Hmmm....  I've never had one.   And it's too late this year cause I had the crud last week.  I think I'll try it next year..

I gig sick.  Buncha wussies!  LOL!!  Just kidding there guys (I know, big surprise)!  Get the flu shots or spend a week in hell.  It sucks!!  

Looks like I'll have to get the shot this year.  A couple of years ago the flu put me out for TWO weeks, it was seriously nasty.  On the other hand, I know myself well enough to know that I'll wait, say I'll do it tomorrow and eventually it will be the end of flu season and I still won't have gotten the shot.  

Well, I'm rebellious ... and don't plan on getting a flu shot. I can't even tell you the last time I had a flu shot ... and I typically don't get the flu.

There's a reason why I don't get flu shots ... so incase you are wondering ... here's why.

When you get a flu shot, or any other type of immunization shot, they are literally giving you a small amount of the virus. The purpose, to give your body ample time to find the correct antibody and begin building up resistance to the flu before you get exposed to the full blown thing. The other side to it ... you never know what string or version of the flu that will be circulated. Your shot may not be the right one for the flu of the season!

Well ... all of this just doesn't set well with me personally. Our bodies already have the ability to fight off the flu ... so why purposefully infect yourself with it? I know, I know ... I can hear it already, but that's how I think. I trust my body, my immune system, and my God to keep me healthy, and I just don't like the idea of injecting my body with something that I might get.  I'm not trying to imply that anyone who gets the shot isn't doing something right or is doing something wrong; I'm just sharing why I do (or don't do) what I do.

Along those same lines ... but more controversial ... my son has never had any immunization shots ... ever. Now ... talk about being viewed as a bad parent! LOL The pediatrician routinely tries to lay a bunch of guilt on me for doing this ... but I've done some research and have good reasons for doing what I'm doing (or not doing) as the case may be.  The bottom line ... I never really get sick ... and my son of 2-1/2 years never gets sick ... not even a cold.

Perhaps it's our society and everyone not resting, eating, and generally taking care of their bodies that now makes the flu shot a necessity.

So ... I guess I'm taking my chances ... but hey, I'm a risk taker!  

Bart-

a fact, and an opinion:

Fact: you're going to have a tough time getting your kid through the school system with that philosophy.

Opinion: immunization programs have played a part in medical science's success in eradicating several major diseases - by not taking part, you could undermine this success.

That's all I'll say - I don't want to go to war about this, and this is a DRUM board, anyway.  

DrumHero-

Thats really interesting that you are made to get flu shots.  Its certainly not ironic- consider your situation- buncha guys in close quarters- its easily transmitted.  Here's the interesting part- its you guys in the military who are the guinea pigs for the flu shots.  

The immunizations work by your bodies detecting "Alien" proteins (alien to your body that is) and as such the immunizations aren't viable viruses.  However people do still tend to get sick huh???

Anyway back to the military.  "Science" studies what stains you guys get sick with early in the year and the flu shot is an immunization of the 3 most likely to get you sick strains-2 influenza A and one of the B varieties.

Oh yeah- I'm a Medical Technologist and I DON'T get the flu shots.  My virology instructor would never accept my reasoning and I don't care but if I were to get it my wife would become very ill.

I appreciate your input ... I have, however, researched this thoroughly. As far as the school system, there are ways around this. I'm planning on home schooling anyway ... so that resolves that issue without going into the other methods.

I disagree about the medical science success in eradicating diseases. Some the major ones I know of, that they thought were gone forever ... well, THEY'RE BAAAACK ... and in a new form. I know science has done a lot of good ... but I also know there have been negative (documented) affects from immunizations. We each get to make our own choices. All I would say is make sure that you do your own research ... and know WHY you do what you do. Don't just follow what everyone else does; that goes for EVERYTHING in life.

Okay ... I can't resist; I have to defend my stance.  

I just got a new report linking Thimerosal in vaccines to autism. Thimerosal, which contains 49.5% ethyl mercury by weight, was first approved as an additive by the FDA in the 1930s and has been utilized as a preservative to prevent bacterial contamination in a number of blood and biological products, including vaccines, immune globulins, and over-the-counter eye and nose drops.

What's interesting ... Leo Kanner "discovers" autism among children born in the 1930s ... which is when Thimerosal was first introduced.

Chemically, thimerosal is a water-soluble, cream-colored crystalline powder. In the human body it is metabolized to ethyl mercury and thiosalicylate. The literature on thimerosal metabolism and excretion is old, and toxicological information is limited. In the past there have been case reports of toxicity and death following inadvertent massive exposures to thimerosal.

As we all know, mercury is a potent human toxicant and has long been the source of numerous serious health problems. It is ESPECIALLY toxic to the rapidly developing fetal and infant brain. Federal agencies have published acceptable levels for exposure; but in actual fact, mercury is a poison at any level.

So ... now you wonder why I didn't get my son immunized? Sure the actual immunization may have been a benefit, but as you can see, with the way these shots are packaged, I very well could be killing my son while ONLY trying to prevent him from getting a serious disease (many of which don't even exist in this country).

When you get any kind of a shot ... you might want to see the drug manufacture's disclosure ... and see if thimerosal is listed as one of the additives.

Well, I'll leave my statement as is. I've read those types of statements as listed in the links you provided, and there's just not a lot of data available to support their claims with the articles. The also don't address the FACT that there is mercury in the shots! There's also a lot more documented evidence with kids having autism than they let on.

Anybody can say anything they want to support their stance and believe. It's sad really ... and I wish I could believe everything I hear and read. It's because of this "unknown" that I choose to take the stand I take. The scientific data is always spun to support whatever side you want; for or against.

All I can say in all of this is ... I don't get sick ... I don't get the flu ... and I don't get vaccinated. The same goes for my son. The minute I get the flu or my son gets polio, you can wag your fingers at me and say "I told you so!"    Hopefully you wouldn't do that ... but you get the point.

I'll leave this topic alone. Do your own research; believe what you want to believe. The important thing, in my mind, is that you make an informative decision ... regardless if you are for or against vaccines. To me, blind faith in science is foolishness ... so do your research like Mister_Acrolite and make your own decision.

I'm not going to touch the immunization debate, but this --
-- is a totally valid observation -- no winky face required.