OT-Do you get your kids flu shots?

[KirstenB]

Bird-Mom, thanks for the answer. I do need to look into organic foods. Right now I just buy regular fruits/veggies, meats and milk. I have a good friend who swears by organic milk. We've gotten much better about hand washing and I do think our older dd is much less sick because of it.

 

[hsmamato2]

I don't think you have to do anything special. Excellent nutrition, hygeine and exercise is what our bodies need. If we were so deficient, a higher power would have created us differently. I do not keep my children isolated-they go to school, friends' houses, public parks, on trips, etc.

Google the ingredients and then tell me how altering your immune system with aluminum, formaldehyde, thimerisol, etc. is making you healthy. We would never drink these things (and the digestive system is better eqiupped to deal with them), yet we allow doctors to inject them into our bodies. Makes no sense to me. Injecting toxins permanently alters your immune system and does force it to cope (not necessarily how the scientists hope to convince you), to work in a way which was not intended by nature.

The increase in asthma, allergies, autism, developmental delays and disorders, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, etc is coming from somewhere. Some of my research leads me to think it is from overloading our bodies with poison and compromising their immune systems.

The flu shot is literally a shot in the dark. There is no way to guarantee that it will be effective with the current flu strains. It is a guess. I do not understand why you would take the risk.

FYI, thimerisol is in vaccinations and not listed in the ingredient list. If it is under a certain percentage, it does not have to be on the list. Scary.

For the RN or anyone else who is interested, check the VAERS website. Here you will find a list of reported vaccination injuries. You can even read lots of contradictory information on the CDC website. And please, take what your pHARMaceutical reps say with a grain of salt. A pound of salt. They are coming to your hospital or doc's office to make money-not to help people.

Thank you birdsmom, very well said, and I'm sorry that your family could be divided over what should be a personal choice.
We also advocate a natural lifestyle- this doesn't mean we refuse medical opinions,or necessary medical interventions, but we do feel that so many things we're 'supposed' to do today aren't really the best choice. As for stats, the already quoted books and website are quite adequate for me, thanks. These aren't scare tactics, it's reality. There are risks to everything. To say there aren't risks for a vaccine...(c'mon, ever research just HOW these things are made?)
If anyone wants to needlessly inject poisons into their bodies, feel free! And yes, mutated bits of viruses and pathogens cultured in dying horses and things that are worse is poison....that is the reality.
...BUT.... I am not an extremist, I feel the benefits outweigh the risks for certain vaccines. I still think it's a poison, albeit one which could benefit my kids at some point. The flu shot isn't one of those.
But those that we choose to use, we do so with our eyes open, trying to maintain optimum nutrition as well,so the immune system has a better chance of coping with the assault .
And i realize,there are circumstances where it may be advisable. And even though that's the standard line"you can't catch the flu if you 've had the shot,it must be another strain..." then why bother? The doctors themselves admit the strain has to be guessed at a year in advance as to which one to build the vaccine for...it's a guess!
I think the odds of of actually catching 'that particular strain' of flu each year is probably way less than most people think,and for those that do, the ones that if it's the same strain,and if their vaccine is effective (a lot of them are only a certain percentage effective ) the odds of a truly awful side effect of the illness happening on top of those other odds,it doesn't look so scary anymore.
That is,unless you watch the Today show where Matt is hyping flu shot season in another fluffy piece.....
More organic,whole foods, a good quality intake of supplements and probiotics,can go a LONG way in helping your family stay generally healthy.

 

[las3888]

I will add that the thimersol (sp?) makes me nervous for DS. I also believe that the shot is just a "guesstimate" of what strain the flu will be for any given year. I have read enough that has made me believe that it's really somewhat of a shot in the dark. As much as you tell me that it's just a coincidence, I hear over, over, and over how people never get the flu, but once they got the shot they did.

On the other hand, it would be nice to feel protected from something like the flu, but how many posters in this thread have posted that they had the shot and got sick anyways. Just not enough protection for me to feel it's worth it. Maybe when DS is a little older....

 

[noodleknitter]

Birdmom, you said it so well!

We are not extremists, but I think there is a time and place for medical intervention. And this isn't one for us. We use homeopathic formulas, when we can, but also attempt to use common sense. I think that the medical field is full of miracles, like penicillin, but overuse is ruining that. We don't take a bunch of vitamins, but do supplement on occasion. Especially if there is a cold in the house, a great deal of stress, or we are just running too darn much!

