Flu Shot SCAM

[davsel]

From: The Journal of Advanced Practice Nursing (http://www.asrn.org/journal-advanced-practice-nursing/1212-do-not-believe-everything-you-read-about-flu-deaths.html)


Flu results in "about 250,000 to 500,000 yearly deaths" worldwide, Wikipedia tells us. "The typical estimate is 36,000 [deaths] a year in the United States," reports NBC, citing the Centers for Disease Control. "Somewhere between 4,000 and 8,000 Canadians a year die of influenza and its related complications", according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, adding that "Those numbers are controversial because they are estimates.""Controversial" is an understatement, and not just in Canada, and not just because the numbers are estimates. The numbers differ wildly from the sober tallies recorded on death certificates -- by law every certificate must show a cause -- and reported by the official agencies that collect and keep vital statistics.

According to the National Vital Statistics System in the U.S., for example, annual flu deaths in 2010 amounted to just 500 per year -- fewer than deaths from ulcers (2,977), hernias (1,832) and pregnancy and childbirth (825), and a far cry from the big killers such as heart disease (597,689) and cancers (574,743). The story is similar in Canada, where unlikely killers likewise dwarf Statistics Canada's count of flu deaths.

The CDC unabashedly decided to create a mass market for the flu vaccine by enlisting the media into panicking the public. An obedient and unquestioning media obliged by hyping the numbers, and 10 years later it is obliging still.

Suckers!

[ruthabagah]

Funny it looks like the same propaganda / disinformation I received from the JW in my mailbox last week.... Need to check.

[tmckay2]

I wonder how you would feel if you were in healthcare like myself and see the hospitalization a and deaths first hand. Had two deaths since the new year and countless er visits with about a third being admitted. But yeah, it's a laughing matter. The shot is free for 90 percent of people and although it lowers mortality it drastically lowers hospitalizations. Pretty good bet to get it, unless you
believe Jenny McCarthy and a disbarred physician are more reliable than medical data and the opinion of nearly every doctor and pharmacist.

[ruthabagah]

I wonder how you would feel if you were in healthcare like myself and see the hospitalization a and deaths first hand. Had two deaths since the new year and countless er visits with about a third being admitted. But yeah, it's a laughing matter. The shot is free for 90 percent of people and although it lowers mortality it drastically lowers hospitalizations. Pretty good bet to get it, unless you
believe Jenny McCarthy and a disbarred physician are more reliable than medical data and the opinion of nearly every doctor and pharmacist.

Well said. It's an uphill battle though, some "religion" are spending millions in PR each years to fight vaccination.

[wctriumph]

I have never had flu shot and I get the flu maybe once every third year, same with colds. Even though I am older than most on this forum I have a pretty strong constitution and don't get sick with anything very often. My parents used to get them after they turned 65 on the advice of their doctor. Now that my daughter is back to work, I am sure that she will bring it home at some point and the wife will catch it. The people at work will most assuredly get it and the boss is the worst, he gets sick with everything every year.

[davsel]

http://www.naturalnews.com/047942_flu_shots_medical_fraud_vaccine_quackery.ht ml#
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Influenza-Virus-Vaccine-Flulaval-Box-Mercury-Preservative-600.jpg
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Flulaval-Influenza-Vaccine-Insert-600.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv_IaLHwgAQ

Lambs

[jhood001]

I've never had a flu shot and I haven't had the flu since I was 12. The wife on the other hand has to get them and she isn't dead yet. To each his/her own I guess.

[kidicarus13]

I get them about every other year. Not to keep from dying but to keep from getting sick.

[GunsRBadMMMMKay]

Davsel, that is why they want us to give them to our kids..........they are trying to establish safe and effective pediatric use lol.

I personally never get flu shots, and I can say I rarely get the flu. I would say never, but it seems like I actually caught it last year. I blame the altitude :p

[ruthabagah]

http://www.naturalnews.com/047942_flu_shots_medical_fraud_vaccine_quackery.ht ml#
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Influenza-Virus-Vaccine-Flulaval-Box-Mercury-Preservative-600.jpg
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Flulaval-Influenza-Vaccine-Insert-600.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv_IaLHwgAQ

Lambs

Yep. it's another well known fraud.

