630 responses to “Should I get the Flu Shot?”

1. I don’t believe in flu shots. for my family when one of us are coming down with a cold or flu we take Colloidal Silver a couple time a day and with in 2 days all of the flu symptoms go away.

   1. I am just curious how you know that you have the flu. Unless you see a doctor and they do a nasal swab to test for the virus, how can you be sure that you have influenza? I don’t think that the entire population needs to have influenza shots, but they serve a purpose for immune compromised individuals and those at high risk due to frequent exposure, like health care workers. I don’t think they should be mandated though.

      1. FYI Vicky, have you checked the sensitivity of testing for the flu? There are so many strains anyway and it only tests for A and B. SO often, the flu is a clinical diagnosis rather than a lab test, although the gold standard is a viral culture even though we don’t typically do that

      2. Cammy,
         My question was directed at Kevin because he stated, “when one of us are coming down with a cold or flu we take Colloidal Silver a couple time a day…”
         I am well aware of the gold standard, and the sensitivity of the tests, etc. as I have been caring for patients and interpreting test results for 20 years…
         My question was for my own knowledge…some people don’t really know what the symptoms of the flu are, so I was wondering how he knew he had the flu.
         Thanks for your well intended input.

      3. Clearly Kevin and Cammy have no idea what they are talking about.

2. Are you freaking kidding me, is right on!

3. I think you are entitled to your opinion, however before you go around stating that the flu shot is bad for people, please consider this. The body is strengthened by vaccines. Also, there are some people with a very weakened immune system like myself and I can’t just casually afford to encounter the flu, like you suggest. I think it is very careless of you to suggest that. If you don’t want to get a shot then don’t, but I for one depend on this shot every single year.

   1. Keep up the good work Vani!!!! After reading thru all of the above posts from people within the medical community or those who only believe in “scientific” validation I say they are entitled to their opinion as are you and those of us who choose to believe your research into the topic(Flu shots). To all of those who posted siting there is not enough “scientific” validation I say go back and do some more research as even mainstream media is starting to post stats which are clearly also posted on the CDC site(refer to Lynn C comment for the link she kindly provided). Also I would like to remind all who feel the need to post negative and rude responses that they re-read your opening statement and also revisit why you started your blog in the first place which if I am not mistaken was to give people varying views on the topic other than the ones that are systematically shoved down our throats via main stream media/pharmaceutical companies etc. In closing I would just like to say I PERSONALLY love the fact that you give information from “the other side” so to speak because in the end it is and should always be a personal choice!!!

   2. Anna – Did you even read the article?
      She didn’t say it was bad for people, she said to consult your won health provider. She is giving her own opinion and suggests you do to. She simply listed the ingredients in it and is stating what they are. It”s called a fact. You got a problem with facts?

   3. I worked in critical care for over 30 years and our employers always urged us to get flu shots. I am afraid people have been brainwashed that the flu vaccine keeps you from getting the flu. It is a strong immune system that prevents it. Caring for patients hospitalized with the flu, it was only the 2 years it was made mandatory at my hospital to get one that I GOT the flu, and they made me get sick. The rest of those years I refused and never got the flu. But the real truth is, they never cover the strain that is current as it has already morphed into another strain, AND people don’t take care of themselves (i.e.eat nutritional foods and exercise and remove stressors they could remove). They use the excuse to treat their bodies all their life like crap and then want prevention in an artificial way like the flu vaccine and pills. Biggest pharmaceutical scam there is!

      1. Louann, I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with the influenza vaccine. I have been mandated for the past 15 years and I have no idea when I had influenza last. I’ve had cellulitis of the foot at a surgical site, I had pyelonephritis once, some really bad colds, and bronchitis once or twice, but for the most part whatever I got was because a co-worker came into work sick because they didn’t want to call in (feeling that the call in policy was punitive) and they shared their illness with the staff they were working with that shift. I took care of numerous patients with influenza without incident, and had no adverse reactions to the vaccine itself. I am glad that you are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle that prevents you from getting ill. Not everyone is able to do that if they have other chronic diseases that weaken their immune system, however. People who are sick need to stay home, cover their cough, and we all need to be diligent about washing our hands.

      2. Louann,
         Its astonishing that you were ever allowed to care for sick people. The fact is, the vaccine is to protect the immunocompromised people from YOU! Not the other way around. They make healthcare employees get the vaccine so that you cannot easily transmit to those who cannot handle the flu and would likely develop much more sever complications.

         This feed is just unbelievable. I really urge people to read a book that doesnt have to do with conspiracy theories or God for once!

4. You are entitled to your opinion, but the thing about opinions is that they’re not really opinions when you publish them on a blog with a small disclaimer. You mention studies without citing them, you take individual ingredients and say things like “I’d never put that in my body!” Well, I wouldn’t put air particulates in my body either, but then again, I do need to breath. I guess I could live in a bubble, which is the equivalent of what you’re advocating.

   The flu is not just a cold. It kills. Period. It’s killed millions of people. And while I have not seen any evidence of the long term effects you purport (without citations – are they human studies or mouse studies with individual ingredients?), the risk of the flu vaccine simply outweigh the costs.

   You may be young and healthy, but did you know that you can carry the virus without symptoms? Then you go visit your grandmother and she gets the flu but is unable to fight the virus. Vaccination is NOT JUST ABOUT YOU. It’s about the population.

   1. Thank you, Jon! Foodbabe, you need to cite your sources if you’re going to say “a very famous immunologist & geneticist”. Who is this person and where are their studies? And since when is sucrose a toxin? Your body requires sugar to survive. The only time it is problematic, is when it is taken in excess. I doubt a vaccine is going to have so much sugar that it’s going to be considered a toxin. You are spreading propaganda that is misleading people. You need to consider what you say before you post it.

      1. It’s actually glucose not sucrose that your body needs and that is also debatable. Sucrose is 50 percent glucose and %50 percent fructose. Fructose is processed by the liver like alcohol and is quite bad for you.

   2. Furthermore – the flu vaccine is NOT injected into your bloodstream.

   3. You need to cite your sources. The lack of this important detail in many of your posts is making your opinion less relevant.

   4. “You may be young and healthy, but did you know that you can carry the virus without symptoms? Then you go visit your grandmother and she gets the flu but is unable to fight the virus.”

      What does this have to do with getting vaccinated? Anyone can carry the flu virus vaccinated or not.

   5. agree!!!

   6. I worked in critical care for over 30 years and our employers always urged us to get flu shots. I am afraid people have been brainwashed that the flu vaccine keeps you from getting the flu. It is a strong immune system that prevents it. Caring for patients hospitalized with the flu, it was only the 2 years it was made mandatory at my hospital to get one that I GOT the flu, and they made me get sick. The rest of those years I refused and never got the flu. But the real truth is, they rarely if ever cover the strain that is current as it has already morphed into another strain, AND people don’t take care of themselves (i.e.eat nutritional foods and exercise and remove stressors they could remove in their lives). They use the excuse to treat their bodies all their life like crap and then want prevention in an artificial way like the flu vaccine and pills. Biggest pharmaceutical scam there is! And grandma has to die of something eventually, maybe cancer, heart disease or the flu. Maybe it just means she’s too old to survive an insult like the flu and it’s her time. Everyone is so scared of dying. When your time comes, it comes and accept it. We are mortal. We can take the best care of ourselves and walk across the street and get hit by a car and be killed too. Don’t believe everything the pharmaceutical companies tell your doctors and the CDC or Bill Gates. Read everything carefully. Find out how few vaccines really carry the strain needed to protect you when the time comes!

