Good Morning!
What shall we talk about today?
Quote of the Day
“Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God’s service when it is violating all His laws.”
John Adams
QoD – 2 parts.
Did you get a flu shot?
Did you get the flu?
I’m posting this early because my answers are No and Yes. The NyQuil should kick in soon, and I plan to sleep in a little later than usual. I hope.
Wandering Views 
Take care, AJ, and sleep well.
QoD: No and no.
Around here, we take Sambucol (elderberry syrup). Two teaspoons a day for ages 4 and up is a good maintenance dose during flu season. Elderberry protects against, I believe, eight different strains of flu. In case the flu has already struck, up to two tsp. four times a day can be taken.
We love the stuff. Nobody’s gotten the flu in the last few years since we started taking it.
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No & No.
Not much going on in Hendersonville. Forty five degrees and drizzly outside. Not a bad January day.
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Good morning, Chas.
QoD: No and no, although it’s all over youngest daughter’s school, so I suppose we could still succumb.
AJ: Hope you are feeling better soon.
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No and no . I got a flu shot once when BY was an infant and ny company offered it for free . I don’t think I have ever had the flu . She has had it 3 of the last 5 years . I have also never had any of the childhood diseases. I have had pneumonia once .
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Hubby, got a flu shot during a routine checkup, the Kid and I haven’t gotten one. We use to get them at the church but they can’t give them to children anymore. I have to take him to his doctor. No one has had the flu but the Kid got a short term tummy bug a while back.
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Ricky, I always thought there ought to be a team in Texas called “Fighting Gringoes” and a team in California called “Round Eyed Devils”.
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Chas, Teenagers do like to have fun with team names. My Globetrotters were the only white team in our league. The next year they chose “Gringos” after I vetoed their first choice which even I found offensive.
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Yes (but just yesterday) and No. This is only the 3rd flu shot I’ve gotten in my lifetime, I also almost never get the flu (last time I know for sure that I had it — a severe case at that — was 25 years ago and I was, indeed, sick as a dog, lying feverish and aching on the floor of my little 1920s beach apartment in misery!).
Kim, I also had none of the childhood diseases (mumps, measles, chicken pox). But then, in my mid-40s, I came down with … surprise! Chicken pox! Oh what joy. I was shocked, as I assumed I had some lifetime immunity to all those things.
Guess not.
That was pretty miserable, too — it felt like the flu combined with the worst sunburn (mainly on the top of my head and my legs & abdomen) I’d ever had. I got something from the doctor that helped hold down some of the worst symptoms, but that was one miserable week, too.
Other than that, I’m rarely sick, I can’t remember the last time I missed work for illness.
Still, hearing all the scary stories about this year’s rampant flu season on the car radio coming home last night prompted me to stop off at the local pharmacy and get the shot. It was free with my insurance card so I figured I had nothing to lose. I hate the flu and I figure my number is coming up again someday.
Plus, I’m in contact with a lot of people — and it’s also away to help curtail its spread somewhat, with the more people who get shots. I’m a bit skeptical about how effective the shots ultimately are, but I do think they provide at least *some* protection.
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Good morning! Yes, I got the flu shot. No, I have not had the flu. I have had it several times in the past and it is most horrible. We usually all get flu shots in our family since our son has asthma, and my husband does, too. I had the swine flu several years back before it was time to get the flu shot. Again, I repeat, Horrible! When I finally got to the point where I could get out of bed to take my temperature because my fever had gone down a bit, the thermometer registered 103 degrees.
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Feel better, AJ. 😦 Hope it’s a mild case and goes away quickly. There’s also that Tamaflu you can get from your doctor through a prescription — it’s supposed to help if you start taking it within the first 1-2 days of the illness, but they said the supplies on that already are running out.
As for the flu shot, that takes 2-3 weeks to create an immunity. So that’s obviously more effective if you get it earlier in the flu season. But they said last night that it still wasn’t too late as the # of cases seemingly is still on the rise & it hasn’t even peaked yet. We’ve got another 2+ months of the flu season to go, maybe longer.
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The skinny on flu shot effectiveness:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm
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Interesting information on elderberry vs. Tamiflu use during the flu:
“The Sydney (Australia) Herald on April 20, 2009 reported in its world section that a Japanese study had been completed on the side effects of Tamiflu with negative results. A major reason for the study was to determine if Japan should lift its ban on Tamiflu, which, the Herald article stated, was very unlikely because of the of the conclusion of that study.
