Flu Shots

Every year about this time, quite a few people write me and ask, "My Doctor tells me to get my annual flu shot. Should I do it?"

Well, I don't diagnose or prescribe, and what you do with your body remains entirely up to you and your doctor (if you still go to a doctor), but I'll gladly tell you what I do regarding flu shots...

In fact, at age 52, I've never had a flu shot, and it would take a Marine nurse and at least four burly wrestlers the size of Jessie Ventura to hold me down and give me one.

These feelings stem from personal opinion, reading, and dramatic personal experience.

First off, I don't think toxic chemicals and virus strains grown on living tissue belong in the human body, even when they're packaged in sterile glass vials.

Since my family and I don't rely on doctors anymore, I don't have access to an insert that reveals the composition of this year's flu vaccine, but I did find some general information at the Concerned Parents for Vaccine Safety web site, where I learned about some of the ingredients used to make vaccines.

Aluminum, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease and seizures and also cancer producing in laboratory mice (it is used as an additive to promote antibody response)

Thimerosal (a mercury disinfectant/preservative) can result in brain injury and autoimmune disease

Neomycin and Streptomycin (used as antibiotics) have caused allergic reaction in some people. Vaccines are also grown and strained through animal or human tissue like monkey kidney tissue, chicken embryo, embryonic guinea pig cells, calf serum, and human diploid cells (the dissected organs of aborted human fetuses as in the case of rubella, hepatitis A, and chickenpox vaccines).

Well, I refuse to put all of the above in my body, and I hope when your doctor starts telling you it's time for your annual flu shot that you'll require him to defend the annual injection. You or your insurance company's probably paying eighty bucks for a visit, so get your money's worth.

Then have him/her explain why it makes sense to inject toxic chemicals into the human body and how such substances can aid the delicate immune system.

Chances are he/she will fall back on questionable statistical and demographic explanations that the medical establishment has used for decades to justify immunization.

Try to engage your doctor in a non-confrontational discussion because this is an opportunity for him/her to actually give some serious thought to what he/she is injecting into bodies of patients day after day after day.

Many traditional doctors who haven't studied diet and lifestyle aren't going to change unless we help to educate them to what drugs and vaccines may really be doing long-term to people.

Okay, to speak from personal experience for a moment, let's look over our shoulders to 1990, a time period before the Day family turned to natural methods of building health.

In February of 1990, right after my wife's major cancer surgery in January, her doctor recommended a flu shot.

She went to bed and literally didn't get up again for more than a few hours at a time for years afterwards. Only now, almost a decade later, is she finally regaining full health and energy.

I don't have space or enough heart yet to tell my wife's entire story, though I'll do it one of these days, but if you'll click here, you can read an article written by another CFIDS sufferer, an article that shows the cause and effect connection between flu vaccines and terrible immune disorders.

Okay, I'm a realist so if was still thinking traditionally, part of me would almost buy into the typical rationale for flu vaccines, that so many people are spared the annual flu and only a few die or have their lives ruined after being injected.

I'd buy into that if I were convinced that injecting a filthy substance into the body actually made sense.

Unfortunately, once I stopped buying into the big medical lies about their drug, cut, and burn system, I started questioning all of it.

And when one digs into the vaccine history (check out the Swine Flu vaccine if you want a real horror story) and scientific research (especially in Europe), it quickly becomes apparent that nobody really knows what these toxic stews of chemicals and microorganisms do in the human body.

Well, readers and a few medical professionals have called me a simple-minded dolt on more than one occasion, but since 1993 I've approached the yearly flu shot hype with the understanding that if I eat and live properly, I won't have to worry about catching the flu.

The flu vaccine I use -- eating and living as close to nature as I can -- actually works.

Not only that, but it doesn't cost a dime, and nobody's going to have his/her life ruined because of a "bad batch" of vaccine that triggers some mysterious autoimmune disease that lays a person out of commission for years.

Okay, I can understand that, but my next question would be "Which is better? Some rest time with the flu or having toxic chemicals injected into your bloodstream?"

I mean, seriously, before I got healthy I almost looked forward to a yearly bout with influenza because it meant I could go to bed and get some rest instead of working practically every waking moment of my life.

I might add that I haven't missed more than two consecutive days of work from an illness for almost five years, so a non-vaccine approach does work for me. This non-drug approach has resulted in a level of health that continually amazes me, especially when I see other men and women my age who are miserable and without energy. Men and women who spend all too much of their time drifting from doctor to doctor in endless pursuit of solutions that don't get to the cause of their problems -- diet and life style.

Interesting enough, my wife and I both got flu shots last October, mainly because our small grandchildren would come home from school and day care centers with cold and flus and give it to us. We both got the flu, however, and my wife has been in bed now more than two weeks! We do take several nutritional supplement for our immune systems. Also her parents at 85/83 are taking the supplements (good for their heart conditions,) but refused to take flu shots, and they are doing much better than my wife. Maybe we should have abstained from taking the flu shots?

