Lyme Disease Support Group

Should people with Lymes Disease get the yearly Flu Shot?

I got some homeopathic flu prevention medicine at my doc's office last year. It was made in France. I can't remember the name of it, but I'm calling this week to get some more for this year. It worked!!!

In the past, I've had the 'flu shot' and so have my kids. Guess what? we always got the flu anyway.

If anyone's interested in what I took, I suppose i could post the name of it...but, please always check with your doctor and let him/her know what you're taking .

That year, I was sick for well over 14 days, and missed 10 days of work. I would get better in the evening and think I was going to work the next day, only to end up calling out sick in the morning, my fever spiking to almost 103. I remember it so well because I was just about to get married, and the doc told me they could do nothing for me until I started either vomiting or having diarrhea. Well, whaddaya know, but a day or two later, that started, after I waited 4 or 5 days to go see him, to begin with. Finally, then I could get treated. To this day, I HATE Gatorade, for having to drink so much of it!

At the time, I just started working with animals, and I don't believe I'd been exposed to Lyme, although it's a possibility with living on a farm and being around horses all my life. However, none of my Lyme-like symptoms began until about 3 years later. Although now that I recount that story, I wonder if THAT in itself was actually the beginning. I've always put it at 11 years ago being the first incident I can recall...now I wonder? Hmmm...now you guys got me thinking!

Anyway, I'm no doc, but I'd say NO! to flu shots myself. I will likely NEVER get one again unless somebody hog-ties me. But I DO bite, so they better beware!

Jen

Each years 'batch' of flu vaccine is based on the 'best guess' as to which is going to be the more prevalent strain of flu this year.

So you could get another strain.

Also, with Lyme is a possible lowering of the immune system (I don't always think that's true, though)

But here's what I found about the mercury in flu shots.

Mercury is found in thimerosal (a preservative used in flu vaccines) not in the 'vaccine'.

Thimerosal is 'usually' used only in the multiple dose vials that doctors or clinics use.

If you are 'first in line' and request only single dose flu vaccine it's 'probably' thimerosal (and thereby mercury) free. (I'm just hedging my bets here by saying probably. That's what I read but ALWAYS double check).

Here are some excerpts:

seven states have passed Thimerosal bans in recent years: California, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, New York, and Washington. California is the first to have implemented the ban for the current flu season, but Governor Schwarzenegger temporarily overturned the ban on November 2 after a shortage of mercury-free flu shots led to pressure from state medical groups.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_3400.cfm

2006 article

***********************************

2007-2008 flu season

Thimerosal preservative-free influenza vaccines are available, but in limited quantities. The total amount of inactivated influenza vaccine available without thimerosal as a preservative will continue to increase as manufacturing capabilities are expanded.

At the current time, sanofi pasteur is projecting that 10 million to 12 million doses of thimerosal-free vaccine in pre-filled syringes or vials will be produced for the 2007-08 influenza season. The majority of this vaccine will be in 0.25 mL syringes (indicated for ages 6-35 months) with the remainder in 0.5 mL vials or syringes (indicated for ages 36 months and older).

(The above excerpts are for pediatric use. Perhaps in this flu season there will be different information._)

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/ABOUT/QA/thimerosal.htm

Cave has made a very important point; the flu vaccine does not cover all strains, so if you do get sick, it's most likely because the vaccine did not cover the strain you have.

Over the last 20 years or so, flu shots have been a much bigger "shot in the dark" than ever, meaning you still have at the very least a 50/50 shot at getting sick, because the number of new strains has increased. Who knows what the reason is. Trying to figure it out will only give you a headache.

I believe flu shots are very beneficial to the elderly and the very young, who can use all the protection they can get. Anyone with a healthy immune system should be able to weather the flu season, even though they might get sick.

It still leaves a big question mark for those with active Lyme, who may have weakened immune systems...flu shot or not? A very ponderous question.

I choose not, for personal reasons. Connie spoke most wisely, talk to your doctor, especially if you want to try some natural means of flu prevention. If you tell them you are against the shot, but want to do something, maybe the doc will have a helpful suggestion.

From my wife, the RN, wash your hands, ALOT! That is the best flu prevention.

Tom

Can' agree with you more...Wash your hands....

I used to work in a hospital in the ER as a secretary and all I did was wash my hands

You were very smart! I can't imagine all the germs that were floating around you at every moment...yuck!

Tom

Julie