   7. Yes, need to cite sources! Completely agree with that! When making an argument the best way to strengthen one’s to have a study, quote or person to cite.
      And, I know for a fact that my hep B vaccine wore off and I had to get a tider. So, I know she is incorrect in her “fact” that those vaccines last forever. When I read an incorrect statement in an article I tend to discount the entire writing.

5. Be careful with your words and opinions, Food Babe. Your voice is getting stronger and more recognized, and people are taking your work and incorporating it into their lives. That is a big responsibility. At this point in your growth you do not need to resort to dramaticism. Agree with Jon, is not about you, it protecting the population. I love your information about food, but I this this is outside your scope of focus. We don’t need another Dr Oz.. Thanks for reading.

6. Took the words out of my mouth! Love the way you presented the facts. A strong immune system nourished by healthy food and healthy living is a stronger deterrent to flu than any flu vaccine. Thanks 🙂

7. I understand your thinking about the flu shot, The only downside of all the arguments for not getting it is when you and so many others post “could contain” I am looking for what it DOES contain. You make many valid points, I’m still up in the air about getting one this year, Last year I got the shot in October but ended up with bad bronchitis from end of November until February. I could have just gotten the flu and been done and over with it in a couple weeks. I’m loading up on Vitamin D3 daily now and Zinc and supplements. I’ll put off the shot for now 🙂

   1. I agree- it is your opinion & you are entitled, but you are not an authority- the most minuscule amt. of mercury is used- as a preservative otherwise the cost would be prohibitive . As a healthcare PROFESSIONAL, I have seen positive results for over 40 years.

      1. Give me a break, you healthcare PROFESSIONALS are the biggest part of the problem. Don’t even get me started!!!!

      2. to Toby: just to be clear~ What is YOUR “profession!?”

      3. I agree with TOBY. Health care PROFESSIONALS are the problem! Thanks a lot, OBAMA!

   2. they say “could contain” because the companies making the flu shots are very vague and do not tell us all that is in them.

8. Hi Food Babe, I appreciate your outspokenness and breadth of coverage. There is always more to learn. Be aware that the universal recommendation of flu shots for the elderly is starting to get chipped away at. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57570589/cdc-flu-vaccine-only-provided-9-percent-protection-for-seniors-against-worst-strain/. These results are starting to filter into the media and repeated by reputable authorities. This is good news (more or less).

9. I wish more would do their research! This is so true!!! And it’s not about the population, it’s about me and keeping me and my family safe and healthy! Thanks for sharing!

10. Teeny teeny amounts of the above… or killing your infant grandchild by giving it to a baby, or an immunocompromised child or adult (one with arthritis getting Remicade or steroids, etc.)

    This is an irresponsible post. NOT getting a shot influences ‘herd immunity’, not just your own.

    Get unbiased information on the REAL effect of NOT getting your shot, especially if you have heart disease, are over 65, are diabetic, or have other risks: http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3Aproject=medlineplus&query=flu+shot&x=-1266&y=-115

    1. Stephanie, you don’t need the flu shot if you are eating properly, sleeping well and exercising. I have never had a flu shot (unless I did as a child and don’t remember) and haven’t had the flu in nearly 20 years. Be careful of government funded information. They like their money too.

       1. I hardly think you can assume that just because you eat well and exercise you can’t get the flu. That’s silly. You may have a better immune system than many people, but you’re not impervious.
          How do I feel about flu shots? I’m really not sure anymore. I have always had them but I’ve only recently become more aware about what goes in my body. But I wouldn’t go around telling people to simply exercise and eat well and they won’t get it. That’s irresponsible, in my opinion.

       2. Dru: So glad youi’re my pulmonologist. I have severe asthma. Tell me how the librarians at NLM, who have professional ethics, are profiting. Tell me how the physicians, who screen this info for NLM are profiting. BS BS BS BS. Tell me how all the people in 1917-1918, most of who were in the 20s, DID NOT DIE because they were young and eating ZERO junk food (it didn’t exist).

          I am a medical librarian with 30 years’ experience. I remember ALL the fashions in self care – Adelle Davis, magic seaweed, lecithin, etc etc up to and including Dr. Oz.

          I choose to believe in the people who brought us freedom from polio, from children dying from EAR INFECTIONS (mastoiditis), from whooping cough (making a comeback thanks to vaccine fears), from dying from TETANUS aka “lockjaw”.

          Yes, there are profiteers and unscrupulous people in the medical industry (Dr. Oz). But they use scientific evidence.

          I have unfriended Foodbabe and now bow out of this discussion.

       3. Thank you. We have two premature infants at home and it would be a serious situation for them to get the flu. So, even though it’s not a regular thing for our family, we will all be getting the vaccine to protect our littlest family members from a possible hospitalization or death. I don’t know that getting loaded up on Vitamin D will prevent anyone from getting influenza.

11. I acknowledge the fact that the words coming out of your mouth have had some (personal) research behind them. Thank you for your daily comments. It helps enlighten those of us who haven’t the time to do it on our own. Please keep bringing to light the non-transparencies and providing YOUR OPINION.

12. I’m glad you prefaced this by stating that it is opinion. Otherwise anybody could come along and assume that this in any way resembled fact. Please let me know which vaccines are injected directly into the blood stream. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

13. Thanks food babe-always a touchy subject- thank goodness we still have a choice- PLEASE- choose wisely! Think twice before you base your health decisions on govt agency recommendations-hint: ever notice the number of ads soliciting malpractice cases on daytime tv? These drugs/ procedures were also approved by govt agencys.

14. Unfortunately more and more companies and government agencies absolutely require the flu shot as part of the requirements to maintain employment (hospital workers for example) … what are these people to do? Those that prefer not to get the shot for whatever reason. Nothing, they have to or else they lose their jobs.

15. My Flu Shot Is in My fridge!

16. If you’re concerned about the science of Food Babe’s opinion, go read Dr. Mercola’s site – where the science is stated there clearly and whose opinion is the same. The government pushing flu vaccines is the same government who is allowing GMOs to be unlabeled and inside almost every packaged product in the grocery store.

17. Thanks, Food Babe!
    As a phyisician, working on Emergency Medicine, I totally agreee with you. This epidemic lies, about vaccines AND Tamiflu are very strong here in Brazil. The state of paranoia was skyrocking in 2009, since then there´s a new product is in the market.
    Rarelly I see and rarelly I saw cases of genuine FLU on the Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit. Most of the complains are Cold or Rinitis. The brazilian government spends lots of money with shots, as they are close linked with the pharmaceutical laboratories. And the average people, without critical sense, think about epidemics, but forget about CORRUPTION…
    Greetings from Curitiba, South of Brazil ( where we even had snow on this Winter season!)

