The flu shot is largely worthless and possibly dangerous

[mystery-ak]

December 29, 2017
The flu shot is largely worthless and possibly dangerous
By Ed Straker

Every year, the "gubment" cajoles us to get our flu shots.  It's our civic duty!

The only problem is that studies have shown that the flu shot is either worthless or almost worthless.

    On average, past flu vaccines have been about 42 percent effective, though that number can range anywhere from 10 to 60 percent in a given year[.] ... [T]his year's flu shot may not be up to the task.  It is the same formulation that was used during Australia's most recent flu season – which typically sets a pattern for what the U.S. will face – and it was only 10 percent effective there.

Ten percent!

    Dr. Pardis Sabeti, a Harvard professor and infectious disease expert[, says,] "Even 10 percent effective is better than nothing."


more
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/12/the_flu_shot_is_largely_worthless_and_possibly_dangerous.html

[Polly Ticks]

It's not totally useless.  It's good for a $400 credit on our contributions for our insurance plan costs.

[Applewood]

6 of my relatives and friends have the flu or some kind of respiratory ailment.  I had some mystery sickness starting the end of last month and I'm till coughing and sniffling. 

One good thing about the lousy weather.  It is keeping people away from the coughers and snifflers. 

This year's flu vaccine is indeed useless.  Really?  10%.  I realize trying to predict what strains are going to be prevalent is a cr@p shoot, but it seems to me all the official explanations for why this year's guess is  so far off the mark are a cover for someone's incompetence. 

[jmyrlefuller]

I've always had a natural immunity to the flu (never had it as a kid or as an adult) so I've never even considered the flu shot.

[Bigun]

Took two of them about thirty years apart. Both nearly killed me and there will never be a third I'll assure you.

[Victoria33]

@mystery-ak
@Applewood

Saw Dallas news channel last night.  What I and Bob had and Freya has and other of our friends including likely mystery-ak now, is the flu, bacterial type which is why one has fever.  Texas has more of it than any other state.  Five have died of it in Texas so far.  They did not give the ages of those who died.  It takes as much as four to six weeks to recover from this. 

A viral flu is starting according to the CDC, which is different than this bacterial one.

[ConstitutionRose]

I saw an article (here I think) that the flue shot inhances ypur immunity to the varieties in the shot, but reduces your overall immunity in the following year.  Since the immune compromised members of the family have had their shots, I am not going to get one.  I don't get the flue so why should I compromise my healthy immune system for a temporary boost? 

[Neverdul]

@mystery-ak
@Applewood

Saw Dallas news channel last night.  What I and Bob had and Freya has and other of our friends including likely mystery-ak now, is the flu, bacterial type which is why one has fever.  Texas has more of it than any other state.  Five have died of it in Texas so far.  They did not give the ages of those who died.  It takes as much as four to six weeks to recover from this. 

A viral flu is starting according to the CDC, which is different than this bacterial one.

There is no such thing as a “bacterial influenza”. Influenza is a virus. And viruses do cause fevers.  The common cold is also caused by a virus. What does happen to some people when they come down with the flu is that they become highly susceptible to secondary bacterial infections such as bacterial bronchitis and pneumonia or sinus infections. A secondary pneumonia infection is often the cause for why people die from influenza unless one is talking about something like the 1918 “Spanish Flu”.

With that influenza outbreak, rather than mortality rates being mostly among the very old or very young or sickly, it killed young and otherwise healthy people do to a cytokine storm (overreaction of the body's immune system).

With the Spanish Flu, many people came down sick one day and were dead the next. No time for any secondary bacterial infections to take hold. The flu just killed them.

[TomSea]

What are people's symptoms? I came down with something like it seems I do every year but overall, I've been able to combat it more.

My main symptom is tiredness, some muscle aches. It's a bummer,  some fever at times, I believe I'm almost over it. Not much coughing or other.

[TomSea]

I get lazy with my vitamins but I do take a multi, echinacea-golden root, D3,  B complex, cod liver oil in capsules and maybe a few other supplements, zinc, vitamin C or even just have oranges around.  But my main setback seems to be tiredness for a few days, sometimes, I"m not even sure what I have. I have gotten infections before, about 10 years ago, some pink eye and when it hits, I worry, "am I going to lose my eyesight in one eye?" but luckily, I recovered fairly quickly.

[TomSea]

@mystery-ak
@Applewood

Saw Dallas news channel last night.  What I and Bob had and Freya has and other of our friends including likely mystery-ak now, is the flu, bacterial type which is why one has fever.  Texas has more of it than any other state.  Five have died of it in Texas so far.  They did not give the ages of those who died.  It takes as much as four to six weeks to recover from this. 

A viral flu is starting according to the CDC, which is different than this bacterial one.

@Victoria33

But you were telling us you just went to a casino the other day.  What are your symptoms if you don't mind me asking?

[Victoria33]

@Victoria33

But you were telling us you just went to a casino the other day.  What are your symptoms if you don't mind me asking?

@TomSea
@mystery-ak

I have been over this flu for close to two weeks, which is why I could go to the casino.
My and Bob's and a friend with a serious heart problem, and Frey's symptoms are these:
Bad throat all of us, complete laryngitis for friend, me, Freya (no voice for numerous days, mine much worse than Bob's, he never completely lost his voice), friend and Freya threw up, we didn't, head seriously congested, terrible cough that lasted for weeks, hard to sleep due to coughing all night, then chest congestion coughing up green stuff, Bob and Freya and friend coughed up blood, I didn't, but blew blood out of my nose which Bob did too.  Fever, friend's and Frey's up to 102.  Didn't check what mine was or what Bob's was.  Friend and Freya had trouble breathing.  Doctor of friend with only 30% of heart working, gave him an inhaler of something which helped his breathing.  We were afraid he was going to die as it put his heart under stress.

