Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.
                                                                                              -Thomas Jefferson.

Flu Vaccines: Be informed and choose

At a recent health expo this weekend, an employee representing a popular drugstore chain happened by my booth and asked me in a very concerned manner, "Sir, have you had your flu shot yet this year?" To which I responded, "Why no, I've actually never had one." She looked at me rather bewildered, and then after observing the natural medicine booth I was promoting at the expo, put two and two together and said politely, "Oh, never mind." Thus it was that and I was prompted to write this timely piece.

The media is starting early this year, as they do every year. You see the kiosks set up at your local supermarket, you see and hear the public service announcements on TV and radio, and you read pamphlets and ads stating that this could be one of the worst flu seasons on record. The elderly are among the most targeted for this campaign, and mothers of young babies are cautioned that their little ones are at high risk as well. But is all this truly necessary? Might they be feeding our fears?

It’s been announced in a prior year there was going to be a flu vaccine shortage. I remember seeing people lined up for hours, missing valuable work time, just to get theirs before the precious supply ran out. I also remember that year to be a particularly mild flu season, making all the worry unnecessary. 

Now there's no doubt that the influenza virus is highly contagious. It can cause severe illness such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and can even lead to death in some cases. So it’s not to be ignored. Yet some studies, such as one published in the prestigious British Medical Journal in 2005, suggest that the Center for Disease Control's estimates of 36,000 flu deaths per year are grossly overestimated, and cause unnecessary public panic.  

I believe that knowledge is power. I support people to make their own educated decisions when it comes to their health care choices. So you may choose to get your flu shot this year, but wouldn’t it be good to learn more about it first? Here are a few flu facts:

1. Flu vaccines activate an immune response to a virus by the injection of a weakened strain or strains of previous years' viruses. So it’s never an exact match to the current year because we don't know until it hits us.
2. It can take two weeks or more for the body to mount a full immune response to the vaccine.
3. Vaccines contain preservatives and other additives, such as mercury, that are considered by some to pose a more harmful risk that the flu.
4. When the body's immune system is healthy, the flu virus either misses us, or passes through us in only 48 hours.
5. There are numerous ways to naturally boost our immune system that include healthy diet, regular exercise, good sleep and hygiene, and certain vitamins, minerals, and herbs.

So before you act, look into this issue. It's your health, so make the choices that best suit you and your family’s needs. I’m encouraging you to find out more about the flu, vaccines, and your health; this is in no way meant to be a medical recommendation. Always see your family physician when you are ill.  

Healthiest regards,