Flu Vaccines

My understanding is that the flu vaccines are manufactured following the "generic flu virus" approach that you mentioned. They include the most common flu strains. I don't think that if they waited until close to flu season to find out what strains are going to be more active during a particular year, they would have the resources to manufacture, distribute, and stock the vaccines in time (or even if they have the capability of determining what strains will be active).

On the other hand, everyone knows that the FLU is a weapon created by the U.S. government, tested on the general population, and used to weaken the population into compliance. Similar to Reality TV

The flu vaccine is a PREDICTION of the most likely strains that may be active for the coming season.  Therefore no one is 100% immunized.  Sometimes the prediction can be way off, or the person came into contact with some totally different strain - and "still get very sick after receiving the flu shot". 

The idea is to prepare your immune system by exposing you body to the closest strains possible, and when you do come into contact with the flu, you body is ready to fight.  It's like you do a B-race to prepare for your A-race.

It's Obama's way of implanting tracking cells in my body... NOOOOOO...

I've never been a big fan of the flu shot because I'm relatively healthy and have a pretty robust immune system.  However, if I were older and subject to immune deficiencies I'd probably change my tune.

My completely uneducated response has always been that by not getting the shot I allow my immune system to "stretch it's legs" and do what God/Darwin/Spaghetti Monster intended it to do.  It's served me well so far, but who knows.  YMMV

 I have never taken the flu shot. Never had the flu.

I work in the school system- EVERYONE I work with gets the flu shot besides me. Most of them get the flu.  

15 YO son got the flu this year, no flu shot, took Tamiflu was over it completely in 3-4 days, no hospitalization. I cared for him from moping feverish brow to picking up snotty Kleenex to mopping up vomit, still no flu.

I agree with keep your immune system up year round.

Why not just keep your immune system up even when you are really old?? There is an 82 YO who completed an Ironman... did you see the 90 YO men race?? Just because one gets old doesn't mean everything has to fall apart!!!! OK I'm turning 47 next week, just a little defensive  

I'm of the same school of thought.

Actually that is exactly what a vaccine does.  It introduces the antigen into your system, aka your immune system stretching its legs, without triggering the detrimental effects of a full blow infection.

Huh, Obama is putting tracking cells in my body?  oh no...

Oh wait, never mind.  I see what you meant. 

No silly they chipped you long ago when you were under anesthesia!

Same here.  I don't work in a school, but I'm in an office with lots of recirculated air and people getting ill year-round.  

2 things:

1) Because people get sick during flu season does not mean they have the influenza virus.  Even if they are getting treated with tamaflu still does not mean they actually have the flu. 

2) You guys do know what herd immunity is right?

Is that when you keeps the cows inside their enclosure so you don't get trampled?

Well at least you didn't go with some kind of sheep analogy.  

Yes. That would have been BAAAAAAAAd

Sorry, could not resist.