Article written by Barbro Brost, DC, the Brost Clinic, Wayzata
This time of the year we frequently get asked, should I take a flu shot or not?
My answer is always, find out the facts and make an educated decision. Since we all have access to information on our computers and smart phones, you can easily find pertinent information. The risk and consequences of getting the flu has to be weighed against the potential risks and side effects of the flu vaccine.
The vaccine distributed each year is based on last year’s flu viruses. Viruses mutate and change so the vaccine given is usually only about 50% effective at preventing the flu.
A healthy child or adult gets sick for a few days if contracting the flu. In the process we build natural immunity and usually don’t get the flu for many years again. The flu vaccine used to be recommended to vulnerable populations, people over 60 and immune compromised children. Now the recommendation by the CDC is that everyone get a shot. Is this based on fact or financial incentive? Flu vaccines are a multi-billion dollar business……
All vaccines contain a trace amount of mercury in the preservative Thimerosal. Mercury accumulates in your brain tissue. Taking the flu shot every year may not be a good idea in the long run. Google “flu vaccine ingredients” to see further ingredients that you may think twice about having injected into your body!
An alternative to the flu vaccine is boosting your immune system naturally by eating healthy and taking a few supplements. Did you ever stop and think about why we call winter the flu season? Why doesn’t the flu happen in the summer? You might think of the answer when 5000 IUs of Vitamin D per day prevents the flu as well as the flu shot! Vitamin A, C, Zinc, Elderberry, and Echinacea also boost immunity naturally.
A separate topic is all the currently recommended childhood vaccines. I will write about that topic next month!
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