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It's the flu season

Devonsangel

Shared on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 08:10
Yep, I got my flu shot yesterday.  I am a strong proponent of immunizations. Public health has advanced in leaps and bounds in the last 100 years.  Infant mortality has decreased tremendously and the average life span has increased. Immunizations have played a major part of this.  Yet, there are those who refuse to immunize their children for potentially deadly diseases.  There was, or still is a controversy where some people think immunizations cause autism.  I have yet to see any evidence that there is a link.  In fact, the first paper that came out with that claim has been under intense scrutiny because of a conflict of interest with the principle investigator. That brings the whole study into question.

Now, are immunizations 100% effective or safe?  Nope, nothing is.  Reason?  No one person is the same and no one person will react to a single event in the same manner.  Be it an immunological response to a vaccination or food they eat.  But, do immunizations increase the odds of preventing debilitating disease?  Yes.  Now, I know there are also some how react to flu shots in a very strong manner and are reluctant to continue this practice.  I can understand that and most of us are of the age where influenza is not going to be deadly, just very inconvenient and miserable.  It is a matter of choice as an adult. 

But, children do not have the same immune response adults do and are much more susceptible and at risk as are the elderly.  So, the point to all of this?  The requirement of schools to have children immunized with MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) before they can come to school.  So, why aren't these children getting immunized?  Good question, and no one has a real good answer.  There are free clinics so cost shouldn't be an issue.  I'm sure education is a good part of this.  Yet, there in lies the problem.  How do we educate the children ( and adults) about the benefits of getting immunized if they dont' go to school?  Education is free.  Now, if these susceptible children are allowed into the school system, there is a potential problem.  These diseases still exist and there are still outbreaks on occasion.  Smallpox is the only disease that has been eradicated from the population through immunization.  But, that is a whole different situation.

I leave with this.  Get informed.  Make your decision, but make it after getting the facts, as with anything.

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During a rainy and windy storm, be stuck in a 150 foot well
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Comments

