Flu Shots

Axiomatic Wiki · 11-22-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

I'm not getting a Flu shot this year.
I'm using this Flu season as a self-experiment to see if there's a difference. I've been getting Flu shots for the last 6 years, and my sick-rate during that time was no more than 2 days out of the year in one occurrence.
This year, since I'm not being forced into getting a shot, I won't, out of pure scientific curiosity to see if I get sick more, or not at all.
So far I'm doing great.
A lot of kids at school came down with all kinds of crap, and I'm not trying to do anything different than I'd normally do, and I haven't even gotten so much as a headache this year, outside of hangovers.
(There was that spontaneous allergic reaction recently, but that has nothing to do with it.)

I want to see if my immune system does better or worse without the shot.

If your immune system works better, it is not because you did not get the shot, it is because you just got lucky this year. The way vaccines work is by making your immune system immune to things. The flu shot, will make you immune to the strain of the flu that the shot pertains too. There is no way it would do otherwise unless you were one of the very rare cases where the dead or extremely weakened flu virus injected into your blood so your immune system can taste and become immune to it, suddenly gains super powers and infects you.

That said, I wont be taking the flu shot because I am lazy.

Astronomer · 04-30-2010, 01:13 AM

Okay so, flu season is on the way and I'm wondering whether to get a flu shot. I've usually always gotten them, because I could get them for free in Aus. But now that I'm currently in NZ I'm wondering if I should go to the bother of getting one, plus I'm not sure how much it'll cost and such...

I have a terrible immune system and have often been in and out of hospital for various things. I actually DIDN'T get the shot last year and I got swine flu. My parents are medical scientists and I asked them if the shots are worth it and they said yes - they are configured to prevent you from suffering from the most dominant form of influenza strain at that point in time and the success rate is pretty high.

I don't know what to do, whether I should get it or not! There seems to be so many mixed opinions... I also heard that immediately after the shot you can get sick? I don't know if I want to risk this!

P A N · 04-30-2010, 01:25 AM

there are two people THAT I KNOW BY ASSOCIATION in a 50 mile radius of where i live who received an H1N1 vaccination and now have debilitating ailments. mystery ailments, at that, in one case having started to clear, and in the other - over quite some span of time - has only gotten worse.

effects similar to but not as extreme as this:

YouTube - H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccines Side Effects!

are being experienced by the latter of the aforementioned victims of "Population Stabilization."

DON'T BELIEVE THEM!!!

Astronomer · 04-30-2010, 01:33 AM

^ I'm pretty sure thimerosal laced flu shots have been banned here, and people who have very extreme reactions to the shot are usually allergic to or do not react well to chemicals like mercury that appear in the vaccine. I have had the vaccination probably more than 10 times in the past so I'm pretty sure I will be fine. On top of that, like I said my parents are medical scientists and are actually involved in producing and administering the vaccine in Australia, they told me it's largely safe and worth it in my case.

But like I said, now that I'm over here and I don't get the shot for free, I'm not sure if it's worth getting or not. I bet if I don't get it, I'll get sick again

P A N · 04-30-2010, 01:37 AM

i can't argue that!

but still, i've been sick. i don't get needles. i survive. sure, it sucks to get sick. but i'd rather go through something that sucks rather than become a willing participant in a scheme to desensitize people to the idea of getting needles regularly and when is prescribed by the media.

Astronomer · 04-30-2010, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zevokes

i can't argue that!

but still, i've been sick. i don't get needles. i survive. sure, it sucks to get sick. but i'd rather go through something that sucks rather than become a willing participant in a scheme to desensitize people to the idea of getting needles regularly and when is prescribed by the media.

Well, I get sick, but I don't 'survive' like the ordinary person because I have a shitty immune system. Last year I got tonsillitis and was in hospital for 5 days. Then I got sick again in the middle of the year and was in hospital for 3 weeks. This is why I'm wondering that it might be worth me getting the shot...

Burning Down · 04-30-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

Well, I get sick, but I don't 'survive' like the ordinary person because I have a shitty immune system. Last year I got tonsillitis and was in hospital for 5 days. Then I got sick again in the middle of the year and was in hospital for 3 weeks. This is why I'm wondering that it might be worth me getting the shot...

I think if you feel you need to get a flu shot, then it might be worth it. If you don't get it and then get sick for a week, that's a lot of time off from work and/or school. There is a trace amount of thimerosal in the vaccine, but it shouldn't make you sick. It's a more stable isotope of the poisonous mercury, and there's less of it in the vaccine than there is in a can of tuna. I wouldn't worry about it. I got the H1N1 shot in October only because we were visiting my grandmother in the hospital, and she was in a sterile room. Didn't have any side effects except for the soreness in the spot where they put the needle.