18. Thank you thank you thank you for writing this!

    My elderly mother sadly passed away in 2010 when she was co-erced into having an (unnecessary) H1N1 flu shot. There are no other words for it. She already had another minor health issue and found herself having ‘terrible back and stomach pains’ for a month after receiving this shot.

    She talked to me about it on the phone (I live in the US, she was in the UK). I had warned her off taking the shot and she realized her mistake even the day after she agreed to have it.

    She was hospitalized a month later, ultimately I transferred her to a hospice and she passed 6 months later of pancreatic cancer, which she did NOT have before the shot. She was 82, had always grown and cooked her own food, kept bees and a beautiful garden, and was an active lady.

    Flu related deaths of the elderly are a reality for sure, a number of different medicines can help – including homeopathic remedies. The ‘flu shot’ IMHO is no help for the elderly and more of a danger since immune systems can be less resilient to these shots. My mum told me to start writing about what I know to help others…hence my blog. So glad that you are doing the same Vani from a fun and healthy viewpoint.

    Thank you again for putting this out there.

    In solidarity

    Sarah Lawrence Hinson
    A Mom On a Spiritual Journey!

    1. I’m curious about your mom’s “other minor health issue” because I have yet to see a link between the H1N1 vaccine and Pancreatic Cancer. As a health care professional, I have cared for many people with the above diagnosis, and when they are diagnosed it is after many months of testing for back and abdominal pain or other vague symptoms that they have. Cancer of the pancreas and cancer of the ovary are 2 very sneaky diseases. Their symptoms are vague until the disease is quite advanced. Did you know that the number 1 risk factor for pancreatic cancer is age? Average age at diagnosis is 71. She may not have been diagnosed before she had the shot, but likely she had the disease before the shot. Based on the timeframe that you state she passed away in, she had the cancer for some time before she was diagnosed. I’m sure you are angry that you lost your mother, and I would be too. I care for cancer patients frequently, though, and understanding how the disease progresses, she didn’t begin to have symptoms until the disease was more advanced. I’m sorry that this was not explained to you. Best wishes on your spiritual journey.
       A current Hospice RN

19. I work with a certain population of people that do not always take care of themselves. Several years ago my doctor suggested I get a flu shot. So I did. Soon after I got such bad respiratory symptoms and it took a month to get through it. I always attributed that stupid vaccine to the reason I got sick. I have never been religious about getting the flu shot and won’t get it again, regardless of what a doctor suggests.

20. ***Disclaimer – This post is strictly based upon my opinion and consultation of my own health provider, I recommend you make the best choice for you and your family based upon your own due diligence and research on this topic.***

    I read and understand!!! I haven’t taken the flu shot and have no intention of doing so. This decision was made before I ever heard of Food Babe. My research, my decision.

21. Thank you for sharing your opinion. I agree with you. I have never got a flu shot and never will. My kids will never get a flu shot either.

22. Thank you…. I was considering the shot for the first time ever as I did experience the flu following being with grandchildren over the holidays last year…… sick for the first time in many years….will again skip it!

23. Food babe-

    Before you go promoting to people the need to opt out of Hurd immunity you should get your facts straight. I’m not going to sit here and argue each one of your ridiculous claims but check out American Academy of Public Health a journal puplished by nationally recognized physicians who are experts in their fields as well as Epocrates. There may be ingrediants in minimal nanogram amounts that if consumed in larger amount would be toxic but again it’s the dosing that would effect you. What comes out of your mouth people may take as Gold so please be cautious with your unqualified words and answers to your “frequently asked questions.”

24. This is so frustrating I can’t stand it. Everyone of course is entitled to their own opinion, however, when you start listing what “might” be in the flu vaccine and that a “well known immunologist” agrees that this is bad….. show me the data, show me the research. I make my decisions based on data that can be backed up not just a person …like Jenny McArthy or this person who has no evidence to back up her attempt to scare the public out of getting vaccines. Not everyone needs the flu shot but I will tell you, watching a 4 year old die of respiratory failure because of influenza may change your thoughts on getting the shot for the population most at risk (children and elderly). Please, if you are going to spread your opinion on a public health matter, please have enough sense to back up your opinion.. there is not one source cited for her information… it is BUNK.

25. I found the blog to be very biased instead of informative. It would be fine because a blog is an opinion. But the beginning paragraphs, stating that you want to give the public information they need to make real informed decisions is false. You just gave your own opinion. You only did research supporting one side. You didn’t give an unbiased view and let the public decide for themselves. Which is just as bad as those “greedy government agencies and pharmaceutical companies” that push their own agenda. I think that’s what you are doing as well.

26. Yeah, baby, YEAH!!!!!!!! Thanks for spreading the TRUTH . . . as the mom of a vaccine-damaged child . . . much research has gone into our decision to cease vaxxing . . . this article is SPOT ON and I am sharing FAR AND WIDE. Thanks for putting into words the thoughts that millions of us parents who are dealing with vaccine damage can’t pull together coherently because we are EXHAUSTED!!!!!

27. I decline to take the flu shot because I don’t feel it’s necessary, this is just more ammunition as far as I’m concerned.

28. I really enjoy your blog on food. But you are way off in your statements on the influenza vaccine. As a family practice physician and epidemiologist I know the value of immunizations for public health. The flu can be deadly-yes it can kill you in a week when the most virulent strains mutate and spread quickly. And this happens about every 20 years historically. ever to the great flu epidemic of 1918. The flu virus mutates every year and that is why there has to be a yearly vaccine. W are overdue for a very bad epidemic. Please protect yourself and all those near to you sand her vaccinated.
    So Foodbabe- please continue your crusade on food purity- leave your medical opinions to yourself or educate yourself more deeply. Many of your statements on this subject are inaccurate and misleading.

29. I had the Asian flu when I was in ?6th grade. I was miserably sick (aches all over and severe joint pain, fever, headache, nausea). The Asian flu was rappant that year and the flu vaccine had just come out but I didn’t get it because I didn’t like needles. After being so sick for so long, I could hardly walk I was so weak. You should read about the flu epidemic of 1918. Many many people died. I take the vaccine every year and so far, few side effects and no flu. I don’t tell other people what to do, but you should know what flu is like before you make a decision, especially if you have other health issues.

30. It is tough going up against conventional wisdom – and there is certainly a lot of hysteria attached to this topic. However, I have found that there are very real concerns with vaccines – especially when they are given within the fully corrupt and profit driven system. There is no oversight of the pharma industry anymore – which is particularly dangerous because people seem to think there is. Only upon closer inspection does one begin to understand how corrupt things really are. Take Merck and the MM&R vaccine – the company pleaded guilty and was fined several billion dollars for falsifying efficacy data – passing off animal antibodies for human. This means thousands upon thousands of children were injected with a substance which had the potential to harm, but not help. The company was fined, but not prosecuted criminally – so there is nothing stopping them from doing it again. Indeed, intellectual property laws were tightened to prevent future whistle blowers from coming forward. That is the obvious – then there is the prevalence of eugenicists sprinkled through the government and elite – who have been caught including sterilants in vaccines… seems to me a thinking person might want to be careful.

