Do I Really Need A Flu Shot?
Posters promoting flu vaccines are everywhere this time of year, so you may be asking yourself, “Should I Get a Flu Shot?” The annual flu vaccine is promoted for everyone 6 months and older to boost the immune system and help prevent coming down with the seasonal flu. Pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those with autoimmune complications are especially targeted as needing to receive a flu shot.
This conventional medical thought process emphasizes that the human body is unable to naturally support immune defenses and prevent threatening environmental agents. This, however, is untrue, and in fact, flu vaccines are increasingly shown to be ineffective and even hazardous to our health.
The Vaccination Theory
The development of vaccination has been applauded since its discovery of an inoculation able to eradicate smallpox by Edward Jenner in 1796. Since then, vaccines have been developed by pharmaceutical companies in laboratories to combat a number of illnesses that can affect the population.
Vaccines involve injecting a person with a partial material of an infectious agent. It is believed to pass immunity from one individual to another to protect us from infection. Substances called adjuvants are also added. These are designed to stimulate the body’s immune response to the infectious particle so that antibodies can be created to defend against an attack.
The Scare Of Epidemics
Government agencies and many health care professionals have added to society’s fear of returning viruses that once plagued civilization up to hundreds of years ago. Before modern research and technology, the scientific community had little to no awareness regarding the spread of infection and how to prevent serious health threats.
Today we understand that the human body is built and must be equipped with the lifestyle tools to build our immune systems. These tools can protect us from such life-threatening pathogens. Despite this knowledge, informational pamphlets, free vaccine programs, and the threats of some medical providers still have the general public assume that vaccination is the answer to preventing illness. If the government and your trusted family doctor encourage the flu vaccine as the primary prevention tool to combating flu related deaths, should you dare question them?
If vaccines are so safe, why does the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)? This is a program set up in the mid-80s to provide financial compensation to individuals who have been injured by a VICP-covered vaccine.
The VICP received over 3,000 claims related to the influenza vaccine only between Oct 1, 1988 and Nov 1, 2016. Of these claims 2,928 were associated with serious injuries, while 114 included fatalities linked to receiving the influenza vaccine.
What's In The Flu Vaccine?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) releases new vaccination recommendations annually depending on the type of viruses they are predicting will be most common to protect against. A variety of flu shots are available depending on a person’s age and location of injection. This 2016–2017 flu season the CDC recommends either the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or the recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV).
The following ingredients found in the flu vaccine are listed along with some of the potential harmful side effects they are linked to:
Formaldehyde: Intended purpose is to inhibit bacterial contamination during vaccine manufacturing process. This preservative is listed as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (IARC). It’s known to devastate the immune system and cause cancer.
Thimerosal/ Mercury: Thimerosal is a mercury-containing compound used in multi-dose vials as a preservative. Its intended purpose is to inhibit bacterial contamination. Exposure to mercury causes damage to the kidneys and brain and is associated with inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune disorders.
Egg Protein: Residual materials from the cell cultures used to produce the virus in egg is left behind. Foreign proteins such as egg protein are metabolized into amino acids and may cause severe allergic reactions.
Sucrose and Gelatin: Sugars and gelatin are used as stabilizers to protect the vaccine throughout transport and storage. Like egg protein, gelatin is a protein that can cause allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.
Aluminum salts: Salts such as aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, and other mixed salts are added to the flu vaccine to stimulate the body’s immune response to produce antigens against the virus. Aluminum has been clinically shown to cause autoimmunity, neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis, and local adverse effects to the site of injection including fatigue and muscle pain.
Neomycin: Another residual agent, neomycin is an antibiotic that is added during manufacturing of the vaccine to inhibit bacterial contamination. Like any other antibiotic, neomycin reduces bacteria in the gut and is associated with weakened immunity. Neomycin is also associated with causing an allergic reaction, impairing hearing and nerve function, and is also linked to kidney damage.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): A common substance found in all vaccines, MSG acts as a stabilizer to prevent degradation against light, heat, humidity, and acidity. MSG may trigger an allergic response in some individuals and is associated with cell damage and cognitive decline.
Polysorbate 80: This ingredient has often been added to previous flu shots to help ingredients dissolve together. Polysorbate 80 is known to cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and the respiratory and digestive tract. It has been associated with metabolic dysfunction and a weakened immune response. Its toxic effects on humans when chronically exposed have not been established.
What Are The Potential Dangers Of Getting A Flu Shot?
- Local reactions including swelling, pain, and redness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nasal congestion
- Nausea
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Severe conditions of brain inflammation
- Neuropathy
- Bell’s palsy
- Limb paralysis
- Neuropathy
- Asthma
- Guillain Barre Syndrome (disabling neurological disorder that can cause death)
Is There An Increased Risk For Neurological Dysfunction After Getting A Flu Shot?
One of the greatest biologist and immunologists to date, Dr. Hugh Fudenberg, was ridiculed for his speech given at the International Public Conference on Vaccination in 1997. In his comments he stated that receiving the flu vaccine five years in a row had a tenfold increase on the risk of that individual developing Alzheimer’s Disease. He had found in his research that the mercury and aluminum accumulates in the brain leading to cognitive impairment.
