Are any of you getting your seasonal flu shot? Is there any reason why we shouldn't?

I do not get any vaccines....not since the first swine flu shot in 1976, which made me ill, as I recall.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread102548.html

This link has a link in it explaining the ingredients of flu vaccines:
squalene, when injected will stimulate autoimmune reactions.

This from the archives:

LizaJane10-29-2006, 01:18 AM
Every year at around this time there is a debate on the neuro boards about whether or not to get the flu vaccine.

I have one point I want to make about it. SOME of the flu vaccine is made with thimerisol, which contains mercury. Mercury is a neurotoxin.

Not all flu vaccine has mercury. I recommend that anyone with sensitive nerves be sure to check the manufacturer of the vaccine. Here's what the CDC says on their website:

Today, all routinely recommended licensed pediatric vaccines that are currently being manufactured for the U.S. market, with the exception of influenza vaccine, contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts. Thimerosal preservative-free influenza vaccines are available, but in limited quantities. The total amount of inactivated influenza vaccine available without thimerosal as a preservative will continue to increase as manufacturing capabilities are expanded.

Does the influenza vaccine contain thimerosal?
Yes, the majority of influenza vaccines distributed in the United States currently contain thimerosal as a preservative. However, some contain only trace amounts of thimerosal and are considered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be preservative-free. Manufacturers of preservative-free flu vaccine use thimerosal early in the manufacturing process. The thimerosal gets diluted as the vaccine goes through the steps in processing. By the end of the manufacturing process there is not enough thimerosal left in the vaccine to act as a preservative and the vaccine is labeled ‘preservative-free'.

I am not sure if this is still the case with this year's flu shots. I am sure someone with more knowledge on this subject will answer soon. There are so many new people here that I believe this information is very important. I personally have not gotton a shot in 3-4 years.

Please read the link I gave above.

Thanks, MrsD and dls. I'm not sure, but I believe my PN is caused from the statins I've taken for many years. Currently, I'm off of them, but my doctor is really unhappy about it. I'm still taking the Gabapentin to keep it under control, though.

About the flu shots (including H1N1), I am truly leaning against taking them this year. Up till now, I've taking the flu shots most years, but I'm really uncomfortable about it this year. Trying to keep both me and dh healthy.

Thanks so much!

P.S. Is this Mrs. Doubtfyre? I used to be on the old board. Didn't even know about this one.

Yes,it is me, the old mrsdoubtfyre.

If you have been on statins, you need to consider a quality CoQ-10 supplement and perhaps an acetyl carnitine in addition.

You can PM me if you like with details. Like what was your old ID?
I am curious.

Getting a flu shot is a personal choice. In the end one should read as much as possible and decide for themselves.

I don't get any vaccines for flu and never have.

I had the Asian flu and the Hong Kong flu. They were pandemics and they were not fun. There were no flu vaccines at that time. I lived thru them.

Hopefully, I can stay away from it all by using common sense and hand washing and all the rest. That's just me.

By having any vaccines,you have a chance,albeit small,of getting a rare illness called Guillian-Barre Syndrome,which totally paralysed me,and had me on ventilaters,etc.in the I.C.U over 6 weeks.I did not get it from a vaccine(,likely from bacteria on poultry),but I could get it again,if I take any vaccines.Look up- Guillian-Barre syndrome and vaccines-knowledge is power.

Hi, Two of our friends acquired GBS a number of years ago. The one got it after that Swine Flu shot in 1976. She recovered O.K.

The other friend was rundown and stressed out and acquired GBS. He was bad off. About all he could do was blink his eyes. He recovered but not fully.

It certainly is not a good thing to get.

Yes,some get it way worse than others.I was 36,very strong and healthy,and I could only move my eyes,too.I was in the hospital for 15 weeks,I was not expected to live,but I fought so hard,as I had children at home to get back to.I have been left with chronic nerve pain,and get soo tired,soo easily.I am glad your friend got better, alot of people got it from the swine vaccine in 1976.How is the gentleman doing?