31. Please post citations with articles like these- it will boost your credibility! I am totally on page with your argument, but you need some references to back up the studies that you mention so others get on board. Or, at the very least drop some names, i.e./ who is the ‘very famous immunologist & geneticist?’

32. “Past Research Shows Flu Shot May Double Your Risk of Catching Another Type of Flu.” See Dr. Mercola’s article to get more information on this topic. I know I won’t ever get a flu vaccine for myself or my children ever again!
    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/03/flu-shot-increase-flu.aspx

33. Thanks for the information! I’m 60, never had a flu shot and probably never will. Our body is made to fight intruders like viruses. This blog is just an opinion, in a perfect world people would read it and then fact check to their satisfaction. People need to be responsible for their own health and well being, getting information from all sides and then deciding what’s best for you is the best plan of action. Far too many people simply buy into the ‘there is a pill to save me’ mindset. Please be aware that the ‘health’ industry is a huge profit making machine.

34. Who is the “….very famous immunologist & geneticist has completed studies and research that shows in that every five flu shots a person receives over a ten year period they increase their risk of Alzheimer Disease by ten times!”? I’m not being smarmy, I just want to know because I hang out with a lot of geeks and research types and I have no credibility if I don’t give actual citations. I’d love it if you would include cites in your articles more often. Thanks!

35. There is so much factually inaccurate information posted in this article that I would have no idea where to even begin posting inaccuracies. So I’ll simply suggest that a person with no medical or scientific training should probably avoid giving medical advice.

36. I think I’ll get the flu shot because I have a deficiency in Egg Products (including avian contaminant viruses), Aluminum, Thimersol (Mercury), Monosodium Glutamate, (MSG), Chick Embryo Cells, Latex, Formaldehyde, Gelatin, Polysorbate 80, Triton X100 (strong detergent), Sucrose (table sugar), Resin, Gentamycin.

37. first to let you know I never get the flu vaccine because I am healthy and I take the proper steps to help prevent me from getting the flu as she mentions at the end. which are things every health professional recommends anyways.
    everybody knows google is such a great resource for health care research. Hence everything on google must be true.
    she states a couple of times you inject the vaccine directly into your bloodstream. Not true! it is intramuscular. or in other words into a muscle. there is no vaccines that goes directly into your bloodstream. there are also intra nasal.
    she also goes on about why do you need to get re-vaccinated every year and contradicts herself multiple times with this. lots of vaccines are considered for life. some do not. the one she mentions is hep B. I have been vaccinated against hep B multiple times, because like with lots of people our immune response can fade. some vaccine are for life and some are not. our antibodies will need a booster most likely throughout our life at some time. that is not in any research I have read but from personal experience working with patients who do have hepatitis or HIV and we monitor their titers often. then there are also vaccines like Tdap or Td (tetanus) where you get vaccinated every 5-10 years.
    at first she says the virus mutates every year and says the vaccine maker spend four months guessing on what will this years flu strand be. true that it is their best guess of what the virus will be the upcoming year. its a prediction. some years they predict better than others. then she contradicts herself saying it is the same vaccine as the last year. Again, not true. every year it is a new vaccine because as she stated first the virus mutates constantly. even throughout the same flu season.
    she also states that you can build up antibodies naturally. very true. however if the virus is continually mutating your body will need to create new antibodies for each mutation. in other words by the time it takes your body to build up those antibodies to the new strand of virus you have to have been infected by the virus in order for your body to build up the immune response. so you get sick and your body builds an immune response to the virus that makes you sick. then the virus will mutate again and your previous antibodies will not protect you from the new mutation. that’s why the vaccine doesn’t work sometimes.
    like I said at the beginning I do not get the flu vaccine as I am a healthy individual by eating well, exercising and having proper hygiene as not to infect myself. Also she is correct that it is a money making business. so you do have to take it with a grain a salt. I just think this author is not very knowledgable about the subject and has has done some poor research from some very poor sites. she needs to get the facts and then not constantly contradict herself.

38. curious what Vani’s background is? think of all the toxic things most of us ingest, inhale, rub on our skin and so on and so on. Alcohol, red meat, trans fat, sugar, tobacco and so and so on. Everyone should make a decision for themselves, but first educate yourself with all the facts, not from a blog that doesn’t even cite where her facts are coming from. And one more thing, Toby I hope you never need a Healthcare Professional!

39. This post was originally posted in 2011. I love all the people that keep saying “have a good winter”.. Well she’s had TWO good winters and is still posting this article. 😉

    We skip the shot. My husband and five children. I had the flu once when I was 12. It SUCKED.. but I got over it.

    1. Congratulations on getting over it!

       Many people don’t, though.

40. You can’t make claims without citations and references. Very irresponsible post. Not saying your points are wrong or right, but you need to cite your sources.

41. I realize it is from 2011- apparently she has no new info ! And- as for being a healthcare professional- yep! 40 years experience, a college degree and a
    professional license that I maintain- vaccines have more positives than NOT receiving protection. Once again- good luck this winter, folks!

42. I work for a local healthcare facility that requires you to get the flu shot. Is there anything i can do if i don’t want to take it? I have never in the past and don’t really want to start now. How can they force you to take it?? I hear i can actually lose my job if i refuse it??? Please advise if you can.

    1. If your employer tries to make you get the flu shot, tell them you already got it from your doctor last week. Thats what i do.

       1. What do you do when they ask for documentation that your received it? My facility requires written proof that you were vaccinated. Either you bring it in, or you must sign a medical records release. Just wondering….

       2. We have to show proof we got the shot at the health facility where I work if we get it at another place.

       3. Good idea- lie! That’s what everyone is about these days! And- as for those who question “healthcare professionals” I hope you never need one!

       4. I think it’s a hippa violation to keep pushing the issue after you said you got the shot.

       5. You tell the doctor at your work that the last time you received a flu shot you got heart palpitations & broke out in hives. They cannot make you take it & will sign the exemption for you, It’s a “doctor/patient confidentially thing”, & no one else’s business.

       6. You cannot fake it. You have to have proof you got the shot. This now has become state wide I believe. I myself work for a healthcare facility and you either take the shot or if you do not, you have to wear a mask for the entire flu season.

    2. Try finding out if you can exclude yourself from the flu shot by religious means — in other words tell your employer “it’s against my religion/church’s beliefs/congregation.”

    3. Tell them you have an egg allergy.

       1. You can say anything you’d like and not get it but you have to wear a mask, bottom line. This is a new law that has been put into place. You DO NOT have to get the shot though.

