Lots of people are aghast when I tell them when I don’t get a flu shot. It’s not because I don’t care about my health or that of my girls—it’s because I do care!
In most places, flu vaccinations are not mandatory. Thank goodness! But that doesn’t mean that you might not be pressured if you’re on the fence about the flu shot.
Here are a few things you can tell your doctor (or your nosy neighbor) when you’re asked why you’re not getting a flu shot this year.
What To Say To Your Doctor When They Pressure You To Get A Flu Shot
1. “I’m not in a high priority group for the vaccine.”
One little-known part about the flu shot is that there are higher priority groups that it’s intended for. Did you know that?
Here are just some of the types of people recommended to get the flu shot more than normal folks:
- Children from ages 6 months to 4 years old
- People 50 years old and over
- People on immunosuppressant drugs
- People who work in health care
If you’re not in one of these groups, say so and hop off the doctor’s table!
2. “I’m already working to guard myself against the flu.”
My family takes steps to guard against getting sick all year round. Being well isn’t just something we strive for—it’s a lifestyle!
If you’re worried about coming down with the flu, you can eat immunity boosting foods all year round. Staying hydrated also helps build a natural immunity among other benefits.
Which reminds me…
3. “I want a solution that lasts beyond just one year!”
The flu virus changes and shifts every year. This makes flu vaccines ineffective year after year because they’re fighting something that changes shape.
That’s just how a disease works. We figure out a way to fight something, and it gets stronger right back!
Working on your personal immunity is an investment in your health. Even if you catch a few sniffles, you can still treat yourself while boosting your overall health more than you could with a shot!
4. “I don’t know if it will be effective now.”
Did you know it’s possible to get the flu shot too early in the year? The complications just keep coming!
But it’s true: Lots of drug stores start telling us to get the flu shot practically the second school starts. There’s really no need to do it then.
The best bet for a flu shot being effective is if you have it after Halloween but before Thanksgiving. Even then, it’s still a short-term solution.
5. “If I get the flu, I’ll be okay.”
If you do indeed get the flu, you can get rid of the flu 3 times faster with THIS syrup.
I write about black elderberry syrup in great length in my new book Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness, and I can confirm after much research and testing that it really does work!
If you’re in a health group that may truly suffer health consequences from getting the flu, talk to your healthcare provider about your options. We all get sick sometimes. Just do what you can!
Are you getting a flu shot this year? Why or why not? Tell me all about it in the comments!
No Flu Shot No Way! I cried from start to finish during my first flue show because I felt my body had just been totally invaded. Later I grew to understand that the feeling I had was exactly what was going. Now when I am pressured or even asked to receive a flu shot, I am shocked at the question and I immediately respond something like: “What?! A flu shot??? oh no way, NO WAY!?!” If someone does not understand such an intense response and questions me about it I say something like this “Just look at the CDC’s vaccine ingredient list and see for yourself” I simply refer this list: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf
Good response Emily and thanks for linking your source, I am sure others will find this helpful!
I loved your post. Thanks! I don’t know what to do. I work as a researcher in a hospital (Cedar’s Sinai, Los Angeles) and they are forcing me to get it or they’ll have to terminate my contract. Crazy world. I don’t even have contact with patients! And by the way, I’m vegetarian and have never had the flu in the past 5 years without the shot.
Hi, Did you find a solution? I’m in the same boat
The CDC could be omitting some ingredients also. Never trust these government agencies!
I am in the the older group and unless I was being held down- no way. Goes for pneumonia shot too- no way. I have read the ingredients list. Dr insists its ok and I want to ask her if she has children does she teach them not to lie like she does when she pushes. Just lambs being lead to the slaughter thanks to our non caring government. Sorry and now I’ll get off my soap box?.
It’s okay to be on a soap box here! 🙂 Glad to hear you have ditched the flu shot!
None here! I stopped doing vaccines altogether for my kids and me almost 5 years ago. My kids were 2 and 5 at the time. We live in VA and have been able to take a religious exemption for school to opt out. The powers that be have been trying to take the exemption away this past year but haven’t yet. My kids’ pediatrician did kick us out when I refused to bring his vaccines up to date when he started school–this blows my mind since doctors are supposed to be helping people. Funny thing though, since we did this, my kids are sick way less and some weird health stuff went away. I wonder how many people would get a flu shot if doctors told them that death is a side effect!
Happy to hear that your children are doing better. We are our children’s greatest advocates!
Your doctor kicked you out of his practice because of money. If he doesn’t keep a certain percentage of his patients vaccinated, he won’t get his bonus of $400 per fully vaccinated patient. Google it for particulars….
Death is a side effect of influenza.
