I've never had the flu shot and will never get one. Same goes for DS. I'm a TERRIBLE mother!!! haha I'm a teacher and I'm sure I'm exposed to every stand of flu that is out there. The flu shot only "protects" you from certain strands when there are TONS out there. I believe in washing hands and doing things to reduce the spread of germs. I know some will flame, but I will never change my mind on this one. I'm ok with being a terrible mother and being sooooooooo at risk. haha! There has to be others out there that are against the flu shot. I speak to people daily that do not believe in them.
It's your choice however the flu shot protects you from the deadly strands such as h1n1. No one has ever said that the flu shot protects you from every known strand ever(at least no one who is educated about the flu shot)
I get the flu shot and have since I started infusions, I have a lower immune system though so it works for me. DS gets a flu shot as well(both of us need the dead virus or else I can get the flu from the vaccine) it works for us.
TL;DR: Legitimate, peer reviewed, scientific literature is all in favor of the flu vaccine. It's more dangerous to you, your baby, and society as a whole to not get vaccinated. This is a friendly post! I imagine you won't see many, and here's why:
I'm not here to flame, nor am I here to call you a "terrible" mother. However, I do think you need to educate yourself using scientific reasoning rather than anecdotal evidence. So to start, here's a little information about the influenza virus:
Structurally, Influenzavirus consists of RNA enclosed by a protein layer and a lipid bilayer. Within the lipid bilayer are projections called spikes existing in 2 varieties: hemagglutination (HA) and neruaminidase (NA). Do those abbreviations sound familiar? Well, that's because their presence is used to identify which strain of Influenzavirus you're looking at! The antigens associated with the HA and NA spikes are labeled as H1, N3, H2, N2 and so on. There are 16 subtypes of HA and 9 of NA. Now, I'm not quite sure why you chose "TONS" as your quantitative unit to measure the number of possible strains of Influenzavirus, but with the combinations available, there certainly are many possibilities!
Here's some good news: thus far, the only human-adapted viruses are H1N1, H2N2, and H3N3. Of course, antigenic shifts are possible and prevalent (meaning that the virus has now adapted to evade the human immune system), and sometimes other strains can adapt to infect humans from animals such as birds and pigs. But here's some more good news: The CDC does a pretty bang up job of predicting the most prevalent strains of Influenzavirus for the upcoming flu season and develops vaccines to provide immunity.
If you're anti-flu vaccine because you've heard you can actually get the flu from the vaccine, hey, you're not wrong! If you are given the nasal vaccine, it's not likely, but possible, that you can get have a milder version of the flu since it uses a live-attenuated virus, which means that the virus is technically alive, but does not have the ability to reproduce or cause real harm. Don't get the nasal vaccine if you're pregnant!!! But hey!!! Good news!!!! There's an IM vaccine (that goes in the muscle) that is an inactivated virus! This absolutely canNOT cause the flu!!! Isn't that great?! Modern medicine is truly amazing!
If you're worried about vaccine preservatives (which you shouldn't be; there is no legitimate evidence that the preservatives cause harm), good news again! You can ask for a vaccine that does not contain preservatives! Speaking of documentation, I challenge you to find a truly peer-reviewed, well documented study indicating that the flu vaccine is dangerous; bet you can't!
Anyway, it's your body, and it's your baby, so you do what you want. It doesn't affect me at all. But wait a minute…it actually does!!! See, there's this thing called herd immunity. This means that most of the population is protected from a disease because they are immune to a disease (mostly because of vaccines; thanks again modern medicine!). So, if somebody within the population is not vaccinated or not immune, they are likely protected anyway, because there is little chance that the disease can really spread due to everyone surrounding them keeping them healthy. Isn't that nice? This is why we no longer see polio, mumps, measles, etc., because we have vaccines. But wait! We DO see these diseases from time to time! Why? BECAUSE PEOPLE REFUSE VACCINATIONS. And now these diseases can mutate and evolve into strands that our immune systems can't handle. Yep, that's right, evolution is real after all! So, when people choose not to vaccinate, they are really putting the rest of the population in danger. And that just stinks.
