Get your flu shot---no, the other flu shot

As many of my readers are aware, most of us are going to need two flu shots this year: one for the seasonal flu, and one for the pandemic (swine) flu. I got my seasonal flu shot two weeks ago, and I'm taking the family to the community college up the street this weekend for our pandemic shots. It's not going to be a lot of fun holding my daughter down, but she's been hospitalized in the past with breathing problems so we're not taking any chances.

There's yet a third flu shot out this year. It's called the "Emergen-C Shot". I saw it on TV advertised homonymically as "emergency shot", clearly meaning, in context, "emergency flu shot". At a time when flu rates are rising, and flu shots may be in short supply (temporarily, in some locations), this is horribly irresponsible. Along with the obligatory Quack Miranda Warning, the product claims:

When you need a quick boost to your immune system and energy level,*
Emergen-C concentrated liquid Shot to the rescue. Just twist the cap, and
gulp it down...what could be quicker?

The ingredients list various vitamins and minerals. That's it. But the use magic woo-woo words, like "boost immune system". This medically meaningless language is deceptive and immoral, and just another reminder that when you see, "These statements have not been evaluated..." you should run away. The flu is the real deal. Anything that pushes people away from real prevention and treatment is a bad thing.

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If anyone is interested in seeing what happens when vaccination isn't done because of fear mongering, check out Elizabeth Fenn's Pox Americana. It's about the small pox epidemic of 1775-1782

By History Punk (not verified) on 22 Oct 2009 #permalink

Yo, Punk, when do we get to start reading that blog of yours?

I called this afternoon to find out if flu shots were available at my clinic. They are not. Yet. And not verifiable date as to when they will be available.

Yeah, the other day I happened to hear a morning radio show where the guests were talking about their clinic offering a "natural flu shot" containing "concentrated echinacea". I swear I am not making this up. They also mentioned the National Vaccine Information Center, which made me want to smash into the car next to me.

It was on 95.7 FM in Milwaukee the other day. It was basically a long infomercial for this Integrative Family Wellness Center, a local quack clinic, I guess. It was literally the regular morning show deejays interviewing these people, tossing them softball questions and praising their services.

Reading between the lines on this page on the station's site, it appears as though any schmuck with a wad of cash can do this. Among the other "experts" they've had on are a chiropractor and... a doggie day care.

I took my son for his 1 year well-child check. He got the seasonal flu vaccine. His doctor didn't have the H1N1. His defense against H1N1 is my being vaccinated and probably my neurotic hand-washing. His dad is too needle-phobic to get vaccinated and his grandmother is out of her service area, but promises to get vaccinated when she gets back home.

My clinic is getting 100 doses of the H1N1 to give out tomorrow to our highest risk patients. It's not going to be enough. My clinic also doesn't have seasonal flu vaccines that I can give to my Medicaid/uninsured patients, but I do have seasonal flu for my commercial insurance patients.

This whole thing is completely effed-up. Still substituting this other crap for the real vaccine is just plain stupid.

LOL!!! magic woo-woo... deceptive and immoral... all very science-based terminology. You'd have to be a -well, let's say- slow to think they mean a needle-type flu shot, as it is clear they mean shot as in a shot of whiskey. Have you ever tried it? It really shortens my recovery time when I get a cold or the flu. Many West Coast Woo-wooies swear by it. I work outside in the cold damp rain and this stuff prevents me and my co-workers from getting sick all the time. Now, against H1N1 I would not wanna risk it, but in general it works very well! Why not give it a try on your next canoe trip. Thanks again for the good laugh. That's the best medicine you deliver by far.

By Harold Verboort (not verified) on 23 Oct 2009 #permalink

I just had to take a look. Damn you! Just HAD to take a look at what Dr. Woo has to say about the flu shots you mention. No wonder you don't like him much. I would feel terribly guilty, kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place, if I had my kids injected with... mercury - aluminum - formaldehyde, etc? You say your daughter has breathing problems? I wonder if that will help any? Oh look! Dr. Woo has those two magic letters following his name too - MD. That must mean he took an oath too, right? He looks sooo successful! But it's all just wooooooooooooooo, right?

By Harold Verboort (not verified) on 23 Oct 2009 #permalink

Not the most sophisticated way of saying it, but yes, it's all just woooooooo.

You're way behind in the conversation about ZOMG TOCKSINS IN OUR SHOTZ!! See Toxic Myths about Vaccines.

Not the most sophisticated way of saying it, but yes, it's all just woooooooo.

You're way behind in the conversation about ZOMG TOCKSINS IN OUR SHOTZ!!

Hi, just read these, and wanted to know if the flu vaccines are so great, whay would one of its 'inventors' say its a waste of time? - If you happen to know that this is not what he said then I'd be gratfull to know that too!

I'm not trying to be anti-vaccine, there is no doubt of the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccine; but I am having doubts about lots of the new ones.

âDr. Anthony Morris, a distinguished virologist and former Chief Vaccine Officer at the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA), states that âThere is no evidence that any influenza vaccine thus far developed is effective in preventing or mitigating any attack of influenzaâ and that âThe producers of these vaccines know they are worthless, but they go on selling them anyway.â

And in November 2007, the UK newspaper The Scotsman, made public warnings by the inventor of the âflu jab,â Dr. Graeme Laver.

Dr. Laver was a major Australian scientist involved in the invention of a flu vaccine, in addition to playing a leading scientific role in the discovery of anti-flu drugs. He went on record as saying the vaccine he helped to create was ineffective and [that] natural infection with the flu was safer. âI have never been impressed with its efficacy,â said Dr. Laver.â