To be Vaccinated or Not to be Vaccinated, That is the Question

Commentary Editor

   Flu shots, do they really work or are you just injecting a dead or weakened virus into you and your child’s body hoping it works?

   At the ripe age of 26, I have never received a flu shot and I never will unless the virus itself sits on my shoulder and whispers gently in my ear, “I am your friend.” Since we know that will never happen, you can get where I am going.

   Please realize just because I studied "pre-med" for three years in undergrad, I am no physician. Let me repeat, I am not a physician. What you do with your body is totally up to you. Consider this an information packet, you know like the ones the schools are sending home requesting your child’s body serve as a host to both the Seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses. Well, that’s how I took it.

   According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, two types of 2009 H1N1 vaccines are being produced; a shot and a nasal sprayer.

   Who would want to “snort” a virus allowing it that close to their brain anyway? According to the CDC, the nasal sprayer vaccine contains a live, weakened virus. Side effects  in children from the nasal spray include:

• runny nose
• wheezing
•  headache
•  vomiting
•  muscle aches
  
• fever
  

   For some reason, this seems similar to the flu, maybe I am wrong. Parents may use the line, “You know, this hurts me more than it hurts you.” I never really understood that.

   Also, If this is the 2009 vaccine, then there was a 2008 vaccine, which means the virus changes. If the virus constantly changes, who can say the strand they are trying to "prevent" hasn’t mutated itself again?

   The following statement was taken from the CDC Web site. “The ability of a flu vaccine to protect a person depends on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine, and the similarity or "match" between the viruses or virus in the vaccine and those in circulation.”

   The fact that we need to be healthy makes me skeptical.

   The prestigious British Medical Journal published a paper by vaccine researcher, Dr. Tom Jefferson entitled “Influenza Vaccination: Policy Versus Evidence.”

   Jefferson examined and reviewed the features of influenza viruses. Jefferson’s research supports my opinion by stating the incidence and circulation of seasonal influenza and other respiratory viruses vary greatly each year, each season, and even in each setting.

   He also said influenza-like illnesses are acute respiratory diseases caused by an unknown agent containing both influenza A and B.

   Now if doctors are diagnosing these flu-like symptoms as the flu then studies are off also resulting in an inaccurate number of flu outbreaks which also causes an inaccurate performance of vaccines.

   Jefferson learned …

In children under 2 years inactivated vaccines had the same field efficacy as placebo, and in healthy people under 65 vaccination did not affect hospital stay, time off work, or death from influenza and its complications.

   There goes my “AHA!” moment.

   Is the government providing vaccinations to “be seen dealing with the issue” or are they effectively providing a solution by considering all data? My eyes are open especially with the government purchasing the vaccines.

   If I am wrong, we will still be okay because everyone else will be vaccinated. It travels from person-to-person.

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©The Voice 2009