Astronomer · 04-30-2010, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burning Down

I think if you feel you need to get a flu shot, then it might be worth it. If you don't get it and then get sick for a week, that's a lot of time off from work and/or school. There is a trace amount of thimerosal in the vaccine, but it shouldn't make you sick. It's a more stable isotope of the poisonous mercury, and there's less of it in the vaccine than there is in a can of tuna. I wouldn't worry about it. I got the H1N1 shot in October only because we were visiting my grandmother in the hospital, and she was in a sterile room. Didn't have any side effects except for the soreness in the spot where they put the needle.

Thanks for the info Burning Down

Yeah like I said, I've had the flu shot every year for as long as I can remember because I got it free in Australia. I never had any side effects or anything, not even a sore arm. Now that I'm in NZ and I just don't know if it's worth me going out and getting it, but I guess I should... like you said, if I got sick I'd regret it and all the time I'd have to take of uni.

Freebase Dali · 04-30-2010, 09:55 PM

I skipped my flu shot last year with no ill effects, so I'll continue to skip it from now on.
I always use hand-sanitizer and am rather careful in public, but as far as carrying on with my daily activities, I've found the flu shot to be of no consequence either way.

Astronomer · 04-30-2010, 09:59 PM

Freebase, what's the process of getting the flu shot like in the US? Just curious. Because I only had to pay $5 for mine in Australia unless I was working for the public service and got it for free, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do in NZ, I'll have to suss it out.

Another thing is that it's very difficult to remain free of germs when you're around 30 germy, dirty little children every day! I think I'm going to have to go get it just to be safe!

04-30-2010, 01:13 AM	#32 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	Okay so, flu season is on the way and I'm wondering whether to get a flu shot. I've usually always gotten them, because I could get them for free in Aus. But now that I'm currently in NZ I'm wondering if I should go to the bother of getting one, plus I'm not sure how much it'll cost and such... I have a terrible immune system and have often been in and out of hospital for various things. I actually DIDN'T get the shot last year and I got swine flu. My parents are medical scientists and I asked them if the shots are worth it and they said yes - they are configured to prevent you from suffering from the most dominant form of influenza strain at that point in time and the success rate is pretty high. I don't know what to do, whether I should get it or not! There seems to be so many mixed opinions... I also heard that immediately after the shot you can get sick? I don't know if I want to risk this! __________________

04-30-2010, 01:33 AM	#34 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	^ I'm pretty sure thimerosal laced flu shots have been banned here, and people who have very extreme reactions to the shot are usually allergic to or do not react well to chemicals like mercury that appear in the vaccine. I have had the vaccination probably more than 10 times in the past so I'm pretty sure I will be fine. On top of that, like I said my parents are medical scientists and are actually involved in producing and administering the vaccine in Australia, they told me it's largely safe and worth it in my case. But like I said, now that I'm over here and I don't get the shot for free, I'm not sure if it's worth getting or not. I bet if I don't get it, I'll get sick again __________________

04-30-2010, 09:59 PM	#40 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	Freebase, what's the process of getting the flu shot like in the US? Just curious. Because I only had to pay $5 for mine in Australia unless I was working for the public service and got it for free, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do in NZ, I'll have to suss it out. Another thing is that it's very difficult to remain free of germs when you're around 30 germy, dirty little children every day! I think I'm going to have to go get it just to be safe! __________________

04-30-2010, 01:25 AM	#33 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	there are two people THAT I KNOW BY ASSOCIATION in a 50 mile radius of where i live who received an H1N1 vaccination and now have debilitating ailments. mystery ailments, at that, in one case having started to clear, and in the other - over quite some span of time - has only gotten worse. effects similar to but not as extreme as this: YouTube - H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccines Side Effects! are being experienced by the latter of the aforementioned victims of "Population Stabilization." DON'T BELIEVE THEM!!!

04-30-2010, 01:37 AM	#35 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	i can't argue that! but still, i've been sick. i don't get needles. i survive. sure, it sucks to get sick. but i'd rather go through something that sucks rather than become a willing participant in a scheme to desensitize people to the idea of getting needles regularly and when is prescribed by the media.

04-30-2010, 09:55 PM	#39 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	I skipped my flu shot last year with no ill effects, so I'll continue to skip it from now on. I always use hand-sanitizer and am rather careful in public, but as far as carrying on with my daily activities, I've found the flu shot to be of no consequence either way.