The truth about flu shots and vaccines?

What's your opinion on it? I hear a lot about it on both sides, both for and against. It's a very controversial subject, but I'm just interested in everyone's opinions. How has it affected you or someone you love? Have you had an experience with it?

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CountScrofula · 41-45, M

Vaccines have absolutely affected people I love.

My grandfather had mumps, which rendered him infertile and thus my mother was an only child.

Mumps is now preventable with a vaccine.

My mother is a polio survivor, she spent almost her entire childhood in the hospital and now has severe scoliosis.

Polio is now preventable with a vaccine.

And they were [i]very lucky[/i], the both of them. Because before vaccines, when you got sick, you often just died.

bijouxbroussard · F

@CountScrofula When I was a child I had classmates who were polio survivors too, in wheelchairs. And my parents told me about outbreaks of influenza when [b]they[/b] were growing up, where several people always died. They would've given anything for a flu shot back in those days.

CountScrofula · 41-45, M

@bijouxbroussard Yeah. People think vaccines don't do anything because they work!

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

@CountScrofula Then why do people get upset if someone doesn’t get a vaccine?

CountScrofula · 41-45, M

@MrBrownstone Herd immunity. If a certain percentage of the population is not immunized the diseases spread.

For example, you can't vaccinate babies. So to prevent babies from getting life-threatening illnesses, you want to make sure enough people around the babies are immune.

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

@CountScrofula Your example is not true.

CountScrofula · 41-45, M

@MrBrownstone Well you sure convinced me.

I'm not sure what you're arguing?