humor fail

1) It has mercury.
2) They used a similar shot is the 70's, more people died from the shot than the flu.
3) There are no longer term safety studies.
4) Follow the money, this isn't about your health it is about profits.

If there was no vaccine, we would demand it. When there is one, we come up with conspiracy theories. Damned if you don't, damned if you do. No wonder so many decent people avoid getting into politics.

Q4. Is it true that there is mercury in the vaccine? How much mercury?

Both vaccines contain a small amount of thimerosal. Thimerosal is a form of mercury used in the H1N1 flu vaccine to stabilize it and maintain its quality during storage. Thimerosal is a different form of mercury than the mercury known to cause health problems. The amount in the H1N1 adjuvanted flu vaccine is much less than the daily limit recommended for environmental exposure to mercury. For example, there is significantly less mercury in the vaccine than you would find in a can of tuna fish.

RUEZ.... Where have you been hiding? We need more informed, articulate posters on this site! Please post more!

I am what you would term 'skeptic'. I have taken quite a few different drugs relevant to my health and in every case the side effects have been worse than the problem. I am now daily ingesting a drug for a heart problem,which keeps me alive but mostly makes me wish I were dead. After a lot of different prescribed drugs I have turned to my own research and made my own decisions. The natural medicines work wonders and there is no chance of me ever getting a flu shot. I do not personally know anyone who is participating in the vaccine.

RUEZ,

Thimerosal is made of mercury, that means it has mercury in it. It translates to 25 micrograms in a .5ml dose. Health Canada says women and children shouldn't have more than .2micrograms/kg/day. My kids don't weigh 125kg how about yours?

This is what low levels of mercury does to neurons (brain cells): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHqVDMr9ivo

Fact 7: The amount of thimerosal used in the influenza vaccine is very small and has not been shown to cause any harm. Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (which includes recognized experts in the fields of paediatrics, infectious diseases, immunology, medical microbiology, internal medicine and public health) has reviewed the latest science and concluded, "there is no legitimate safety reason to avoid the use of thimerosal-containing products for children or older individuals." The vaccines that Canadian children and adults receive are safe.

From Health Canada.
If you don't want to get a flu shot for whatever reason then don't. But don't spread misinformation that might deter others.

Fact 7: The amount of thimerosal used in the influenza vaccine is very small and has not been shown to cause any harm. Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (which includes recognized experts in the fields of paediatrics, infectious diseases, immunology, medical microbiology, internal medicine and public health) has reviewed the latest science and concluded, "there is no legitimate safety reason to avoid the use of thimerosal-containing products for children or older individuals." The vaccines that Canadian children and adults receive are safe.

From Health Canada.
If you don't want to get a flu shot for whatever reason then don't. But don't spread misinformation that might deter others.

The fundamental issue for me is that I don't trust Health Canada, so no matter what they say, I am suspicious of it. The information below is with regard to Health Canada, who fired three scientists who worked for them for expressing their concerns about the use of bovine growth hormone:

"The three researchers have spoken out repeatedly in recent years about policy and procedures at Health Canada they were not comfortable with.

They said they were often pressured to approve unsafe veterinary drugs.

In the late 1990s, they publicly opposed rBST, also known as bovine growth hormone, a product that enhances milk production in cows. Their criticism led to a decision not to approve the drug.

The whistleblowers later criticized carbadox, a drug used to promote growth in pigs, and Baytril, used to promote growth in cows and chickens.

The scientists said they felt pressured to approve drugs even if they had reservations. They alleged that Health Canada was pressuring them because they in turn had been pressured by pharmaceutical companies to hustle through approvals."

Below is an interesting link to the information pamphlet from the producer of the H1N1 vaccine, which Health Canada has authorized the sale of.

http://shivchopra.com/

In that brochure, the following side effects are listed:

SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
As with all medicines, AREPANRIX™ H1N1can cause side effects. The very common and common side effects are usually mild and should only last a day or two.
Very common (may occur with more than 1 in 10 doses):
• Pain at the injection site
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Redness or swelling at the injection site
• Shivering
• Sweating
• Aching muscles, joint pain
Common (may occur with up to 1 in 10 doses):
• Reactions at the injection site such as bruising, itching and warmth
• Fever
• Swollen lympth nodes
• Feeling sick, diarrhea
Uncommon (may occur with up to 1 in 100 doses):
• Dizziness
• Generally feeling unwell
• Unusual weakness
• Vomiting, stomach pain, uncomfortable feeling in the stomach or belching after eating
• Inability to sleep
• Tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the chest
• Itching, rash
• Pain in the back or neck, stiffness in the muscles, muscle spasms, pain in extremity such as leg or hand
Rare (may occur with up to 1 in 1000 doses):
• Allergic reactions leading to a dangerous decrease of blood pressure, which, if untreated, may lead to shock. Doctors are aware of this possibility and have emergency treatment available for use in such cases
• Fits
• Severe stabbing or throbbing pain along one or more nerves
• Low blood platelet count which can result in bleeding or bruising
Very Rare (may occur with up to 1 in 10,000 doses):
• Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels which can cause skin rashes, joint pain and kidney problems)
• Neurological disorders such as encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the central nervous system), neuritis (inflammation of nerves) and a type of paralysis known a Guillain-Barré Syndrome
If any of these side effects occur, please tell your doctor or nurse immediately. If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor.

For those side effects, even a 1 in 10,000 chance is too much for me.

Thank you Myusername. I have been to the site you suggest as well.

If mercury is not a problem, why did they remove it from most shots. Don't tell me it was for the few of us who don't get the shots. It cost millions to reformulate the vaccines and since Thimersol is the best preservative they have... it also opens them up to more contamination lawsuits. There is no way they would have done that if there was no evidence that it caused harm.

Great comments everyone. Now I feel much better informed, and I will NOT be getting a flu shot!