NaturalNews.com (formerly Newstarget) is an anti-science (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Anti-science) conspiracy website founded by Mike Adams (self-labeled "The Health Ranger") which promotes numerousalternative medicines (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine) and assorted woo (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Woo).[1] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-0)
The site particularly specializes in: vaccine denialism and woo (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Anti-vaccination_movement),[2] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-AVD-1) AIDS/HIV denialism (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/HIV_denial),[3] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-2) quack cancer treatments (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Cancer#Quack_cancer_treatments),[4] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-QCT-3) and Conspiracy theories (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory) about "Big Pharma (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Big_Pharma)".[5] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-BPH-4)
Furthermore, Adams supports quantum woo (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Quantum_woo), specifically quantum healing (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Quantum_healing),[6] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-5) the many worlds interpretation (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics#Many_worlds), and quantum consciousness (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Quantum_consciousness).[7] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-6) NaturalNews advances ahard green (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Hard_green) position, even though the site also promotes global warming denialism (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Global_warming_denialism).[8] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-7) Adams promotes conspiracy theories about gun control (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gun_control).[9] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-8)
Long story short: Even other quacks (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Quack) think it's a quack site.[10] (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews#cite_note-9)
If you cite NaturalNews on any matter whatsoever, you are almost certainly wrong (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Scopie%27s_Law).

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/NaturalNews

[Dave_L]

My wife is a nurse. She's big on it. I got it this year so she'd leave me alone. I got flu like symptoms for 12 hours and then was back the next day. I poked fun about it but she reminded me that the flu shot doesn't necessarily prevent it, but it also reduces the symptoms and length. I couldn't argue that part since it was really only 24 hours total til I felt 100% again. :shrugs:

[MED]

In my 43 years, I had the flu once without ever taking the vaccine. This includes years of my son bringing home crud from childcare and school as well as going into the office every day. If I keep myself from getting run down and weakening my immune system, I rarely get sick. Like all things, decide what is best for you.

[Bailey Guns]

When I left LE in 2000 I pretty much stopped getting sick. Better diet, better sleep schedule (no staying up all night and not getting enough rest) and less interaction with scumbags likely to make me sick. I've had the flu (or something like it) once about 5 years ago...at least that's the only time I can remember having it. I've had maybe 2 or 3 colds, all very minor, in 15 years. I never take flu shots.

On the other hand, I know people who get a flu shot every year and they don't get sick any more often than I do.

So, who knows?

[Brian]

[facepalm]

[SAnd]

I reacted to the first flu shot I got in about '81 or "82. So I didn't get one for about 5 years. Then I tested positive for the flue 3 times in a little over two years. I started getting flue shots then. I've never reacted to another flue shot and I haven't had anything flu like that was bad enough to justify a trip to the doctor or miss more than a day of work.

Like Bailey Guns says, "So who knows?"

[Scogin]

I am not anti vaccine but I will admit they scare me. My 1.5 year old son does have all of his vaccines but as he gets older I will probably stop having him get the flu vaccine. My understanding is that the flu vaccine is most effective and recommended for the young and elderly so why get it if you don't fall into either of these categories.

When facts come out about certain vaccines giving children narcolepsy I worry about what I could be doing to my kid with these shots. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/h1n1_narcolepsy_pandemrix.html (to their credit, this shot was not approved for use in the U.S.)

[Dave]

So the same Mike Adams that believes baking soda is a cure for cancer?

[ruthabagah]

So the same Mike Adams that believes baking soda is a cure for cancer?
Yes and protecting yourself against Ebola using natural oil.... And snake oil of course!

[Ed_S]

http://www.naturalnews.com/047942_flu_shots_medical_fraud_vaccine_quackery.ht ml#
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Influenza-Virus-Vaccine-Flulaval-Box-Mercury-Preservative-600.jpg
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Flulaval-Influenza-Vaccine-Insert-600.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv_IaLHwgAQ

Lambs

FYI Most multi-dose vaccines contain Thimerosal as a preservative but the single does vials/syringes of the same vaccine don't. Thimerosal has been linked to Autism so many manufacturers dropped it's inclusion in the vaccines. Merck for one did for US vaccines and they were known as 'T-free'.

[Graves]

I haven't had the flu since I was 16, coincidentally that was the last time I had the "vaccination".

[HoneyBadger]

I get them about every other year. Not to keep from dying but to keep from getting sick.
Does it keep you from getting sick? Since joining the military, I've had to get one every year, and honestly, I have been sick much more frequently since I started getting the flu shot.

