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 very lucky, 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 they 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?