I'm a former science teacher, so yay for you, and go teachers! But you are surrounded by a bunch of sniveling disease monkeys, so it really is far better for you to go ahead and get that flu vaccine. It could save your baby's life! I just wanted you to be a little bit better informed before making a decision, and I really really wanted to get into how immunity works and all of that, but this is already so long that nobody has the time to read it anyway. Oh well, you never stop teaching!
Not trying to sound cool at all. I just don't believe in them and will not inject my child with a dead virus. Everyone is entitled to do what they want. This is my own choice and don't feel bad about it. Just wondering if there are other people on Tri 1 that feel the same. So sensitive around here.
Look, I understand that the term "dead virus" sounds super scary, but it's really not. There is viral DNA incorporated into the human genome, and a scary lot of it! That just blows my mind! Don't get upset if people seem "sensitive". It's just frustrating that people don't understand certain concepts, but hey, you're a teacher, so you get that, right? Nobody expects to be sitting atop a throne while you wallow in your wrongness and sing Radiohead's Creep or anything, we're just trying to inform you a little bit better.
Edit: Sorry, I just thought of something else really cool! It's actually not the flu vaccine that protects you, it's your very own immune system!!!! Your immune system takes down whatever vaccine components enter your body, so it doesn't even stay in your system. Your body has now learned to recognize the virus so that the next time it does enter your body, your immune system can annihilate it! All without even having to get sick in the first place!!!
Not trying to sound cool at all. I just don't believe in them and will not inject my child with a dead virus. Everyone is entitled to do what they want. This is my own choice and don't feel bad about it. Just wondering if there are other people on Tri 1 that feel the same. So sensitive around here.
No one is being sensitive. If you lurked a bit, you would know this is a hot topic (any vaccine, and especially anti-vaccine post). This is dealing with our own health and the health of others. Especially since there have been many posts recently about deaths of pregnant women, infants, and children THIS flu season from the flu and its complications.
I've been lurking on Tri 1 since I was pregnant with DS and he is 3.5. I saw the other posts and that is exactly why I asked if anyone on here didn't believe in the shot since I already read who is so for it. Again, I wanted to hear from others who did not and will not get the shot.
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the
organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other
childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain
of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended
childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine
does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are
considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune
system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies
of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism,
schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science
still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES
know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism, schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
@Shima42, can you link some of these studies? And you are right, Influenzavirus is pretty darn mild when compared to some of the other bad boy diseases. And of course it's not part of the childhood vaccine regimen, because it changes from year to year. And if nobody got the vaccine, well, there would be huge spikes in occurrences of the virus, potentially on the epidemic level. It doesn't have to be deadly to be epidemic.
There are such trace amounts of mercury as a preservative in vaccines, and there is no conclusive link to the toxicity of that amount. Also, there are plenty of "poisons" that we consume that our amazing bodies can handle without making us sick because of the dosage.
Those most at risk of deadly harm from the flu: babies, old people, the immune compromised. They deserve protection!
I'll make sure to pass your sentiments on to the family of the pregnant woman that is being removed from life support today. Her baby died after her 106 fever. She also suffered brain damage. I'm part of her church mothers' group.
OP, quit being a troll and stirring up shit. And good luck with washing your hands and hoping for the best, since influenza is airborne. Your nonchalant attitude towards a quite serious topic is really sad.
ETA: FYI, you are putting all your students at risk as well, not just your family. So glad you aren't my son's teacher!
The flu shot is designed in advance by predicting which strands will be active the next year. I guess because scientists aren't all knowing oracles it's a conspiracy.
It's not 100% effective but it does give protection. It's more effective against certain strains than others. So against type A it may be 50% effective while type B it may be 95% effective.
It's your choice, that is true. However your logic is flawed in your stance that a shot with less than 100% protection is not worth getting. In the realms of safety or medicine nothing protects you 100%, not even hand washing(which people still do with the flu shot). It's just not possible.
Carseats are not 100% so why even use one? Airbags are not 100% so why have one? Antibiotics might not clear an infection, so why bother?
Tylenol may not lower your 104 fever..so don't take it.
Yea. Not logical..more like wishy thinking.
I would rather have a 60% chance of preventing flu than 0%.
I'll make sure to pass your sentiments on to the family of the pregnant woman that is being removed from life support today. Her baby died after her 106 fever. She also suffered brain damage. I'm part of her church mothers' group.