...But you could correlate that with a hundred other factors too, such as my work environment, changing familial conditions, etc.

I will add: I would never get the flu vaccine if I wasn't required to. I really just don't buy it. I am young and in good health. One of my co-workers and trusted friends was a chemist for a pharmaceutical company in Arizona for several years before changing careers and he adamantly believes that it is just a scam to make the big pharm companies rich. Whether or not it's a scam, it still makes them rich.

[ruthabagah]

Does it keep you from getting sick? Since joining the military, I've had to get one every year, and honestly, I have been sick much more frequently since I started getting the flu shot.

...But you could correlate that with a hundred other factors too, such as my work environment, changing familial conditions, etc.

I will add: I would never get the flu vaccine if I wasn't required to. I really just don't buy it. I am young and in good health. One of my co-workers and trusted friends was a chemist for a pharmaceutical company in Arizona for several years before changing careers and he adamantly believes that it is just a scam to make the big pharm companies rich. Whether or not it's a scam, it still makes them rich.

I will start with this: It is your choice to get the vaccine or not.

Each year, healthy man like you will get the flu, or will get bit by a mosquito carrying the west nile virus and will either die, or be seriously disabled for a long time (some for the rest of their life) because of a tiny virus. Do a little bit of search about long term sequel of the flu on healthy adults. Also, do not forget that in 1918, before the vaccines, 21 millions people died of the flu and another 60 to 80 millions kept long term sequel from the epidemic.

finally: the whole BS you were served to explain that pharmaceutical companies make money on the vaccine is a total lie. They make a shit load of money on the flu medicine they sell you OTC, but not a dime on producing a government mandated vaccine. The danger is there is a concentration of companies now making the vaccine, and a few government owned lab too, and this may create shortage and a cartel situation in the future.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/10/27/4268719/australian-pharma-giant-csl-to.html

[Stevensje]

What does everyone think about the measles vaccine, good idea/bad idea?

[Jamnanc]

I may die from the flu, but an airplane could crash into a power line and make it fall on my car tomorrow. A blue ice chunk from an airplane or a meteorite might hit me while I sleep. Might win the lotto... Might get sick from the shot. You guys are sure passionate about some weird shit.

The conspiracy theory is much more fun.

No no way the pharma doesn't make money on a government ordered vaccine. I'm calling bs. A five dollar shot prolly costs 500

[Jamnanc]

Measles is resurgent even if you have the vaccine, get the measles shot for your kids.

[tmckay2]

http://www.naturalnews.com/047942_flu_shots_medical_fraud_vaccine_quackery.ht ml#
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Influenza-Virus-Vaccine-Flulaval-Box-Mercury-Preservative-600.jpg
http://www.naturalnews.com/images/Flulaval-Influenza-Vaccine-Insert-600.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv_IaLHwgAQ

Lambs


wow, you should be embarrassed to have posted that. it makes you look like a complete fool. firstly, there are some formulations that were not approved for pediatric use because they didn't do the intensive testing. notice it says adult formulation on the front. others have been approved after testing. second, you can easily get preservative free if you are ignorant and think that level of mercury is a big deal (newsflash: check your foods. you might stop eating). third, you just posted a link front a known whack job. congrats. as i said, might as well post from jenny mccarthy. she has as much credibility. there has been zero evidence whatsoever of preservatives causing any kind of issue. in fact, the majority of foods have evidence supporting that they are actually significantly more dangerous, and even that has nothing concrete behind it. the vaccine has been tested over a large number of years with millions upon millions of patients. is it perfect? no, nothing is. when you give something to 500 million people, you will at some point have some sort of negative consequence. it is a given. antibiotics actually cause far more problems, would you refuse those?

you really ought to leave the science to the people who know what they are talking about. this kind of garbage only makes you look ignorant. sorry, the truth hurts. i spent 6 months in an immunology department and another 3 months in infectious disease. most of my residency was spent in some form of infectious disease and my best friend and closest colleague spent two years at mayo clinic in infectious disease. you really should stop now before you look more ridiculous.

[tmckay2]

Does it keep you from getting sick? Since joining the military, I've had to get one every year, and honestly, I have been sick much more frequently since I started getting the flu shot.

...But you could correlate that with a hundred other factors too, such as my work environment, changing familial conditions, etc.