    4. I would have to say you have never had the flu if you want to “up your vitamin D and just recognize your body needs a break” your body is fighting for its existance and quite possibly die from the flu. Thiomersal (INN), commonly known in the US as thimerosal, is an organomercury compound. This compound is a well established antiseptic and antifungal agent. Thiomerosol is not Mercury, the metal! Scare tactic!
       Triton X-100 is a commonly used detergent in laboratories.[5] Some applications include: It is a non surfectant ionic.
       Permeabilizing unfixed (or lightly fixed) eukaryotic cell membranes
       Solubilizing membrane proteins in their native state in conjunction with zwitterionic detergents such as CHAPS
       Part of the lysis buffer (usually in a 5% solution in alkaline lysis buffer) in DNA extraction
       Reducing surface tension of aqueous solutions during immunostaining (usually in concentration of 0.1-0.5% in TBS or PBS Buffer)
       Dispersion of carbon materials for soft composite materials
       Restricting colony expansion in Aspergillus nidulans in microbiology
       Decellularization of animal-derived tissues
       Polysorbate 80 another nonsurfectant (no bubbles) ionic.
       The rest of the list is fairly inert, sans formaldehyde (preservative? in a lot of things, not a fan)
       Gentamycin is an antibiotic! whats wrong with that?
       Also, who doesn’t eat chicken eggs or sugar? and how do you avoid it when it is in so many of our foods?

       Do your research before you post this kind of stuff. Stick to your juices and excercise. Take all the supplements you want. There is research that shows it helps. I have asthma and am not interested in having pnuemonia, (life threatening, undisputeable). I have worked with many RNs who were pregnant and could not wait for the vaccine to come out. Another case of the risk vs. benefits. Also to be credible you need to avoid terms like “maybe” and “potentially” and “can cause”. I want definitive, information, like possibilities.

       1. Thank you for posting this. Food babe may know alot about other things but she certainly knows or did no research on this at all.

       2. I am 100% in support of what you say. I had lung cancer at age 33 and had a portion of my lung removed. You will never catch me going without the flu vaccine. I have no desire to further damage my lungs and suffer with pneumonia or any other complications that can arise from the flu. Thank you!

       3. They do not “inject it directly into the blood stream”! Check your work before you publish lies. Whether or not it is your opinion, you are calling health care professionals liars and that’s exactly what you are doing by making this statement. The vaccine is injected IM which stands for intra-muscular, meaning it is injected into a muscle. If you watch the injection being given, once they insert the needle into the muscle, they pull back on the plunger to make sure there is no blood flashback. If there is, they reposition the needle and pull back again just to make sure they aren’t injecting into the blood stream.

       4. But what about the other stuff? The MSG? We are sensitive. My sister actually landed in ICU the first time she had MSG. My kids are all sensitive. What about the Aluminum? It’s linked to Alzheimers. A lot of people don’t eat chicken, eggs, or sugar. My kids were allergic to eggs when they were really little. And why an antibiotic if you don’t need it? I’m not sick…

       5. Angella Twitt
          According to the FDA, Thiomerosol is a mercury.
          http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/UCM096228

          Do your research.

          Oh sorry I mean Angella Witt.

       6. Hi Rivera. Thimerosal contains mercury. No one is denying that. However; thimerosal is not equivalent to injecting liquid mercury, which is how it is typically presented in uninformed articles like this one. To the uninformed it seems logical that compounds would retain the properties of their respective elements, but this is not true for thimerosal just as it is not true of salt, which is a combination of a spontaneously-combustible metal and a poisonous gas. You and the author are both simply wrong and your ad hominem was weaksauce, too.

       7. Please, PLEASE follow advice like this at your own risk. I work in a hospital and I am a Respiratory Therapist. I have seen the Flu KILL PEOPLE MY AGE AND YOUNGER AND I AM ONLY 30 years old. I understand that people are afraid of vaccines, but if you do have a weakened immune system or work in a high traffic environment, please understand that this isn’t a game, it is your life. Yes, there are many different strains of the flu and yes the CDC doesn’t know which will be the most popular for lack of a better word, that year. But as a person who has seen what the flu can do, and believe me Pneumonia is not a joke at any age to anybody ,and it is the least of the flu problems, I will always take the flu vaccine. I have asthma as well and wouldn’t be caught without one any year, it can KILL an asthmatic very easily. Not just for myself, but for the babies I come into contact with, and yes the flu will kill a child in certain cases, but also for my loved ones at home who come in contact with me everyday….BTW the person at the op of this thread is awesome!

       8. Wait a minute. Who said they ever tested these shots? None of those products have been proven safe for your brain or body. No human testing except all the lab rats that run down and get a shot as soon as it comes out. You will all see later when it is too late.

       9. ^ How can you tell people to “do your research” when you’ve only copied and pasted from WIKIPEDIA?!! Simply naming the ingredients with an incredibly brief description does not translate into actually understanding the effects on the body.

          You gloat about people needing to do their researsch but you don’t even know what you’re talking about, Angela Witt. Thimoersal IS mercury, it is metabolized into ethylmercury. You have no idea what you are talking about. Take a community college level Chemistry class and enlighten yourself a little bit before you spew lies onto the internet.

          Thiomersal is very toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and in contact with skin (EC hazard symbol T+), with a danger of cumulative effects. It is also very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in aquatic environments (EC hazard symbol N).[12]

          In the body, it is metabolized or degraded to ethylmercury (C2H5Hg+) and thiosalicylate.[4]

          Few studies of the toxicity of thiomersal in humans have been performed. Cases have been reported of severe poisoning by accidental exposure or attempted suicide, with some fatalities.[13]
          Animal experiments suggest that thiomersal rapidly dissociates to release ethylmercury after injection; that the disposition patterns of mercury are similar to those after exposure to equivalent doses of ethylmercury chloride; and that the central nervous system and the kidneys are targets, with lack of motor coordination being a common sign.

          Similar signs and symptoms have been observed in accidental human poisonings.

    5. I know people that didn’t want to immunize their kids. They said it was against their religion and wrote a letter to the school. Their kids were never vaccinated. They even went as far as to make up the name of the group and write a letter on “church” letterhead.

    6. Thank you for posting this. I stopped getting the flu shot about 20 years ago when my chiropractor gave me the information you just posted above. Regular visits to the chiropractor, eating right and exercise have helped me stay flu free for over 20 years. I also take a daily shot of an organic tonic called Fire Cider to boost my immune system.
       My children will never and have never gotten the flu shot. They have, also, never gotten the flu.
       Love your blog!!

    7. They cannot force you to get the flu shot if it is against your religious beliefs or if you have a medical reason against it (that maybe your health provider can provide?).

    8. I worked in health care for several years and they can not fire you for refusing the the shot. You have to sign a waver form that indicates you will not place blame on the company your are working for if you do get sick. The only time I had the flu shot, I got the flu and missed more work than ever.

    9. Welcome to “free country…” I would consult with a lawyer. I am sure fairing on this base is illegal.

    10. I would consult with a lawyer. I am sure this is illegal to be fired on the flu shot base. Welcome to free country…

43. Hey foodbabe. Could you please cite your sources? I shared this on my facebook page and many of my friends feel the information is made up if there are no sources cited. Thank you.

    1. Agreed. You may have some good points, but without referencing your sources, I’m left with more questions than answers. If you are following the science in forming your opinion, I suggest you follow scientific protocol and reference your sources.

