mcrh.org
*Home>>>Flu

Does the Flu shot breed stronger Flu Viruses?


I've always been curious about natural selection when it comes to the flu virus. If we you don't get the flu shot and develop the flu, doesn't your body react and control it naturally. If everyone gets the flu shot the flu has to adapt to survive and get stronger, eventually producing a super virus? Is that accurate?

The shot only stimulates your immune system to make antibodies in order to fight one stain of the flu. It greatly reduces the chance of you getting the flu in a season by better preparing your body for it.
Flu viruses are constantly adapting to survive and sometimes they gain the ability to spread to other organisms. You see not all flu viruses are able to adopt themselves to humans but some can. There is no such thing as a natural super flu there are just strains that are capeable of living in more organisms than others.

The Flu shot is defence against only one strain of flu... there are thousands out there. Getting the flu shot does not mean that you won't get the flu this season, it just lessens the chance.

As to whether the flu virus will grow immune to it's vaccination: eventually, yes it will.

I think so. The more you use medicines, the more you're exposing strains of viruses and bacteria to the defense. Natural selection can definitely change the virus's chemical composition and make it stronger.

There are thousands of flu viruses and the CDC's research can only pinpoint the 1-2 viruses they predict will be the most virulent strain for a given year..and they aren't always right. The viruses don't become stronger...they don't have to...there's so many of them that the ones that aren't introduced to the body can still invade.

No, because the flu shot does not kill bacteria (or viruses) it strengthens the body's response to them by introducing the immune system to them before infection.
Antibiotics which selectively kill of week germs and leave the stronger ones alive do.

The answer to your question is "No". Here's why.

Influenza viruses are the most mutagenic viruses known to mankind. They mutate thousands of times each year.

Some of the mutations result in really deadly flu viruses (refer to the 1918 Flu - killed millions)

Some of the mutations result in milder strains and some result in viruses that are non-pathogenic.

Getting a vaccine helps your body defend against the most likely flu pathogen around this year. Next year it could be different.

Influenza virus already has a natural selection built into its reproductive mechanisms.

Viruses are different than bacteria. Bacteria swap genetic information (plasmids) that can transfer immunity to antibiotics from one to another. No so with viruses.

Viruses mutate often. That's why a new flu shot is needed each year. Many different influenza viruses and many different mutations.

By the way, the H1N1 virus that caused the 1918 Flu epidemic that killed tens of millions is still around in a very mutated form. It mutated into a non-lethal strain (actually a very, very mild strain) completely unlike the deadly form.

Tags
  Food Allergy   Food Additives   Folliculitis   Folic Acid   Folate   Fluid   Flu   Floater   Flea Bites   Flatulence   Fitness   Fistulas   First Aid
Related information
  • Relapsing Flu, monthly?

    You may want to get a second opinion for symptoms that have gone on for so long. It sounds like your body is run down and not ever really recovering from what made you sick in the first place. T...

  • HIV and flu?

    Well if I understand your question right: you don't always get the flu after getting HIV, but with HIV, your immune system is weakened so it makes you more prone to getting infections like the...

  • Stomach flu vs. food poisoning?

    Most common types of food poisoning (salmonella) causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea 4-5 hours after eating. And it's almost always right on that 4 hour window. So if your brother vomited 1...

  • Do Flu shots really help?

    No flu shots are a scam by the drug companies to get you sick so you buy meds to help with your flu symptoms. I work in a hospital and the year that there was a flu shot shortage was the year we ba...

  • FLU? Could this be the flu?

    Flu is characterised by high fevers - 102 upwards. Given this info, i'd put my money on a sinus infection.

    ...
  • Flu season is coming: should I get a flu shot?

    Its a good idea to get the flu vaccine if you have history of recurrent chest infection and/or other long term medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. The flu vaccine can be given all year...

  • Flu help??

    The flu is a virus, so no medication will get rid of it. You can take meds to help relieve you of the symptoms temporarily though. Try taking something over the counter such as Tylenol Cold and...

  • Flu Time???

    Now, (Autumn), is a very common time to be catching a cold; flu season, though, is more like fire season: it can occur at any time of year. Best of health & good luck.

    ...
  •  

    Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster