Secrets of the City

I always get a flu shot because being sick sucks.

I got the flu vaccine last year. It wasn’t a shot, they put stuff up my nose and I inhaled it. It was my first flu vaccine and I did it just because I was bored at work and it was free. But I will do it again this year since it didn’t kill me last year.

Here’s a site from our national office that can help you find a flu shot clinic in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Health also has a flu shot locater page. The Bears at KARE are doing their bit.

What you got was FluMist, kc!. Another option for those who really fear the needle.

Get those flu shots. If you have questions about how the flu spreads and why everyone should get their shots, check out this short podcast at QuackCast from the chief of infectious diseases and infection control for the Legacy Health System.

In case anyone one is wonder what the headline means, it comes from a rather grim children’s “skipping rhyme.” What were the kids talking about? This. It was like Stephan King’s “The Stand,” but for real….and without the Anti-Christ character.

Thanks for the reminder. I just hit the deductible on my health plan, so I’ve been trying to get as much free medical care by the end of the year as possible anyway.

I like shots, I will get one.

It’s a little early for shots, isn’t it? I’d rather have a screwdriver.

As for the flu, they bring nurses into the office and everyone gets a couple hours off to complain about how long the line is, how slow they’re going an then we get a flu shot too!

It’s a little early for shots, isn’t it? I’d rather have a screwdriver.

Heh. And no, it’s never too early for a shot of fine bourbon.

It’s a little early for shots, isn’t it? I’d rather have a screwdriver.

Heh. And no, it’s never too early for a shot of fine bourbon.

Why can’t we have both? A flu shot, then a shot of liquor to numb the pain? Maybe they could start setting up clinics in bars.

I’m all about shots. This year I’ve done my tetanus shot, HPV vaccine, and I did the flu shot for last season. Any other shots I should get in on?

Have you had your Hepititis shots? Those are important too.

@sandburg MMR vaccine. You probably haven’t had it since you were a kid.

Husband gets the flu shot every year because of the little germ factories he works around. I haven’t in the past, but probably will this year.

sandburg, according to bob, just a shot of bourbon and you’re good.

I usually don’t get one because I’ve read enough to be suspicious of vaccines (but not enough to be anywhere near knowledgeable on the subject), but this year I’m thinking I might just get one and be done with it. Most people get one and live through it, so I’m sure I will too.

I also didn’t used to get them because of the whole egg involvement, but my morals are getting loose in my old age and my vegan sensibilities aren’t as stringent.

Amckeown, I’m listening to the Podcast you linked, and it’s very entertaining.

Bob (heart) tara.

As one of the older MNspeakers, let me warn you that more than your morals get loose as you age….

Indeed they do! Thanks for posting this Bob, I probably would have just avoiding thinking about the subject for another year if you hadn’t.

It worked for polo and smallpox. Please, get a flu shot this year, folks.

If it wasn’t for Sauk, just think of the millions of rich bastards that would die every year due to polo infections!

Thankfully, FDR wasn’t one of them, aliecat.

PS: You get a pass on the flu shot with that egg allergy thang. No pass on the bourbon shot, however.

There is egg in vaccines? (how do I not know this??)

Yes, mb21. See this.

Yep, flu vaccs are prepared with egg which is why children under age 2 don’t usually get them (IRRC).

As for last year’s shot, I find it interesting that everyone in my office who got the shot also got the monster flu that came through in March because the vaccine makers manufactured the other virus.

I didn’t even get a cold last year.

A few facts to get straight:

The CDC acknowledges that the flu shot will NOT PREVENT someone from getting the flu. Rather, it is recommended for these high risk individuals in order to lessen the severity of the symptoms should you happen
to contract the illness.

Flu shots are specifically recommended by the CDC for adults over the age of 50, children ages 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women over the age of 18, and individuals who have compromised immune systems due to chronic illness or disease.