Sorry ,have to disagree with you. You are taking a risk if you are a senior citizen and DO NOT take a flu shot. As we age our immune system begins to deteriorate so flu /and or pneumonia at that age can be life threatening.
My internist specializes in geriatric medicine. He listens when I offer alternative solutions to prescription medications, but he insists on flu shots.

Your anecdotal story speaks strictly for your own personal experience with your immediate family.

The flu vaccine takes up to two weeks to build immunity in an otherwise healthy patient (excluding immnunocompromised persons). If someone is exposed to the flu during that time, they will likely come down down with the flu. A prevalent strain of flu this season was not included in the vaccine--which is derived from the previous year strains.

I would certainly be considered a senior citizen. I've had two flu shots at my wife's insistence. The first about five years ago and the second for this season. Both times I had almost constant "colds" along with cough and nasal problems. I don't think that I need to continue the experiment for another season.

I read the other day that they have made the guess for next year so as to start production of vaccine. I don't think that I'll participate in the flu lottery next year.

In 1979, my 89-year-old grandmother died from pneumonia that developed after she first contracted influenza. Other than hearing deficiencies and arthritis, she was healthy and was reported by her physician to have had a very strong heart.

I had the flu a few years back (I'm in my mid 40s and healthy)and it's no picnic. I was exhausted for about a week and had an awful, painful cough that made my ribs ache for about 6 weeks after. I've been told that I actually had a mild case.

I can see why the elderly and those with already compromised health are recommended by their physicians to receive the shot. Obviously, the flu is very tough on and sometimes fatal for the old and frail.

9 posted on 03/22/2004 6:12:52 AM PST by EdReform (Support Free Republic - All donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support!)

I think this is complicated. I understand that the flu shot does not guarantee immunity, and in fact this year's shot was prepared ahead of time (as always) and did not really target the variant that eventually hit the US.

However, I was struck this year by the fact that I knew 5 people who got the flu -- and 4 of them had received the flu shot. Those are really funny odds.

I don't take flu shots either, simply because I'm in good health and don't want my immunity to other, potentially more serious, illnesses weakened. It's still an open question to me as to whether tumors can develop more readily in a person whose immunity has been compromised by an immunization. I'm 51 years old and in pretty good physical health; I've had the flu once in the past twelve years, and so it's just not worth taking the chance that in trying to stave off what will only be an unpleasant, short-term illness I might leave myself open to something infinitely worse. It's strictly my call--I'd never try to push it on someone else.

I trust the germs way more than I trust the shot.

I do too, NOW!

It's the last flu shot for me. Specifically when a nurse alerted me that the drug companies are putting in chemicals in the shots that can cause a form of genocides so that we can get rid of the old folks faster!! Try watch the drug companies commercials at dinner time, they are all soooo.. enticing and brain washing: "Talk to your doctor, etc." It's on in the U.S. these commercials are permitted. It's also only in the U.S. that you see the "ocean" of medicines in people's medicine cabinet!!!

the drug companies are putting in chemicals in the shots that can cause a form of genocides so that we can get rid of the old folks faster!!

What exactly is "a form of genocides"?

14 posted on 03/22/2004 9:33:46 AM PST by Born Conservative (It really sucks when your 15 minutes of fame comes AFTER you're gone...)

15 posted on 03/22/2004 9:37:16 AM PST by Born Conservative (It really sucks when your 15 minutes of fame comes AFTER you're gone...)

Actually, I guess my question should be: what specific chemicals are being added to the flu vaccine.....

Well, we would be too naive, if they would ever tell us. alGore said one time that we have to get rid of one billion in order for the rest of us to survive. Also, other countries like Holland supports euthanasia, etc.!

17 posted on 03/22/2004 10:29:49 AM PST by Born Conservative (It really sucks when your 15 minutes of fame comes AFTER you're gone...)

If you don't know the details of what you are saying (genocide of the elderly via chemicals in the flu vaccine, yet you can't name the chemicals), then you shouldn't be posting it. Let's have something to back your statement up. Otherwise, I'll just chalk up your statement to a massive tin foil hat moment.

Thanks for your comments. Before you saddle your "tin foil" horse, let me ask if you think the ingredients that the doctor listed are healthy for your body? If you do, I wish you all the best when taking your Flu Shots!

My point isn't whether one should or shouldn't get the flu shot; it's that you are making some pretty strong accusations without a shred of evidence to back them up.

19 posted on 03/22/2004 7:37:29 PM PST by Born Conservative (It really sucks when your 15 minutes of fame comes AFTER you're gone...)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.