Before you get too panicked by our US friends' usual medical paranoia, fluenz, the Flu vaccine of choice in the UK does NOT contain mercury, although I can't use it as it uses egg protein as a carrier and I'm allergic to eggs as you know..

Antivaxxer crap, inspired by UK criminal Andrew Wakefield and seized upon by nutjobs in the US.

Unless you have a specific allergy to a flu vaccine component or other medical issue, it is far better to get a shot. There is a non-zero chance that you will die if you get the flu. And if you live with or spend time with the elderly, getting the flu shot means you are less likely to infect them so they die of the flu.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-and-the-nhs-prepare-for-unpredictable-flu-season

I've been buying a flu jab every year for a few years now, at the local supermarket. It seems to work. If I were old enough to get it for free, I wouldn't hesitate.

Selfish of you. Suppose you catch the flu and give it to your mother? It could be fatal to her. Suppose you get it and give it to Ailz?

And besides that, YOUR flu vaccine does not have mercury in it.

NO mercury in Europe. Antivaxxers of the US are tremendously alarmist and irresponsible, I might add. We've been getting flu jabs for many years because the last time I had the flu I swore never again if I could help it. And yes, flu could well kill your mother.

I'm afraid I have to agree with everyone else. The anti-vaccine groups are among the nuttiest and most intellectually flawed of all the conspiracy theorists ... but more importantly, not getting the vaccine truly endangers the vulnerable people around you.

This is a highly suspect article. The author is promoting their own product... which appears to be their special, patented, low-carb diet for fighting disease. Flu shots can NOT contain mercury, as mercury is a poison. If that was the case, people would be dying from them. It however, it does use some similar compounds. Here is a link to the CDC article http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/thimerosal/thimerosal_faqs.html#a

Of course, since there is a distrust of the medical profession, then neither you nor Aliz are going to care what the CDC has to say.

But, the bottom line is, beware of claims made by people trying to sell you something.

Having said that, I don't get flu shots, either. I had a near-fatal reaction to one back when I was 20, and the doctors now say "don't do it... it's not worth the risk".

My Dad has been having 'flu jabs since the late 1960s. As he's now 93, it doesn't seem to have done him any harm and they certainly work. My mum, my brother and me seem to have a pretty good natural immunity. I've only ever had proper 'flu about 3 times in my life, but Dad got it every year, year after year with scarily high temperatures, bad chests and at least a week off work. That's why, when the firm he worked for started offering them to their employees, he tried it and he's never had such severe 'flu again.

Regarding the article, the others have explained the anti-vax paranoia and misinformation better than I could.

If you're allergic to something in the vaccine, don't have it.

But there is no mercury in it. At all.

I've had one for the last five years, and I'm fine.

So there.

Oh, and if you don't trust the medical profession...then stop using the NHS and dial up the local witch doctor. I'm sure they'd be happy to help.

Edited at 2014-11-21 07:40 pm (UTC)

No mercury. And it is a high pressure jet of air that delivers it, not a needle. GET IT DONE YOU WUSS!