       1. Food Babe is correct in what she published. The shot does go into the muscle if one wants to be specific, then gets carried into the blood stream. There are many books by reputable doctors that support the information. Amazon and the Library stock them. Dr Russell Blaylock (Neurologist) addresses this in his books and websites. I personally choose not to get injected and do the natural thing to stay healthy. My sister-in-law’s doctor gives her a Vitamin D3 shot every year and she does not get the flu, despite working with children. Both my parents got the flu shots last year with my father getting other ones his doctor said he needed. They both got sick with the flu after the shot and my father, who has Parkinson’s ended up with several respiratory infections caused by the shots. He also had a violent reaction to the DTAP as well. My mother reported the adverse reaction to the doctor who was suppose to report it to the Vaccine Injury Board. No more shots for them! Also, the elderly get a stronger dose of the shot. All this to say, check out what many doctors are saying. Also, there is a homeopathic “version” of the shot that employers should accept for those who are required to get one.

       2. I know of two people this year who became very sick within two days of getting the flu shot. The virus in the shot is not live, so ‘technically’ getting the shot can’t give you the flu, but it weakens your immune system so much that you are open and vulnerable to anything and everything you come into contact with, including the flu virus itself. At least, this is what I know, having worked in pharmaceuticals once upon a time. In my line of work, I used to hear a lot of stories of people getting very sick after the flu shot. …I had to take the flu & DTAP vaccines this year, against my will – don’t ask! I immediately drank kale smoothies with ginger and lemon juice, and I took 2000mg of l-lysine for a few days to shore up my immune system. I have stayed well. Will avoid at all costs going forward!

44. If you thought the GMO trolls were bad, welcome to the more rabid trolls out fighting any opinion stated in the webosphere that questions the status quo of vaccines. Here are the trends and topics you can expect to see from the paid propagandists. All of it has already shown up here:

    – vaccines are not for you, they are for all those around you thus you are selfish and irresponsible not to vaccinate early often and just get the damn shot
    – my relative died or was maimed by a vaccine-preventable disease – you are stupid if you don’t vaccinate
    – SCIENCE…are you a SCIENTIST? Because this is not SCIENCE. SCIENCE says vaccines are safe and you are not qualified to have an opinion unless you are a SCIENTIST.
    – if you are or you cite a SCIENTIST with an alt-vax point of view, then you are a QUACK and your cited source is a QUACK.
    – polio, polio, all hail the end of polio; criticize vaccines and it is coming back.
    (note see my earlier comment re: “The Virus & The Vaccine” and “The Origin of AIDS” for 2 very scientific and historic recounting of catastrophic polio vaccine contamination.
    – then there’s the casting of stones and knashing of teeth with useless comments such as “idiot”

    If you want to get a comprehensive look at the alternate views vaccines and vaccine policy and the harsh realities of vaccine injured people, check out AgeofAutism.com and mercola.com. Google Gardisil girls too.

    In the meantime, stay strong and carry on…your opinion, your body, your right to voice it and choose what goes in it and what stays out.

    PS: vaccine propaganda trolls suck, and they are worse and more widespread and more organized than GMO trolls. If enough people get mad enough about the hate and intolerance they spew maybe enough of them will be out-ed and ashamed of what they are doing to earn a dime and eventually they will go away.

    1. Thumbs up! Well said.

       So many comments refer to the need for research and citations when the same people poisoning our food with GMO’s and brainwashing parents into 21+ vaccines in a babies 1st year are the funding source of the research.

       You pretty much summed it up! The haters on these blogs must get paid to waste their time spellchecking others (oh wait spellcheckers do it for fun) and trying to shut others down. The comments that put the most info out are the ones they go after the hardest.

       Anyone who does conduct the research is swiftly and publicly brought down whether their research was valid or not.

       For all the vaccine junkies out there, my advice is double up this year and see what happens! The vaccines are safe right? Go for it! For me and my own I say research all you want but you will not find what you need to make the best decision on the internet or in a medical journal.

       Food Babe keep it up! All the fiery responses generate more desire for knowledge and change. Wrong or right she gets the wheels turning and I will definitely continue to follow my gut and run when someone come near my kids with a vial of inoculations.
       Best wishes!

       1. Beth
          I clicked on a friend’s FB link out of professional interest. Hell, as I have no children I don’t even have a personal stake in the matter if, 30 years from now, deadly diseases returning to the population en masse. I have no illusion whatsoever that anything I say will change any idiot’s mind, hence I feel no need to engage you on a any intellectual level. This is one of the few instances in life where name calling will do just fine. Hey, it seems to work for you (labeling everyone a troll)!

          Since nobody else had done it, I just HAD to call out your certifiably BPD distortions of logic. And now I am content and ready to return to the world of the non intellectually subnormal

    2. Beth, I am not a GMO troll…I have a beautiful organic garden (which is seasonal because I live in zone 5) and I am very choosy about what I put in my body. I just wonder if you have a comparison of the number of lives that were saved by getting vaccinated (not necessarily by the flu vaccine…which I think should be a personal choice), but by serious childhood diseases like polio, german measles, diphtheria, pertussis, small pox, or tetanus. I know that there are way more vaccines given during childhood now than when I was a child, or even when my children were growing up. Some of the newer vaccines were developed while my children were growing up…and I read up on them, and I refused some of them. I looked at each vaccine on an individual basis, and the disease, and made an educated decision based on the information I found. Like I stated on another post, pertussis is now coming back because adults did not get lifelong immunity from their childhood vaccines, so they are now including it with tetanus and diphtheria boosters. Children who have not been vaccinated are now at risk for getting pertussis from adults who no longer have immunity and have not had any additional vaccines. Whooping cough is more than just a nuisance for these children…it can kill them. Before you ask, one of my 3 children may have had an adverse reaction to her vaccines, but there is no direct correlation. Even still, I do not regret my decision to vaccinate. I am not pro-vaccine out of ignorance. I am pro-vaccine as a health care professional, and an educated consumer in regards to health care for my family. My husband and I reviewed the material and made the decision together. None of my children had the varicella vaccine…all 3 had chicken pox, and 2 of them have already had shingles; 1 at 19 and one at 20 and 21 (he had shingles twice, and suffers from post herpetic neuralgia, which is a severe complication.) The one who stayed in a dorm had the meningitis vaccine, but the other 2 who went to community college did not (it is only good for 2 years anyway). We skipped the HIB vaccine, took the Hepatitis B vaccine, understanding each disease process and how each disease is acquired. I also insisted on my children getting killed polio vaccine for the first dose in a time when it was unheard of before receiving the live vaccine, due to the risk of developing polio from the live vaccine. I understand that now they give 2 doses of killed vaccine prior to administering the live vaccine…I guess I was a trend setter with that one.
       Just know that these were MY decisions for MY family. I gave a speech in school about being an educated consumer in regards to health care. As long as people make an informed decision and aren’t making decisions based on what Aunt Suzy said, or because that’s what my best friend did, I really don’t care. Take the time to educate yourself.
       I can’t tell you how many times I have encountered people who are taking medication because the doctor told them to. I always tell them, if the doctor gave you poison, would you take that too? I wouldn’t put anything in my body without knowing what it was for and what it would do to me, and I would hope that no one else would do that either.
       Oh, and BTW Danielle, if I hadn’t taken my influenza vaccine for the past 15 years (without incident, I might add) who would be taking care of all the sick people during flu season? Don’t be a hater…there are a lot of people out there who take those flu vaccines every year so they can care for sick people in doctors offices, hospitals, and in their homes (and I have done all of the above).

