Not me, either. I will not. I would rather risk having the flu than risk having some strain that I may never encounter injected into me.

I couldn't agree with you more Micki. I had a reaction to a flu shot awhile ago but it was due to the thimerosol (mercury) in the vaccine used to preserve it.

Top Ten Reasons to Avoid Getting a Mercury-based Flu Vaccine this winter:

1. Avoid injecting mercury into your body. Everyone knows how dangerous mercury can be to your health but very few know that it is a common ingredient used in flu vaccines. A majority of flu vaccines this winter contain a preservative called "thimerosal" that contains mercury, the third most toxic substance on earth

2. Protect yourself from heart disease. Ohio State University researchers published in May 2007 that Thimerosal activates an enzyme that causes plaque build-up in the arteries which has been linked to heart disease and heart attacks.

3. Reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. A scientific paper to be published later this year will describe tests showing that mercury in the laboratory causes the same brain abnormalities found in Alzheimer's disease.

4. Play the odds. An American has less than a 1 in 150,000 of dying from the flu. An American is far more likely to develop heart disease, Alzheimer's, or autism, all of which have been linked to mercury toxicity.

5. Stay healthy this winter. The mercury in flu shots can impair your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections. Good hand washing and avoiding those who have the flu are the safest ways to stay healthy this winter

6. Prevent your body from becoming a hazardous waste storage site. According to EPA guidelines the flu vaccines contain 250 times the amount of mercury that is defined as hazardous waste. And unused flu vaccine at the end of the flu season must be shipped back to the manufacturer to be disposed of as a hazardous waste.

7. Take control of your own health while the government agencies debate. The Surgeon General's office recommended removal of Thimerosal from childhood vaccines in 1999. The CDC has not yet followed the Surgeon General recommendation regarding flu vaccines. The NIH reported to Congress in 2006 that there were serious flaws with the statistical evidence used by the CDC to support their position.

8. Avoid an unproven and possibly unsafe health treatment. The British Medical Journal reported last October that the evidence from a comprehensive review of flu vaccine studies shows that the flu vaccine has little or no benefit, and also that little comparative evidence exists on the safety of these vaccines

9. Prevent toxic overload. Thimerosal is a particularly toxic form of mercury because it blocks the process used by the body to get rid of mercury and also other toxins. One dose of Thimerosal could push a person past a "toxic tipping point".

10. Don't be one of the last Americans to take a mercury-based flu vaccine. Seven states have banned Thimerosal from most vaccines, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment in July that prevents taxpayer money from being used in 2008 to administer mercury-based flu shots to young children. It is only a matter of time before Thimerosal is banned from all vaccines.

I agree good handwashing is the best protection. I refused to take it even whil working with children.My dr told me it would make me sick. Thanks for this post.

I guess you must really weigh the options and talk to your own doctor..My husband is diabetic,older, and has high blood pressure..He also generally catches a cold in november and has it thru till the spring.. so HE gets the shot...
My fibro is my primary problem and my doctor says it is easier to treat the flu if I get it than a fibro flare which can run wild for months.
I guess if I had other serious medical conditions, we might have to rethink this but for now this is my decision..

I took a flu shot once , when I was working as a nurse and the doc didm't want us out sick...OOPS...backfire ...I got really sick and developed pneumonia. Later I learned that because I carry a heavy viral load to never take vaccines...that's my story...
Sandra

Interesting. I have always gotten a flu shot. Will have to ask my doctor & Rhuemy if I should.

I have never gotten a flu shot, but this year I am considering it. The reason being, the last 2 years I have gotten the flu. One was really bad (flu AND bronchitis!! I wanted to die..) and the other I was able to mostly fight off before it got bad. I work at a dr's office so I get exposed to a LOT of stuff. I'll probably discuss it with my doctor first before I get it..

I am glad I read your post!!! Our dr. always says to wait until later in the season to get the shots.
I will have a chance to ask about this before I get one?or if I do get one. Thanks for all the info!

Hugs,Sueba

I was told by more than one doc NOT to get a flu shot...could make things worse

I work as a cashier and people are always coming in with colds buying cough medicine. Many don't cover their mouths. I get a flu shot every year for this reason. Chances of getting the flu are like 100%. I may still get it but it isn't going to be as bad.

I wouldnt have it my daughter also suffers with fibo she is only 22 and had it for about 5 years now she nearly died and i did post an article in the shes at it again forum about the symptoms of fms and one is low tolerance to medication ,My daughter can not even take anti depressants some anti-biodics and a lot of other meds due to the low tolerance to medication so i would be careful julie

I have Asthma, and have to have the shot. I skipped it several years, and one of those I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. It started as the flu, turned into bronchitis, and then pneumonia. My Dr wants me to get the shot to try to keep me out of the hospital. I know a flare-up is bad, but I got so sick that I think the flare-up would be better than getting pneumonia in upper and lower lung chambers. I could have died.

Micki,
IF. And ONLY IF you cave in and decide to get the flu shot, make sure you go to a doctor that uses Thimerasol Free flu vaccines.
Don't do it at a flu clinic.

Thimerasol is a Mercury stabilizer used in vaccines of humans and animals.
It can trigger an Auto-Immune response.
It's very very dangerous.

Even my dogs will no longer get vaccines that contain Thimerasol, as I'm not sure that my Shepherd mix didn't have a flare up of Discoid Lupus because of vaccines that contained Thimerasol.
I was blinded by the science, studies and information from the Drug Manufacturers that produce most of the common Vaccines for Canines.
Not anymore.
Never worried, never thought about it. But, having a Shepherd mix brought it all into prespective for me.

Good luck on deciding. It's your decision to make.
I won't be getting one.

I definately am getting one. After spending so much time getting back on my feet, I refuse to end up back in the hospital because of the flu. I definately think this is something to discuss with your Dr.

Wlf, yes, u r so correct. Thimerasol free. I wish i had this wealth of info 8 years ago when it came to my kiddos vaccines. There are several heated debates, or topics, about thimerasol in vaccines that cause autism, and many other problems in children from this. Some, severe problems have come from the thimerasol. I had never heard of this until about a year ago from my multiples group. Thank goodness my kids are ok. No doctor is going to ask you if you want thime free vaccinnes, for either adults or children.

My rheumo would rather i don't get the flu shot but told me it was up to me. I have not had the actual flu in a few years, but the last time i had it i was so sick i couldnt lift my head up off the pillow for days. Even though when im in a bad bad flare certain spots in and on my body feel like i have the flu.
A co-worker gets the flu shot every year, the last 2 years, she got the flu and it wasn't minor. She ended up in the hospital last winter.
My luck, i'd get the shot and end up with the worst case of flu.