Flu shot, yes or no.

[Aoconnor]

I have only recently begun having regular asthma issues that are now being treated by a Pulmonologist. I have had exercise induced asthma issues for years, it has now turned into daily occurrences with or without exercise. Since my lungs are already compromised, I have been advised to take a flu shot this year. I have never done so before and would like your opinions on either getting or not getting a flu shot.

Thank you,

[evewisewoman]

Hello there,
You're very welcome for my input on your comments. I'm glad you did
not get any adverse side effects from the flu shot. Allmymarbles is right.
You are one of the lucky ones.  Two members in my family got the
flu shot one year. Both of them suffered very bad side effects from the
flu shot. I used to get the flu shot myself for several years when I was
still teaching on the advice of my doctor at that time. I also have asthma.
You might want to read up on the flu shot on the Dr. Mercola website.
I didn't get the flu shot this year and after reading what I have read on
various websites about the flu shot, I don't plan to get the flu shot anymore.
Hope your new year is going well.  Eve

[allmymarbles]

You are one of the lucky ones. The two-week illness extended itself and I wound up in the hospital for six days, having developed pneumonia.

[Aoconnor]

I went ahead and got the shot. No adverse side effects at all, not even a sore spot where the injection was given....

[Aoconnor]

Thank you for your input. I have never taken the flu shot prior to this. I am really considering it, but am getting so much negative feedback from all who have responded ( here and on another forum)' that I am considering not taking it more than I am considering taking it!

[Aoconnor]

Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate the information.

[Aoconnor]

I will talk to my Dr. About single dose. Thank you for the information and advice.

[evewisewoman]

I have asthma too. My doctor advised me to have the flu shot too as
she claims I'm in a high risk group because of my asthma. I told her
I didn't want one. In the past, I'm a retired teacher, I did get the flu
shot, because I was teaching young children, working with other
teachers, administration, my student's parents. I would always feel
very ill for a least a week after the injection. I've read up on the flu
shot. The flu shot contains mercury. If you go to Mercola.com, read
up on what Dr. Mercola says about the flu shot. No one in my family
gets the flu shot anymore because of feeling extremely ill after getting
it. The flu shot doesn't necessarily protect you from the flu either.
It's your choice to get the flu shot or not, but I also think it's important
to be as knowledgable as one can before deciding to get the flu shot.
As to whether or not I will ever get the flu shot again, for me, never.

[allmymarbles]

I have COPD (which includes asthma). Every year I have resisted the flu shot, but this year my well-meaning pulmonologist talked me into it. Big mistake. I was sick for more than two weeks. On top of my respiratory problems I didn't need that. In any case, the flu shot is largely ineffectual and there is a high risk of side effects. (The producers and the government downplay that.)

Prior to this year I had been taking the advice of my alternative MD who does not approve of the shot. Instead he told me to keep up my vitamin D, that vitamin D would protect me from the flu (and shingles) and had no side effects. By the way, Johns Hopkins, in its newsletter, said that  vitamin D was more effective than the flu shot.

[caregiver222]

The "flu" shot only protects against a specific variety. They are prepared to act against the most common version of bug for the year. For the over sixty crowd the flu shot and the pneumonia shot are probably a good idea. That being said the injections come in two varieties. The "multi-dose" vial, which is used by the drug stores and most hospitals (it contains mercury preservative), and the "single-dose" vial, which has a short shelf life, is much more expensive, and contains no preservative. I get the single-dose type, which is always a problem. A positive benefit is that any vaccine causes production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which goes after malignancies that may be developing.