We don't use a lot of purell, but will carry it for when we go to the hospital or are around someone noticably ill. My husband works at a University, so he makes sure he washes his hands after dealing with keyboards, etc.

We also usually eat natural, seasonal, organic foods. We make bread (only 25 mins. work time for 6 loaves a week), buy fresh raw milk, and eat meat and eggs from animals that enjoy their lives! That isn't to say that we don't occasionally have hotdogs and dog food...I mean coney sauce...we just do it sparingly!

We also get plenty of excercise. We walk, and my kids have cycled competitively. My older kids also rock climb. We swim in the summer, and I make sure the younger boys get time outside everyday to just play. We hike on the weekends, when the weather is right. I think fresh air and sunshine help a lot too. If you can call the air in the Mid-Ohio Valley fresh!

Maybe it is all a coincidence, but I don't think so. My husband and I were both sick a lot as kids, and on antibiotics several times a year. We both suffer from some chronic issues and we want so much more for our children.

eta: Drug reps are salepeople who make commissions! Of course their drug is the cure-all for the universe. Snake oil salesmen!

 

[kaysmommie]

Birdmom, you said it so well!

We are not extremists, but I think there is a time and place for medical intervention. And this isn't one for us. We use homeopathic formulas, when we can, but also attempt to use common sense. I think that the medical field is full of miracles, like penicillin, but overuse is ruining that. We don't take a bunch of vitamins, but do supplement on occasion. Especially if there is a cold in the house, a great deal of stress, or we are just running too darn much!

We don't use a lot of purell, but will carry it for when we go to the hospital or are around someone noticably ill. My husband works at a University, so he makes sure he washes his hands after dealing with keyboards, etc.

We also usually eat natural, seasonal, organic foods. We make bread (only 25 mins. work time for 6 loaves a week), buy fresh raw milk, and eat meat and eggs from animals that enjoy their lives! That isn't to say that we don't occasionally have hotdogs and dog food...I mean coney sauce...we just do it sparingly!

We also get plenty of excercise. We walk, and my kids have cycled competitively. My older kids also rock climb. We swim in the summer, and I make sure the younger boys get time outside everyday to just play. We hike on the weekends, when the weather is right. I think fresh air and sunshine help a lot too. If you can call the air in the Mid-Ohio Valley fresh!

Maybe it is all a coincidence, but I don't think so. My husband and I were both sick a lot as kids, and on antibiotics several times a year. We both suffer from some chronic issues and we want so much more for our children.

eta: Drug reps are salepeople who make commissions! Of course their drug is the cure-all for the universe. Snake oil salesmen!

Thank you for your response. My kids won't be getting the flu shot or mist this year. They get the the required shots for school and that's more than enough damage I'm sure. All I can say is every time I leave my Dr.'s Office he has me loaded down with unneccesary drugs from the reps, hoping I will ask for a script for problems I don't have. How unhealthy! I'm looking for a new DR. Also I have every symtom of hypothyroidism amd even have a nodule on my thyroid. The symptoms make my life miserable but he won't let me have meds for it because the tests say my thyroid works alright. He is clueless and if I even mention herbs or natural remedies he thinks it is just stupid. How ignorant. My rant is over thanks!

 

[noodleknitter]

Thank you for your response. My kids won't be getting the flu shot or mist this year. They get the the required shots for school and that's more than enough damage I'm sure. All I can say is every time I leave my Dr.'s Office he has me loaded down with unneccesary drugs from the reps, hoping I will ask for a script for problems I don't have. How unhealthy! I'm looking for a new DR. Also I have every symtom of hypothyroidism amd even have a nodule on my thyroid. The symptoms make my life miserable but he won't let me have meds for it because the tests say my thyroid works alright. He is clueless and if I even mention herbs or natural remedies he thinks it is just stupid. How ignorant. My rant is over thanks!

Continuing OT, did your doctor run all of the thyroid tests? For years mine came back normal, but they were only running the T4 test. When they ran the whole bunch, my TSH was 204. It should be about 3. I know that some people don't do well unless theirs is around 2, which means at 5 (which is conseidered appropriate they are miserable.