Out of 10,000 test cases of Tamiflu used by young people under 18, over half exhibited unusual behavior after taking Tamiflu. That behavior was sometimes as extreme as attempting or committing suicide. Eighteen deaths among young Japanese were associated with taking Tamiflu.
The 1918 flu pandemic reached such a high death toll primarily due to secondary bacterial infections. There is evidence that the use of Tamiflu creates an invitation to secondary bacterial infections. The “normal” side effects include fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, headache and coughing. The only positive of this very expensive medication is symptom relief for one and a half days out of a six day term of flu. But the side effects mimic the flu symptoms anyway!
Black Elderberry Extract Benefits
A clinical trial during a severe flu outbreak around 1992-93 in Israel confirmed a perfect cure rate of severe flu victims there. Another study performed in Oslo, Norway more recently, around 2002, also confirmed the amazing efficacy for type A or B flu victims of several different strains. The cures mostly occurred in two days while a few were cured in three days. Tamiflu cures occur normally in 4.5 to 5 days. It took 6 days or more for the flu victims on placebos to recover.”
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18105.cfm
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That last paragraph above doesn’t mention elderberry, but that is what they are talking about, as you’ll see if you read the link in its entirety.
There is also information on the flu shot, natural flu prevention remedies through vitamins and minerals, a recipe for making your own elderberry syrup, and other useful information.
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QoD- No and No. I never get the shot and rarely get any winter illnesses. I do get a cold in fall and spring when the temperatures go up and down a lot.
it’s interesting looking at the map of those states with a lot of cases. Missouri is one of nine without the problem yet, surrounded by states with lots of cases.
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Good Morning, Y’all!
No and no.
I was supposed to get a shot at my checkup in December but with all of the lab work, etc. we forgot…
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Yes, I did get a flu shot this year and no, I have not gotten the flu. My sister works at a school where nearly 20% of the kids were out with the flu the past two days. Now she’s at home in bed as well.
This is only the second time in my life that I’ve gotten a flu shot.
Has anyone read “The Great Influenza” by John M. Barry? It’s a well researched and written book about the Spanish Influenza of 1918-1920. Lengthy book, but well worth the time.
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Has anyone seen this first, ever, interview with Christopher Tolkien? It’s a must read for any Tolkien fan:
http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/my-father-039-s-quot-eviscerated-quot-work-son-of-hobbit-scribe-j.r.r.-tolkien-finally-speaks-out/hobbit-silmarillion-lord-of-rings/c3s10299/#.UO3pnonjn69
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I feel like I had a small hippo sit on my head and chest all night. I’m stiff, sore, and leaking fluid from my nose. No fever though this morning, so that’s an improvement.
I’ll see ya’s later.
🙂
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I should add that Christopher is quite appalled at Peter Jackson’s “evisceration” of Tolkien’s work.
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6Arrows,
Thanks for that link. I’m always on the lookout for natural remedies. I see there is a recipe for Elderberry tincture at the bottom of the article. I’m tempted to make some for our family, but I need to find a supply of the right berries. Do you make your own, or do you buy it.
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Yes, I edited that last comment, since I broke my own rules. Sorry.
Back to bed.
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Debra, I buy it from a local coop. They run a sale about once a year, then I buy in bulk at that time, and it saves a fair amount of money. It’s rather expensive otherwise. You can also get Sambucol online. Here is one place that looks to be relatively inexpensive (note the 7.8 oz. bottle — it also comes in a 4-oz. bottle, but the price per ounce is more, and you run out of it pretty fast):
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=H9-1003#.UO7_MndJ3fA
I saw a recipe for making your own elderberry syrup a few years ago, but the quantities of berries available for sale in the US were virtually none. It seems like that was an issue in Europe and other places in the world at that time, too, and I wasn’t familiar enough with what wild elderberry looked like, that I could know I had the right plant, and acquire an adequate enough supply to make my own syrup, so I just went the buy-it-ready-made route. Seemed a lot simpler. 😉
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Photoguy, I hadn’t heard of that book, but thanks for the recommendation. My grandfather’s first wife died in the 1918 flu epidemic only a few months after they were married, so it’s been interesting to me to read about that outbreak and learn more about it.
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No and no. I’ve never had the flu, so taking a shot to prevent seems silly to me. When I was pregnant during the flu season, I had to be a little firm with some folks, but it was worth it.
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No and no.
I have researched it enough that I would rather have the flu ten times, than get one of the flu shots. Seriously. Those of you who get the shot, I think you ought to do some research on it … and not just on government sites.
