I realize that those list of products are scary to say the least. The content is minute, if any at all. Not all of those items are found in very flu vaccine. It depends on the company that makes it. Thimerisol is not found in the vaccines that are given to children under that age of 18 years, by the way.

It is actually more dangerous for you to contract the flu than to receive the flu vaccine. It is your personal decision to receive the vaccine, but I will be receiving it as well many members of my family.

What about the H1N1 vaccine?

I'm sure its better to get that shot than possibly dying if your at risk, right?

Or even spreading it to others in high risk categories?

I thought it wouldn't be ready for another month, but that did happen pretty fast!

I think I already had that flu, and won't be getting the vaccine, but it was terrible being sick...so I would definitely encourage others to get it, cause I know I felt like I was going to die!

-If I do get an employer that requires the vaccine be given then I'd like to be tested for it first.

Mixed bag of opinions! 

"

Yes, the majority of influenza vaccines distributed in the United States currently contain thimerosal as a preservative. However, some contain only trace amounts of thimerosal and are considered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be preservative-free. Manufacturers of preservative-free flu vaccine use thimerosal early in the manufacturing process. The thimerosal gets diluted as the vaccine goes through the steps in processing. By the end of the manufacturing process there is not enough thimerosal left in the vaccine to act as a preservative and the vaccine is labeled "preservative-free"."

Considered by the FDA to be preservative-free.

"Nearly 1 in 5 (FDA) scientists, 18%, said that they have "been pressured to approve or recommend approval" for drugs that they thought weren't proven safe. This means the FDA bureaucrats have been leaning on scientists to approve dangerous drugs. And that's why we are seeing scandals in the marketplace like COX-2 inhibitors, antidepressant drugs, statin drugs and all sorts of other drugs that are now known to cause dangerous -- even deadly -- side effects, and yet have been promoted and defended by the FDA for years. And when those drugs are found to be a chemical catastrophe, killing literally hundreds of thousands of American citizens, the FDA just holds a rigged hearing where so-called "neutral" panel members (who actually have strong financial ties to drug companies) quickly vote the dangerous drugs back onto the marketplace. It's all a charade."

from http://www.naturalnews.com/005032.html

It all sounds like the rantings of crazy conspiracy theorists, but the more you dig, the more food for thought you find.

H1N1?  I don't even want anywhere NEAR that vaccine! 

CATGIRL says ...

I do not know how true the article I read this morning was, it stated not to get the H1N1, it is a virus and an experimental shot to say the least.  It stated about the 1976 flu shots they gave and how many people contracted the flu after receiving those shots.  The paper stated that it was weird how that injectable was already in short demand???? Makes you wonder. 

I don't know what article you are talking about, though a link or other reference would be appreciated.  I'd like to read it.

The last I read of the H1N1 vaccine is that the immune response it is providing in people is so strong that they now believe that you will only need one shot, instead of a series, to protect you.

theala says ...

CATGIRL says ...

I do not know how true the article I read this morning was, it stated not to get the H1N1, it is a virus and an experimental shot to say the least.  It stated about the 1976 flu shots they gave and how many people contracted the flu after receiving those shots.  The paper stated that it was weird how that injectable was already in short demand???? Makes you wonder. 

I don't know what article you are talking about, though a link or other reference would be appreciated.  I'd like to read it.

The last I read of the H1N1 vaccine is that the immune response it is providing in people is so strong that they now believe that you will only need one shot, instead of a series, to protect you.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206807/Swine-flu-jab-link-killer-nerve-disease-Leaked-letter-reveals-concern-neurologists-25-deaths-America.html

 Tamiflu was shown to not be effective against H1N1 in FEBRUARY. 

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/04/science/sci-flu4

So why are they still recommending Tamiflu for treatment?

"As of August 2009, more than 98% of circulating influenza viruses were 2009 H1N1 viruses susceptible to both oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir. These treatment guidelines therefore focus on use of antiviral medications effective against 2009 H1N1 viruses. For antiviral treatment of 2009 H1N1 virus infection, either oseltamivir or zanamivir are recommended".

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm

I am going to keep digging on this, but what I'm finding so far is disturbing.

doubletired- you need to re-read what you posted from CDC. Or read the parts I have highlighted for you.