Vaccines contain ingredients that may be detrimental to your health. The influenza vaccine is made by inoculating the fluid from chicken embryos with a specific strain of the influenza virus. After being allowed to grow, the virus is inactivated with formaldehyde (a proven carcinogen) and preserved with Thimerosal, a mercury compound (known to cause neurological damage). These chemicals remain in the vaccine and are injected into your bloodstream along with the inactivated virus. Animal proteins are also included in the vaccine, and there is also no additional screening for animal viruses or disease material that may come from the chicken embryos.

Vaccine flu strains may not protect you from the current years virus. When a vaccine is formulated, scientists guess at which strains of the flu
virus are most likely to infect people for that year, based upon early cases reported. They then include the top 3 viruses most likely to be encountered by the public in that years vaccine. However, the influenza virus is known for rapidly changing its DNA structure as a survival mechanism. There is no guarantee that the strain of the flu for which you are vaccinated even matches the flu virus you may come in contact with, nor will it protect you from other bacteria or viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms.

We tend to want quick fixes for our illnesses…and a shot seems great, huh? There are a number of real, effective, time tested methods to avoid the flu:
1. get enough sleep
2. eat a healthy diet and avoid processed, refined food and sugar
3. drink plenty of water
4. get outside for adequate amounts of vitamin d
5. try non toxic herbs and homeopathic remedies for strengthening the immune system, preventing flu, and/or relieving cold and flu symptoms –echinacea, vitamin c and zinc, Oscillococcinum, Sinusalia, Roxalia, Flu Relief, Coldcalm, essential oils with antiviral and antibacterial properties
6. eat fresh garlic daily
7. wash your hands often
8. exercise
9. avoid stress

“…the monster flu that came through in March.”

It’s important to note that what a lot of people call the “flu” really isn’t. Sound like a DeRusha “Good Question?” It was.

I don’t believe flu vaccines contain Thimerosal any longer.

I wish there was bacon in vaccines.

Hey anony… thanks for the healthy living tips. Never would have figured out washing my hands on my own.

I had a meningitis vaccine earlier this year. That’s one a lot of you probably haven’t had in a while too.

The clinic group I go to is holding flu shot sessions later this month. I’ll probably wait until then.

9. avoid stress

I’ll do it. Now if someone could just tell me how…

according to the CDC website (emphasis mine):

“Today, all routinely recommended licensed 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.”

All good points, anomy.

Here more, from a MinnPost guest article.

As for last year’s shot, I find it interesting that everyone in my office who got the shot also got the monster flu that came through in March because the vaccine makers manufactured the other virus.

The vaccine’s never going to be perfect, but better than nothing, I say.

Also, for those with no or not very good insurance, it’s a lot more cost-effective to spend less than 30 bucks on a shot versus possibly ending up in the hospital if there’s a bad influenza outbreak.

I stand corrected, anony. I was reading some pro-vaccine sites this morning and they said that Thimerosal had been removed. I checked the CDC site just now, and you are right that it is still present in the flu shot.

This is why I hate this issue. You can’t get sensible, honest answers out of either side.

All good points, anomy.

One could reasonably dispute the homeopathy one.

I would never have pegged you as a homopathphobic, mnblrmkr…

(doing best Foghorn Leghorn voice)

I’ts a joke, son…

Thanks to Jon Stewart, whenever I think of Foghorn Leghorn, I now immediately think of Fred Thompson.

It’s important to note that what a lot of people call the “flu” really isn’t.

This is so true, especially overseas. In Singapore, when a person said they’d had the “flu,” it usually meant a common cold. The real “flu” (i.e. influenza) is dramatically more severe than a common cold, dontchaknow.

echinacea, vitamin c and zinc

I remember reading an article sometime this year that studied the effects of echinacea and vitamin C, they found they were no better at preventing colds and the flu than placebo.

I wish there was bacon in vaccines.

Hey anony… thanks for the healthy living tips. Never would have figured out washing my hands on my own.

I wash my hands in bacon drippings and wipe them off on raw chickens. Is that wrong?

Thanks to Jon Stewart, whenever I think of Foghorn Leghorn, I now immediately think of Fred Thompson.

Sorry for the doublepost. Not sure why it happened.

You remember all that talk about the flu?

Well, it’s here.