Points of View on Flu Shots

Updated on October 02, 2009
L.P. asks from Raleigh, NC
4 answers

I am looking for thoughts and opinions of whether or not I should give my at home 2 1/2 year old the 2 recommended flu shots this year (at 4 shots total). I cant decide! Seems like a month of shots for protection for 1 season. What are some of your thoughts? Thanks!

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S.A.

answers from Raleigh on

Vaccines in general do not make our immune systems weaker! When we are given a vaccine, most of the time we are given an inactive (killed) virus and our immune system sees is as a threat and produces anti-bodies. Sometimes the vaccines DO contain a live virus. Anti-bodies will attack that virus the next time it is introduced into our bodies - this is how our immune system NATURALLY works. The vaccine only introduces a microscopic amount of the germ compared to what we are exposed to through normal everyday exposure - but the difference is that the small amount is enough to teach our immune system to recognize and fight it without the immune system being overwhelmed by a large amount of the virus.

The H1N1 vaccine is NOT half mercury as another mom suggested. There are four types of H1N1 vaccine currently approved by the FDA. The PRE-FILLED SINGLE DOSE SYRINGES CONTAIN *NO* MERCURY. The NASAL VACCINE ALSO CONTAINS *NO* MERCURY. However, the multi-dose bottles that contain roughly 10 full doses DO contain a small amount of mercury - less than 25 mcg PER DOSE. ONE mcg is ONE MICROGRAM. The medicines we usually take are measured in MILLIGRAMS. There are 100,000 MICROGRAMS in ONE MILLIGRAM and 1000 MILLIGRAMS in ONE GRAM to give you perspective of how little mercury is in the vaccines. There's probably more mercury in the water we swim in, fish we eat, and air we breathe!

I have not decided yet if I will immunize my 8 yr old against the flu and H1N1, but that is based on his other medical conditions including several allergies to some of the inactive ingredients and I might not immunize myself because of my allergies to things like MSG.

Here is some more info on the vaccines:

Sanofi Pasteur’s injected vaccine: Approved for ALL age groups (infants 6 months of age through adulthood and the elderly). It comes in several forms:

* Prefilled single ½ dose syringe with NO mercury – for infants 6 thru 35 months of age. Prefilled single full dose syringe with NO mercury – for anyone 3 years and older.
* Single-dose (full-dose) vial with NO mercury – for anyone 3 years and older.
* Multidose bottle (contains ten full doses or twenty ½ doses) WITH 25 mcg of mercury per full dose – for anyone 6 months and older (infants 6 to 35 months would get a half dose (0.25 ml), 3 years and older would get the full 0.5 ml dose).

Other ingredients include: the viral proteins, egg proteins, gelatin, formaldehyde, polyethylene glycol p-isooctyphenyl ether, sucrose.

CSL’s injected vaccine: Approved for anyone 18 years and older. It comes in two forms:

* Prefilled single-dose syringe with NO mercury.
* Multidose bottle with ten doses WITH 24.5 mcg of mercury per dose.

Other ingredients include: the viral proteins, sodium chloride, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, calcium, taurodeoxycholate, egg protein, 2 antibiotics, and beta-propiolactone.

Novartis’s injected vaccine: Approved for anyone 4 years and older. It comes in two forms:

* Prefilled single-dose syringes with a trace amount of mercury (less than 1 mcg because 99% of it is filtered out).
* Multidose bottle with ten doses WITH 25 mcg of mercury per dose.

Other ingredients include: the viral proteins, sodium chloride, phosphate, egg proteins, two antibiotics, betapropiolactone, nonylphenol ethoxylate.

MedImmune’s live virus nasal spray vaccine: Approved for anyone 2 years through 49 years of age. There is no mercury.

Other ingredients include: the live viruses, egg protein, MSG, pig gelatin, arginine, sucrose, potassium phosphate, an antibiotic,

http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/index.asp

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L.B.

answers from Raleigh on

This is my opinion and my opinion only but I would not do it... I wouldn't get any of them! The biggest reason is the that flu shots still contain mercury... the H1N1 shot contains ALOT of mercury! In 1976 in the US we had a swine flu outbreak and used a similar vaccine which was quickly recalled after being connected with many people developing Guillian Barre syndrome and dying after receiving the vaccine. The current vaccine is not the exact same one but almost the same. I have a child with autism who is vaccine injured... after receiving her immunizations (I was trying to be a good mother by protecting her with immunizations!) it was like a door closed in my child's eyes... she was there and then she wasn't! Nothing can convince me that all that mercury in those vaccines were not the cause of her autism. I have pictures of her a few days before the shots and then more with the bandaids still on her little legs where you see her go from bright and lively to dull and disconnected. We have worked hard to get our child back... she is still very disabled but she is healthier.

In short... I would hate to see another family have to go through what we have. Even if your child was in preschool or daycare and you were trying to prevent illness or decrease her time away or your time away from a job there are so many other things you can do. Our immunologist does not recommend the flu shots at all but has recommended we take extra vitamin D and as always during cold and flu season extra Vitamin C. Teach your child to wash her hands thoroughly and not to touch her face while you are out in the public where the germs are.

Good luck!

L. Blocker

mom to 4 great kiddos ages 8-19

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P.K.

answers from Raleigh on

L.,
I could go on and on about this subject in general but won't. Absolutely not! These vaccines are filled with chemicals that you little one does not need. If anything it will weaken her immune system. Back when you and I were kids we were given so many less vaccines... not to mention we had much less toxins back then! Make sure your daughter is eating healthy... especially cut back on sugar. This will help protect her system. I am just like you, a mom who has decided to educate myself about this subject and have formed my own opinion. That is what you have to do because if you ask the pediatrians they will tell you to give your child all the vaccines.. that is what they are taught in med school, not to mention the pharmeceutical companies make a lot of money off of these drugs!

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K.D.

answers from Raleigh on

imho it is a bad idea. Dr. Mercola has a lot of eye opening articles on this topic.

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