Get the fucking shot & don't be a moron.
Don't forget to relay OP's ever so obnoxious and mocking "haha!"
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the
organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other
childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain
of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended
childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine
does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are
considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune
system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies
of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism,
schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science
still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES
know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
I said "haha" to my terrible mother comment. Wow 1st Tri never changes... Uptight. Again, I was asking if anyone else is against the shot.
I'll gladly be "uptight" when it's a life & death issue. This is not about whether you get fries with your burger. Your selfish, ill-informed & reckless decision not only puts your own baby at risk, but all the kids in your classroom. You are actively & proudly behaving like a thoughtless douche canoe.
Eat what you want or dye your hair, but I will be damned if my 5 month old son or my cancer-fighting friends DIE because your happy-ass decides to play Russian roulette. If your son gets the flu & plays on the same playground as any mom with a young baby every cough, sneeze or grubby little hand could be a death sentence for a pg woman or newborn.
So your cavellier, insensitive & shitty attitude towards a very real, very deadly issue makes my stomach turn. You are not only behaving like an irresponsible mother but an awful human being as well.
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the
organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other
childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain
of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended
childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine
does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are
considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune
system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies
of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism,
schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science
still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES
know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
Um. Yes. Yes, there is. I got it from Rite Aid when I was pregnant with DS. Not all pharmacies have it, but a lot of them do. You just have to ask for it. So this entire argument just went out the window.
"The single-dose units are made without thimerosal as a preservative because they are intended to be opened and used only once. Additionally, the live-attenuated version of the vaccine (the nasal spray vaccine), is produced in single-dose units and does not contain thimerosal."
So apparently it's not ok to inject your child with the dead flu virus, but it IS ok to wait for them to pick up and spread the live form of it? My mind has just exploded with the lack of logic.
09/23/11 - Married DH
04/01/13 - BFP at 4wks
05/30/13 - MMC - BO @ 12wks 5d
08/29/13 - BFP @ 4wks 4d
09/17/13 - 7wks 2d - Normal HB Detected! Baby measuring perfect for dates and positioning!
10/23/13 - 12wks 3d - Perfect NT scan! HB 167 & baby wriggling, waving & yawning!
12/17/13 - 20wks 2 d - We're having a beautiful baby girl! Go Team Pink!
05/03/14 - Bobbie Gloria was born at 39+6 weighing 6lb 14oz!
I said "haha" to my terrible mother comment. Wow 1st Tri never changes... Uptight. Again, I was asking if anyone else is against the shot.
Uptight? You are the one prancing around here like some know it all, self-proclaimed terrible mother, preaching about how terrible the flu shot it is. Meanwhile, people's friends, family members and fellow bumpies are losing their lives over something that likely could have been prevented.
Take you self-absorbed, arrogant, know-it-all, terrible mother self somewhere else....
I haven't gotten it but I'm not against. In fact I called my doctors office to see if they wanted me to get it yesterday because they haven't talked to me about it. They told me they would give it to me at my next appointment but that's not for 4 weeks, so I'm going to call back and see if I can just go it myself . They didn't come out with the flu shot to hurt you. It's to protect you from something that can be life threatening.
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the
organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other
childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain
of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended
childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine
does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are
considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune
system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies
of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism,
schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science
still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES
know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
Really? The old 'mercury is poison' approach. Seriously? Read some real studies. I think this scientist covers it pretty well....
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the
organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other
childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain
of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended
childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine
does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are
considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune
system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies
of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism,
schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science
still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES
know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
Um. Yes. Yes, there is. I got it from Rite Aid when I was pregnant with DS. Not all pharmacies have it, but a lot of them do. You just have to ask for it. So this entire argument just went out the window.
"The single-dose units are made without thimerosal as a preservative because they are intended to be opened and used only once. Additionally, the live-attenuated version of the vaccine (the nasal spray vaccine), is produced in single-dose units and does not contain thimerosal."