Interestingly, my parents get the shot every year, and have had the flu almost every year too. I don’t get the shot, and rarely get the flu.
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What do you make of that Tolkien article, makeitman? It was interesting, but it didn’t describe what Christopher’s problems with the movies are in much detail. Personally, I thought the movies were adequate to good, and didn’t taint my perception of the books at all.
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Actually, I’m not sure that I’ve ever had the flu. What people call the flu is often just a bad cold or the “stomach flu” (which is not the flu of the vaccine.) I get the stomach flu about once every 7 years, which I find rather odd. 😉
I get a bad cold — maybe — once every few years or so now. My first year as a public school teacher, I had a cold more than I was well. (I taught kindergarten!!) But, after 14 years of teaching, I’ve had many of the cold viruses, and so I don’t catch it nearly as often anymore.
I can’t remember the last time that I had the flu, but I’m sure that I must have at least once in my life.
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I haven’t had the flu shot for more than 20 years and have had the flu only twice in those years–so to me, having a shot for a 10% chance of getting something–and something that probably isn’t as bad for you as the shot itself–simply isn’t worth it. (My mom suspected a link between my dad’s last flu shot and his death, also.) My sister says she only gets the flu if she gets the shot.
Also, those who haven’t had the shot yet this year–from what I hear, this year’s shot apparently doesn’t match this year’s strain, so I wouldn’t bother getting it even if I were otherwise inclined.
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SolarPancake,
I’m not sure I’d go as far as Christopher Tolkien did, but I sure do think that Peter Jackson has missed many of the main points in the books. I’ve not forgiven him yet for what he did to Aragorn, Boromir, and Faramir. (And making up junk like Legolas sliding down the stairs on a shield shooting fifteen arrows at a time to kill fifty orcs a pop is just tacky on grand parade.)
I am in agreement that they could have renamed The Hobbit, The Unexpected Journey to “Dwarves Falling Off Cliffs” and done just as well. There was one point during that stupid chase scene that I nearly yelled at the screen…
And what’s with Frodo signing the contract? He was bamboozled into going. It wasn’t a conscious choice…
It’s just a bunch of stuff that was twisted that starts really getting to me. Does Peter Jackson REALLY think he can tell the story better than Tolkien?
I think not.
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Overall, I still liked the Lord of the Rings movies, but I had to repeatedly tell myself that it was ANOTHER take on the story and a different perspective … because the Faramir thing really bothered me at first. I wasn’t as upset about Aragorn being a reluctant savior, but, yes, it does changes his personality. (I didn’t notice a huge change in the Boromir character?)
Overall, my biggest complaints are when Jackson 1) changes things that are unnecessary (by any stretch) to change, just because … what? … he can? In other words, the changes are not necessary to make the movie better or to clarify or to tell the story in a shorter way (often needed for movies) 2) those changes that alter the world view and philosophical underpinnings of the movie, and 3) those changes that significantly alter WHO the characters are (their personalities).
And, with The Hobbit, the changes were significant enough that I found myself wondering WHAT was going to happen next? In other words, the storyline was different enough, that I wouldn’t have put it past Jackson to kill off a dwarf or two to make things more “exciting.” After all, there are a LOT of dwarfs!
I think he tended toward making The Lord of the Rings an “action/adventure story” more than an epic story, although I didn’t necessarily hold that against him. But, The Hobbit is almost nothing BUT an “action/adventure” story. He took out most of the conflict and “deeper” aspects of it, while claiming to be doing the opposite (i.e. he claims The Hobbit was “lighter” and more of a children’s book, so he had to “connect” it better to the “darker” LOTR.) Yes, it is a “lighter” story in some ways, but it already had great connections to LOTR and had plenty of death and darker aspects. He didn’t need to change anything to “make connections.”
I think it is this tendency to fundamentally alter the characters and the worldview that bothers me the most. I don’t mind some changes. I expect them. But, when it is all just action, action, action, and the storyline changes significantly, and the characters aren’t the same (their motivations, their development, their personalities), then I start to get uncomfortable.
Ach … this is harder than I thought. I actually liked LOTR reasonably well (although I don’t think MIM did), but they definitely lost me with The Hobbit. I felt it was all about the action and the special effects and showing off their camera and make-up abilities.
