flu shot

[baby28]

I just had my flu shot the other day and come to find out it had thermosol in it. Are flu shots with thermosol safe in pregnancy? Thanks for your response(s).

[AlphaXi]

www.fda.gov
www.cdc.gov
http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

[AlphaXi]

1. Influenza is safe and effective during pregnancy. It can be given during at any trimester. The amount of Thimerosal in the vaccine is commonly undetectable, but Thimerosal free versions are available. In any case, the amount of mercury you would be exposed to would be less than 1 serving of a fatty fish from the Great Lakes.

2. The vaccine is made by following trends in other parts of the world where the flu season starts before ours. Strains of influenza that are highly prevelant in other parts of the world are included into the vaccine, thus giving you a better chance at avoiding the flu. There are at least 3 different types of influenza with near limitless variations and it would be impossible to vaccinate a person against every strain. Strains that typically affect other animals can mutate into new strains and infect humans, as is the case with avian flu. The protection our body gives us (antibodies) does not last a lifetime. These two reasons are why there are yearly flu immunizations, not to make money. Anyone that thinks the influenza is of no danger should "Google" Hong Kong flu in 1968-69, Asian flu in 1957-58, or the Spanish flu in 1918-1920. Hong Kong and Asian flu had a death toll of about one million people worldwide in one year. The Spanish flu had a death toll of somewhere between 40 and 100 million people worldwide. We think that each of these strains was a new mutation so humans had no resistance to it. Either way, influenza strains have killed far more people than the immunization.

Infection (not disease) will provide you with antibodies to whatever strain of flu that has infected you, but no other strain. As many people have experienced you can get the flu year after year (because there are so many strains).

3. With all due respect Barb you are very misinformed.

Thimerosal is a commonly used in concentrations of 1 part of Thimerosal to 1 million parts of water. If you have ever had a fresh water fish you have most likely consumed more mercury then you will ever be exposed to from vaccines.

Thimerosal is not in all vaccines. Take my word on it because you can call any medical staff that provides vaccines and request a Thimerosal free vaccine. Or, if you need the proof in front of you ask for a package insert. It is filled with medical jargon but will inform you of every ingredient in the vaccine. This is done to avoid allergic reactions. If the manufacturer did not disclose everything they would be liable for all medical costs associated with every person experiencing an adverse reaction. Not the best way to make money.

If you base your opinions on websites that commonly lack references and have no one policing them than I cannot help you. Medicine is evidence based and peer reviewed. If you had a disease (not an infection) such as cancer I would think you would see a doctor. What sense does it make to trust the medical community on some things and not others? All of the recommendations came to be by the same process, evidence.

I doubt these "reputable" doctors really oppose vaccines and more likely have succumbed to greed. Vaccines are a hot topic and a book published by a doctor sells more copies when put next to a book written by John Doe. This is the reason why peer reviews are so important. There are a certain percentage of doctors (just like every other group of people) that will sell out for a buck. The medical community as a whole believes that there is a significant benefit to getting vaccinated.

Here is a list of heavy metals from http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-156.shtml

antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, platinum, silver, tellurium, thallium, tin, uranium, vanadium, and zinc

Last time I checked chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc are all required for normal human functions. Deficiencies are classified as a disease.

Bismuth is in pepto bismol
Zinc is even a common treatment in homeopathy. (I do not recommend homeopathy, but that is another discussion)
Iron is in every type of meat

These metals can accumulate in the body, but they do go away. If they didn't we would never have a deficiency, such as....iron related anemia.

If anyone has further questions I encourage you to talk to a well educated medical professional. And never be afraid to get a second opinion. These people go to school for a very long time to learn how to help people. Most will be more than willing to help. Do not take advice from anyone who quotes the internet as their source. You can be confident in published in reputable journals.

The CDC and the FDA both have more information. I've included a really nice article concerning Thimerosal as well.

[Barb39]

From what I've read, thimerosal isn't safe in pregnancy or in any other condition.  It's mercury, which is unsafe at any levels for anyone.  It's in all vaccines, including the flu shots, among another long list of toxic chemicals. Vaccines are a fraud, don't work, and only put money in the drug company's pockets, billions of dollars. Only way to get real immunization is to get the disease, which actually  causes less deaths than any of the vaccines. This type of information is available all over the Internet, as well as many good books on the subject, many written by reputable doctors. Mercury is a heavy metal, as toxic as lead, and accumulates in the body, never goes away. Google "vaccine dangers" and see what shows up.

[jdesouza]

A lot of people say that you should get the flu shot in the first trimester and get the thermosol free one but everything I read says that getting it in any trimester is fine and that the normal one with thermosol is not a problem.