Also, thimerosol isn't mercury. It does contain ethyl mercury, which is different than methyl mercury - methylmercury is what builds up in large fish, for example, and like the mercury you think of in old-fashioned thermometers, it's toxic. Ethyl mercury metabolizes and passes out of your body relatively quickly; methylmercury can accumulate and cause health problems, and you could call it a poison if you want to, I guess. Science doesn't have any issues with ethyl mercury, so saying that "science knows mercury is bad for you" is shooting way off target here.
No, there are several forms of mercury occurring in the environment, however by far the most common organic mercury compound is methyl mercury. The main hazard for methyl mercury is its ability to accumulate in the body and to remain there for a long time. The exposure to this naturally-occurring compound and its toxic effects on humans have been well studied. As most humans are exposed to mercury in some form, WHO and some national regulatory authorities defined safe levels for exposure to mercury and the values reflect exposure mainly to methyl mercury. Thiomersal contains a different form of mercury i.e. ethyl mercury which does not accumulate and is metabolized and removed from the body much faster than is methyl mercury."
ETA: Clarifying
I stand corrected about whether or not there are flu vaccines without mercury - and happy to be so. I will still refuse to give myself or my children known poisons like mercury when they are present in fish, vaccines, or anything else. I think that, sometimes, those on both sides of this argument forget that there is a middle ground. There are reasonable people who will get all the vaccines they can without taking poison. I'm one of them. It's wise to be kind to those on either side of the argument by pointing out common ground and keeping an open mind. It really is okay if someone wants to avoid mercury; it is not stupidity, it is caution. As I point out whenever I have this conversation, almost all childhood vaccines now have a mercury-free version. That's where we can meet, and where the smart folks at the WHO and CDC have decided they have to go in order to keep the public vaccinated! I think that jumping to conclusions about someone being a 'crazy anti-vaxxer' is counterproductive. You don't win someone over by being combative. Peace and conciliation come from calm, kind conversation. If you're worried about something as serious as an epidemic, it's best to adopt strategies that actually work.
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the
organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other
childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain
of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended
childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine
does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are
considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune
system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies
of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism,
schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science
still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES
know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
Um. Yes. Yes, there is. I got it from Rite Aid when I was pregnant with DS. Not all pharmacies have it, but a lot of them do. You just have to ask for it. So this entire argument just went out the window.
"The single-dose units are made without thimerosal as a preservative because they are intended to be opened and used only once. Additionally, the live-attenuated version of the vaccine (the nasal spray vaccine), is produced in single-dose units and does not contain thimerosal."
Also, thimerosol isn't mercury. It does contain ethyl mercury, which is different than methyl mercury - methylmercury is what builds up in large fish, for example, and like the mercury you think of in old-fashioned thermometers, it's toxic. Ethyl mercury metabolizes and passes out of your body relatively quickly; methylmercury can accumulate and cause health problems, and you could call it a poison if you want to, I guess. Science doesn't have any issues with ethyl mercury, so saying that "science knows mercury is bad for you" is shooting way off target here.
No, there are several forms of mercury occurring in the environment, however by far the most common organic mercury compound is methyl mercury. The main hazard for methyl mercury is its ability to accumulate in the body and to remain there for a long time. The exposure to this naturally-occurring compound and its toxic effects on humans have been well studied. As most humans are exposed to mercury in some form, WHO and some national regulatory authorities defined safe levels for exposure to mercury and the values reflect exposure mainly to methyl mercury. Thiomersal contains a different form of mercury i.e. ethyl mercury which does not accumulate and is metabolized and removed from the body much faster than is methyl mercury."
ETA: Clarifying
I stand corrected about whether or not there are flu vaccines without mercury - and happy to be so. I will still refuse to give myself or my children known poisons like mercury when they are present in fish, vaccines, or anything else. I think that, sometimes, those on both sides of this argument forget that there is a middle ground. There are reasonable people who will get all the vaccines they can without taking poison. I'm one of them. It's wise to be kind to those on either side of the argument by pointing out common ground and keeping an open mind. It really is okay if someone wants to avoid mercury; it is not stupidity, it is caution. As I point out whenever I have this conversation, almost all childhood vaccines now have a mercury-free version. That's where we can meet, and where the smart folks at the WHO and CDC have decided they have to go in order to keep the public vaccinated! I think that jumping to conclusions about someone being a 'crazy anti-vaxxer' is counterproductive. You don't win someone over by being combative. Peace and conciliation come from calm, kind conversation. If you're worried about something as serious as an epidemic, it's best to adopt strategies that actually work.
