By Betty Chirco
I was interested in the guest commentary written by Richard Sacks in your paper on Sept. 30, stating that the flu vaccine does not work and you should not take it. I thought I would give your readers the benefit of my personal experience. Many years ago when the flu vaccine first came out, I was working as a health professional at a large hospital. It was suggested that all staff should be immunized. At that time I was getting the flu almost every year. Most of my fellow staff members and I got the vaccine. At that time they were using live virus and I got the flu, which turned to bronchitis and then pneumonia. I was out of work for a couple of weeks. Needless to say, from then on I declined to take it. But every year I got the flu, which usually turned to bronchitis or pneumonia, or both.
Years later, when I became a senior citizen, my doctor suggested that I take the shot again. He explained that they no longer use live virus. With some trepidation, I gave it a shot. That year I had no flu, not even a cold. From then on I have received the shot every year and even took the pneumonia shot. I have not had the flu or pneumonia since. I am 77 years old and in good health.
Mr Sacks certainly should not be forced to take the shot if he does not want to, but if, in spite of his controlling his diet, etc., he should come down with the flu, I hope he has the common sense to stay home until he is no longer contagious. Of course, it won”t matter to me, I will have had my flu shot.
Betty Chirco
Lakeport