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I am thankful to know of some here on the blog who do not get the flu or feel the need for flu shots. I think it all depends on what you have going on medically. When my brother was two he got the flu. He had a bad bout with it and it was thought that it was what caused him to develop juvenile diabetes. At the time he was the youngest person in Atlanta with it so they did an article mentioning him. With the asthma in our family it has seemed important to follow doctor’s recommendations to get the flu shot. We have gotten it every year and do not get the flu when we get it. Our son had the flu when he was six months old and I too had it then and we had not had the shots then. I am sure it is better for some to get the flu shot and for others to get it. We seem to have had a good outcome from getting them. I do not know why we seem to be more suseptible to getting the flu than some other people. There is a big difference in a really bad and long lasting cold and the flu. The cold goes through a development while the flu knocks you down with a really high fever, chills, aches, etc. and makes you feel so sick you must lay down or fall over.
I do prefer going with natural rather than artificial most of the time. However with the flu shot and the complications we can otherwise get, I am thankful to have the option of the flu shots. I am just thankful to know others do not have to worry with complications like bouts with asthma.
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Mind you, I think they did this worse and in spades with the new Star Trek. It just isn’t the same show/universe/world view at all.
All movies now seem to be about action every second and showing off their great sets and special effects. There are few quiet moments, few efforts to subtly direct the development of the characters and build their relationships. Its all about ENTERTAINMENT in its most simplistic form.
I mean … one never has to engage one’s brain, or lose oneself in another place to watch these movies. They are simply exciting by virtue of their constant action and awesome special effects. They don’t concentrate at all on the STORY, and the movie goer never has to work at all to engage with the story.
Just sit and watch the next eye-catching explosion or chase scene and absorb the eye-candy scenery, make-up, and special effects. You really don’t have to understand ANYTHING, or even really recognize the underpinnings. You can just passively absorb the packaging.
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MIM,
Only this year I read LOTR for the third time (not sre how many times on the Hobbit, possibly only two). Although this past fall I did read Tolkien’s letters, then the Hobbit, then the Simarrillon, and then I saw the Hobbit, and then I reread LOTR. (Also I saw the LOTR videos–extended versions–a few months ago. I saw the first two in the theater when they came out, and hadn’t seen Return of the King.) Anyway, I am as “up” on hobbit/ Middle Earth lore as I’m ever likely to be. (I’m currently almost finished with the Appendices of LOTR; I hadn’t read them before.)
I personally thought the movies of LOTR were very well done, grand in scale, and probably as “true” to the books as could realistically be expected. But then, I’m not a diehard fan. (For me, the first two Narnia movies were far more disappointing–the dialogue doesn’t match the books at all, for starters, and there are many more things that keep them from having the right “feel.” But I’m much more conversant with Narnia than with Middle Earth.)
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makeitman, it’s possible I agree w some of your LOTR criticisms, but what was it about Jackson’s Borimir that you didn’t like? (I thought it was interesting Tammy had that same question) .
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Back to the flu shot:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/01/10/flu-outbreak-why-are-so-many-not-getting-vaccinated/
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ducking.
😉
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I thought it fascinating Jackson reported LOTR made no money, therefore the Tolkien estate couldn’t be paid anything . . .
I did forward the article on to my family warning them it could happen to them someday if I wrote more . . . My husband replied by telling me I was no JRR Tolkien!
Which is true. 🙂
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Boy, Donna, there’s so much wrong with that article, I don’t know where to begin.
Let’s start with the fact that they are taking what the CDC says straight up and without question.
Secondly, this “Every year, anywhere from 5,000 to 20,000 people die from flu-associated illnesses, Esper added.” It is a terribly false statement in so many ways. While literally true (hinging on the word “associated”), it is not really true. Only about 1500 people a year die from the flu. BUT the CDC includes pneumonia in those statistics, because the flu (untreated) can (like many other air-borne diseases) cause pneumonia. But, pneumonia is caused by SO MANY other things, and the flu is only a very small part of that.
Then, let’s go on to statistics. Do you realize that with vaccination becoming more and more prevalent, there has been ZERO reduction in flu-related deaths or hospitalizations? Yes, that’s right ZERO. You’d think if it were so great, it might actually show some sort of statistical change in the two worst flu outcomes … right?
So, for a 67% chance that I won’t catch THE PARTICULAR FLU that this vaccine prevents (there are multiple versions it does not cover), and that I will get a version that is much more than a two-day cold, I’m supposed to expose myself and my family to themerisol, to other possible complications (and despite what the article says, there are numerous bad reactions), and more chemicals in my body?
I think not.
