Nutrition Navigator Article

The Flu Shot Controversy

Each year at the onset of the flu season, the flu shot debate comes to life as members of the “conventional wisdom” side trek off to obtain their yearly flu shot while the “natural health” side stands fast to their conviction that the negative aspects of flu vaccines outweigh the positives. It seems like the consumer either loves them or hates them.

What you do with your body remains entirely up to you—and your doctor, if you so choose. Hopefully you believe making decisions regarding your health should always include thorough research on the pros and cons—and with regard to flu shots, the list of cons is long. Here are some of the top reasons I feel flu shots are unsafe. You can start your research with these.

1. Flu vaccines contain toxic chemicals
Flu vaccines do not contain a magic potion or miracle cure. It is a cocktail of numerous chemicals, many of which have been proven to be toxic to the human body. Some of the more egregious include:
• Thimerosal (a mercury disinfectant/preservative—has been shown to cause brain injury and autoimmune disease).
• Ethylene glycol (known in more common terminology as antifreeze).
• Phenol (also known as carbolic acid, is used as a disinfectant and dye).
• Formaldehyde (a known cancer-causing agent that the typical consumer objects to being placed in their carpet, but is happy to inject into their body).
• Aluminum (added to the flu vaccines to promote antibody response—it is associated with Alzheimer's disease and seizures and has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory mice).
• Neomycin and Streptomycin (used as antibiotics—have caused allergic reaction in some people).
2. Vaccines are grown and strained through animal or human tissue
Flu vaccines are created using monkey kidney tissue, chicken embryo, embryonic guinea pig cells, calf serum, and human diploid cells (the dissected organs of aborted human fetuses as in the case of rubella, hepatitis A, and chickenpox vaccines).

Only each individual can decide if he or she is willing to put these items into their body; however, it is patently obvious that the typical consumer has no idea regarding the origins of their immunization product. When was the last time you heard of a health professional telling their patient that their flu shot was created from kidney tissue from a monkey? Yet tens of thousands of people simply accept whatever they’re administered without so much as a simple query.

3. The strains of flu used in a flu vaccine can be different than the strains you’ll be exposed to this year
The flu virus' genetic material is prone to mutations; hence, it is forever trying out new combinations to outwit a person's antibodies. Most flu vaccines contain only three strains, yet a person will more than likely be exposed to additional strains, or strains mutated from what he or she has been vaccinated for.

The difficulty in keeping up with the constantly-mutating strains—and ensuring the populace is always being vaccinated with the current prominent strain—is obvious.

4. Getting a flu shot does not guarantee you won’t get the flu
Many people are under the impression that getting a flu shot guarantees that they will not get the flu. This simply is not true. Not only can you still get the flu, but many people still die from the flu after receiving a flu shot.

The hope is that you are less likely to get the flu—not guaranteed to not get it. Whether you really are less likely to get the flu is what the debate is all about. One thing you are guaranteed with a flu shot is that flu viruses will be injected into your body—albeit in low quantities—in the hope that your body will build up a strong immunity against the strains introduced.

5. Flu vaccines do have a small print disclaimer—and side affects
When you purchase a pharmaceutical prescription you receive a disclaimer sheet listing all the known side affects and risks. Presumably, this is so you can make an educated decision on whether the drug is appropriate for you. Unfortunately, it is virtually unheard of for a person to have received and/or read the disclaimer sheet accompanying their flu shot. The paperwork does exist—and for good reason. The side affects range from mild side affects like soreness and mild flu-like symptoms, to full-blown flu.

If your decision is that it is in your best interest to get a flu shot, you should at least be aware of the known side affects and risks.

6. Research on the effectiveness of flu shots is inconsistent
As the debate rages on, the main sticking point seems to be whether flu shots actually save lives. For years, flu shot advocates have claimed that vaccines were most effective in saving the lives of seniors, because they are more susceptible to serious complications when they contract the flu. However, a recent study summarized in the Lancet Medical Journal stated that it is not true that elderly lives are actually being saved:
“No studies have conclusively proven that influenza shots prevent flu-related deaths in people over the age of 65, and some of the arguments that have been used to support this idea are based on faulty data, the researchers argue in the Lancet Medical Journal.” (Reuters, September 27, 2007.)
One point that is clearly obvious is that there is no evidence that flu shots save lives for younger and middle-aged adults. Yet flu vaccines are advocated as a beneficial step for anyone and everyone—regardless of age.

7. There are proven natural approaches to combating the flu
Probably the best reason for avoiding flu vaccines is because there are steps you can take to build your immune system—to limit the flu’s affect—and to limit yourself to exposure to the flu. And these steps can be taken without taking drugs that are of dubious origin and contain harmful chemicals:
--Avoid sugar and fried foods.
--Drink plenty of liquids, especially water.
--Get plenty of regular sleep.
--Wash your hands regularly.
--Keep stress under control.
--Exercise regularly.
--Eat plenty of garlic and other foods proven to boost the immune system.
--Consider taking whole food nutritional supplements containing immune-boosting nutrients.

The choice is yours to make. But whether you decide to get a flu shot or not, don’t you owe it to yourself to get all the facts and make an educated decision? The presence of side affects to some extent is a known equation, yet there is no guarantee that you won’t get the flu. Only you can decide if the risks of taking the flu shot is worth the benefits.