My husband, myself, my two kids. None of us are getting either the regular flu vaccine or the H1N1 vaccine. This probably actually surprises a few people who know me really well. I’ve always been kind of a freak about germs.
So, you are probably waiting for some long, big, important, well thought out, clearly argued speech about why we are not getting the vaccines. Unless you live on Mars, you can pretty much get them on any street corner and we have good insurance that probably covers them, so I certainly can’t use that as an excuse. I don’t have a religious objection either.
So why NOT get them?
Don’t I want my kids to be protected?
Of course I do, but I also think there is a valid argument to letting our bodies learn to fight the bad things. With all our medical advancements, I think people put too much reliance on artificial prevention. I’m not one of those people who doesn’t use medications or doesn’t go to the doctor. You should see the shelf in our hall closet devoted to medicine!
I am the type of person, however, who believes that too much prevention and too much sanitation is not actually a good thing. If our bodies are never exposed to the things of this world, and not allowed to develop natural immunities and germ fighters, there will one day be something so brutal that we won’t stand a chance because we have lived too sterile for too long.
I realize that some things reach a point where contagion is an important consideration. My kids are up to date on traditional vaccinations, although my daughter did have a severe reaction to her first set and was on a delayed vaccination schedule. At almost two years old, she is currently up-to-date on the traditional vaccines. One day, my opinion about the flu vaccines may change, but for right now I am simply not confident that it is the best thing for me or my kids.
How about you? Did you or your kids get the flu and/or H1N1 vaccines? Why or why not? If you did get the vaccines are you bothered by the fact that some people don’t?
About Kim
I agree with you! I look at it like…
I didn’t need it as a kid, I don’t need it now.
We are a healthy family, with a healthy lifestyle, I think we should be just fine!
We’re not getting the flu shot or H1N1 shots in our family. We’ve never had the flu and are hardly ever sick. We eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Take an extra vitamin and that’s how we do it.
Healthy eating and taking vitamins makes a HUGE difference!
I agree with you and I’m a Class 1 germ-a-phobe. If we keep trying to “prevent” certain diseases there is going to be a super-germ that our bodies won’t be able to handle because our immune systems will be so lacking in exercise. When people ask why me and dh aren’t getting the flu shots since we have a newborn I respond that we: 1. practice good hygiene and avoid crowds (no trip to the mall to see Santa) 2. keep our immune systems at full operating capacity by not eating processed foods, sugar, and caffeine (all which suppress the immune system) and 3. boost our immunity with vitamins and minerals. At the end of the day it’s a personal choice you make for your family and no one should judge your decision to get the shots or not
Teresha,
You said that PERFECTLY!
I think our diets have a HUGE effect on how our bodies fight off germs. The more advanced we get, the more FAKE our food gets and that is NOT GOOD FOR US!
Nope, no vaccine here. The only time hubby got a flu shot he became violently ill.
I’ve heard about people getting sick from it quite a lot. Another one of my reasons NOT to!
None for us- ever. I twittered a recent CNN video of Dr. Oz saying he will be getting the H1N1 vax but not his children. I know many people respect him, so those still on the fence might want to check that video out.
Steph
I heard some rumors about that, I’ll have to go look for it I’m curious as to what he says. I am not a “fan” necessarily (but not NOT a fan either) although I do have one of his books.
I haven’t ever had a flu shot, I’ve contemplated it but simply never did. It doesn’t bother me that other people don’t either. I really think that it’s one of those things where it’s personal choice and I’m not about to tell you what to choose. I think there has only been one year where I had a virus on the tail end of the flu and really could have used that darn shot!
I think it is a personal choice too. I was curious to know if people harbored vehement anger against people who didn’t get it, like we are harboring the plague or something. I’m sure there are some out there who do, but mostly I think people feel the same as you..that it’s none of their business what someone else does.
Neither of them here because it isn’t available. I was told by my family Doctor that they had some early on but the supply went fast and is gone and they have been told they will not receive more and since my child is under the age of 18 he can’t get the shots at a clinic and that my only option is through the school however we received a notice from the school that there is a delay in getting the shots for the school so that’s not an option either. The school did tell me that they will have the H1N1 available first. Ok ? you mean they can’t keep up with demand for the seasonal flu so our children can get there shot for that but the new H1N1 will be available , that just doesn’t make sense to me. Any how I don’t have the choice to make if they do or don’t get them. The choice has been made for me because it’s not available to start with.
It makes me made that people who might want the vaccine can’t get it.
I wonder if the H1N1 vaccine is more readily available because fewer people are getting it. Many people I talk to get the flu vaccine but NOT H1N1.
We all got the regular flu shot because myself and our 2yo are high risk with our asthma. People think I”m crazy because I won’t also get the H1N1 vaccine because it’s produced just like any other seasonal vaccine, just with a different strain. That’s not my issue with it. My issue with the H1N1 vaccine is that with the pandemic declared, the companies manufacturing the H1N1 vaccine have immunity against lawsuits should you or a loved one have a severe or life threatening reaction to the vaccine. I don’t trust these companies to take all the precautions necessary with this immunity they’ve been given in our justice system, and the pressure to get the vaccines distributed.
I agree with you about the issues you mentioned with H1N1, it’s scary that they have no liability if people have a reaction. Makes me think they didn’t spend enough time making and testing it.
The kids got their flu shots and my husband and I will get them too. We didn’t do the H1N1, mainly because I’m not confident that the unknown and/or possible risks outweighs getting it. Friends of our in Australia got it and were fine and while I know the strains can mutate and change, that would also mean that it’s different than what’s in the vaccine.
It’s amazing to me that this is something people deal with across the globe!
Stay away from me you little germ spreader! (ha j/king)
I actually got my seasonal flu vaccine the other day and we’re getting the kids vaccinated this weekend…but not the H1N1
In the past, the only time I got the flu was the years I didn’t get the shot….it was horrible and I’m in no mood to repeat those experiences.
We have never gotten the flu, only colds, so for us it’s also a matter of “if it ain’t broke…”