I love the reps...the best pens around! My doctor's ofc. does not buy lunch. It is almost always covered by a rep! I swear there are more of them running around the hopsital than there are doctors and patients! Doctors are just inundated with information (my dad's a doc) and most just go with it. (Partly to get the free med samples. Sometimes they are the only way for people to get medication. It is a screwed up system, sometimes!)

 

[hsmamato2]

And...in addition to regular thyroid meds, there are some excellent more natural ideas you can try also, if you know of a good naturopath,or natural doc, try it out. I have a chiropracter,who has a knowledge of natural healing also- I have"normal" thyroid function according to tests,yet having plenty of problems that indicate I wasn't normal....
i've been taking a natural herbal supplement to enhance availability of the hormones the thyroid produces, and it's been very helpful.It's called thyroid synergy. Your thyroid may be producng, but your body probably isn't using it properly. Sometimes balancing that can work.

 

[jjoobrien]

dd2.5 has had the flu shot every year and has also had the flu every year. We are going this Saturday to get her the shot this year. I was saddend that she got the flu, but I must say that it was not a very bad case of the flu. She was up and well in a couple of days. I think the shot helped with the level of it.

I won't go without the shot. My husband is abrehensive about the shot and therefore usually doesn't get it (I made him get the year I was pregnant, though). We thankfully have not gotten the Flu, even after DD.

 

[hsmamato2]

Well, we have never had a flu shot in our home. I had the flu once,maybe 15 years ago. That's it. We have on,average, 5 days of cold per person in this house,per year.That's the entire year.
I don't think we have any special magic, just lots of handwashing, eating healthy,whole foods,and lots of outdoor exercise.
this is of course,just general well being...if something serious,arose, we'd consult our family doc,and our natural docs.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Yes- because my twins were low birthweight & both were hospitalized for pneumonia before they were 2 & my baby has been hospitalized for penumonia 3 times & is prone to infections.

 

[DW2006]

We do not get it, we will not get it. My kids are 8, 6, almost 4 and 1...none of them have every had the flu. My hubby was military for 9 yrs (prior to kiddos) and had the shot every year and did in fact get the flu each and every time. The vaccine is only good for certain strains, so if another strain is active you are not protected anyway. It is a chance you take at potentially be protected..

 

[KristiKelly]

DH, our 3 kids & myself get the flu shot (2 older kids get the mist) every year. We have never been sick from the flu shot, not even a mild fever. My kids have already been out of school 5 days this year for WDW, I don't need to take a chance on them getting the flu. This works for our family.

 

[MomofCKJ]

I have 3 kids that are now 9, 7 and 4. They each had it maybe 3 or 4 years ago. Since then each year when I ask my ped's office is not offering it for healthy children until they vaccinate all the high risk children and every year before they get to the healthy kids they run out.

Same for me. I tried last year and the local drug stores/grocery stores were only doing them for patients at high risk or elderly and my primary care was only doing high risk.

Frustating because in 2001 DH and I did get the full blown in bed for 4-5 days flu and it was horrid. Thankfully all of us are usually pretty healthy and the kids get maybe one cold a year so we'll just hope for the best. I have not even bothered calling the ped yet this fall because each year is the same story.

Allyson

 

[kaysmommie]

Continuing OT, did your doctor run all of the thyroid tests? For years mine came back normal, but they were only running the T4 test. When they ran the whole bunch, my TSH was 204. It should be about 3. I know that some people don't do well unless theirs is around 2, which means at 5 (which is conseidered appropriate they are miserable.

I love the reps...the best pens around! My doctor's ofc. does not buy lunch. It is almost always covered by a rep! I swear there are more of them running around the hopsital than there are doctors and patients! Doctors are just inundated with information (my dad's a doc) and most just go with it. (Partly to get the free med samples. Sometimes they are the only way for people to get medication. It is a screwed up system, sometimes!)

OT sorry, Thank you! That is good information. I will call my Dr. on Monday and find out exactly what 2 tests they have done and what the numbers are. Also might have to insists on the rest of the tests.

Hsmamato2, thanks for telling me about Thyroid Synergy, I will see if our natural store has it or can order it for me to try.

 

[Dina]

My kids do because of my son's asthma.

 

[Tikitoi]

My DD9 gets one every year, since she has other medical conditions to deal with, daily. She will be getting her's this month as a matter of fact. I may get one, too, since we are going to Disney in December.