       1. I have no reason to think that any of your story is untrue or your opinion is not really your own, Vicki. There are plenty of educated pro-vaccination supporters out there, and it sure sounds like you are one of them. Cheers for sharing your perspective. 🙂

          That said, your post does bring to mind an additional thing I forgot to add to my list of what to expect on the internet when you question vaccines. That other thing is when you start to call out the bullies and the trolls – who are very real – the tone oftentimes will shift from hate and intolerance of any who question vaccines to more of a middle road and quasi-common ground language that seems to sort of support a more cautious approach to vaccines.

          If you analyze the “common ground” comments, though, they are typically 5-10% connection language and 90-95% supportive of vaccines in some way shape or form that builds on the themes I identified earlier.

          It’s PR 101 and is as predictable as clockwork.

          Just my .02…

       2. And when the trolls are further called out, they revert back to name calling – like crackpot. 🙂

          Believe me, over the years I’ve been called the equivalent of that many times by other vaccine trolls in message boards and in comments to any articles that hint at an alt view to vaccines. I’ll take the name calling all day long, and I hope it draws more eyeballs and more attention to my story which if you’re following this thread I’ll post here:

          My daughter had an immediate and prolonged reaction to her routine shots. She began screaming like a wild animal in pain 30 mins after her shots. She screamed at the top of her lungs with terror in her eyes for over 6 hours straight – non stop screaming is something you can never forget. The French call this the “encephaletic scream” and it is a known adverse effect of vaccinations. My daughter stopped communicating with me that day and she stopped making eye contact and she was an irritable, off-and-on screaming wreck of an infant for many weeks. I prayed everyday as I held my screaming baby close for God to give me my baby back, the normal healthy baby that was who she was before that vaccine reaction.

          Today, I have no ongoing health concerns, no lawsuits and no insurance coverage issues for my vaccine-injured child. She does have severe astigmatisms in both her eyes which worsen every 6 months, and I’ll always wonder if the brain inflammation reaction she had to her shots caused her eye problems and if that’s why she stopped looking at me – she could no longer see me clearly.

          Can you believe that in the VAERS (vaccine adverse event reporting system) there are thousands of reports of children who stop making eye contact after their shots? And can you believe given that’s the case, that it has NEVER been studied before if routine vaccines can cause damage to vision. It is a myth that vaccines are the safest and most studied medical products on the market.

          I’m not anti-vaccine, I’m pro-precautionary principle and pro-informed consent.

          And speaking of being informed, if you are a FoodBabe follower who’s concerned with GMOs in your food, you should really investigate before you vaccinate because GMO’s are used in many routine childhood vaccines. I’d list them here but know they start with HepB which is the shot given to day old infants. HepB is transmitted by needles as in drug use and by sex. Babies are not at risk from contracting this disease, so why is it even on the CDC recommended vaccine schedule?

          The answer will shock you.

          Convenience. It is convenient to vaccinate the baby while still at the hospital.

          Who does this serve? Not the new mom, the not new baby who’s not even a risk, not those concerned with GMO’s because it’s not disclosed that it’s a GMO vaccine.

          We all know who this serves, and it’s not we the people. It’s the mighty corporations who are most concerned with their own financial interests.

       3. Interestingly enough I am a nurse and I do not get the flu vaccine. It is not required and I abstain. I have not got the flu in the past 5 years either.
          I also work with autistic children and the correlations that you speak of are evident but will never be published in this lifetime. You are aware that studies that state correlate or covariate can never be published because they are not statistically sound. For instance it is just a correlation that “more drowning deaths occur in summer” get the drift. The vaccine damaged children, elderly etc. just happen to be sick right after vaccines. The food out there that our kids eat and the vaccines we give or children to save them are causing neurological complications and correlation or cause I will do what I want until proved otherwise either way.

          I am not completely against vaccines I give them cautiously and one at a time. However I have seen over 50 videos this year of children babbling, speaking and communicating at 18 months that get their shots and less than a week later can’t even track their parents with their eyes and don’t respond to their name. Autism has risen and so have the numbers of shots and GMO’s riddled food.

          Who is making money off of the vaccines, food and even autism? Politicians, the food industry and pharmaceutical companies, and their pockets keep getting fatter.

          To answer your question if you have the flu and need to go to the hospital there will be enough people to care for you, with or without the shot you can still contract the flu because it’s not even gauranted to work.

    3. Beth, I don’t mean to “correct your spelling” but Hepatitis B is transmitted by blood and bodily fluids, not just by needles. An infant can get it from an infected mother during an vaginal delivery or from breast milk, thus the vaccination of a 1 day old infant. That incubation period in the mother allows the infant to develop some acquired immunity. I merely point this out as the rationale for the early vaccine…not really to correct your spelling.

       Truly, I came back to share a link that I found when I was looking for something totally different. This eloquently expresses my feelings as a medical professional better than I can. The physician who wrote it hit the nail right on the head…we are totally in sync. I hope some folks will take the time to read it.

       http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-10788/vaccinations-are-they-helping-or-hurting.html

       I sure hope you don’t take offense to my piece of education…I just wanted to help you understand why the guideline was set up the way that it is, I was not trying to be obnoxious. As far as the HPV vaccine, the research that I have done does not allow me to support administration of that vaccine, so I can’t address the rationale for the guideline for that one starting at age 10 or 12 (I believe).

       1. Hi Vicky, no offense whatsoever to any vaccine education. I have read very deep and very wide on the topic of vaccines, and yes, the one situation you describe – a pregnant mother-to-be who is a carrier of hepatitis B (ie. has a chronic infection) can pass the infection to her newborn infant via body fluids so that may be the ONE instance where HepB vaccination is warranted. For the rest of the 99% of the pregnant moms and babes out there, it’s corporate opportunism. Sorry, it just is.

          That said, even HepB positive moms should consider the fact that routine HepB vaccination programs were ended in France due to health authorities there determining there is a causal relationship between HepB vaccination and the onset of Multiple Schlerosis.

       2. Beth,
          Just so you know…I think that the CDC’s vaccine recommendation is crazy, in my own opinion. There were no where near that many vaccines when my kids were small, and I delayed or omitted vaccines as I stated before. There is no way that an infant’s immature immune system can tolerate all those vaccines at once.

