We have pretty much 100% participation in the work flu shots because we lost a co-worker in 2014 to the flu. She was only 47, no other health issues, one of those health nuts who watched what she ate and ran marathons on a regular basis. As all the Doctors said she was the picture of health, but they feel her not getting the flu shot was her only health mistake.
I guess that is meant for me, being my age and mention of avoiding the flu shot and eating well. I'm glad you and your colleagues feel the flu shot is doing you good. I hope that is the case. Keep in mind that is opinion being stated, and there can be reasons for avoiding the flu shot. Some doctors, particularly overseas feel the flu shot is ineffective an can cause harm and even death in some cases. You can read about that here:
Flu vaccination is most certainly not a ‘no-brainer’
http://www.drbriffa.com/2013/11/22/flu-vaccination-is-most-certainly-not-a-no-brainer/
excerpt from Dr. Briffa's sight:
Some people claim that the evidence for the life-saving effects of flu vaccination are to be clearly seen in the figures showing declining mortality in recent years. However, as the following graph shows, flu mortality dropped dramatically and started to ‘bottom out’ well before flu vaccination became widespread.
Dr Doshi even asks questions about the safety of flu vaccination. He points out that:
Australia suspended its influenza vaccination program in under five year olds after many (one in every 110 vaccinated) children had febrile convulsions after vaccination. Another serious reaction to influenza vaccines—and also unexpected—occurred in Sweden and Finland, where H1N1 influenza vaccines were associated with a spike in cases of narcolepsy among adolescents (about one in every 55 000 vaccinated). Subsequent investigations by governmental and non-governmental researchers confirmed the vaccine’s role in these serious events.
Currently, legal action is being taken on behalf of 38 individuals who appear to have developed narcolepsy as a result of vaccination with GSK’s ‘Pandemrix’ (for swine flu). The UK Government has admitted that there does indeed appear to be a genuine link here. For more on this story, see here.
Dr Doshi’s analysis goes us a great service, I think, and may cause many to consider when flu vaccination is really the ‘no-brainer’ its often presented to be.
References:
1. Doshi P. Influenza: Marketing vaccine by marketing disease. BMJ 2013;346:f3037
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Vaccination and Renal Patients: A critical examination of assumed safety and effectiveness. ~ Suzanne Humphries, MD
http://drsuzanne.net/2015/03/vaccin...afety-and-effectiveness-suzanne-humphries-md/