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 13:15
Drugs, pharmaceuticals, vitamins, THC...they are all chemicals, some natural some not. Natural does not make them good. I would rather use a "drug" with a proven history of therapeutic value and tons of scientific studies showing it's safety (Tylenol) than a drug with few reputable studies and unproven therapeutic value (THC). Myths do not make a drug safe or effective no matter how much fun it may be once ingested.
RyanFromVegas's picture
Submitted by RyanFromVegas on Tue, 11/20/2007 - 19:23
On the flu shot in specific, I think its a sham. There are 10's of thousands of flu strains out in the world and an individual flu shot covers maybe 10 or so. Production on this years flu shots started months and months ago..so someone had to choose which 10 or so strains to put in the shot. The chances of one of those flu's acually being the strain that hits is very low indeed. I can see over a lifetime of always getting a flu shot you may actually accumulate a chance of maybe even 5% of having immunized yourself for the strain that hits when your 80..so whoopee..you saved yourself a week of runny noses and fever. I heard a flu shot costs somewhere south of $1 to produce and distribute..so the $5-$10 you pay for it is almost pure profit. Sounds like a someone gets a nice christmas bonus check every year.
J-Cat's picture
Submitted by J-Cat on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 14:12
I think we are talking apples and oranges. Vaccines work by stimulating your body to create antibodies. Foreign protein molecule (in this case part of the vaccine) connect to (I think) T-cells. T-Cells create antibodies that are specific to the protein. So... is having a healthy body important? Yup! Should we eat right, cut out junk form our diets? Yup. Should we also vacinate ourselves? Hell ya! @You again. I am very sceptical about "all natural" medicines. They usually cost alot, the efficacies are not proven. In fact I think many people who promote some of the all naturals are fraudulent and should be brought up on charges. For instance Goji juice hawkers claim it cures cancer. One bottle costs $40. People go broke buying this stuff becasue they think they will get better. I would just excercise caution, watch out where you $ is going for these types of cure alls. As a note in Canada there is a department for the "all naturals." it's pretty cool how these things get registered. It's a pretty tight system.
LadyisRed's picture
Submitted by LadyisRed on Tue, 11/20/2007 - 21:04
Im right there with you about child Immunizations. Even if the parent chooses to delay, at least the kid is getting them. (and I am supportive to a mother wouldnt want to pump 5 different vaccines into their newborn, but to space them out) I get SO annoyed at parents that dont do it because of ignorance or a "everyone else is vaccinated, so my kid is safe" mentality.
ATC_1982's picture
Submitted by ATC_1982 on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 08:18
150 foot well
Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 08:23
Put more bluntly, the "researcher" who published the data claiming the first linkage between vaccines and autism was also working as an expert witness for an attorney who represented parents that were suing because they had an autistic child. In many of the cases where autism "appeared" after vaccination, interviews with families and home movies have demonstrated that the signs of autism were present before the vaccination occurred. And Thimerosal has been removed from the vaccines since the mid-90's. There should have been a corresponding drop in autism cases but there was not. Yet people are still trying to sue blaming thimeriosal. Autism is a tragedy. And unfortunately when tragedy strikes, people want someone to blame. The preponderance of evidence is that Autism is a genetic disease unrelated to vaccines. And that is a bitter pill.
Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 08:26
Oh...and I'd be in the tree.
J-Cat's picture
Submitted by J-Cat on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 09:03
I don't understand it at all, why why why would you put your child at risk of a DEADLY disease? I suppose it's cause we are not used to diseases killing children anymore. I asked my Dr. abotu immunizations, and why people don't get heir kids immunized. I was going to get ERica immunized, but I just dind't understand the other side of the story. He said that in England, there was controversy withthe WHooping Cough vaccine. Lots of parents didn't get their kids immunized. 5 years later, there was an outbreak. Bunch of kids died. What bothers me now is that many parents are abusing the policy that states if it's against your religion to vaccinate, you kid doesn't need the vacciations to go to school. So now there are more kids in school without vaccinations.
elvendarkmage's picture
Submitted by elvendarkmage on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 09:30
I actually know a lot about the autism and vaccination theory because my 5 year old son has autism. Vaccines can cause, a specific one don't remember which, can trigger an auto-immune deficiency which can cause a specific type of autism. If this is thought to be the case, a simple test can be ran, and if the test comes back positive, they have a treatment (a shot I do believe) which reverses the auto-immune deficiency, therefore correcting the autism. However this is vary vary rare, it only affects a very small percentage of children. Sadly this isn't the type of autism my son suffers from, he suffers from autism caused by a metabolic disorder. Vaccines save lives, and I hate to say it but if you don't have your child vaccinated you are a retard, and should have your breeding rights revoked. Not only do you put your child's life at risk, but all the children that go to school, play, or interact with your child.
you_again's picture
Submitted by you_again on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 09:31
Immune system: this is the biological deffense of our bodies to alien visitors that can cause harm. To get a good immune system one must eat right. The fact that kids are more exposed to getting sick is because children's diet is all screwed up, very unhealthy and full of cancer agents, diabetes promoter and ADD supporters. **Get ready to be slaped with knowledge** Our bodies use a globular protein called Globulin Edestine to produce the finnest soldiers nature can create, your anti bodies. Getting sick is decided after the first encounter your immune system had with the invading organism. If your immune system is low on anti bodies there is a high probability you can get sick. Now to strenghthen our immune system we need to eat right. Get at least the 20 standard amino acids (these are arrange in specific sequences to form different proteins) in our diets. Get your EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) to help regulate the immune system. Get globulin edestin in its purest and cleanest form. Meds are bad for the body, we have been brain washed to believe we are born to need Tylenol, Viagra, Lipitor, etc... You can't take my word for it, I'm no expert but you should get informed. I always suggest people to look up information on EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids), the good fats. Learn a bit more about proteins and vitamins. Get yourselves involved with yourselves. Our bodies are being underestimated and our wallets are getting riped off.
elvendarkmage's picture
Submitted by elvendarkmage on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 09:32
not awake yet, forgive the horrible grammar and spelling. HUKT ON FONIKS WERKT FER ME
Devonsangel's picture
Submitted by Devonsangel on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 10:41
@you_again: LOL, actually I am more informed than you will ever imagine. This is my line of work and course of study. And I can see we will have to agree to disagree. There is a lot more involved with the immune system than you have alluded to here. While eating well is a good start, it isn't the end all. Besides, derivatives of the hemp plant do not cure all ills.
Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:06
@Elven...Sorry to hear about your child. Glad you didn't seem to take offense by my comments. Regarding the autoimmune link...if you are interested, see if you can find a copy of the latest Skeptical Inquirer. I don't have it in front of me but I think it talks about that particular topic. @you...proteins, vitamins, drugs...just because one thing is called a vitamin and another a drug doesn't make one bad and the other good. Most "drugs" were originally derived from "natural" sources...Aspirin from chewing a certain tree bark if my memory is working (hmmm...I need a drug?). Of course, arsnic is natural too. Most claims "supporting" vitamin use are completely without any scientific basis and do more pull $ from our wallets then help with our health.
you_again's picture
Submitted by you_again on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:47
Correct to the replies. When I say Drugs I mean pharmaceuticals. Clearing that now. There is far more and better medicine in the natural world than there is in meds. Medical advantages in surgery and other areas are an awesome addition to our way of life but are not the only path to curing, preventing or treating illness. LOL @ Devon: I stand by the Hemp as an awesome healthy base in my diet. It is not the answer to everything but its a hell of a lot of help to fight against those odds. Cutting diaries, hydrogenated fats, preservatives like BHT that are almost everywhere, high fructose corn syrup, colorants and the list goes on does maximize your health. It's like taking less venom in your diet. I'm into health topics so yeah you can count on me when discussing such topics, i love em ;)

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