Concern about flu shot

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Today in my chiropractor's office he had information regarding the toxicins in the flu vaccine. I know most chiropractors are antivaccine, but it was pretty scary, especially the amount of mercury. I know most people that work in healthcare get it, so do you have any concerns?

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my only concern with it is with my latex allergy, but that is with any injection. Most of those rubber stopper things still contain latex - unless that has changed and I just haven't heard anything about it yet.

Oh, I guess I have another concern - getting the flu if I don't have the flu shot!

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I will preface my comments by saying, I LOVE the chiropractor I had before I moved and love the one I have currently.

This being said, chiropractics is a field that, while it's office facade seems very medical, it is still considered a "alternative medicine". They have a belief system that makes them almost "content" to go against medicine and most medical ideals. I know a lot about this because currently my husband and I have had lengthy debates (not arguments, debates) over chiropractic care.

Now, I have a very "holistic" perspective on medicine. I believe combining alternative therapies with consistent and thoughtful medical care and occasional medicines is the route to go. I believe that chiropractic care of my quickly degenerating neck and compressed L3-L4 is complimentary to the general care I receive from my orthopedic doctor. Do my chiropractor and my ortho feel that way? No, they want it their way or no way, so I just don't plan on having them to a luncheons together...sort of like two boyfriends. ;)

Now, I got my flu shot. I have a husband on Remicaide and want to take all the precautions I can not to get him sick while on this immuno-suppresive drug.

My suggestion to you is to take all information, whether chiropractic supplied OR medically supplied and educate yourself on it, then make a decision for you.

Tait

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

If your concern is related to preservatives, you can request a single-dose vial for your vaccine, which is preservative free. This form of the flu shot is probably more expensive and may need to be ordered in advance, so it requires a little prior planning.

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Specializes in ER, ICU cath lab, remote med.

Ok, I spent 10 years in the military travelling all over the world and have been vaccinated/immunized against just about anything you can imagine...seriously. The worst reactions I've ever had are localized pain/swelling (anthrax) and flu-like symptoms (smallpox). I have always felt like any potential reaction I could have wouldn't be as bad as getting or dying from the actual disease. In other words, if I have to, I'll take a little mercury and live through another flu season! Mercury might kill me later, but flu could kill me now.

This is not meant to belittle the very serious adverse reactions a small percentage of vaccine/immunization recpients receive. I think the FDA and vaccine manufacturers have a lot of work ahead of them to improve safety.

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who is getting the flu vaccine in the chiropractor's office?

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Today in my chiropractor's office he had information regarding the toxicins in the flu vaccine. I know most chiropractors are antivaccine, but it was pretty scary, especially the amount of mercury. I know most people that work in healthcare get it, so do you have any concerns?

Actually, only about 40 % of healthcare workers get the flu vaccine.

We're using single-dose vaccine at my hospital that contains no preservatives, no thimerosol, no mercury. The multi-dose vials still contain thimerosol, though.

The influenza virus itself is scary. According to the CDC, 36,000 people in the United States alone die from it every year. I got my flu shot last week, and felt a little crummy for 24 hours, but I am glad I did it. What really convinced me to get it was learning that people can be infected with influenza, not display any symptoms, but still shed the virus and infect other people. Being in direct patient care, I don't want to be responsible for passing along the virus to the vulnerable people I am caring for.

I believe people should make their own decision about getting the flu vaccine, but I also feel that healthcare workers have a moral obligation to prevent the transmission, and that includes getting vaccinated. :twocents:

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who is getting the flu vaccine in the chiropractor's office?

No, he's not giving vaccines, but had info on it trying to convince patients why they shouldn't get it.

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Specializes in A little of this & a little of that.

All the syringes I've used in the past few years have been latex-free. There are a lot of anti-vaccine people out there with scare tactics. Serious adverse reactions to flu vaccine are very rare, but death from flu and its complications is not. Although thimerosol free vaccine isn't offered at mass flu clinics, your doctor's office should have it. Also the Flu-Mist doesn't have thimerosol. In studies done all around the world there has been no scientific link found between thimerosol and autism or other problems blamed on it. There are 25mcg of mercury per dose of flu vaccine from thimerosol. There is more mercury in tuna. Thimerosol is also commonly found in contact lens solutions.

Nurses should educate themselves with the facts about vaccines. Try www.immunize.org or the CDC website for scientifically founded information.

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Nurses should educate themselves with the facts about vaccines. Try www.immunize.org or the CDC website for scientifically founded information.

Exactly.

It is tiresome to hear so many health care professionals entertaining these ridiculous notions about vaccines, medicines, etc. Not all sources of information are equal, and there is no reason for those who (should) know better to take a chiropractor about vaccines.

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No, he's not giving vaccines, but had info on it trying to convince patients why they shouldn't get it.

IMO that could be very dangerous for those people that are prone to complications and even death from the flu, also to those taking care of others that it is advisable for them to get the flu vaccine.

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All the syringes I've used in the past few years have been latex-free. .

But doesn't the rubber on the vaccine vial itself contain latex? I was always told that is where the concern lies. In-fact, I've had some that would pop off the top of the vial prior to drawing up the vaccine. Ofcourse they made sure it was an almost empty vial!

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