TexasCHLforum.com

Pariah3j wrote:

rotor wrote:

Pariah3j wrote:Saw an interesting short documentary/interview with a Doctor that is 100% against flu vaccines - wish I could remember what it was called/find it, I would link it. She is currently doing research to prove that not only is not as effective as suggested (the supposed 15-25%) but may actually make Flu season worst. Some of her early preliminary research from what I understand actually backs her claims up.

I'm a computer guy, so biology/chemistry/medicine not in my wheelhouse so I can't explain the science behind it but if I remember correctly, her theory was more or less, by priming ourselves with specific flu vaccines, we hurt our immune system because its only looking for those strains so to speak, its slower to fight the mutation/other variations unless its drastically different/mutated enough. So unless they guess right and put out the strain that hits that year(and their record is alot like Texas weathermen), then it actually hurts.

This doesn't even sound logical. If your body can adapt to what's in the vaccine ( 3-4 strains) than it can adapt to a mutation. That doctor you saw in a documentary might have also been talking about restricting guns. Would you believe her?

Once again, not a biology/medicine guy so I'm sure I'm not explaining it right. It made alot of common sense the way she explained it. My wife, who works in the medical field and has about as much experience and knowledge as most nurses I know, agreed with most of the science/info being presented. The Doctor had a pretty impressive resume of degrees and background. So to use your analogy, if she had been a Pro NRA, Gun Engineer, 2-time world shooting champion talking about the dangers/flaws of something about guns, I'd at least listen/give it some thought.

This is not climate change we are debating. I would guess that 99.9% of doctors think the flu vaccine is beneficial at least part of the time and then there are fringe doctors that are against it. Then you also have to realize that there are anti vaccination people all over the world.
Your choice what you believe or not. I am a biology guy, BA in Microbiology and did influenza virus work in undergraduate school. I get the flu shot every year as soon as it comes out. I almost died of influenza when I was in high school. What you do is up to you. Just my opinion of course but it is based on commonly accepted theory (I won't say fact). The human body though is capable of building an immune response to more than one thing at a time. Many vaccines are combinations, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), DPT (diphtheria, pertusis, tetanus), Flu vaccine in one arm and pneumococcal pneumonia in the other arm. The human body is quite capable of making antibody and immune response to many things at the same time.

imkopaka wrote:The only flu shots I've taken in my life were the ones that were forced on me in the Marines. 4 shots in nearly 30 years, and last year was the first time I've caught the flu. I don't ever intend to get a flu shot again.

Fact- when I was in the Air Force they made us get a double dose of the vaccine, one in each arm. I am a strong believer in the flu shot but just because one is good does not make 2 better. I was on my back for 48 hours after that double whammy. Military mentality is not always the best. I guess I got a super immune boost. Don't remember if I got the flu that year.

Oldgringo wrote:Our, now retired, PCP told us that most folk get their flu shot too early. He said that the shot's mojo will have worn by time flu season gets here; ego, we don't get our shots until around Thanksgiving.

Lots of docs are wrong about this. CDC recommends vaccine as soon as it's available. Go with the CDC. Why would you believe that your immunity wears off so fast? Do you think that polio vaccine you got 40 years ago has worn off? Some vaccines have recommended boosters but a normal immune system doesn't loose the ability to fight an infection in just a few months. Has there ever been a case of tetanus in someone vaccinated as a youth except in deficient immune patients? Give your body some credit. It works amazingly well once the immune pump is primed.

Pariah3j wrote:Saw an interesting short documentary/interview with a Doctor that is 100% against flu vaccines - wish I could remember what it was called/find it, I would link it. She is currently doing research to prove that not only is not as effective as suggested (the supposed 15-25%) but may actually make Flu season worst. Some of her early preliminary research from what I understand actually backs her claims up.

I'm a computer guy, so biology/chemistry/medicine not in my wheelhouse so I can't explain the science behind it but if I remember correctly, her theory was more or less, by priming ourselves with specific flu vaccines, we hurt our immune system because its only looking for those strains so to speak, its slower to fight the mutation/other variations unless its drastically different/mutated enough. So unless they guess right and put out the strain that hits that year(and their record is alot like Texas weathermen), then it actually hurts.

This doesn't even sound logical. If your body can adapt to what's in the vaccine ( 3-4 strains) than it can adapt to a mutation. That doctor you saw in a documentary might have also been talking about restricting guns. Would you believe her?

1911 Raptor wrote:The flu vaccine will not prevent you from getting the flu but it is my understanding that it will curtail the flu and make it a lot shorter and bearable if you do catch it.

Fact- not true. If flu vaccine covers what's going around and your immune system is normal it will prevent the flu. If the vaccine only covers some of the antigens on the current strains going around it may decrease the severity.

montgomery wrote:
Y'all sound just like my wife. She is the doctor I fired.

Possibly more dangerous than the flu.

montgomery wrote:

philip964 wrote:
I got a flu shot BTW.

Probably not the biggest medical scam in this country, but is on my short list. These flu shots have been 9-to-1 ineffective for decades, yet the medical community insists people inject themselves with dangerous bacteria only to get sick anyway. I be willing to bet fewer people would get the flu or suffer less had they not gotten the shots.

In October, I got a speech from my doctor about me being over 50 and risking intensive care or death if i did not get the shot. No shot, still no flu, but I got a new doctor.

Sorry y'all sick. Hoping for speedy recovery.

You know, some people need to think before they write. You are not being injected with "dangerous" bacteria. Flu is not even a bacteria, it is a virus and any injections are inactivated, not live virus. The problem with the vaccine is that scientists try to guess what strains will come next year and that's what they make the vaccine for. They may or may not guess right. It is true that the vaccine this year has low effectiveness but that doesn't mean you shouldn't get it. 15% is better than zero. The smart thing is to get the flu shot every year as soon as it is available and realize that it is not perfect but better than nothing. Flu is a killer depending on the strain. If bird flu ever comes around they say that more than 50% of the world's population may die. The more herd immunity we have the less likely we will have an epidemic. Right now that means the flu shot. Someday we may have one that protects at a close to 100% level but it's not here yet. The fault is not the flu shot but the fact that the virus mutates so readily. The best protection you have now is the flu shot or complete avoidance of humanity. Take your choice. All of the other suggestions are a myth. Washing your hands does not stop an airborne particulate virus. Those face masks that people wear (usually the wrong way with their nostrils exposed) probably don't do anything either. I just cancelled a doctors appointment for a routine checkup as I don't need to sit in an waiting room with a bunch of flu victims. Will reschedule.