to flu shot or not??? - Page 2

[runes]

IMO ethics don't really come into play for a vaccine like the flu vax. It is a hit-or-miss (and statistically mostly "miss") guesstimate in terms of the strains.

Getting a vaccine for a disease does not instantly absolve anyone from any type of ethical responsibility when it comes to other people's health. Some vaccines do not prevent transmission. Others only cover a limited number of strains of a particular pathogen. And NONE have anywhere near 100% efficacy.

It still stands that hygeine (covering coughs and sneezes, HANDWASHING) and awareness (ie: don't go visit grandma at the skilled nursing facility if anyone is showing symptoms of an illness) are the best ways of keeping everyone healthy and reducing the spread of illness, whether there is a vaccine available for that illness or not.

[Murihiku]

Thanks for all the replies about my "ethics" question. I've learned some stuff.

I could respond with more questions but I realize that I am not as invested in the issue of vaccines as I am eager for the fun of debate and argument. And I know that (a) such things can turn quite nasty on the internet; (b) the debates around vaccines are not at all "fun" for many people; and (c) I'm thinking about the points I could make when I should be paying attention to my family. So I'll just deny myself the pleasure and spare you all the nuisance!

Cheers.

[Deborah]

Murihiku,

Thanks for acting like a grown-up!

The endless debatorama of the Internet gets tedious and doesn't accomplish much.

You asked a question. You got some good answers. You know that further questions could be raised...but would that process do anything useful?

[loveyourohana]

For me... I have tried the flu shot, and felt like crap... I actually felt like I would rather have the flu... and then... I ended up getting the flu... so I felt lousy twice.... Never again, and never will I subject my family to it.

I have never had a flu shot since... Preventative works much better for my family than introducing immune weakening substances into our bodies via a needle.

Vit. C, CS, low sugar, Oregano Oil, GSE, (not all at once, and not all of the time... I just have them handy) and if by chance I begin feeling a sniffle or flu coming, I try one of the above... also heard a product called Umcka works makes the flu way shorter in duration!!! If by chance I were to get sick past trying all of these... well we were taught growing up, that your meant to get sick every once in a while. I have no shame in having the flu naturally I to this date in a 12 year span... haven't had the flu, nor anyone else in my family... so can't say this approach doesn't work))))

[loveyourohana]

This post is just a couple away from this one... thought you would like to hear aquafinas reaction to the flu shot this year...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=986265

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Deborah

Someone I know works in a hospital, with elderly people. I dug up a Cochrane Collaborative paper evaluating the benefit of the flu shot for health care providers in preventing the flu in patients. Evidence in favor is very weak. On the other hand, the benefit of frequent handwashing is very clear. So he said he would continue to wash his hands frequently and avoid working with patients if he felt at all sick.

Do you have a link to that? I'd love to have it on hand.

[Deborah]

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/c...106568753/HOME

put influenza into the search box and you'll get a list of related reviews--this only supplies abstract info--but it is enough to go on with for most people

I did it this way so everyone can look at the influenza review which is relevant to their particular interest--there are about 30 of them.

[MsGrizzle]

Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine October 2008; 162(10):943-51

http://tinyurl.com/684u4p

However, significant influenza VE [vaccine effectiveness] could not be demonstrated for any season, age, or setting after adjusting for county, sex, insurance, chronic conditions recommended for influenza vaccination, and timing of influenza vaccination

In 2 seasons with suboptimal antigenic match between vaccines and circulating strains, we could not demonstrate VE in preventing influenza-related inpatient/ED or outpatient visits in children younger than 5 years.