Ready for the Flu Shot — You May Want to Rethink That

Every flu season, it’s the same song-and-dance. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) distribute a suggestion for people to get their flu shot as soon as its available. The same document declares that the side effects of the flu shot are comparable to flu itself — fever, body aches, chills. The CDC also says that multi-dose units of the flu vaccine carry the preservative thimerosal — which contains mercury.

Needless to say, this information creates doubt in the mind of the public. The latest group are Utah residents wondering if the flu shot is the best option available to combat the flu.

A flu shot may not even protect against the flu. Flu vaccines are formed from speculation by scientists guessing which flu strains may be most active in a given season. It’s a challenging game of “what’s-behind-door-number-three.” Also, the vaccine may not provide sufficient stimulation to manufacture enough antibodies to prevent the flu. The CDC itself reported a dismal flu vaccine efficiency rate of just 44 percent for the 2007-2008 season.

Common sense measures to prevent the spread of the flu virus include hand washing, limiting contact with sick people and avoid touching the nose, eyes, and mouth. Even the science community supports two natural remedies in flu protection.

Vitamin D‘s vital immune functions include the triggering of antibody production against infections.  A study in the October 2007 edition of Epidemiology and Infection reports Vitamin D intake prevents the flu and only 1 out of 104 subjects who received 2000 IU of vitamin D experienced cold or flu symptoms.

Another alternative isinfluenzinum, a homeopathic fix. The University of Johannesburg, in 2004, compared the effectiveness of the flu shot and influenzinum and found the homeopathic remedy was just as effective in preventing the flu and flu-like symptoms. What makes the results even more promising is the fact homeopathic remedies don’t have side effects and can be administered to all age.