I was talking to my daughter today, who is df. I asked her if she got her flu
shot yet. She said no. I said, why not? She said, well I have heard a lot of
bad things about it. I said like what? She said, it messes up your immune
system. That sounds like a WT story. I remember back in the 1940's when it
was forbidden to get any vaccinations. This daughter still believes in the jw's
and wants to get back in. There was a lot printed in the WT and Awake, against
vaccinations.(in the '40's) It was said they were "poison" and would be harmful to your body. Has anyone else heard this story? My daughter works in a Dr
office, and I asked how she could get away with that, working where she does.
She didn't think it was a problem. Is this some "new light?"
Desert Rose

I have not heard of any "new light" concerning flu shots.

If I remember correctly the reason the Watchtower did not allow it's members to have vaccinations in the 40's was because they believed the vaccine contained blood components. When the Watchtower found out that this was a false rumor new light flashed up and they once again allowed vaccinations.

For what it is worth I have never received a flu shot for much the same reasons as you daughter. I am 66 years old and had the flu three maybe four times in my life, good odds in my book.

Cal, you are right about them not taking vaccines because they were thought to contain blood.
I remember reading in one of Ray Franz's books that when the GB would travel overseas, they would accept the neccesary vaccines to go, even though they were also thought to contain blood products. He explained that it was neccesary for them to do in order to spread the "good news" world wide. Yet the common JW wouldn't have been allowed.
Sounds like a double standard to me.

Sophia

I haven't heard anything either. May be a personal thing. Some people think flu shots will just make you sicker.

I asked one of the guys (hes an elder) at work about WT and flu shots. He said that it has to be a personal conviction. He also said WT is working with a group thats doing a lot with synthetic blood testing. Other than WT beliefs there is a ton of evidence against vaccination's. I think that some of the testing for vaccines could be seen as being against Christian values too. But again sounds more like a personal conviction. I personally havnt had one for over six years. I also havnt gone to Africa.

slant

I have been having flue shots for some time now, granted the first one I got give me the flue symptoms, and I swore that I would never get another one, but my doctor advised me, that on medical grounds I should get one each year. Having said that I have had heavy colds, but not the flue "Praise God".

john

I am all for the flu shot. I and both my young sons get one every year. We don't get the Flu .. but we sure do get everything else!
My oldest son is CONSTANTLY sick! It all started with his first year of school (kindergarten).
He had been a very healthy child ... went to school and plop! That was the end of that!
He had ear infection after ear infection. Broncitis .. fevers ... Oh that boy can run fevers!
He got tubes in his ears. That did help some. But now this year seems things are going just as bad. He was just in the hospital 3 days for a bilateral sinus infection ... he JUST got over that! Friday he had to get a CT Scan of his sinuses done .. and Now he is down with Strep Throat!!!! He is in A LOT of pain! The doctor let me see his throat and Ugh .. Its just AWFUL! I can not imagine! I am having a VERY hard time getting him to Drink .. its so painful to swallow. He hasn't eaten since Thursday!
He is slowly getting better .. but he is a real worry.
So, I am all for vaccinations. If ya ask me they need to come out with more. I would give anything for my little ones to never have to be sick.
Its one thing when I am sick ... but when your child is ill its totally different. You feel so helpless and just want it to go away!

blah....another something forbidden by the cult.....so typical....