Letter to the editor...
Getting your flu facts
RE: “Is the flu shot really a good idea?” by Darius Mirshahi, November 19, 2007.
I would like to respond to an opinion piece in the November 19, 2007 issue of the Interrobang regarding the flu shot. The article is entitled, “Is the flu shot really a good idea?”
I find this article to be containing a large amount of misinformation, and would like to respond to a few comments made by the writer. I find the writer does not source where he gets his information from, and I would like to provide readers with some information directly from Health Canada so they can make an informed decision regarding their health, and the flu shot.
Article point one:
“Many people believe that they've gotten the flu from the shot itself. This is a reasonable claim considering the fact that the flu shot actually contains an attenuated (half-killed) strain of the virus, and that many people end up getting flu-like symptoms shortly after being injected. The doctors who promo the flu-shots (there are thousands who don't and refuse to take them themselves) will tell patients who got the shot that they do not have the flu, just the symptoms of it. This is very suspicious.”
Health Canada states:
The flu vaccine cannot cause influenza because it does not contain any live virus. The most common side effect is soreness at the site of injection, which may last a couple of days. You might also notice fever, fatigue and muscle aches within six to 12 hours after your shot, and these effects may last a day or two. Some people develop a condition called “oculo-respiratory syndrome” after a flu shot. The symptoms include red eyes and respiratory effects such as cough, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or sore throat. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and disappear within 48 hours.
Article point two:
“Health Canada only recommends it for ‘people 65 years of age or older; people of any age who live in a nursing home or chronic care facility; and people with chronic medical conditions including bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or cancer.' The vast majority of us, especially students, do not fall into any of these categories and should not waste our time, or endanger our health with these unnecessary vaccines.”
Health Canada states:
The primary reason to get a flu shot is to protect yourself from health effects related to flu. However, by getting a flu shot, you will also help protect other Canadians and reduce the burden on the health care system (I would like to personally add, this demographic can include our parents and our grandparents)
Article point three:
“What most people don't realize is that the flu isn't a communicable disease.”
Health Canada states:
The influenza virus spreads through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by someone who has the flu. You can get the flu by breathing in the se droplets through your nose or mouth, or by the droplets landing directly on your eyes. The flu virus is also found on the hands of people with the flu and on surfaces they have touched. You can become infected if you shake hands with infected persons or touch contaminated surfaces and transfer the virus to your own eyes, nose or mouth.
I hope this information aids in allowing people to make an informed choice regarding whether or not they will receive the flu shot, and is a gentle reminder to always know all of the facts.
Visit Health Canada's website for more info.
Richard MacDonagh
SSW Program
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
RE: “Is the flu shot really a good idea?” by Darius Mirshahi, November 19, 2007.
I would like to respond to an opinion piece in the November 19, 2007 issue of the Interrobang regarding the flu shot. The article is entitled, “Is the flu shot really a good idea?”
I find this article to be containing a large amount of misinformation, and would like to respond to a few comments made by the writer. I find the writer does not source where he gets his information from, and I would like to provide readers with some information directly from Health Canada so they can make an informed decision regarding their health, and the flu shot.
Article point one:
“Many people believe that they've gotten the flu from the shot itself. This is a reasonable claim considering the fact that the flu shot actually contains an attenuated (half-killed) strain of the virus, and that many people end up getting flu-like symptoms shortly after being injected. The doctors who promo the flu-shots (there are thousands who don't and refuse to take them themselves) will tell patients who got the shot that they do not have the flu, just the symptoms of it. This is very suspicious.”
Health Canada states:
The flu vaccine cannot cause influenza because it does not contain any live virus. The most common side effect is soreness at the site of injection, which may last a couple of days. You might also notice fever, fatigue and muscle aches within six to 12 hours after your shot, and these effects may last a day or two. Some people develop a condition called “oculo-respiratory syndrome” after a flu shot. The symptoms include red eyes and respiratory effects such as cough, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or sore throat. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and disappear within 48 hours.
Article point two:
“Health Canada only recommends it for ‘people 65 years of age or older; people of any age who live in a nursing home or chronic care facility; and people with chronic medical conditions including bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or cancer.' The vast majority of us, especially students, do not fall into any of these categories and should not waste our time, or endanger our health with these unnecessary vaccines.”
Health Canada states:
The primary reason to get a flu shot is to protect yourself from health effects related to flu. However, by getting a flu shot, you will also help protect other Canadians and reduce the burden on the health care system (I would like to personally add, this demographic can include our parents and our grandparents)
Article point three:
“What most people don't realize is that the flu isn't a communicable disease.”
Health Canada states:
The influenza virus spreads through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by someone who has the flu. You can get the flu by breathing in the se droplets through your nose or mouth, or by the droplets landing directly on your eyes. The flu virus is also found on the hands of people with the flu and on surfaces they have touched. You can become infected if you shake hands with infected persons or touch contaminated surfaces and transfer the virus to your own eyes, nose or mouth.
I hope this information aids in allowing people to make an informed choice regarding whether or not they will receive the flu shot, and is a gentle reminder to always know all of the facts.
Visit Health Canada's website for more info.
Richard MacDonagh
SSW Program
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
