Free flu shot, anyone?

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

half know that every time you go get a flu shot they make money on it so of course they want you to get one, they don't care about your health, they care about their bank account.

You know another really good business? Funeral homes -

I'm surprised you don't get Dr's and Funeral Homes working side by side, could you imagine the synergies!! If 50% are trying to make you sick and die, they should all partner up!

[Wookie]

Actually I'm going to go consult my local GNC or health food shop. The person working in the mall for $8.00 / hour probably would be able to answer most of my questions and find me something in their store that will set me straight.

Maybe I'll lose some weight in the same trip, some exercise in a bottle, thermogenics, maybe something else to make me smarter - my career needs a jump-start and taking a pill would probably help that.

[Clever_Iggy]

I heard that the flu shot causes higher incidents of autism. Some comedian told me that and he seemed pretty passionate about it, so I'm not going to get a flu shot because I don't want autism.

[LChoy]

*health hat*

Canada and the US set up an extensive network to monitor vaccines. Any adverse reaction from unsual tenderness at the site of injection to anaphylaxis is recorded and the data is monitor and collected for analysis. The most common adverse reaction is tenderness at the injection site/swelling. This is much more monitoring and analysis compared to herbal and natural flu aids out there.

To put it bluntly, seasonal flu vaccines are a guess to what this year strains will be like. Each seasonal influenza vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one regular seasonal A (H1N1) virus (not the 2009 H1N1 virus), and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body (http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/protect/keyfacts.htm).
Sometimes, like last year, the vaccine is not as effective (the B type prediction wasn't close to the B type virus last year) and people will still get the Flu, but hopefully a milder version.

For those that are worried that they are over loading the body's immune system, you don't have to be. From Immunology courses, a healthy immune system can be exposed to 10s of thousand of antigens at a time. Just by walking down a street breathing in may expose you to more antigens than contained in a flu shot. The Childhood immunizations for instance uses only 0.01% of the baby's immune system capacity.
For mercury, I need to double check for sure but the vaccines will be after production Thermisole free (needed in initial production, but gets diluted throughout the stage of manfacturing until the end product contains negible traces of mercury and other preservatives). The Flu vaccine is grown in a fertilized chicken egg so the egg's albumin is more of a concern for people that are allergic to eggs. This was the cause of some or most of the anaphylaxis last year.
Even with the minor negible trace of mercury, it is in the form that is not toxic to humans. Elemental mercury is bad, but the vaccine form is a ethylized version of it, and the body does not hold on to it.

Note: This is different from the H1N1 swine flu vaccine that is currently in development. It won't protect you from Swine flu

Also Note: beginning October 2009, all Albertans six months of age and older can receive seasonal influenza vaccine free of charge.

For more information, go here:
http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-...questions.html
http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-...influenza.html
http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/ABOUT/QA/thimerosal.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_vaccine


lchoy
- You Albertans may pay my salary, but I assure you that I'm not paid by Big Pharma

[photon]

Good post Lchoy.

Yeah I know a chiropractor that tells everyone to not vaccinate their kids (not just flu, but everything!), and to bring them in for spinal adjustments to keep them healthy. He says all diseases are caused by pinched spinal nerves, I guess he missed the past few hundred years of medicine.

[You Need a Thneed]

For some people, getting a flu shot might be beneficial. If you are someone who doesn't get sick very often, it's probably a waste of time.

I'm wary of getting flu shots (for many people) because, it really just a vaccination for convenience. I won't say that vaccinations weaken our immune systems, but when our immune systems don't have to fight anything off, because we are vaccinated for everything, it's definitely not beneficial in the long run.

Anecdotal of course, but the people that worry about getting all their vaccination all the time are the people that always find themselves sick, and the people that try to avoid them are the people who rarely get sick, and when they get sick, it's over quickly.

Getting a vaccination for a disease that is more serious is a completely different matter. For most people, getting the flu isn't a serious disease.

[rockymountains]

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

I have a chance for a free flu shot but have heard that flu shots can be dangerous and can cause medical issues. I know a chiropractor who advises against flu shots. I know he's not a doctor, but anyway.... Would you get a free flu shot if it were offered?

I won't go within ten feet of a needle of any kind! I haven't had my flu shot since i was like eight, and I have had the 24 hour flu once a year if that. I might have a stronger immune system, but why not just practice good hygeine and wash your hands lots, and don't put them in your mouth when you have handled other peoples stuff???
And I wouldn't trust a chiropractor. If you are undecided, maybe ask a real doctor (tho they would prob encourage you to do it)

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Komskies

No flu shot: You have the possibility of contracting the flu.

Flu shot: You have a smaller possibility of contracting the flu, but you pay for it by being slightly sick all year.

I'm going to try to clear this up because people are jumping all over me for no good reason. The quote above was a bit from a Seinfeld routine that I was unable to locate a transcript of, and evidently failed to properly replicate. It seems that some of you think I was trying to state a fact or my opinion there, neither of which I was doing. Believe it or not, I don't take medical advice from Jerry.

