I know there are those who think we are the smartest, most evolutionarily savvy organisms on the earth. Well, I have to say that the Flu is smarter than us–all 400+ strains of it. I will first start by saying–I don’t get a flu shot. I will also say I didn’t get my kids a flu shot this year nor did I get them the H1N1 vaccination. Why you ask? No it isn’t because I am a bad mom and want them to get sick. It’s because I believe that they are gonna get the flu whether or not they get the shot. Last year the scientists picked the wrong strains of flu and the shot was virtually worthless. We were lucky and no one at our house got sick. This year flu season is in full swing in reality but theoretically it hasn’t started yet, and we already have thousands of cases of flu. My kids and hubby both got it as have half of my sons friends at school (the good majority who got flu shots already) and all of the kids at my daughter’s daycare.
I am a firm believer that germs are good and that we are evolutionarily well suited to adapt. This year was the first year that Noah has gotten sick and it is also Zoë’s first illness of note since being home. I cringe at the news with all the hysteria of H1N1 and flu vaccine shortages. When I grew up there was no flu vaccine and I survived just fine. You’d think we’d have learned our lessons with what has happened with antibiotics and how viruses and bacteria adapt as we attempt to eradicate them, leaving us with drug protocols that don’t necessarily work.
So did you get a flu shot?
Embracing Imperfection 
I kind of agree with you. I am not really planning on getting our family vaccinated either with the seasonal vaccine either. I am thinking about the H1N1 vax when it comes available.
I also totally agree about germs being good as well. A nurse friend of mine doesn’t allow too much hand gel in her house just for that reason.
So if we are sick, I guess we can be sick together!
.-= Kari Kelly´s last blog ..Another Rear View Mirror Post =-.
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Chiming in here…I’m with you on all these flu shots. Not getting them myself or for my kids. Whenever I start to second guess my decision or get paranoid over the media “hysteria”, I try to read an article by Dr. Jay Gordon or Dr. Sears, both of whom make a lot of sense & are certainly very balanced and level headed in their thinking, which is backed up by experience & research. Dr. Jay mentioned recently that he believes getting immunity the natural way to HINI this year would actually be a good thing to do because it will likely mutate in the future and become worse and those who got temporary “immunity” from the shot will not be protected whereas those whose immune systems were exposed naturally will be (which is basically why those 60 & over are not in the group to get the HINI shot as they were exposed to a previous version years ago).
What we are doing is trying to be more vigilant about hand washing/sanitizing, vitamins, eating well, & staying hydrated. Also, I’m even eating fresh raw garlic when I can stomach it (love garlic, just prefer it roasted or cooked) b/c that’s a cheap & effective way to stay healthy. Something important for to keep in mind also is Vitamin D’s importance to a healthy & properly functioning immune system. Important to keep in mind that in flu season it can be harder to get this the natural way, so supplements are a good idea and esp important to remember that the darker the skin, the longer it takes for the body to make Vit D thru sun exposure.
Sorry this is so long, but wanted to let you know you aren’t the only one as I think it can be hard not to second guess ourselves sometimes in these areas and while I credit science & medical advances for a lot, I think its sometimes in our benefit to just trust our immune systems to do the job they were created to do.
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Nope…I never get one either and I only have had the flu twice. My Grandmother use to always get so sick after she got one that it kind of scared me from getting one. I have a couple times but not any more.
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I agree so much. I have never personally received a flu shot. I considered getting the regular one this year for the first time, but have not received it yet and now am not planning on it. We had considered them both for Mamush, but then just planned to get the reg. flu shot since H1N1 is so new. I prefer to avoid them, but I do admit some of the hysteria has worn me down and my thoughts have fluctuated. Overall, we have really increased our focus on handwashing. I’ve noticed a flurry of disinfectant, lysol, and hand sanitizer purchases by myself due to all the craziness. I’ve left more than one store the last couple months laughing at myself for the games I feel going on in my brain from this motherhood gig!
.-= Jenni´s last blog ..Fall Fun =-.
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