…nor the H1N1 flu shot/snort (aka swine flu).
When I was younger, I had an aunt get the flu shot. She was promptly put into the hospital within hours, if not sooner. My older sibling got the shot a few years later when it was “safer” and he, too, became ill. (yes, yes, they’ve allegedly gotten better–again–since then, but…)
Everyone I know who has the flu shot each year gets sick more often than I do. They seem to have several “colds” and flu-like illnesses. And almost all of them say things like “Imagine how sick I’d be if I didn’t get that shot!”.
Mama Nature uses viruses (and diseases and other things) as a form of population control. The human population has not truly been under her influence for a long time. But she keeps trying and we keep beating it. So she comes up with stronger and worse illnesses in hopes to thin our ranks to more sane levels. Some day, she will succeed and as I lay dying from it, I will be mumbling “told ya so, I did I did”.
They’ve already proven that over-using antibiotics can cause super germs. I’m waiting for the super virus to appear. Think HIV was bad? Combine the over-use of alleged vaccines with the Mama Nature element, and there’s a worse one being brewed right now.
When exposed to a disease naturally, our bodies build up natural defenses. Having chicken pox as a child is a good thing. Having it as an adult whose vaccine ran out is not. When our dad got mumps, Mom put us in bed with him, hoping we’d get it early. We didn’t, but we’ve never caught it since then either. Perhaps we were exposed enough to build up (gasp!) a natural immunity to it.
But probably the main reason I won’t get a vaccine for H1N1 is part economics, part conspiracy theory, and part “too good too soon”. Someone is making loads of money from this vaccine. Tons. Add in the mass hysteria and the sugar-coated media coverage, and whoever is making the money is rolling in it, not even bothering to count it anymore. The vaccine was created fairly fast, kinda like they knew ahead of time. And while I truly believe the nature of vaccines and their creation have become common place, I don’t agree it is so common that this mass produced vaccine has been thoroughly tested and proven to cause less harm than the illness it is trying to prevent.
Toss in the mess of ingredients that may or may not be in vaccines and the dangers they may or may not cause, and I say again “Nope, not gonna get it.”
Lorna, however, will probably be getting it. We debate the pros and cons. We counter each other’s arguments. Yet neither of us will be swayed from our position. She listens to NPR while out delivering the mail and so has heard more reports and interviews than I have and feels more informed. I need to ask her if she’s heard any reports and interviews against the vaccine.
In trying to come up with linkages to share and to help make my position, I found a bunch of contradictory essays and very little facts for either side. One would say “Important Person said [statement] to Congress” and the other would say “And then Important Person continued with [statement]”. “Statistics say X number of This Type of Human reacted This Way” and another would say “And compared to This Other Type of Human, this happened instead”. There’s the squalene, the mercury, the gp120, the MF-59, and the ‘WTF is in this thing’ issues.
But this is my blog so I can say what I want and it is up to you to argue or agree. My opinion (if you ain’t figured it out by now) is Don’t get it. Wait a while. The vaccine’s availability will be limited at first anyway. Wait to see how many of these get sick(er), contract weird illnesses (Gulf War Syndrome), or die while you wait:
- Pregnant women
- Persons who live with or provide care for infants under 6 months of age
- Healthcare and emergency services personnel
- Children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years of age
- Persons aged 25-64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
NOTE: If you have MS or any other immuno-suppressed disease, it is advised you not use the “live” nasal version of this vaccine.