If you think the flu shot makes you healthy, consider that its active ingredients are the results of an educated guessing game.
Most people think that the flu shot has been tested and will prevent you from getting the flu. Straight from the label of the 2012–2013 Flulaval vaccine: “…there have been no controlled trials adequately demonstrating a decrease in influenza disease after vaccination with Flulaval.” From the Center for Disease Control website: “It is not possible to predict how well the vaccine and circulating strains will be matched in advance of the influenza season, and how this match may affect vaccine effectiveness.”
The flu vaccine is basically a guess, an amalgamation of the three viruses that research indicates are most likely to be present in the next flu season and is prepared well before the flu season. The University of Minnesota conducted a study in which they researched all the flu vaccine studies from 1967–2011. They concluded “that most flu vaccines provide only moderate protection against influenza, and in some years barely make a difference at all.” The flu vaccine had a 59 percent success rate in preventing the flu. That is a failing score in most institutes of higher education.
Yet, if you look up ways to prevent the flu, it is often number one on the list. The flu shot has good marketing, but that does not necessarily mean it is effective.
“I really believe your immune system takes care of a lot of things. Even if you’ve been exposed to the flu, you don’t have to get it.”
– Erica Brownfield, MD, and professor of internal medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Fresh Ideas to Extend Your Expiration Date
What are the best ways to prevent the flu?
- Keep your immune system healthy.
- Wash your hands. This is basic advice but extremely important.
- Get plenty of rest, water, and sunlight (vitamin D3 if you don’t have access to sun).
- Consume lots of fresh veggies. Try for two to three servings at every meal.
- Be active every day.
- Decrease your stress load. Learn to say yes only to things that matter.
Learn More
In general, vaccinations can be a controversial issue with heavily disputed arguments on both sides. It is important to make educated, informed decisions about vaccines. You have to decide what is right for you and your family.