          I was intrigued by the information you provided regarding Hepatitis B. I read several sites, and this is what I found supposedly from WHO…

          http://www.ncirs.edu.au/immunisation/fact-sheets/hepb-vaccine-ms-fact-sheet.pdf

45. So many of these comments are ridiculous. The flu shot is completely different from childhood vaccines-probably the opposite. There is no evidence that the flu shot provides group immunity. Childhood vaccines do provide group immunity. The issue with childhood vaccines is possible side effects ect.

    The evidence that points to the fact that flu shots are a waste of resources is widely available. Go look it up. Don’t be pro vaccine out of ignorance. Find out which vaccines really work ect….Then you can have a strong oppinion

46. I get not wanting the “immunization” based on all of the other crap that goes along with the antivirus. That is pretty much right down Food Babe’s alley. But she shouldn’t have gone past that. You cannot make claims against the science of immunizations without giving citations, or, at the very least, sources that planted the seeds of doubt, else you run the risk of making yourself look like another holistic wacko. Sorry if that offends some people, but I’ll take science over pseudoscience any day; ergo, Food Babe’s microwave cooking fallacies.

    I don’t get the shot myself, because I am a big believer in keeping strong the body’s natural defenses by eating healthy and being active. I use no anti-bacterial products whatsoever and get very few colds. Can’t remember the last time I suffered a gastrointestinal illness… or the flu. When I feel run down, I make sleep a priority.

47. Well written and I agree with the information as I, too, have gone beyond the traditional medical community to find out information. But, as a member of that community, I also recognize the importance and need for cited sources. It is sad that so many will be “spoon fed” opinions and one-sided research from the traditional community without questioning the validity because it is “main stream” and has been publicly spread for years. I agree, we need to spread “the rest of the story”, but with that is the responsibility to go above and beyond because people are going to question more harshly. We are living in a “quick fix” society…building a strong immune system takes time and personal accountability that the many shy away from. Accepting that the FDA does not have our safety in mind over money means shaking their entire belief system. That is too terrifying for many to fathom…so it is easier for them to live it ignorant “bliss”. I would love to see the sources documented to share with others…as I said, this is how I live, but others are not so accepting. Thank you for sharing.

48. Just a few things to clarify in your piece — just because you get a disease doesn’t mean you have lifetime immunity. Pertussis (whooping cough) is one example. You can get this disease, recover, and then you can get it again later in your life. Having a disease does not always give you lifetime immunity to it. And, one of the worries is the spread to susceptible babies who’s immune systems are very immature. So, some vaccines are definitely worthwhile and do provide that “herd” immunity and protection for the little babies. If you’ve ever seen a little baby with this disease in particular (I have), watching them struggle for air, it’s heart breaking. I’ve also put many infants in the hospital with pneumonia caused by influenza. Do I recommend every vaccine for my patients? no. But I do think an educated decision is important when considering vaccines. Make sure your sources are valid sources and not just heresay and opinions.

    1. AND — vaccines are not injected DIRECTLY into your bloodstream. Be careful that your information is Accurate and TRUE or you’ll just be one of those “crazy” granola people making ridiculous claims and your validity will be thrown out the window by many. I enjoy your blog and the information presented. However, the inaccurate statements in this blog makes me question your knowlege base and the information presented. I was a disappointed in the Food Babe after reading this blog post. Bummer

49. Thank you!!! Vaccines are dangerous. People are now starting to wake up. I worked in pharma and now in medical and will fight and do all I can not to get another shot for me and my family. It’s BIG business and a profit at stake so expect there to be a push from govt to force vaccinate. They get a tax from every shot administered. The govt has paid out billions in compensation from death or vaccine injuries. It’s hidden from the publics eyes so we have a false sense of security. There is a reason cancer, autoimmune. Issues , Alzheimer’s , and YES autism and brain issues are on the rise. When a researcher or physician speaks out they get targeted. I personally know ppl who do brain development research and physicians who have woken up and cannot believe how dangerous the system is with this but they cannot speaks out. It’s wrong and bad and criminal. So thank you for speaking out.

    1. Nicole, I agree that there is a reason that cancer, autoimmune issues, Alzheimer’s, etc, is on the rise, but I don’t think that pharma or traditional medicine, or vaccines should take the big blame for it. Let’s take a look at some environmental issues like pollution of the air, water, and earth. How about dietary issues, like the fact that people that I see with cancer are frequently obese who eat a diet that consists of fast food and high in simple carbs, processed foods and, yes, loads of sugar. It is true that we need glucose to live, but the body makes glucose out of complex carbs, fats and proteins. There are plenty of studies out there that also support what I am saying. When vaccines and antibiotics first were developed they improved the health situation as a whole if you look at statistics. At the same time we had an increased use in medications, and development of more vaccines, we also had an increase in processed foods, and fast foods, and junk foods, diet soda, and the like. That is why, as I stated before, you need to do research and make an educated decision looking at all the information. Make sure that you are looking at reliable sources. Or, you can fly by the seat of your pants if you feel like it. I really doesn’t matter. All the name calling and the finger pointing isn’t fixing the problem.

       I am not sure where you got your information about acquired immunity, but it depends upon the vaccine. You really need to do some better research, because some of the people reading this know the facts from working in the medical profession. I received the MMR as a child, and I am 53 years old and my titre is still positive. I would say that it lasted slightly longer than 8-10 years. Hepatitis A and B generally result in lifetime immunity. You may need to have a titre checked to see if you need a booster or not.

       If you want to rely on your immune system, that is always an option…it usually lasts for about 60 years or so, and then your immune cells tend to decrease in quantity, because, as the old saying goes, nothing lasts forever. That would be why they start recommending pneumonia vaccines and influenza vaccines around age 65…your immune system isn’t at a place where you can fight off a serious illness like that, and you are at higher risk to die from it. Who is always at risk? The young who have not built immunity yet, and the old who have lost their immunity.

       Yes, there are holistic medications that you can take, but there are not large studies that have been done on them that prove their efficacy as people age. When your immune system is functioning properly good diet, exercise, proper amount of rest, and holistic medication for a person without chronic illness can be very effective. There may come a time when you need to consider other interventions, however….unless you are okay with transitioning into the next realm.

       In summary, my philosophy is that I don’t discount any treatment that has value when I have researched it, and I don’t think the answer is black or white. There are many shades of grey that we are missing when we take an all or nothing stance.

       Sorry for the rant…

    2. As a pediatric nurse I have to say vaccines are not as dangerous as people make them out to be. I am Pro vaccine for my children but I don’t ridicule those who don’t. I just wish people who do not vaccinate would understand the risks it puts other children in!

       1. That’s quite a blanket statement. Vaccines are not a marker for health. My kids are unvaccinated but I am OCD about their diet and well being and they are far healthier than any vaccinated kid I ever met. My nanny’s son is fully vaccinated and has always been sick every time he has visited my place. I could say that her choice to unnecessarily vaccinate her son, feed him a gmo high sugar grain based diet is putting my daughter at risk. Many factors play into what makes up our ‘health’ and where will it end if we start to object on others choices as they apply to us.

50. And do some research on herd immunity and who “coined” this. Vaccine immunity wears off 8-10 years. Herd immunity is a facade. Please wake up and protect yourself and your family.