I will add: I would never get the flu vaccine if I wasn't required to. I really just don't buy it. I am young and in good health. One of my co-workers and trusted friends was a chemist for a pharmaceutical company in Arizona for several years before changing careers and he adamantly believes that it is just a scam to make the big pharm companies rich. Whether or not it's a scam, it still makes them rich.


the flu shot is about 70% effective in stopping someone from getting the flu, and reduces hospitalizations significantly more than that. the flu is particularly difficult as it mutates often and quickly. every few years the shot will be particularly ineffective, so more like 55-60% effective, due to mutations. so just because you get the shot doesn't mean it is impossible to get the flu. that being said, most people that get sick and claim they had the flu are full of shit. the flu is nasty. most people who get it will be in bed for several days with intense body aches and other symptoms. most people get a cold and claim they got the flu because they think it sounds more bad ass, but it simply isn't true. get a good case of the flu and you will likely opt for the free and proven safe flu shot the next year.

does it stop you from getting sick (as in viral colds or bacterial infections)? of course not. is it reasonable to opt not to get the flu shot as a young, healthy individual? certainly. most deaths are simply from the old and very young, of course having the people in the middle vaccinated decreases transmission to these high risk populations, but i really have no problem with people not getting it. its your choice. but the rampant idiocy out there about conspiracies and lots of misinformation is total garbage. it has been debunked time and time again and yet people are still out there quoting complete imbeciles thinking they look smart. thats the crap i can't stand. you don't want it, fine. don't convince someone else to put themselves at risk for no reason.

[tmckay2]

FYI Most multi-dose vaccines contain Thimerosal as a preservative but the single does vials/syringes of the same vaccine don't. Thimerosal has been linked to Autism so many manufacturers dropped it's inclusion in the vaccines. Merck for one did for US vaccines and they were known as 'T-free'.

false, thimerosal has not been linked to autism. several companies have tried to research a link but nothing conclusive was ever found. however, i opt to get preservative free because why not? the cost is free either way.

[davsel]

Pay no attention to the message, bash the messenger/site. [facepalm]

Perhaps a Congressional Record holds more weight?
Starts at the tail end of page 1.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2003-05-21/pdf/CREC-2003-05-21-pt1-PgE1011-3.pdf

In my opinion, anyone who minimizes the influence of the billions of dollars being/to be made, and the sacrifice of the "few" for the good of the many aspect of vaccines, is the idiot.

Certainly, you are free to do what you want with yourself and your family. I prefer to be informed -something the CDC and pharmaceutical companies have proven to prefer I am not.

I figure my odds are better facing the disease than annual exposure to the vaccine. YMMV.

[mcjhr]

Good thing I got Obama care!

[GilpinGuy]

This is always a fun topic.

Don't the pharma co's "guess" at what strain will be prevalent that year and produce a vaccine based on that guess? I'm sure it's an educated guess, but still, it's a guess. There are no guarantees. If some mega-strain appears out of nowhere that wipes out millions of people chances are they didn't guess that one was coming out that year, or millions wouldn't die, right? They'd be vaccinated for it.

For those that say the shot is "free" for most people...are you serious? SOMEONE pays for them. [facepalm]

I got the flu once a few years ago (1st time in 44 years) and yeah, it was nasty. My wife says I was hallucinating and saying some pretty funny shit. I still don't get the vaccine. Nobody else in my household has ever had the flu. My doctor of 20 years says "It can't hurt" to get vaccinated but just says "Ok" when I tell him I'd rather not get it. And I work in a casino (filthy) and have two kids in school (germ factories).

You want it? Get it. You don't want it? Don't get it. Like others wrote, to each his own. Don't preach to me about my decisions like you're all-knowing and I'll give you the same respect.

I wonder many more pages this one will go.

[Bailey Guns]

that being said, most people that get sick and claim they had the flu are full of shit. the flu is nasty. most people who get it will be in bed for several days with intense body aches and other symptoms. most people get a cold and claim they got the flu because they think it sounds more bad ass, but it simply isn't true.

I'll certainly second that. The one time I remember getting the flu I went to bed with the chills and thought I was getting a cold. I woke up in the middle of the night and had the presence of mind to take my temp...it was about 104. By the time I finished doing that I didn't even know where I was. I wanted to call my wife (an RN) but couldn't find a phone (they were right where they always were...just couldn't remember). I was able to find something to take for the fever and a few hours later at least knew where I was. It lasted about 5 days with the high fever, chills, aches, etc. It's way different than a cold. It was awful.