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BTW, there is no known relationship between the onset of diabetes and the flu virus, but other types of viruses look like they might be a cause of Type 1 diabetes. These settle in the pancreas, and the body attacks them along with the pancreas. You can’t vaccinate against these.
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Janice what is important is to do what you and your doctor decide is the r I got thing to do
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Although, to be fair, I did find this article:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22456-diabetes-linked-to-flu.html
It has a ton of discrepancies, and links no studies nor does it have any other evidence. But, they still hypothesize that *maybe* in a couple of percent of people with Type 1 — who have the genetic predisposition — the flu might have it set off (or a particular strain of the flu.)
I don’t know … it’s so full of holes and so “iffy” that I’m not convinced. But, I wanted to be fair that the hypothesis does exist. (Although, if you’re genetically predisposed to get Type 1, it likely would just be triggered by something else. And, other articles hypothesize that the vaccine itself could be a trigger … so there you go!)
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More information on elderberry here: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-elderberry.html
Janice, the above link mentions that elderberry is helpful for those with diabetes and debilitating asthma, among other things. Perhaps using this may bring some relief from the family health issues you mentioned earlier? Plus, I said this earlier, but elderberry is protective against many strains of flu, and not just the one strain that vaccine makers try to predict will be the most prevalent strain for each particular year’s flu season. And of course there won’t be all the side effects that can come from the vaccine itself.
Here’s an excerpt from the link:
“Elderberries were listed in the CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs as early as 1985, and are listed in the 2000 Mosby’s Nursing Drug reference for colds, flu, yeast infections, nasal and chest congestion, and hay fever. In Israel, Hasassah’s Oncology Lab has determined that elderberry stimulates the body’s immune system and they are treating cancer and AIDS patients with it. The wide range of medical benefits (from flu and colds to debilitating asthma, diabetes, and weight loss) is probably due to the enhancement of each individual’s immune system.”
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Brief excerpt from a conversation with 6th Arrow today:
Me: God created the world in 6 days, then He rested.
Arrow: I knew He’d be tired, because the world takes a LOT of work.
🙂
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🙂
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Yes, I got a flu shot. No, I have not had the flu.
My husband’s truck turns out to have a problem with some chain connected to the transmission, presumably a case of “fix one thing and the next weakest part will break.” His mechanic is hoping to find a usable replacement from one of the trucks sitting in his lot with a transmission that isn’t worth fixing. Shouldn’t cost too much, in that case, but we have to wait until he can get to it, and share one vehicle in the meantime.
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This is the problem with being sick. You lay around and sleep most of the day because you’re wiped out. But then bedtime comes and I’m wide awake.
😦
But I do feel better at least.
🙂
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So glad to hear you are feeling better, AJ.
Anyone else believe we will live until God’s appointed time for us to pass, flu shot or not? 🙂
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Got the dogs walked, it’s been unusually chilly for us here, highs around 50ish. And yes, we’re all complaining.
But I also have to day that seeing a posted photo of all the snow now at Big Bear made we want to just run away from my home near the beach. 🙂
So AJ, what all-night movies are you going to watch tonight??! 🙂 🙂
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Um, that should read “to say” in the 2nd graph. Must be the flu shot kicking in.
Seriously, I’m sure there are lots of issues to consider when getting these vaccines; lots of different studies floating around, lots of strong opinions (I work with people who are strongly pro-flu shot, they’re almost religious about the matter).
Since I get so few of them (only when it’s a runaway epidemic year, this is either only the 2nd or 3rd shot I’ve had in my lifetime, and the first in several years), I’m not overly worried … I guess I tend to think of it as a potential (not guaranteed) insurance against getting infected and then spreading the disease further.
But who knows. I may die tonight in my sleep from the shot. 😉 So far, though, I’m feeling fine, no ill effects more than 24 hours later.
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And the elderberry sounds like a reasonable thing to try. Can you buy that over the counter at all?
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Yep, Donna, I buy it at our local food coop.
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Not so much a character change with Boromir that I complain about, but the change in his relationship with his brother.
I mostly liked the LOTR movies, but there was still that undercurrent of hubris from the director that went on full vulgar display in The Hobbit.
I appreciated Tammy’s observations. She said much I couldn’t put into so many words.
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It would be purely anecdotal, but we could conduct an informal a survey here of how many of us get the flu, how many did or didn’t get the shot, how many relied on elderberry?
As I said, I am mostly around people who are adamant — extremely partisan — about getting the shot every year. They’re horrified that I normally DON’T get the shot.