[Victoria33]

@Neverdul

The CDC said this illness is bacterial.  The doc for the heart patient said it is bacterial and can come back a second time and be worse.  CDC also said a viral flu is starting.

[XenaLee]

I get lazy with my vitamins but I do take a multi, echinacea-golden root, D3,  B complex, cod liver oil in capsules and maybe a few other supplements, zinc, vitamin C or even just have oranges around.  But my main setback seems to be tiredness for a few days, sometimes, I"m not even sure what I have. I have gotten infections before, about 10 years ago, some pink eye and when it hits, I worry, "am I going to lose my eyesight in one eye?" but luckily, I recovered fairly quickly.

For years I have relied on a daily glass (not cup) of Yogi detox tea with a packet of Super Orange EmergenC in it to keep me from coming down sick.  It works like a charm...

so far.  (hope I didn't just jinx myself)

[Neverdul]

@Neverdul

The CDC said this illness is bacterial.  The doc for the heart patient said it is bacterial and can come back a second time and be worse.  CDC also said a viral flu is starting.

There could very well be a nasty bacterial infection going around. But influenza is never bacterial, it is a virus.

[Victoria33]

There could very well be a nasty bacterial infection going around. But influenza is never bacterial, it is a virus.

This disease could be both viral and bacterial.  The friend with the heart condition was given antibiotics since it is bacterial for sure but virus could also be there:

"Sinus and ear infections are examples of moderate complications from flu, while pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either influenza virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria."

[Cyber Liberty]

If one is laying on his/her back, barely able to breath because of congestion and with laryngitis, it really doesn't matter if it's the Flu or a bacterial infection, except the treatment regimens will be different.  The Flu shots are supposed to ward off the viral in advance, but only if the correct strains are in them.  Nothing I know of (except the numerous Homeopathic remedies I see suggested) will ward off the bacterial.

Does a vaccination help?  Hurt?  YMMV.

[musiclady]

I don't get the flu with a flu shot, and I don't get it without a flu shot.

Makes no difference.

[Cyber Liberty]

I've noticed the CDC's pushing vaccinations of all kinds. Desn't matter what the ailment is, they want the entire population vaccinated.  It worked for Polio, so it must be good for everything else, right?

They believe in "Herd Immunity," which means they think of us all as a Herd.  I'd like to see a more thorough examination of the consequences of what they propose, done by independent anylists.  This is the same government that swears Global Warming and Tax Cuts will surely kill us all, by the year 2500.

[Neverdul]

This disease could be both viral and bacterial.  The friend with the heart condition was given antibiotics since it is bacterial for sure but virus could also be there:

"Sinus and ear infections are examples of moderate complications from flu, while pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either influenza virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria."

There are some diseases, and influenza is not one of them, that can be either viral or bacterial or even fungal in nature and cause similar symptoms but they are not actually the same diseases. Meningitis comes to mind. Meningitis is really more of a description of symptoms that attacks and causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord more than it is a singular disease.

https://www.healthline.com/health/meningitis-awareness/bacterial-viral-fungal-meningitis#viral-meningitis

Bronchitis is another, can be either viral or bacterial

http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw49584

But influenza, the flu is always caused by a virus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza

Serious complications resulting from an influenza virus can be either a secondary viral or more likely from a secondary bacterial infection.

[Victoria33]

But influenza, the flu is always caused by a virus.

@Neverdul

The CDC says the flu is starting, so that likely is not what those in Texas had, have, as it has been here for numerous weeks.  The doc gave our friend antibiotics as he said it is bacterial.  That being the case, the actual flu is not here, yet.  According to local news TV last night, five in Texas have died from whatever this is. 

[Suppressed]

I saw an article (here I think) that the flue shot inhances ypur immunity to the varieties in the shot, but reduces your overall immunity in the following year.  Since the immune compromised members of the family have had their shots, I am not going to get one.  I don't get the flue so why should I compromise my healthy immune system for a temporary boost?

An analysis of the various papers on the topic recently came out that showed that wasn't the case.  If I come across the citation, I'll post it.

[Neverdul]

@Neverdul

The CDC says the flu is starting, so that likely is not what those in Texas had, have, as it has been here for numerous weeks.  The doc gave our friend antibiotics as he said it is bacterial.  That being the case, the actual flu is not here, yet.  According to local news TV last night, five in Texas have died from whatever this is.

If the doctor proscribed an antibiotic, then it wasn’t influenza unless the doctor was an idiot as an antibiotic is complete useless and counter indicated for a viral infection. Hopefully the doctor did some sort of culture before deciding it was bacterial. The over proscribing of and the misuse of antibiotics has become a real problem.

[RetBobbyMI]

Haven't take a flu shot since '76 when the Army MADE me take it and I got sicker than a dog from the swine flu.  Then they revealed years later that it was stabilized with Mercury.  The problem with flu shots is you don't know what you're getting.  The ole saying: Trust me, the check's in the mail and other similar ones.

[LadyLiberty]

For the week ending December 23rd, the CDC is reporting that the flu is widespread in most states, see map here:  https://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/flu/weekly/usmap.htm