Flu Vaccine

I am hoping to expand my knowledge and understanding of the flu vaccine.

Americans can go to any length to make people buy into something. they feed the kids greasy stuff and make their parents spend money on that and then scream obesity.. and make them spend on diet food.. its all a scam.. they scream autism.. and scar so many kids.. its ridiculous. they recently started with the flu vaccine and every time i took i actually fell sick... so i stopped taking those.. in this country you have to be veri smart, vigilant and observe things veri carefully!!! next time based on the air you breath .. insurance will penalize you for polluting your lungs,...and bump up your premium.. !!

Personal experience, I have been taking flu shots for past 10 years. I missed one year in between and that's the year I got severe viral infection with bad throat infection and runny nose suffered for few months. I am not saying there is a co-relation between me taking the shots and not getting sick that year. It could just be coincidence. However I would rather live in a delusion that flu shot gave me immunity rather than role the dice.

From what I believe each year flu shot composition is different, it is derived based on what the medical community predicts flu causing viruses and bacteria are prevalent leading up to that year. Again some people will argue that large greedy corporates are pushing the agenda for their sales.

Spending few $ for piece of mind and possibly boost your immunity is not a bad investment. BTW i went to India after 5 years gap and when i did, I immediately fell sick and had to stay at hospital. Then again after 3 years gap i went to India again, that time I took all the travel shots and did not fall sick. In fact I dared to eat street food and survived (almost). But that's just my personal experience, it is not a clinical trial 😊

Here is something from side of world:
http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/immunise-influenza

@Unhinged: Thanks for your input

I agree natural immunity has lot of merits, but it again comes down to what your circumstances are. I am not an outdoor sort of a person except for weekend visits to the beach and most of my days are spent in sterile environment with low exposure. This tends to reduce your immune response a little. It becomes very obvious when i travel to India, which i don't do very often.

As for flu or for that matter any viral infection which mutates quickly, the strain may change every year. Your immunity will only build when you have general fitness and immune response is strong. If you are susceptible person then you might benefit from a booster shot or fight through the infection while your body takes its course to clear out the virus from your system. Probably that will set you up in a better position for next year but who knows how next year would be.

A one time vaccine will give some protection at most for that year. It would need to be followed by a new vaccine every year. I wonder who has better immunity. Those with vaccination or those with naturally acquired immunity?

Originally posted by: zorrro

A one time vaccine will give some protection at most for that year. It would need to be followed by a new vaccine every year. I wonder who has better immunity. Those with vaccination or those with naturally acquired immunity?

Originally posted by: qwertyesque

vaccines downt work that way but the monye making medical industry puts that spin on it.. Do you remember adults taking polio, small pox vaccines ever?. Even hepatitis is not like that.. Viral infections dont need vaccines.. our immunity takes care of that... but then how can pharma make money if they dont sell these vaccines?>

Polio and smallpox are both caused by viruses. The only difference is that the vaccination has a lifetime effectiveness and high efficacy.

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

Polio and smallpox are both caused by viruses. The only difference is that the vaccination has a lifetime effectiveness and high efficacy.

One reason why I do not trust flu vaccines. If it was one taken and done, I'd be Ok with it.