[buffalobo]

It can go many pages, as long as remains civil. Leave fool and idiot out.

[Wulf202]

It costs $50 to see my doc. How is the shot free?

If theres no mercury in the shot im all for it. If I were to give a kid the amount of mercury thats in the vaccine to play with I'd be in jail in a heartbeat. Take the preservatives out of the vaccines and ill be all for them

[ruthabagah]

It costs $50 to see my doc. How is the shot free?

If theres no mercury in the shot im all for it. If I were to give a kid the amount of mercury thats in the vaccine to play with I'd be in jail in a heartbeat. Take the preservatives out of the vaccines and ill be all for them

Myth: The flu vaccine contains thiomerosal, which may be harmful.
Thiomerosal — a preservative that contains mercury — has never been shown to be harmful, Cunningham said. The type of mercury linked with nervous system damage is methyl mercury, he said. Concerns over methyl mercury levels have led to recommendations that pregnant women avoid eating large amounts of certain types of fish, such as swordfish.
In contrast, thiomerosal is an ethyl mercury compound.
Still, because the preservative raised controversy, especially over a now-disproven link to autism (http://www.livescience.com/35352-vaccine-autism-link-timeline-110107.html), it was taken out of almost all U.S. vaccines starting in 2001, Cunningham said.
The injectable form flu vaccine is available to health care providers in two ways — they can get large bottles of it, which contain many doses, or they can small bottles, which contain an individual dose of the vaccine.
There is a tiny amount of thiomerosal in the multidose bottles. The preservative ensures that no bacteria will grow in the vaccine, Cunningham said. The individual-dose bottles contain no thiomersal. People concerned about the compounds effects can ask their provider for an individual dose.
The nasal spray form of the flu vaccine contains no thiomerosal, he noted.

http://www.livescience.com/24354-6-flu-vaccine-myths.html

[rondog]

I've gotten the shot some years, and other years didn't. More often didn't than did. Can't say I could tell a difference either way, but I also haven't been really sick in many, many years. Every few months I'll remember to drink a couple shots of colloidal silver, and that seems to help keep the cooties away.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Also, do not forget that in 1918, before the vaccines, 21 millions people died of the flu and another 60 to 80 millions kept long term sequel from the epidemic.

To be open and honest, that was specifically the so-called "Spanish flu", a particularly virulent strain that today's vaccine's wouldn't help against either. IIRC, the CDC tries to predict which 3-4 strains of flu will be the ones to guard against and the vaccines for each year are produced against that forward prediction. That's why the vaccines aren't as effective in some years.

I am a big believer in most vaccines but am on the fence WRT the flu vaccine.

[Wulf202]

I read that the first time. I stand by what I said. No mercury at all. With the infrastructure we have factory fresh immunization delivery is completely reasonable.
Myth: The flu vaccine contains thiomerosal, which may be harmful.
Thiomerosal — a preservative that contains mercury — has never been shown to be harmful, Cunningham said. The type of mercury linked with nervous system damage is methyl mercury, he said. Concerns over methyl mercury levels have led to recommendations that pregnant women avoid eating large amounts of certain types of fish, such as swordfish.
In contrast, thiomerosal is an ethyl mercury compound.
Still, because the preservative raised controversy, especially over a now-disproven link to autism (http://www.livescience.com/35352-vaccine-autism-link-timeline-110107.html), it was taken out of almost all U.S. vaccines starting in 2001, Cunningham said.
The injectable form flu vaccine is available to health care providers in two ways — they can get large bottles of it, which contain many doses, or they can small bottles, which contain an individual dose of the vaccine.
There is a tiny amount of thiomerosal in the multidose bottles. The preservative ensures that no bacteria will grow in the vaccine, Cunningham said. The individual-dose bottles contain no thiomersal. People concerned about the compounds effects can ask their provider for an individual dose.
The nasal spray form of the flu vaccine contains no thiomerosal, he noted.

http://www.livescience.com/24354-6-flu-vaccine-myths.html

[ChadAmberg]

I am not anti vaccine but I will admit they scare me. My 1.5 year old son does have all of his vaccines but as he gets older I will probably stop having him get the flu vaccine. My understanding is that the flu vaccine is most effective and recommended for the young and elderly so why get it if you don't fall into either of these categories.

The Spanish Flu of 1918 killed all the "healthiest" people and didn't affect the young and elderly nearly as much. It was all the people in their 20s through 40s that died. Remember there is no one "flu", there are thousands of strains, each with different effects.

