Should My Family Get the Flu Shot?

The school year is underway and cold and flu season will soon be upon us. If you’re wondering whether your family should get the flu shot, here’s what you need to know before you make your decision…

What is the flu vaccine? Plain and simple, the flu vaccine is a cocktail of chemicals. It contains inactive flu viruses plus ingredients such as Mercury (a known neurotoxin in the form of thimerisol), Glycol (a component in antifreeze) and Formaldehyde (the stuff they preserve cadavers with).

Is the flu vaccine really effective? There is no single virus that causes the flu; there is no one flu vaccine that protects against all of them. A flu vaccine is designed to confer immunity against the strains of flu that are expected to be most common and most serious. Flu vaccines for the current season are created 9 months prior to the start of the flu season, so it’s a kind of lottery as to whether the current vaccine will be effective for the most common strains of flu at any given time.

Is there a better way to protect my family from the flu? The key to protecting your family from the flu (as well as colds, infections and disease) lies in the immune system. Any kind of cold or flu is an attack on the immune system. If your immune system is strong, your body’s protective systems will kick in, deploying a host of immune cells that are designed to overtake unwanted intruders and ultimately work to destroy them.

The human body has an innate ability to manufacture antibodies (proteins) that work as part of the immune system to destroy abnormal or foreign cells. Not only do these antibodies help fend off common illnesses like the flu or a cold, but they also play a role in protecting you against catastrophic diseases like cancer or heart disease.

What is the best way to boost immunity? Did you know that a chiropractic adjustment boosts immunity by 200%! While this time of year is often referred to as “flu season” the reality is you can become infected with cold and flu viruses at any time of year. That’s why regular chiropractic adjustments all year round are important to health. In addition to your regular adjustment, you can also enhance your immunity through proper diet, exercise and stress reduction.

Chiropractors helping patients battle the flu is not a new occurrence. During the 1917-18 influenza epidemic, which brought death and fear to many Americans, it has been estimated that 20 million people died throughout the world, including about 500,000 Americans. It was chiropractic’s success in caring for flu victims that led to the profession’s licensure in many states.

Do you and your family get the flu shot? No, my family and I rely on our immunity and the power of the body to keep us healthy. Does that mean we don’t get sick? Not at all; we still get an occasional cold. However I can say that they are few and far between and much shorter in duration than the average person’s infection. Regular adjustments, eating right, staying active and doing what we can to reduce stress is our secret to staying healthy all year long.

When did we decide that trusting something other than our body would give us health? That is what we call the ‘outside-in’ approach – relying on a pill, potion or lotion to give us health. There is no greater medicine than the power of the body.

Special Note: While the CDC recommends the flu shot be given to all children 6 months and older and women who are pregnant (or will be during the flu season), the vaccine manufactures’ warning labels often suggest something quite different (see below for the commonly used FLUVIRIN vaccine). For a complete list of flu vaccines, their ingredients, and dosage recommendations and warnings, visit the World Association for Vaccine Education (WAVE) website.

If you have further questions or concerns about the flu shot and your family, please contact me.

Dr. Tiffany