This “crisis” that is portrayed by the media is unfounded. What did we do before the flu shot? We coped…
No, we died. How many tens of millions died in 1918 from the flu?
Psssst… you’re starting to talk out your fourth point of contact
do a little more reading on the 1918 pandemic before you write off the need for flu vaccines.
Might I suggest:
FLU By: Gina Kolata.
http://www.ebookmall.com/alpha-titles/FLU-Kolata-Farrar-cr.htm
probably one of the scariest book I’ve read in a long time.
Bottomline: we are due for another 1918. everytime I read something about the CDC or aother organization destroying huge flocks of birds or pigs in asia I get a shiver up my spine.
You’re right. Only tens of thousands die each year from flu. Silly me.
Only tens of thousands die each year from flu. Silly me.
I think the number in America is something like 30-40,000 people. And how many of them were healthy, and how many of them were elderly?
Yes, there have been medical improvements. I see those improvements utilized every winter in my hospital and their cumulative costs add up into the tens of millions and some still die. Wouldn’t it have be so much better to reduce those costs with a relatively cheap vaccine?
I have heard that flu vaccines, in normally healthy people, are a bad idea because you allow the vaccine to do the work of your immune system, which prevents your immune system from getting stronger and lessening it’s ability to fight diseases in the long run.
Totally wrong - vaccines work by stimulating your immune system.
In addition, there are thousands of strains of the flu and the vaccine is only effective for that particular strain.
Actually that’s not true either. There are only a few major variants and usually the vaccine covers them. Last year there was a screwup however, and the vaccine didn’t protect against a major strain that was going around.
ok so now your changing your argument.
in the post I replied to you stated this is “2004 not 1918…” and “we have huge medical advancements”
I’m now going to get into a running gun battle with you.
yah it’s 2004 and the flu is still kickin us in the ass, and gettgin better at it, unlike ever did polio.
The Flu vaccine issues are anything but an unneeded frenzy.
Read the book, it also give alot of insight into how the strains used for the next year’s vaccine are “picked” also gets into someof teh problems with vaccines that happened in 1976(?) that set the stage for some of the problems we are having today with supply (e.g. so few US producers)
I have to say I mostly agree with Brian here - the flu isn’t something to be ignored, but it’s not going to kill tens of millions of people anymore. Of the 36,000 or so that died in the US, I’m sure very few were otherwise healthy youngsh adults. The elderly/young/infirm etc that really need the vaccine are still going to be able to get it. Most of us here (excepting medical professionals) don’t need it.
I never get flu shots. The only time I ever got the flu was in 1968.
Flu shots are poison.
Flu shots are poison.
Now that’s just silly…
the flu isn’t something to be ignored, but it’s not going to kill tens of millions of people anymore.
Hope that works out for yah.
There was a 3rd or 4th page article last month about how geneticis(sp?) might have isolated one of the possible traits that caused the 1918 to be so deadly that it killed across the enitre age range. when they changed a trait of the virus’ protein coating it killed 90% of test animals. that particular trait may not be deadly to humans but a couple of minor changes in one of the many strains of bird flu out there, the virus jumps to pigs, and we’re majorly F**ked. Why do you think there are occasional reports of health authorities detroying a couple 1000 birds or pigs in asia
I’ll say the same thing to you I said to Brian.
Read the book. epidemiologists(sp?) have been warning for yrs
Regardless if people are going to die or not from the flu, it is not a Presidential issue. The vaccines were produced in sufficient amounts, in sufficient time. Then they were discovered to be bacterially contaminated. What was the Pres or anyone else in the govt supposed to do about that? There’s always some disease waiting to kill all mankind. Small pox is out there somewhere and we have something like 15 doses of vaccine. We do what we can, people still get sick, vaccine or not, and we treat them.
Anyone actually think Bush didn’t get a flu shot this year?
"Anyone actually think Bush didn’t get a flu shot this year?
"
anyone not think it’s probably more important to have the Commander in Chief healthy?
– anyone not think it’s probably more important to have the Commander in Chief healthy?
I agree but in the debates he said he wouldn’t get one when he gave his eloquent answer to the flu vaccine shortage problem…likely a crock…
Is it possible that the overuse of the flu vaccine is making us more susceptible to future viruses that come back stronger than before?
No.
Overuse of antibiotics is screwing us big time, but vaccines work very differently. You can’t “over-use” it.
I agree, probably a crock, but who knows, maybe he’ll be stubborn and refuse the shot. Stranger things have happened.
Interesting - I was always under the impression that the huge mortality we saw in 1918 was largely due to poor public health (exacerbated by WWI).
Do you have any citation for that article?
I’m still reluctant to take vaccinations because I believe in the abilty of a healthy body to protect itself without man made interventions, which always seem to screw things up, in the long term. I oppose to the shots because I am otherwise healthy and understand not everyone is and they should act accordingly.
I would urge you to rethink this part.
Here’s a potential situation: you get infected with a virus, become moderately ill and spread the virus to another person. You recover, but the other person was weaker and dies from the virus. If you had been vaccinated the other person would be alive. There’s something to be said for “herd immunity”
What rally, really kills me is parent who oppose vaccines for their kids, but that’s a slightly different topic.