My son has pneumonia, should he get the flu vaccine?

[Winston]

Hi all,
My son in the Philippines had pneumonia. But he got antibiotics from the doctor clinic and is getting better now. However, the doctor strongly recommended that he get the flu vaccine. I don't know why. If he already has pneumonia, then isn't it too late for a vaccine?

Also, from my knowledge and experience, the flu vaccine isn't necessary. A flu is no big deal. It's normal to get it and it helps build up your immune system naturally. Vaccines seem like a way to cheat nature and the immune system. They put a ton of supposedly harmless inert flu viruses into the vaccine and trick your body's immune system into developing anti-bodies for them. That's how vaccines work in theory.

When I got a flu vaccine long ago, it made me sick for a few days, so the solution actually causes the problem. Plus I've heard that people have been killed by vaccines and the media and big pharma establishment covered it up. I'm not sure how true that is, but it's plausible I guess.

Anyhow, why do doctors and hospitals recommend flu vaccines so much if they aren't necessary? Is it because they are brainwashed or ordered to do so by the profit driven medical industry? Or do they have a good reason that makes sense for doing so? Shouldn't doctors be smart enough to recognize a profit driven scam or conspiracy?

What do you all think? Should my son get it or not? I think it's unnecessary and risky. What about you?

[HouseMD]

This is ALL PERSONAL OPINION AND NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.

I'm generally not a fan of the flu vaccine in non-elderly populations. I had a very severe (landed me in the hospital) adverse reaction once and can no longer get the shots myself. I also had a severe reaction to allergy shots that has left me with persistent neurological issues that I fear may get worse. Some shots are worth it- hep B, MMR, polio, etc. But the flu is rarely fatal in non-elderly populations. Children between the ages of 1 all the way into their mid-30s have a death rate of 1 per 100,000 or less. The only children that I would give the flu vaccine to are those that are at high risk, such as asthmatics, those with cystic fibrosis, vent dependent children, etc.

The equation changes substantially as you age, however, as adults in their 60s and 70s have a 30 per 100,000 and those in their late 70s and early 80s have a 103 in 100,000 mortality rate. If you get it and you're even older than that, your chances of dying are much higher, with 441 out of 100,000 elderly people over the age of 84 dying from the flu each year. These statistics are all combined with pneumonia, which is often far more deadly than the flu, so it makes determining the risk for a child that much easier, especially when you consider that severe adverse events have occured with some batches, such as the 1 in 100,000 rate of GBS in the 1976 vaccine and the 0.5 per 100,000 rate of anaphylaxis in the H1N1 vaccine.

Again, this is all just my amateur opinion and in no way constitutes medical advise. Read the literature and decide for yourself.

[Winston]

Thanks. Is the flu vaccine something you get only once per life or every year? How does it prevent pneumonia?

[HouseMD]

Thanks. Is the flu vaccine something you get only once per life or every year? How does it prevent pneumonia?

Once per year. They are working on a new vaccine that works forever, but that relies on finding a part of the virus that doesn't mutate, which is very difficult. The vaccine works by allowing your body to recognize different parts of the flu virus capsule, but these parts rapidly change due to the way in which the virus replicates, meaning that what worked last year won't work this year.

Anything that compromises your pulmonary function well predispose you to pneumonia by impairing your body's natural defense mechanisms. The real concern, however, is that someone we'll end up with both the flu and pneumonia, which can be a deadly cocktail when combined. Most of those that died of the swine flu were found to have died from such a combination of illnesses. Hence, Adobe that is prone to pneumonia or has a colonized pulmonary system should be immunized against the flu. I can't speak to your son's particular case, as the type of pneumonia (viral versus bacterial) and patient history matters greatly when determining future risk for pneumonia.

NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, JUST SOME GUY WITH OPINIONS TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ETC ETC

[MrMan]

If he has pneumonia or just got over it, I don't think a doctor in the US would recommend the vaccine. I don't think you are supposed to take vaccines if you are sick.

For something like the flu, it's not worth getting a needle stuck in me. I don't usually catch the flu. And I suspect there is a small chance of contracting something from the vaccine itself. I don't think the reward is worth the price you pay (of getting stuck with a needle.) If enough people get vaccinated, then the flu that goes around will probably be one that wasn't in the vaccine anyway. There are millions of germs and viruses.

[Renata]

I only had 10 vaccinations growing up. My kids got the same shots minus the MMR vaccines. Winston if it's not broken don't try to fix it. Don't give him random or unecessary vaccines.

[Moretorque]

If you want your kid to be a socialist retard then give him the full gamut of vaccines.

[The_Adventurer]

http://investmentwatchblog.com/body-of- ... -in-river/

http://investmentwatchblog.com/italian- ... cal-truth/

[Moretorque]

Socialist Commie retards are easily handled by our handlers, vaccines do have there benefits for some.

[activliv]

My nephew had a pneumonia and can't recall a flu vaccine given to him. A flu vaccine may result to a fever and it may not be a good idea while he's under his meds for pneumonia. If it's not the flu season, better not to.

[Jonny Law]

HELL NO!

Unless you want your son to be retarded, then YES.

CDC Caught Hiding Data Showing Mercury in Vaccines Linked to Autism:
http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/cdc-ca ... to-autism/