For the 2008-09 season, there is one product licensed for 6-23 month old children (the product is thimerosal-free). For children between the ages of 2 and 5 years of age, there are three products available that are thimerosal-free (sanofi's Fluzone; MedImmune's FluMist) or preservative-free (trace thimerosal- [Novartis's Fluvirin]). Specific information about these products and other influenza vaccines can be found in the Table: Influenza Vaccine Manufacturers for the 2008-09 Influenza Season. Given the uptake of influenza vaccine among children less than 5 years of age, and the anticipated increase in vaccination coverage for this season, CDC projects that the vaccine supply for this age group will be adequate to meet demand.

Yes. There is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the small amount of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor effects like swelling and redness at the injection site due to sensitivity to thimerosal. Most importantly, since 1999, newly formulated thimerosal preservative-free childhood vaccines (Hepatitis B, Hib, and DTaP) have been licensed. With the newly formulated childhood vaccines, the maximum total exposure during the first six months of life will now be less than three micrograms of mercury. Based on guidelines established by the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), no child will receive excessive mercury from childhood vaccines regardless of whether or not their flu shot contains thimerosal as a preservative.

Research suggests that healthy children under the age of 2 are more likely than older children and as likely as people over the age of 65 to be hospitalized with flu complications. In addition, children between 24-59 months of age have higher rates of influenza-related doctor and Emergency Department visits than older children. Therefore, vaccination with either reduced or standard thimerosal-content flu vaccine is recommended for children between the ages of 6 and 59 months by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Yes. A study of influenza vaccination examining over 2,000 pregnant women demonstrated no adverse fetal effects associated with influenza vaccine. Case reports and limited studies indicate that pregnancy can increase the risk for serious medical complications of influenza. One study found that out of every 10,000 women in their third trimester of pregnancy during an average flu season, 25 will be hospitalized for flu related complications.

Additionally, influenza-associated excess deaths among pregnant women have been documented during influenza pandemics. Because pregnant women are at increased risk for influenza-related complications and because a substantial safety margin has been incorporated into the health guidance values for organic mercury exposure, the benefits of influenza vaccine with reduced or standard thimerosal content outweighs the theoretical risk, if any, of thimerosal.

Ball LK, Ball R, Pratt RD. An assessment of thimerosal use in childhood vaccines. Pediatrics 2001;107(5):1147-54.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of influenza; recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2002; 51(RR03):1-31.

I think NOT getting the flu vaccine is like NOT wearing your seatbelt, not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle or smoking... It only kills the stupid ones and it should NOT be encouraged. Think of it as chlorination of the gene pool.

I'd like to tell everyone I possibly can that they should get their flu shot, especially since that's my only source of work right now. If your pregnant, the Thimerusol free vaccine should be given due to the possible trace mercury contents in the preservative.

I was also told that  the H1N1 vaccine is done in a single one-time dose, which I would highly recommend to anyone at risk.

ya.... i think my immune system is functioning enough to fight the flu. if i get it i'll stay home for a few days, however i dont think my employer would like that..but oh well. for now it seems funny to me to vaccinate people who have healthy immune systems for illnesses such as the flu. for example now children MUST be vaccinated for chicken pox to go to public school. i got the chicken pox when i was a kid.. it wasnt that bad. i understand that some cases may turn out worse..but to make EVERY kid do it. and who can know yet if the vaccine will defend against shingles in the future..i guess we will find out. it kind of seems more like the worry is loosing productivity..either missing days from work or school. for now and for me i would like to just let nature take it course, at least in the case of the flu.

NotOfThisWorld says ...

ya.... i think my immune system is functioning enough to fight the flu. if i get it i'll stay home for a few days, however i dont think my employer would like that..but oh well. for now it seems funny to me to vaccinate people who have healthy immune systems for illnesses such as the flu. for example now children MUST be vaccinated for chicken pox to go to public school. i got the chicken pox when i was a kid.. it wasnt that bad. i understand that some cases may turn out worse..but to make EVERY kid do it. and who can know yet if the vaccine will defend against shingles in the future..i guess we will find out. it kind of seems more like the worry is loosing productivity..either missing days from work or school. for now and for me i would like to just let nature take it course, at least in the case of the flu.

If you care for patients with weakened immune systems, or others in the high risk categories, there's a chance you may pass that to them before you even know your sick, and please stay home so you don't purposely spread it!