Now I see there are folks who are adamant about NOT getting the shot ever. They’re probably horrified that I occasionally get a shot.
Yikes.
Guess I’m in the middle, not getting the flu vaccine most years, but on occasion getting it … taking fire from both sides.
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Follow-up to my question the other night about whether it’s right to admonish an older Christian:
I spoke to the person today, mainly just asking a few questions to assess the situation a little better. The conversation went pretty well, although I didn’t find out much new information, not enough, anyway, that warranted a direct conversation about her marriage specifically. (I’m being vague, I know — I don’t really want to reveal too many details.)
I do want to again thank those of you who gave me tips about how to handle the situation. It’s not the end of the conversation, but I think I did get my point across that division that can result from not unifying behind the one who has the right to make the final decision on the matter could be problematic for a number of people. She seemed to consider that, and I’m hoping she will remember the biblical directive for wives to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord, and that she won’t try to coerce her husband to follow her wishes when he’s not out of line holding to the opinion he does on the original matter of disagreement.
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Sorry, Donna. I know, it’s not fun to feel like you’re getting “shot” at from both sides, apologies for that pun 😉
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Bottom line, it’s your choice. Don’t let anybody make you feel bad for deciding the way you do.
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I’ve never gotten the shot, have been using elderberry for a few years now (maybe 3 or 4), and can’t remember if I’ve ever had the flu. I did have viral pneumonia when I was in 4th grade and had to be hospitalized for it (my sister had bacterial pneumonia at the same time, and was also hospitalized — her case was worse than mine). I’m not sure if my pneumonia had followed the flu or not. Other than that time, I can’t think of any instance that I may have had influenza.
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So…I’m talking to myself and I just took 57. Time for me to head out.
Goodnight, all.
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I did find it interesting that the flu vaccine is most effective with older children and young, healthy adults.
Older people & very young children seemingly don’t derive the same benefit (and they’re the ones most at risk of complications).
It’s a work in progress, clearly.
(Ah, but that reminds me of Cheryl’s earlier comment — I also heard initially that this year’s serum “missed the mark” in terms of hitting the right strain; but since then I’ve heard otherwise, that it has included the most serious strain that is going around.)
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I used to get the flu almost every year. Then I started working in a doctor’s office and got the flu shot – haven’t gotten the flu now for 15 years (since I started getting the shots).
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Thanks for all the information on the Black Elderberry remedies and the flu shot. I’ve never had the shot, and wondered if I should. I don’t get the flu either (though I think I had it at least once as a child) so I’m rather inclined to go the natural route to bolster the immune system when these outbreaks occur.
I’m not adamantly opposed to being vaccinated, but I avoid vaccinations and antibiotics and medications in general unless there is good evidence that I need them because a natural remedy just isn’t going to be enough to do the job. But, as with so many other things, prevention is the best cure. Cleanliness and keeping the immune system strong by healthy living and routinely avoiding toxins is better than any antidote.
I should add that I do rely quite a bit on prayer too. I can’t help but think that the more closely I am connected to my Creator, the better my body can work because I will be more susceptible to listening to His wisdom in these matters rather than my own questionable opinions. In addition, prayer can bring the mind and emotions into alignment with God’s peace, and that’s a great asset in fighting disease and sickness.
However, as long as we live in a fallen world there will be trouble and sickness to contend with. Those of us who are reading Job (which I find both a sobering and encouraging book) are reminded that even those who fear God are not entirely immune from these things. Yet we know that our Redeemer lives, and though our flesh be consumed, that we shall see him with our own eyes. (Job 19:25-27) :–)
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Wait a minute, Donna (17:39 link), the flu shot is only 67 percent effective (and they think that’s good) and nearly half of people are getting the flu shot (and they think that isn’t enough)? It sounds to me like they’ve done a really good job over-convincing the American people, not under-convincing them.
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Cheryl, that’s why the vaccine only offers some protection, no guarantees. I think that’s pretty well understood. It lowers most people’s odds of getting sick, but doesn’t ensure they won’t get sick. Lots of other factors at play, including the strength of personal immune systems, whether one is in widespread contact with the public, the various strains that can not be a match to that year’s shot, etc.
Again, I’m sort of in the middle on this debate — I personally think there is some effectiveness to the vaccine (especially in years where the bug is especially virulent and is being spread faster and farther than usual).
I disagree with some of my colleagues at work who are so adamant about always getting a flu shot no matter what. But I’m also not convinced the vaccine is dangerous or hazardous to your health in some other way.
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