I...
I just can't.
You had better stop eating pretty much anything, then. There could be (and are) trace amounts of poisons in pretty much everything we eat. The amount of stupidity from two posters in this thread is amazing.
@Shima42 - You know there is mercury in the air we breathe, right? Guess what, there is lead and arsenic in your drinking water too... and cyanide in your fruit.
Sure, Mizoo. I am concerned about the things that you mentioned. However, I try to stay away from industrial areas where there may be higher concentrations of toxins in the air, I purify my drinking water as much as I can, and I avoid eating the pits and seeds of fruits (where the cyanide is). As with all things in life, I try to keep a level head and do my best to avoid poisoning myself while not going overboard. After all, there's no point in drinking the poison just because you're swimming in it!
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the
organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other
childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain
of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended
childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine
does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are
considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune
system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies
of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism,
schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science
still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES
know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
Um. Yes. Yes, there is. I got it from Rite Aid when I was pregnant with DS. Not all pharmacies have it, but a lot of them do. You just have to ask for it. So this entire argument just went out the window.
"The single-dose units are made without thimerosal as a preservative because they are intended to be opened and used only once. Additionally, the live-attenuated version of the vaccine (the nasal spray vaccine), is produced in single-dose units and does not contain thimerosal."
Also, thimerosol isn't mercury. It does contain ethyl mercury, which is different than methyl mercury - methylmercury is what builds up in large fish, for example, and like the mercury you think of in old-fashioned thermometers, it's toxic. Ethyl mercury metabolizes and passes out of your body relatively quickly; methylmercury can accumulate and cause health problems, and you could call it a poison if you want to, I guess. Science doesn't have any issues with ethyl mercury, so saying that "science knows mercury is bad for you" is shooting way off target here.
No, there are several forms of mercury occurring in the environment, however by far the most common organic mercury compound is methyl mercury. The main hazard for methyl mercury is its ability to accumulate in the body and to remain there for a long time. The exposure to this naturally-occurring compound and its toxic effects on humans have been well studied. As most humans are exposed to mercury in some form, WHO and some national regulatory authorities defined safe levels for exposure to mercury and the values reflect exposure mainly to methyl mercury. Thiomersal contains a different form of mercury i.e. ethyl mercury which does not accumulate and is metabolized and removed from the body much faster than is methyl mercury."
ETA: Clarifying
I stand corrected about whether or not there are flu vaccines without mercury - and happy to be so. I will still refuse to give myself or my children known poisons like mercury when they are present in fish, vaccines, or anything else. I think that, sometimes, those on both sides of this argument forget that there is a middle ground. There are reasonable people who will get all the vaccines they can without taking poison. I'm one of them. It's wise to be kind to those on either side of the argument by pointing out common ground and keeping an open mind. It really is okay if someone wants to avoid mercury; it is not stupidity, it is caution. As I point out whenever I have this conversation, almost all childhood vaccines now have a mercury-free version. That's where we can meet, and where the smart folks at the WHO and CDC have decided they have to go in order to keep the public vaccinated! I think that jumping to conclusions about someone being a 'crazy anti-vaxxer' is counterproductive. You don't win someone over by being combative. Peace and conciliation come from calm, kind conversation. If you're worried about something as serious as an epidemic, it's best to adopt strategies that actually work.
You can't be fucking serious. Did you actually read the post that you quoted? Because from the looks of the stupid shit you just spewed, you sure didn't. Allow me to try: (First, remove head from ass.) Different type of mercury. Not the same kind as what's in fish. Does not build up in body. Mercury is not in single dose vaccines. At all. AT. ALL. Is it getting through yet? Huh? You should be more worried about you and your kids dying (DYING!) from the fucking flu then worrying about a possible tiny trace of "poison". Which isn't there to begin with. Guess which one is going to kill you faster? Any of this sinking in? Or do we need to blow smoke up your ass and shit rainbows on you for you to even entertain the thought of protecting your family and yourself? Not to mention all of those out there who are unable to get the vaccine?