The part about me only getting sick in years when I didn't get a flu shot is just a personal observation. I wasn't attempting to draw a parallel between not getting a flu shot and not getting sick. Personally, I haven't had a flu shot since I was in high school, so about 7 years now. I haven't had the flu since.. you know, just saying.

Anyways I found a good link to the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/protect/keyfacts.htm, and they have a list of people that should get a seasonal vaccine:

1. Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
2. Pregnant women
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
   1. Health care workers
   2. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
   3. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

I don't fall into any of the above categories, and consider myself to be a healthy individual with no chronic health problems. I choose to not get a flu shot because I don't feel I need one, not because I think it will make me sick or kill me.

Also, the link above is for Seasonal Influenza, and does not pertain to the 2009 H1N1.

[Doctordestiny]

This chiropractor is taking some shots (pun intended) here. He's in my family but we live in different places so he's not my regular chirporactor. He's a holistic chiropractor who treats a number of ailments, not just regular chiro stuff. He's extremely well trained in all kinds of medical stuff (has taken education sessions in many countries) and says that shots like this are risky as you can actually get the flu from the shot and it can cause other problems.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

This chiropractor is taking some shots (pun intended) here. He's in my family but we live in different places so he's not my regular chirporactor. He's a holistic chiropractor who treats a number of ailments, not just regular chiro stuff. He's extremely well trained in all kinds of medical stuff (has taken education sessions in many countries) and says that shots like this are risky as you can actually get the flu from the shot and it can cause other problems.

Has he been to medical school? No?

[mykalberta]

I havent had one in 5 years, and the most I have been sick durring that time is maybe 2 days in a row - which was likely my fault.

I wouldnt not get a free shot, but I dont think they are completely necessary for adults unless you are travelling.

[joe_mullen]

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

This chiropractor is taking some shots (pun intended) here. He's in my family but we live in different places so he's not my regular chirporactor. He's a holistic chiropractor who treats a number of ailments, not just regular chiro stuff. He's extremely well trained in all kinds of medical stuff (has taken education sessions in many countries) and says that shots like this are risky as you can actually get the flu from the shot and it can cause other problems.

Getting the flu from the flu shot is a big misconception. A very small proportion of people will get a mild inflammatory response secondary to the immune response but not the actual flu. These symptoms are self limiting and harmless, and can be controlled with any analgesic or antipyretic. Also, as stated very eloquently above, the flu vaccine is a very small insult to your immune system and does not harm it or your potential defenses against infection. In essance, it actually strenghtens your immune system by producing more antibodies to potential infection.

[Cowboy89]

Man Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carey are really doing their part on dumbing down the world. I'm okay with people not vaccinating themselves or their chidren, because it means there's more life and resources for me and my future generations!

[COGENT]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

There are so many different strains of flu and the shot "supposedly" guards against 3, that's it.

So if this was a hockey game the score would be
Flu shot: 3
no Flu shot: 0

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Wookie

Actually I'm going to go consult my local GNC or health food shop. The person working in the mall for $8.00 / hour probably would be able to answer most of my questions and find me something in their store that will set me straight.

Maybe I'll lose some weight in the same trip, some exercise in a bottle, thermogenics, maybe something else to make me smarter - my career needs a jump-start and taking a pill would probably help that.

I remember accompanying my cousin to a GNC store and the sales guy there trying to convince us that we eat too much fruits and vegetables in our daily diet and that what we really need is protein protein protein. The dude's face was so red, I thought he was going to have a heart attack. But the dude was pretty shredded for an older dude, so his advice must work right? Pssh, what does my family doctor know right?

[cal_guy]

Originally Posted by peter12

I don't want to trust a doctor whose website is a shill for natural health products.

Particularly since this Dr.Kim isn't a medical doctor, he's a chiropractor and acupuncturist. Basically not the type of person who scours the medical journals.

[mykalberta]

LChoy - where do you go for these free shots.

Preferably anywhere in Calgary other than a Hospital.

[cal_guy]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

LChoy - where do you go for these free shots.

Preferably anywhere in Calgary other than a Hospital.

Try your family doctor. Also Alberta Health runs flu shot clinics throughout the flu season. Check the Alberta Health for dates.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Will a multivitamin be sufficient or do I need to get a seperate Vitamin D?

Cause I take enough pills as it stands.

I have never taken a "multi" vitamin but if if contains V-D (the vitamin not the venerial disease) I'm sure it would be adequate.........not a doctor though, I have read several articles that mentioned vitamin D as a natural flu fighter. It works for me....

[zuluking]

"To put it bluntly, seasonal flu vaccines are a guess..." - $8M govt program = 'shot' in the dark. Doesn't even cover the swine flu.
"and people will still get the Flu, but hopefully a milder version." - also called the Obama effect
"a healthy immune system can be exposed to 10s of thousand of antigens" - what about the unhealthy one?
"just by walking down a street breathing in may expose you to more antigens than contained in a flu shot." - but why stop there? let's pile some more on!
"Elemental mercury is bad, but the vaccine form is a ethylized version of it, and the body does not hold on to it." - but the toxicity of ethylmercury is not well studied, so what could possibly go wrong?

It's free though.....hmmmm.