[trlcavscout]

Good thing I got Obama care!

Is you're will up to date?

[GilpinGuy]

I've gotten the shot some years, and other years didn't. More often didn't than did. Can't say I could tell a difference either way, but I also haven't been really sick in many, many years. Every few months I'll remember to drink a couple shots of Patron Silver, and that seems to help keep the cooties away.

FIFY

[SamuraiCO]

You are all missing the big picture. Yes it is a best guess at what strains may be around come flu season. Can you still get sick? Sure, may be another viral infection that infects you or bacterial pneumonia. Will you die either way? Flu as with most seasonal infections mainly have the potential to kill our very young and old. Is pharma making money? Sure they are but probably not as much as they could. I think they are covering their costs plus a small margin but at no way is the margin anywhere like Apple and their products. This is evident by the problem we faced a few years back when so many vaccine manufactures dropped out of the business because of no profit and we were stuck short on vaccine available.

So what is the big picture? Why the big push for vaccines? Vaccines still are the CHEAPEST and one of the only proven cost effective health care expenditures that save us money (the other is prenatal care, everything else that are claimed to prevent health care costs are hogwash).

The real purpose is not to keep you well the real purpose is keeping a pandemic or epidemic viral outbreak that leads to many more dying or increases the chances for the virus to mutate into something more problematic. If you choose not to be vaccinated they that is your choice. You then could become the vector to infect others while you are in that stage. This is why we are having a measles outbreak so many people are coming into our country new without vaccine history or requirements. Some here have chosen not to vaccinate their child. They are now vectors that is contributing to the current outbreak. It may not be the measles that kills but other complications from the disease.

[tmckay2]

It can go many pages, as long as remains civil. Leave fool and idiot out.

ill leave those out when people who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about stop using "sheep and lambs". this to me is like feinstein on guns. when people say absolutely ludicrous things with no factual backing whatsoever it gets me fired up. if people don't want the shot, no problemo. when they start trying to spread their lunacy to others, which causes the outbreaks we have started seeing in the last decade or so from diseases that were once eradicated, yeah i am going to have a problem with that. its a bit like people not owning guns. thats no problem. but when they go around proclaiming how guns get up and kill people all on their own and you're nuts to own one, i imagine most here will take issue with that.

[tmckay2]

Pay no attention to the message, bash the messenger/site. [facepalm]

Perhaps a Congressional Record holds more weight?
Starts at the tail end of page 1.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2003-05-21/pdf/CREC-2003-05-21-pt1-PgE1011-3.pdf

In my opinion, anyone who minimizes the influence of the billions of dollars being/to be made, and the sacrifice of the "few" for the good of the many aspect of vaccines, is the idiot.

Certainly, you are free to do what you want with yourself and your family. I prefer to be informed -something the CDC and pharmaceutical companies have proven to prefer I am not.

I figure my odds are better facing the disease than annual exposure to the vaccine. YMMV.

i stay informed by actually being in on some of the studies and seeing the benefits and consequences first hand. you stay informed by reading whack job websites and anecdotal evidence? sounds legit.

[tmckay2]

walk into a pharmacy. boom. free. and as far as it not being "free" lets not start that, its paid for by your premiums. if you don't want to utilize it, thats fine, but for anyone with insurance yes it is free.

the funniest part is everyone gets all up in arms about mercury. first, you can get it without. problem solved. second, its not the only immunization that has it in it. far from it. and yet why is the flu shot gets all the pub? because people believe stuff they read on the internet.


It costs $50 to see my doc. How is the shot free?

If theres no mercury in the shot im all for it. If I were to give a kid the amount of mercury thats in the vaccine to play with I'd be in jail in a heartbeat. Take the preservatives out of the vaccines and ill be all for them

[hatidua]

I think of flu shots much like I think of guns, abortions, controversial movies, or most any other optional consumer product or service:

-If you want one, buy it.
-If you don't want one, don't buy it.

Unfortunately, someone is always there to pontificate as to why they have some sort of say in what I do with my life.

[GilpinGuy]

walk into a pharmacy. boom. free. and as far as it not being "free" lets not start that, its paid for by your premiums. if you don't want to utilize it, thats fine, but for anyone with insurance yes it is free.

If I pay for the insurance, and the insurance covers the shot, I pay for the shot. Even if I don't get it. Maybe my insurance should cost a bit less if I don't get.

