Flu Misery and Myths or Get off Your Duff and Get a Flu Shot

fumento.com ^ | 10/9/2003 | Michael Fumento

[traditionalist]

"I once had a bird, her name was Enza!"
"I opened the window, and in flew Enza!"

Most nursery rhymes may say little to us about history and present dangers. But this one, dating back to the horrific flu pandemic of 1918-1919, reminds us that influenza is highly infectious and can fly across the country with the speed of a bird.

It's a reminder to get vaccinated against a preventable disease that reaps over 35,000 American lives a year.

[twigs]

My daughter got sick from it every year. The doctor said it was impossible too, but he wasn't home with a sick child. He did say that it could be the solution that the shot was in, but then he said that didn't change from year to year and she shouldn't have gotten different symptoms. I'll take observable, concrete phenomena over the abstract theoretical any day.

[traditionalist]

Only if you get last year's flu. The vaccine generally doesn't cover the latest and greatest incarnation of the virus.

Another myth exploded in the article. The vaccines are usually up to date. Sometimes they might ommit some strain, but even if that happens, the antibodies you get in the shot will make the effects of the new strain less severe.

There is absolutely no excuse not to get a shot. Get thee to a clinic and get one. If you're afraid of needles, such it up.

A lot of companies provide them free of charge to employees because they find it reduces the number of sick days taken.

[discostu]

No the flu shot is incapable of giving you the flu. The injecting of foreign bodies, even dead foreign bodies, into you ALWAYS has the possibility of making you sick, just not sick with that illness.

[webstersII]

"This is a flu shot myth. The flu shot is physically INCAPABLE of making you sick because the virus in the vaccine is DEAD."

You must be smoking something.

Here's what the CDC says about it (from this site: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/vacfacts.htm#11):
"Can severe problems occur?

Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. These reactions are more likely to occur among persons with a severe allergy to eggs, because the viruses used in the influenza vaccine are grown in hens’ eggs. People who have had a severe reaction to eggs or to a flu shot in the past should not get a flu shot before seeing a physician.

Guillain-Barré syndrome
Normally, about one person per 100,000 people per year will develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an illness characterized by fever, nerve damage, and muscle weakness. In 1976, about 46 million U.S. residents were vaccinated against swine flu, and 532 of them developed GBS. Thirty-two died. This number of cases was greater than expected and established a link between the swine flu shot and GBS. Since then, concern has been raised about a possible link between other, non-swine flu vaccines and GBS."

My friend still hasn't regained total use of the muscles on one side of his face. The doctor said he may never.

[webstersII]

"the antibodies you get in the shot will make the effects of the new strain less severe"

This is only a theory and has not been proven because no one wants to be in the control group. It sounds good, though.

[sharktrager]

No, as someone who gets sick every sigle time, it is not a myth.

Some people's immune systems respond with an attack that basically gives you the same problems a mld case of the flu does. I even have had to take time off after flu shots because bosses sent me home.

The symptoms are in response to the body trying to fight an infection. If your body over-reacts to the immunization, which mine does, you will feel like death warmed over. This is because the immunity is developed by the body fighting what it believes is an infection.

[avg_freeper]

Drinking Diet Coke and not stepping on cracks in the pavement immunizes me against the flu.

[freedomcrusader]

From The Flu, NIAID Fact Sheet:

Are there possible side effects from the flu vaccine?

You should be aware that the flu vaccine can cause side effects. The most common side effect in children and adults is soreness at the site of the vaccination. Other side effects, especially in children who previously have not been exposed to the flu virus, include fever, tiredness, and sore muscles. These side effects may begin 6 to 12 hours after vaccination and may last for up to 2 days.

Viruses for producing the vaccine are grown in chicken eggs and then killed with a chemical so that they can no longer cause an infection. The flu vaccine may contain some egg protein, which can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, if you are allergic to eggs or have ever had a serious allergic reaction to the flu vaccine, CDC recommends that you consult with your doctor before getting vaccinated.

[traditionalist]

Correlation is not causation.

[twigs]

True. But my daughter only got her symptoms after the flu shot. I'm not sure how else to interpret it.

[Calvin Locke]

Only if you get last year's flu.

Actually, I think they try {read: a guess, but based on experience) to choose the 3 most likely strains for the
serum for the current season.

BTW, they also include a little bit of mercury in the shot, too. Usually, not a problem for people in their sunset
years, but a potential problem those a lot younger, if they get one each year.

Of course, if I was at risk for complications brought on by the flu, I'd get the shot.

Personally, I like the idea of everybody but me getting the shot, so I'm less at risk by default.

[traditionalist]

Okay, I stand corrected. It is possible for some people to get sick from the shot. But the risk to the average healthy person is so tiny as to be negligible.

[webstersII]

"The doctor said it was impossible"

He should look at the product label on that vaccine and see what it says. I can't believe he even told you it was impossible. Maybe he needs a refresher course.

After all, doctors are just "practicing".

[traditionalist]

Okay, I stand corrected. See post 52.

[webstersII]

"But the risk to the average healthy person is
so tiny as to be negligible."

Of course, if you are not the average person (like my friend) then your risk is far from negligible.

[phroebe]

I won't be taking it, thank you. As a person whose body over-reacts in unpredictable ways to any and all pharmaceuticals, I've given them up altogether these past 15 years, and have never been healthier.

[traditionalist]

Of course, if you are not the average person (like my friend) then your risk is far from negligible.

Sure, if you've got an allergy to eggs.

[kidd]

I just read up on the symptoms of a cold and the flu. It seems that I've just gotten over the flu. I just thought it was an unusually severe cold. It hit me quickly and the usual Cold-Eze cough drops did nothing at all to help. I had about three real miserable days where I missed work and stayed in bed. And the recovery has been slow (its been four weeks since I contracted it and I still have a slight wheeze in my chest).

Does this immunize me for this season?

[discostu]

An egg allergy signs you up for the more severe reactions. You don't have to be allergic to anything to have the more minor problems. Something to understand is that the minor reactions are neglible compared to the flu but they're still pretty annoying, which is why people like me don't bother with the shots since the impirical evidence is that we won't get the flu anyway the higher risk is in getting the shot.

[mewzilla]

...but since I'm not one of them I'll opt to take my chances with the flu.

FWIW, only time I've been hospitalized for an illness was for a case of the flu a few years back. I'm in good health, not middle aged yet, had gotten a flu shot, and still caught the flu. It's the sickest I've ever been in my life. I get the flu shot. Having the flu's not something I care to repeat. Or risk spreading.