Should I get a flu shot this season?

Should I get a flu shot this season?

 Hanson Chiropractic and Massage

 It’s flu season yet again and a question that I hear all the time is, “What do you think of the flu shot doc?  Should I get a flu shot this season?”  The flu effects thousands of people every year and fears abound in the media about “killer flu” strains so it is no wonder that flu shots are always such a hot topic.  In this Hanson Chiropractic newsletter we are going to look at the facts about flu shots and give you some quality information so you can decide whether you will get the flu shot this season.

 What the CDC Says

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people 6 months and older get the flu shot each year.  The flu shot is made based on a best guess of what strains of flu will be in your area during the upcoming flu season.  Other strains can and do creep in to your area.  This is why it is possible to get the flu the same season that you got the flu shot.  Remember the H1N1 swine flu panic?  It was actually just another strain of the normal flu that they had not forseen or planned for. 

 The CDC feels that basically everyone should get the flu shot, but they highly recommend the flu shot for the following populations: pregnant women, children younger then 5 years old, people 50 years and older, people with weakened immune systems, health care workers, and anyone else who comes in contact with the previously mentioned group… which is pretty much everyone in the world. 

 The CDC and state agencies feel that it is our civic duty to get vaccinated to protect everyone around us and ourselves.  The government pays a lot of money to have these vaccines available to everyone at an affordable cost.

 The Other Side of the Story

 All health care decisions should be analyzed based on risk versus benefit and overall efficacy.  Two primary questions should be asked and answered: 1. Is the “treatment” actually even effective?  2. Is it riskier to have the “treatment” than to not have the “treatment”?

 The scientific literature shows that the flu shot is not effective in reducing hospitalizations, pneumonia and death from contracting the flu (1)  – which is what we are told is the major reason to get the shot.  There is some research that shows a benefit of the flu vaccine, but these studies are of poor scientific quality with high levels of selection bias.  This strongly supports the lack of efficacy of the flu shot. 

 So what is the risk?  Flu vaccines still contain mercury (unless they are from single use vials).  Mercury or thimerosal is a neurotoxin and is harmful to our nervous system.  There are many other chemicals also added to the vaccine to preserve it and to attempt to make it more effective.  Some of these chemicals are formaldehyde, neomycin, gentamicin, latex,  and occasionally dog kidney cells.  Once injected into our body there can be reactions such as anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), convulsions, bell’s palsy, neuropathy, neurological disorders, autistic like brain dysfunction, optic neuritis, thrombocytopenia, wheezing, and asthma (2).

 Vaccine proponents say that these reactions are rare and not related to the vaccine.  Anti-vaccine supporters say that unwanted reactions are common, under reported and directly related to the vaccines.  Who is correct?  That is not for me to say, but I will tell you that vaccine safety is not a clear cut answer like the CDC would like you to believe, and new studies come out monthly evaluating this very topic. 

 If the vaccine does not prove to be effective the way it is professed to perform, then maybe the risk of the getting the flu shot is not worth the non-existent benefit of the vaccine.

 What else can I do to keep myself safe from the flu?

 Health is not complex but it takes constant work.  The CDC and state agencies proclaim that getting the flu shot is “the best thing you can do to protect yourself from the flu.”  On this I strongly disagree.  Basic hygiene (washing hands, cleaning surfaces, etc…) is a great place to start and has shown to be extremely effective on preventing the spread of the flu.

 You can also work to strengthen your health from within.  Work on the 5 Pillars of Health: proper diet & nutrition, proper exercise, proper sleep, keeping a positive mental attitude and  having a healthy spine and nervous system.  At Hanson Chiropractic we are here to guide you as you work on all the Pillars of Health, and teach you how to reach attainable, sustainable health… naturally.

 Maintaining a healthy weight has also shown to help prevent illness and contribute to a healthy immune system.  When you are overweight there is a whole host of maladies that can occur.  Science shows that, when overweight, just losing 6% of your body weight can significantly improve your overall health.  But loosing weight can be very challenging for many people, especially with today’s busy life styles.  To assist you in weight loss success, we have brought an exciting new weight loss protocol into our office.  Read below to learn more on how to make 2012 your healthiest year ever. 

 To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

 This ultimately comes down to a personal choice for each individual.  My wife and I have decided not use any of the flu vaccines and never will.  That decision is based on our personal research and understanding of how the body works.  I suggest that each of you do some research of your own.  Talk to your doctors.  Talk to your friends and family.  Look on the internet but be careful what websites you get your information from.  Read a book or two.  Ask me about the research I’ve done.  Debate and contemplate, but do not just blindly follow “instructions.”  This is your health and your life… make the best of it.

 In Health,

 Dr. Peter Hanson

Hanson Chiropractic

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