Taking the Vaccine

The numbers have been in for a while now, and it appears that the flu shot being pushed so enthusiastically these days has a 2.5% chance of making us ill. That's a high number considering the low risk of getting seriously ill from the flu itself. So high in fact that the benefits of the shot don't seem to outweigh the risks and uncertainties.

The right thing to do in light of these early findings would be to abandon the vaccination program. However, our moral betters in politics and the media have a different idea. They seem more inclined to push all sorts of laws and regulations that would make it virtually impossible to operate freely without up to date vaccination papers. Such hurdles will push the balance of the cost benefit analysis towards taking the vaccine, thereby making it popular despite its less than optimal track record.

Going forward, we'll see a swell in restrictions and regulations related to the flu shot, and many of us will feel that we have no choice but to take it, just like we feel we have no choice but to pay taxes. The 2.5% chance of getting ill seems less problematic in light of the hurdles put in our way. This is similar to how taxation seems reasonable in light of potential imprisonment, asset confiscation and fines. But this doesn't mean that we should simply bow our heads and submit. We can still make the process as expensive as possible.

There's no point in being rude or angry with anybody, especially if this can lead to fees and fines. Instead, we can do a bit of simple acting. Health personnel rely heavily on what we tell them and must act on this information. We can therefore tell them that we're feeling a little sick first thing after getting the shot. After sitting 10 minutes under observation, we can tell them that we're still feeling ill. They will then have to put us up in a place for observation. If they send us home with a number to call, we can call the number and tell them we're feeling sick.

No special acting skills are required for this. There's a bit of hazel on our part, but the cost inflicted on the system is greater. If we do it right, we may even be rewarded for our efforts. We could end up with a permanent exemption from future vaccinations, and there might be some subsidies along the way in terms of sick leave. All it takes is a bit of lying. The rest follows directly from the system itself, which rewards the difficult ones at the expense of the easy ones.

Alternatively, if we absolutely don't want to take the shot, we can rely on a bit of persuasion. We can find someone willing to issue the required papers without the shot actually being given. A little bit of asking around is probably all it takes to find such a doctor. There may be a fee involved to the benefit of the doctor. Some money may have to be paid, but that may well be worth the cost, considering the risk of serious illness and death.

Smallpox vaccine

By Photo Credit: James Gathany Content Providers(s): CDC - This media comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Image Library (PHIL), with identification number #2674. Note: Not all PHIL images are public domain; be sure to check copyright status and credit authors and content providers. Deutsch | English | македонски | slovenščina | +/−, Public Domain, Link