Huh. I just chomp right through the pits and seeds of fruits because pits and seeds TASTE SO GOOD. Cyanide be damned. You have some willpower, @shima42
Huh. I just chomp right through the pits and seeds of fruits because pits and seeds TASTE SO GOOD. Cyanide be damned. You have some willpower, @shima42
LOL not really. I don't care for them ;-D Especially raspberry seeds!
I don't get it. Why post this? You say you're wondering if other people are against it too, but why does that matter? You've made your decision and say you won't change your mind, so it shouldn't matter whether others agree with you.
There is no injectable flu vaccine that doesn't have thimerosol, the
organic mercury compound that is used as a preservative (there are other
childhood vaccinations that have only trace amounts of it). No single strain
of influenza has been determined vitally necessary to the recommended
childrens' vaccination schedule; therefore, not getting the flu vaccine
does NOT increase the likelihood of an epidemic - influenza diseases are
considered relatively benign and surmountable by the average immune
system. There have been scientific, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies
of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism,
schizophrenia, and many other diseases - but current medical science
still does not know the cause of those diseases. Medical science DOES
know that mercury is bad for you. I'm gonna go ahead and err on the side of common sense: if someone who's not an expert tells me that a poison is okay to eat, I'm just going to skip the poison anyway.
Um. Yes. Yes, there is. I got it from Rite Aid when I was pregnant with DS. Not all pharmacies have it, but a lot of them do. You just have to ask for it. So this entire argument just went out the window.
"The single-dose units are made without thimerosal as a preservative because they are intended to be opened and used only once. Additionally, the live-attenuated version of the vaccine (the nasal spray vaccine), is produced in single-dose units and does not contain thimerosal."
Also, thimerosol isn't mercury. It does contain ethyl mercury, which is different than methyl mercury - methylmercury is what builds up in large fish, for example, and like the mercury you think of in old-fashioned thermometers, it's toxic. Ethyl mercury metabolizes and passes out of your body relatively quickly; methylmercury can accumulate and cause health problems, and you could call it a poison if you want to, I guess. Science doesn't have any issues with ethyl mercury, so saying that "science knows mercury is bad for you" is shooting way off target here.
No, there are several forms of mercury occurring in the environment, however by far the most common organic mercury compound is methyl mercury. The main hazard for methyl mercury is its ability to accumulate in the body and to remain there for a long time. The exposure to this naturally-occurring compound and its toxic effects on humans have been well studied. As most humans are exposed to mercury in some form, WHO and some national regulatory authorities defined safe levels for exposure to mercury and the values reflect exposure mainly to methyl mercury. Thiomersal contains a different form of mercury i.e. ethyl mercury which does not accumulate and is metabolized and removed from the body much faster than is methyl mercury."
ETA: Clarifying
I stand corrected about whether or not there are flu vaccines without mercury - and happy to be so. I will still refuse to give myself or my children known poisons like mercury when they are present in fish, vaccines, or anything else. I think that, sometimes, those on both sides of this argument forget that there is a middle ground. There are reasonable people who will get all the vaccines they can without taking poison. I'm one of them. It's wise to be kind to those on either side of the argument by pointing out common ground and keeping an open mind. It really is okay if someone wants to avoid mercury; it is not stupidity, it is caution. As I point out whenever I have this conversation, almost all childhood vaccines now have a mercury-free version. That's where we can meet, and where the smart folks at the WHO and CDC have decided they have to go in order to keep the public vaccinated! I think that jumping to conclusions about someone being a 'crazy anti-vaxxer' is counterproductive. You don't win someone over by being combative. Peace and conciliation come from calm, kind conversation. If you're worried about something as serious as an epidemic, it's best to adopt strategies that actually work.
Thanks for admitting that you were wrong... ish.
Just to clarify your statement that "almost all childhood vaccines have a mercury-free version." If you click the FDA link that I cited above, you'll see that every single vaccine routinely recommended for children under age 6 is available in a thimerosal-free version. And of all the vaccines they list (which I assume is a complete list of all the vaccines currently approved by the FDA), only one is not available without thimerosal in it, and that's the DT vaccine, which your children won't need if they get the DTaP vaccine.
