get her perscription and they were pushing the flu shot and told them no shot for her. They were stunned that someone actually defied them on getting a shot!
ReplyDeleteThere is pressure to get it.
Delete