[Nucluside]

In November of 1970, in basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC, I was administered a swine flu vaccine, which was manufactured from a partially killed virus. On Thanksgiving day, several days after getting the shot, I was admitted to the hospital with a temp of 105. A few days before and after my admission several people from my platoon also became ill with similar symptoms. At one time we had 40% of that platoon hospitalized.

Treatment included bed “rest”, aspirin, and freezing cold showers, and I maintained a temp of at least 104 for 7 days. I was in the hospital for 10 days. While hospitalized I developed secondary respiratory infections. I broke in to a medicine locker and stole 250mg ampicillin caps, started the regime, and was discharged back to duty on the 10th day.
At Ft. Bragg, 1 year almost to the day after my first flu shot, I was ordered by my first sergeant to go get another shot. I pretended to do so, and that was the last flu shot I’ve ever had.
I’m 61 years old now, and have had the flu twice - maybe three times since 1970. Never have I been sick as I was from that swine flu shot, and I always refuse to get another one.

[pepsionice]

It’s an interesting thing. For twenty-odd years in the Air Force....I had the yearly flu shot. You couldn’t avoid...they kept computerized records. I probably a dozen bouts with the flu over the twenty year period. Some were to lay me up for three or four days.

So when I finally retired in 99...I vowed never to take the shot again. I haven’t had a single flu shot. Other than three or four stomach flu episodes (lasting a day each)...I haven’t had a single case of the flu since 99.

I have no interest in any vaccine.

[LaineyDee]

Never have I been sick as I was from that swine flu shot, and I always refuse to get another one.

Here too. I had the one in '76 and I ended up with double pneumonia after a week. I've had mild cases of flu since then but nothing like I did that time. I will never take another flu vaccine again.

[hiredhand]

Your recount sounds similar to one that I have as well. In 1994 or so, we received our flu shot and 13 of us out of "about" 600 simply came down with whatever they injected us with. 12 were admitted to a local hospital (we were overseas and were a GSU), but I got to stay home because my wife was the Staff Nurse at the small medical aid station we had and the docs knew I would be watched closely.

I swore OFF flu shots after that and separated from active duty in 1998. They "tried" to give me one more before I left, but I simply pointed out that I would be gone in 8 months and they didn't press the issue fortunately.

I will tell you something interesting that happened while I was out processing in 1998 (USAF). I was going from place to place getting my out processing forms signed. I had to go to "aerospace medicine" for some reason. The guy behind the counter pulled some sort of records from his files (NOT the full medical records pack that we all had) and put it up on the counter. He scanned through it and said, "Hold on a minute! We don't have a blood sample for DNA! We have to take care of that!" I said, "Oh really? Let me see!" I turned the records around in my direction and he stepped into the other room to get a blood test kid and I ran out the door!...WITH my records! :-)

But back to the subject of this thread... my stepfather suffers with Gillian Barre Syndrome NOW from a flu shot he took back around 2000 or so. It's a very nasty ailment to have and in all likelihood it's going to kill him eventually. He's an Obama supporter and is having great difficulty with the concept that something done for the common good has personally FUBAR'd him so badly. I can't help him there though!

[Beloved Levinite]

Watch Vaccine Nation

[Cold Heat]

We got the shot in Europe too.....1970, spring if I recall. I never accepted another shot, and frankly, My immune system has improved to the point where I don't get the flu. I have not had a case since 1985 or so....

I get a rare but irritating head cold every few years, but no flu.....

[guitarplayer1953]

I read a write up about the 1918 flu and they said that people who took aspirin had a higher death rate than those who did not take it.