[Irving]

It is the EXACT same concept as free rock chip repair and accident forgiveness On an auto insurance policy. You are paying more for your premiums for those features.

[GilpinGuy]

Yep. Nothing is free. Nothing.

[davsel]

i stay informed by actually being in on some of the studies and seeing the benefits and consequences first hand. you stay informed by reading whack job websites and anecdotal evidence? sounds legit.
More whack job sites:

From JAMA Internal Medicine: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=486407

Impact of Influenza Vaccination on Seasonal Mortality in the US Elderly Population

Results
For people aged 65 to 74 years, excess mortality rates in A(H3N2)-dominated seasons fell between 1968 and the early 1980s but remained approximately constant thereafter. For persons 85 years or older, the mortality rate remained flat throughout. Excess mortality in A(H1N1) and B seasons did not change. All-cause excess mortality for persons 65 years or older never exceeded 10% of all winter deaths.

Conclusions
We attribute the decline in influenza-related mortality among people aged 65 to 74 years in the decade after the 1968 pandemic to the acquisition of immunity to the emerging A(H3N2) virus. We could not correlate increasing vaccination coverage after 1980 with declining mortality rates in any age group. Because fewer than 10% of all winter deaths were attributable to influenza in any season, we conclude that observational studies substantially overestimate vaccination benefit


From Science Direct: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X0600764X

Influenza-related mortality in the Italian elderly: No decline associated with increasing vaccination coverage

Abstract

We investigated trends in influenza-related mortality among the elderly population in Italy associated with increased vaccination coverage. Using Italian vital statistics data, we studied monthly death rates for pneumonia and influenza and all-cause for persons ≥65 years of age by 5-year age groups for 1970–2001. Using a classic seasonal regression modelling approach, we estimated the age-specific seasonal excess mortality rates among Italian elderly as a measure of influenza-related deaths. We studied trends in excess mortality after adjusting for population aging and analyzing separately seasons dominated by the severe A/H3N2 subtype and those dominated by other circulating influenza subtypes. After the late 1980s, no decline in age-adjusted excess mortality was associated with increasing influenza vaccination distribution primarily targeted for the elderly. These findings suggest that either the vaccine failed to protect the elderly against mortality (possibly due to immune senescence), and/or the vaccination efforts did not adequately target the frailest elderly. As in the US, our study challenges current strategies to best protect the elderly against mortality, warranting the need for better controlled trials with alternative vaccination strategies.


I'd rather risk catching the flu: http://articles.mcall.com/2014-06-10/news/mc-lehigh-valley-vaccine-injury-settlement-20140610_1_flu-vaccine-vaccine-manufacturers-flu-shot#ixzz34RkJqzVu

The settlement, to be paid by the tax-funded National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, will also provide Behie more than $1 million for her lost wages, pain and suffering and other medical expenses.

Carney said the money will allow Behie to continue her treatment at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation. Behie, who lived in Lower Macungie Township before her illness, has no use of her legs and lacks the strength in her upper body to feed or clothe herself. She's 24.

"It's hopeful that she will be able to return home at some point, but it's not in the plan for the immediate future," Carney said.

Behie's case — though rare — is an example of the risks associated with vaccines. Studies in the United States and Canada show a small but significant risk of contracting Guillain-Barre syndrome after receiving a flu vaccine.


From the FDA: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/biologicsbloodvaccines/vaccines/approvedproducts/ucm101580.pdf

Adverse events reported during post-approval use of Tripedia vaccine include idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, SIDS, anaphylactic reaction, cellulitis, autism, convulsion/grand mal convulsion, encephalopathy, hypotonia, neuropathy, somnolence
and apnea. Events were included in this list because of the seriousness or frequency of reporting. Because these events are
reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequencies or to
establish a causal relationship to components of Tripedia vaccine.2



From http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/69653

At the time, the head of the federal Centers for Disease Control, which assures the public of vaccine safety, was Dr. Julie Gerberding. After insisting the settlement of the Poling case was not an admission of a direct vaccine-autism link, she left the CDC to become president of vaccines for Merck. Last December she was promoted (http://www.mercknewsroom.com/news-release/corporate-news/merck-announces-appointment-dr-julie-gerberding-executive-vice-president) to executive vice president for strategic communications, global public policy and population health at Merck.

Bah Bah

[buffalobo]

Done, since a couple members just can't resist baiting and insulting each other.