Many researchers today believe that our exposure to environmental toxins including the heavy metal exposure we receive from vaccines is causing the increasing rise in neurological degenerative diseases. These diseases include Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Having A Flu Shot Offers No Gaurantee You Won't Get The Flu
There is no single virus that causes the flu and there is no single flu vaccine that protects against all strains. Scientists have to make their best assumption as to which they think will be the most common threat of flu season. More than 3,000 various strains of the virus are narrowed down to 3 viruses to create protection against.
In other words, the flu vaccine does not protect you against all influenza viruses which you may fall ill from. Each flu vaccine contains components from the 3 predicted viruses so that the human body can increase its production of antibodies. Not a reliable science − this assumption also does not take into account the fact that viruses are constantly adapting to the environment. This decreases the likelihood that your flu vaccine guarantees you protection.
Even if you are fortunate enough to receive a vaccine for the proper strain of virus it will be useless if your body hasn’t produced a full response (which takes 2 weeks) or if there is too much time (over 3 months) between the vaccine and viral exposure. The virus may have adapted over time to create a structure the body fails to recognize.This means that your body may fail to equip itself in the initial 2 week vaccination period and the antibodies your immune system has produced may no longer recognize the changed virus or viruses 3 months following vaccination.
9 Natural Ways To Protect Yourself From Getting The Flu (Without A Flu Shot)
Relying on an annual flu vaccine to protect you and those around you from the flu does not benefit your health or offer your best chance of protection. The immune system can become damaged from a vaccine especially if it is weakened from low vitamin D3 levels, gut dysbiosis, subluxation, and an inflammatory diet.
Follow the steps below to maximize your likelihood of staying healthy and free of the flu and other illnesses this flu season and all year long:
- Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can make symptoms like congestion worsen. Drink plenty of purified water throughout the day so that your detoxification pathways are able to function. Give your water an antiviral and antibacterial boost by adding natural disinfectant liquids like apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (fresh or use a drop of lemon essential oil). Add variety by sipping herbal teas and nutrient-rich bone broth to feed your cells supportive antioxidants.
- Get adequate sun exposure: Without the sun, your body cannot synthesize the immune boosting component vitamin D3. This biologically active component is converted in a reaction beneath the skin during exposure to UVB rays. If you are unable to get the proper amount of sun exposure recommended for your skin color daily, supplement with 1,000 IU vitamin D3 for every 25 pounds of body weight.
- Supplement with vitamin C: Without healthy levels of vitamin C, your body is forced to use up its stores of glutathione to recycle old vitamin C. Vitamin C is critical for preventing oxidative stress and repairing tissue. Add vitamin C rich foods to your bone broths and soups by including kale, chives and other green vegetables.
Consider supplementing with 2 grams of vitamin C every waking hour until your symptoms subside. The next day restore your levels with 1 gram of vitamin C every hour that you are awake. - Supplement with zinc: Zinc stimulates the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to defend the body against pathogenic activity including viral infections like influenza. Zinc also works to reduce inflammation and support antioxidants.
Consider adding the following zinc rich foods to your diet throughout flu season to give your immune system a boost. If you are already overcome with flu symptoms, supplement with a 20mg zinc supplement every 3 hours while you are awake until symptoms are gone.
- Grass-fed dairy
- Almonds and cashews
- Grass-fed beef
- Organic, pastured chicken
- Asparagus and spinach
- Wild caught salmon
- Eat probiotic rich foods: Your body is working overtime to fight off infection and repair inflammatory damage. If you find yourself hungry while dealing with the flu, avoid the temptation to eat processed crackers and other high sugar and carb rich foods.
The majority of the immune system is in the gut which means that your gut health is partly responsible for your total health. Eat probiotic and prebiotic rich foods to improve your gut flora and nourish those communication pathways for an optimal working immune system. Squeeze citrus fruits into your water throughout the day and add leeks and Jerusalem artichokes to your soups. - Utilize essential oils: Essential oils have been used for centuries and have been supported in research to reduce inflammation, calm anxiety, increase immune response, and lower circulating stress hormones. Try diffusing citrus oil to improve your mood and reduce symptoms of fatigue. Inhale eucalyptus oil in a bath to clear up stuffy noses and find relief from chest congestion, or rub peppermint oil on to sore muscles.
- Consume Herbs: Herbs have been a powerful healing tool recorded in Egyptian scripture writing and remain the primary tool to combat flu symptoms in Europe. Ginger, oregano, Echinacea, and thyme have powerful anti-inflammatory responses in the body and as well as antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Crush a clove of garlic between your teeth before swallowing to help reduce respiratory symptoms associated with the flu. Garlic and onion contain a sulfur-containing compound that boost your body’s natural antioxidant defenses and should be added to your diet daily. - Practice Grounding: The world around us contains electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs). One way can counter the harmful effects of EMFs is from walking barefoot on the ground. Grounding allows the body’s electrical energy to balance with the Earth’s rhythms. This exercise has been shown to help build a strong immune response to improve healing and recovery time by decreasing cortisol levels and reducing fatigue.
Take a book outside and sit on the grass to catch those necessary rays from the sun while helping to boost your mood through grounding as well. - See a Chiropractor: Removing subluxation or interference from the nervous system through chiropractic care has been shown to add quality to life. Chiropractors seek to remove any abnormal pressures on the spine that may be causing an abnormal immune response.
Seeing a chiropractor while battling the flu can stimulate your immune defenses by increasing leukocytes, or circulating blood cells called polymorphonuclear neutrophils. These biological agents help fight against viruses that cause influenza.
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