No flu shots for me. My chiropractor has pamphlets about all the scary ingredients that make up the flu shot. Scary!!!
I’ve seen similar pamphlets and couldn’t agree more…SCARY!
Hi there – I think it’s completely your right to refuse a flu shot. But did you know it isn’t just those high priority groups that should have a flu shot, it’s also anyone who has regular contact with any of these people. So if you know or spend a lot of time with anyone who is very young, elderly or has a poorly functioning immune system, you should consider getting the recommended shots in order to protect them. Because you or I will probably be fine if we get the flu but my elderly parents might not be if I pass the flu on to them (and I can pass it on before I’m really even aware I have the flu!). Something for us to think about… 🙂
Exactly!!! ?
It’s actually a no brained here. The flu shot is ineffective at preventing the SPREAD of flu, it’s right on the manyfacturer’s Insert in the box. It is minimally effective at reducing flu infection in the vaccine recipient. Some years estimated to be 10% effective. The idea that everyone must be vaccinated to protect others is a marketing claim based on herd immunity. That is a THEORY that has only been witnessed in natural disease outbreaks. It’s bullshit. Also, with so many adverse reaction to the flu shot, more than any other vaccine, why would you put your health at risk of being paralyzed, developing an autoimmune disorder, or dying for the sake of other people? No thanks.
Herd immunity works!!! Ever heard of polio? Not one dies of it anymore thanks to vaccines.
The so die from the shot though and suffer long term consequences. Ask India. It’s a disgrace that big pharmaceutical companies use these poor countries as guinea pigs.
They should be fine if they got a flu shot right ?
Wouldn’t your elderly parent get the flu shot, so surely they’d be just fine. Otherwise all your saying is, unless everyone (never gonna happen) gets the flu shot, then it’s a waste of time anyone getting it.
My doctor keeps pushing the flu shot on my 2 1/2 year old and me ( pregnant with second child) i dont want a flu shot i dont trust them. They are relentless! I just keep saying no flu shot for us.
I can’t remember the last time I was sick. When I feel like I might be coming down with something, I start sucking on elderberry zinc lozenges. I’m usually better the next day! Also, I started taking Vitamin D3 capsules every day…..currently taking 3,000 I. U. a day. That has really helped my immunity! When I got to the “big box store,” I use the wipes at the front of the store to wipe down the handle on the cart.
This is not an article- this is an ADVERTISEMENT! Read to the end. Utterly bogus. And every one of these arguments is full of logical fallacies.
I can’t get the flu shots anymore due to a severe allergic reaction the last two times I did get it. Hives, 3-4″ wide, all over. The second time was even worse, because I had face symptoms, too. Urgent care advised me to not get flu shot anymore, or I might need intensive treatment from a crashcart. It has been 10 years since, and I have not had the flu shot, or the flu, either! And, I work at the schools. I take other measures to prevent the flu.
I have 4 kids and none of thrm ever had a flu shot, myself included, my children are 15 mths, 14, and twin 18yr olds, we rarely get sick, doc has been pushing flu shot for my baby 15mths, i reminded him today never happening to stop asking
I have never ever been pressured by a doctor to get a flu shot…actually I see more posts like yours pop up than I do from people advocating the shot….regardless of what you choose to do people should not be scaring the living daylights out of people when they force their opinion….most people know how to research and make a decision that is right for them
The point of getting a flu shot isn’t primarily to protect yourself from the disease, but to protect society from an epidemic.
If everyone relied on elderberries and “natural life” blogs to avoid the flu there would be plague-level flu epidemics every year.
And while *you* would survive because you’re generally healthy, all those at-risk populations would be screwed because even if they were vaccinated they would be constantly exposed to all of the different mutated forms of the flu, many of which the vaccine doesn’t inoculate you for.
The no vaccination movement is, at its core, extremely selfish.
My old doctor retired. She never pushed the flu shot once. My new nurse practitioner advised me to get the Tdap (Tetanus, dypyheria, pertussis). I had a terrible reaction! My arm became severely bruised at the injection site. Two days later I couldn’t move my arm, it was so painful. My NP said it was a very rare occurrence. It’s been more than six months since that shot and I’m still in pain. Now whenever the NP or her assistant push the flu shot or any other shot a simple “No thank you” is how I respond. You don’t need to give an excuse as to why you decline a vaccination. I will be selfish from now on.
This site is full of misinformation and can’t hurt the immuno-compromised. So many selfish people here! There are no foods that you can eat to “boost” your immunity. People that say that are trying to sell you snake oil. We have decades of research on vaccines and these people start spouting off non-sense on their blogs like they are medical practitioners! Get your flu shots people!