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Flu Vaccine ??

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Posted 10/27/2015 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
This is the first year I will not be getting the flu vaccine per my MD. My children have appts to get the vaccine and I really don't want them to get the shot because of the mercury in it. My question is, should they get the live nasal vaccine even if I am immunocompromised?? I am concerned I will get the flu from their vaccine if they sneeze it out. I am finally getting to a point where I can function and don't want anything to jeopardize that. Thanks for your input
Posted 10/27/2015 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
I have never had the flu vaccine...- rarely get it...certainly the benefits of the vaccine do not outweigh the risks - for me.

As far as children go - with my son (he's 22 now) - I decided which vaccines i wanted him to get...I would keep him home from school the day they were doing them...so they didn't make a mistake and vaccinate him in error.
Then i would take him to the local health unit for the ones I wanted him to have.
The flu shots weren't offered to children - but that would have been one I declined on his behalf.

I don't know anything about the nasal vaccines and the risk of you getting it from them.
Posted 10/27/2015 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
I would be definitely concerned. Having been a Nanny I had clients that insisted that I get the flu vaccine. I always did and they gave their children the nasal spray (live one). Those kids sneezed on me, drooled, wiped their noses on me and I never got sick. However this was pre-lyme for me.

What a dilemma. Being kids they are exposed to all sorts of stuff especially grade school and you want to protect them. I think if it were me, I would get them the nasal spray and for a couple of weeks I would wear a surgical mask for my own protection. Ask you LLMD though just to make sure.
Posted 10/27/2015 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
I used to get the flu until I started getting the vaccine every year. I haven't had the flu in the 23+ years I've gotten the vaccine. I asked my LLND about getting the vaccine last year. He said that it was my choice. That it might cause a herx. I opted not to since I was still too sick to venture out enough to be concerned about catching the flu from anyone. This year will be different.
Posted 10/28/2015 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Just so you know, this is a VERY controversial topic, even in the "Lyme world". LOL!

I never used to get the flu vaccine, although I was in a high risk group, I didn't have health insurance to help pay for it, and I home schooled my kids (so they didn't bring it home to me either). I got remarried and suddenly had health insurance, so for 2 years in a row I got a flu vaccine, and those were the years that they nailed it on which strains to vaccinate for - yet I got very ill soon after getting the shot each time with flu symptoms. That was all it took to convince me that I was not a good candidate for the vaccine - for whatever reason.

Having a lowered immune function should very much be part of your decision process, but I believe that there is much more that needs to go into your decision on whether or not to get a vaccine yourself. Mainly your risk of exposure. If your kids are getting the live vaccine, then you know you will be exposed.

It's not easy to try to decide this as it is, but the lowered immune function really throws a monkey wrench into the whole thing!! I wish you luck in making this decision!!

Oh, and I still don't get the flu shots even though I'm healed now. Due to adrenal and thyroid issues, I know that my immune function still isn't where it needs to be, so I'm not risking it.
Posted 10/29/2015 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
I am not a fan of vaccines personally. A strong immune system will kill any virus that comes at you.

I have never had the flu vaccine and I have only had the flu once in my life. When looking at the risks and the chemicals in that injection, I made the right choice for me!

Vaccines are loaded with so many chemicals and metals, that our body has no use for, there is no motivation for me to want one tbh.

A friend of a friend takes a homeopathic flu remedy during the heavy flu season, he hasn't gotten the flu since. May be something to look into if you want. It was called Oscillicoccinum I believe.
I have had good success with homeopathy for other things personally.

Hope this helps!
Posted 10/29/2015 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
This is a hard one to answer.
Here are some things to remember.

The flu vaccine is one of the few that can still have mercury in it depending on what type you get, do your homework to get the right one.

Most years the predicted flu strain is the wrong one and the vaccine has no to little benefit. This is probably the biggest reason why I don't bother with them.

The flu is not nearly as prevalent as people think. Most people will only get the actual flu around 4-5 times in their entire life. All the other times you get sick and think it is the flu it is usually some other virus that the vaccine does nothing for.

I don't take them and think they are not necessary for every body to get one, but if you are in a high risk category it is still worth considering.
Posted 10/29/2015 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your advice and stories. there is never anything easy or straight forward about this disease and the decisions we have to make that seem so "normal" for everybody else, can be damaging to us. Much love
Posted 10/29/2015 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
and just as a reminder - the flu shot contains the strain of the flu they expect to be the most prominent in the coming season. Oftentimes they are wrong, and many individuals who are vaccinated end up getting the flu anyway.

As Traveler said it is a very controversial topic, even in the non-lyme world! Ive never gotton the flu shot nor have I ever given it to my kids. It has caused miscarriages in pregnant women and supposedly carries the risk of developing Guillian Barre syndrome - I will take my chances!!

good luck with your decision, but the most important thing you need to take into consideration is that if your immune system is compromised, as with all of us lymies, it is not a good idea!!
Posted 10/30/2015 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
I read that too, Happyjo and was happy that they were called out by someone! The last time they tried this (Lyme vaccine), it left a lot of people a lot worse off. 30% of those that got it ended up with untreatable arthritis, and those that didn't had better not get bit by a tick and start developing symptoms because they were denied treatment from all docs, even some LLMDs! I was here on this forum and we had people join asking how to find a way to get treatments even though they had gotten the Lyme vaccine. It was actually quite scary to consider their situation - although I had to use herbs anyway since I was an abx failure, which was the only option left for them at the time as well. And this was back before herbs were even thought to be effective for these infections.

The lesson from that? Be very leery of those touting another Lyme vaccine!! We have herbs that can effectively keep a person from developing Lyme after a tick attaches, there's no need to submit ourselves to their politics and "let's see if this will work" mentality.
Posted 10/30/2015 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
ItisLyme, good job of spelling that right. :) I use Oscillo whenever I feel a flu coming on. I had to use it once already this fall. There is another remedy, influenzynum, if I spelled it right, is one used to prevent the flu, but I can't say if it works or not. I'm a long time homeopathy user and I've never had a flu shot.
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