I just wanted to point this out, not only for you, but because so many people use the "mercury is bad!!!!" argument as a reason they won't vaccinate, and I thought it was interesting to note that there is literally no vaccine that your child ever has to get, ever, that is not available without thimerosal in it. So that argument's gotta go.
Re: Anyone else against the flu shot?
Oscar born October 2011
Miscarriage at 8 weeks (August 2013)
DD due September 1, 2014
Get the fucking shot & don't be a moron.
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
It's not 100% effective but it does give protection. It's more effective against certain strains than others. So against type A it may be 50% effective while type B it may be 95% effective.
Carseats are not 100% so why even use one?
Airbags are not 100% so why have one?
Antibiotics might not clear an infection, so why bother?
Yea. Not logical..more like wishy thinking.
I would rather have a 60% chance of preventing flu than 0%.
Don't forget to relay OP's ever so obnoxious and mocking "haha!"
No, not uptight. Just not totally fucking stupid.
Eat what you want or dye your hair, but I will be damned if my 5 month old son or my cancer-fighting friends DIE because your happy-ass decides to play Russian roulette. If your son gets the flu & plays on the same playground as any mom with a young baby every cough, sneeze or grubby little hand could be a death sentence for a pg woman or newborn.
So your cavellier, insensitive & shitty attitude towards a very real, very deadly issue makes my stomach turn. You are not only behaving like an irresponsible mother but an awful human being as well.
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
09/23/11 - Married DH
04/01/13 - BFP at 4wks
05/30/13 - MMC - BO @ 12wks 5d
08/29/13 - BFP @ 4wks 4d
09/17/13 - 7wks 2d - Normal HB Detected! Baby measuring perfect for dates and positioning!
10/23/13 - 12wks 3d - Perfect NT scan! HB 167 & baby wriggling, waving & yawning!
12/17/13 - 20wks 2 d - We're having a beautiful baby girl! Go Team Pink!
05/03/14 - Bobbie Gloria was born at 39+6 weighing 6lb 14oz!
Take you self-absorbed, arrogant, know-it-all, terrible mother self somewhere else....
Damnit. Guess I better start my O14 post-it early.
n Chart</a>"http://www.fertilityfriend.com" style="font-size:smaller;" >Ovulation Charww.fertilityfriend.com" style="font-size:smaller;" >Ovulation Chart</a>
I've been on tb a while, and it never ceases to amaze me the number of twits out there procreating.
ETA: Added a word or two
I stand corrected about whether or not there are flu vaccines without mercury - and happy to be so. I will still refuse to give myself or my children known poisons like mercury when they are present in fish, vaccines, or anything else. I think that, sometimes, those on both sides of this argument forget that there is a middle ground. There are reasonable people who will get all the vaccines they can without taking poison. I'm one of them. It's wise to be kind to those on either side of the argument by pointing out common ground and keeping an open mind. It really is okay if someone wants to avoid mercury; it is not stupidity, it is caution. As I point out whenever I have this conversation, almost all childhood vaccines now have a mercury-free version. That's where we can meet, and where the smart folks at the WHO and CDC have decided they have to go in order to keep the public vaccinated! I think that jumping to conclusions about someone being a 'crazy anti-vaxxer' is counterproductive. You don't win someone over by being combative. Peace and conciliation come from calm, kind conversation. If you're worried about something as serious as an epidemic, it's best to adopt strategies that actually work.
I... I just can't. You had better stop eating pretty much anything, then. There could be (and are) trace amounts of poisons in pretty much everything we eat. The amount of stupidity from two posters in this thread is amazing.
You can't be fucking serious. Did you actually read the post that you quoted? Because from the looks of the stupid shit you just spewed, you sure didn't. Allow me to try: (First, remove head from ass.) Different type of mercury. Not the same kind as what's in fish. Does not build up in body. Mercury is not in single dose vaccines. At all. AT. ALL. Is it getting through yet? Huh? You should be more worried about you and your kids dying (DYING!) from the fucking flu then worrying about a possible tiny trace of "poison". Which isn't there to begin with. Guess which one is going to kill you faster? Any of this sinking in? Or do we need to blow smoke up your ass and shit rainbows on you for you to even entertain the thought of protecting your family and yourself? Not to mention all of those out there who are unable to get the vaccine?
LOL not really. I don't care for them ;-D Especially raspberry seeds!