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October 09 2007

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Controversial Findings About Flu Vaccines for the Elderly

A yearly flu vaccine has not been proven to prevent flu-related deaths in people over the age of 65, according to a review in the Lancet medical journal.

Nonetheless, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu shot for this purpose, citing research about the 36,000 yearly deaths and 200,000 annual hospitalizations for flu-related illness in the United States.

No studies have conclusively proven that flu shots prevent flu-related deaths among the elderly, according to the review, and some of the support for this practice is based on flawed data.

While some studies have shown a benefit for flu shots in younger adults, only a small number of trials included people over the age of 70 -- even though about 75 percent of flu-related deaths occur among that age group.

There is also evidence, according to the researchers, that the flu vaccines are less effective in older people because the elderly have lower immune activity.

Flu shots do not always prevent infection with the flu, though they can make the illness less serious.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases October 2007, Volume 7, Issue 10, Pages 658-666

Medical News Today September 25, 2007

Reuters September 24, 2007



Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

This is the time of year when campaigns begin all over the United States -- at your doctor’s office, your pharmacy, and even at your grocery store -- urging you to get a flu vaccine.

Hopefully I am teaching you and providing you with enough data and scientific support so that you will not fall for all of the hype.

As this review has found -- flu shots are not even proven to reduce flu-related deaths in the elderly (one of the key groups for which they’re recommended).

What, then, is the point?

The point, as with so many other drugs and vaccines, is to pad the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture these worthless shots, and indirectly benefit the governmental agencies and personnel to whom they pay loads of money in the form of “lobbying” and “consulting fees.”

You may also be surprised to learn that nearly three years ago, a similar study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that flu shots prevent far fewer deaths in the elderly than previously thought.

That report highlighted that although immunization rates in the elderly (people over 65) increased 50 percent in the past 20 years, there has not been a consequent decline in flu-related deaths.

This certainly begs the question, if this finding came out years ago, why has nothing been done in the meantime to change the recommendation?

And, though the current review  provides excellent documentation as to the inadequacies of the flu vaccine, a very disconcerting statement was made by CDC flu expert Dr. Joe Bresee in the Reuters article above.

He said the CDC is considering other measures to tame the flu, including “the widespread vaccination of schoolchildren.” The rationale behind this is to stop the flu in children who “are a big part of community transmission.”

Why I Don’t Recommend Flu Shots

For most people, a flu shot does not prevent illness, but actually does the polar opposite -- it weakens your immune system and makes you more predisposed to the illness.

You may have been fooled into believing the only way to prevent death from the flu is to get a dose of the vaccine, however there are many natural ways to prevent the flu.

I speak from experience, because I have never received a flu shot and haven’t missed a day of work due to illness in over 20 years. If you, too, want to avoid the flu this year (and thereafter), here are the top steps to take:
The bottom line is to lead a healthy lifestyle, and you will likely not have to worry about coming down with the flu ever again.


Related Links:

  Flu Vaccine Not Working--CDC Admits. What are Your Options?

  Alternatives to the Flu Vaccine

  Improperly Made Flu Vaccine Given to Millions of Americans




Comment on This Article
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Posted On Sep 25, 2007
I don't remember the last time I had the flu.  Nor do I remember the last flu shot I ever had...

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samurai
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Patty D
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Posted On Sep 25, 2007
 I remember the last flu shot I had, I'll never forget it.  The year was 1978 and I was in the Air Force...you have no choice about vaccines.  I had had a reaction the previous year, but they didn't feel it warranted being called an "allergy" so they forced me to take it again.  This time, within hours I had 105 fever and the arm I had received the shot in was swollen to the size of my thigh.  I had no use of that arm for several days and it was weeks before all the swelling was gone and I had full use of my arm.   That was the 2nd time I was hospitalized for a vaccine reaction (typhoid vaccine nearly killed me too).  Since then docs have insisted it's changed and I won't get a reaction and I need to take it blah blah blah, but I refuse.  I do get the flu about once a year often followed by pneumonia, but this year will be my first with a healthy lifestyle, so maybe I'll be blessed like Samurai and not catch it.

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Posted On Sep 25, 2007
In 50 years I have NEVER had a flu shot and never had the flu:!

Hmmmm, pure coincidence, or healthy lifestyle choices?

Uncle Russ


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Posted On Sep 26, 2007
Russ - Its probably a combination of healthy lifestyle choices and good genes. My mother never had a dose of the flu in her life. I was set to follow in her footsteps so to speak and I never had the flu until I was in my early 30's. The change came when my employer moved the location of our work premises. Unbeknown to me the air conditioning system was bringing in air pollution from the local busy road. It was at a low enough level that mostly it was not noticeable but on windy days you could often smell diesel fumes and at night the smoke from wood burning heaters. The job also required shifts and on-call work that meant my ability to get a good night's sleep was often compromised. This combination lead to me often getting the flu (and also developing Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) to the point that the damage is such that the last cold I had laid me low for 6 weeks. However now that I am out of that environment I am back to the situation where I do not catch colds very easily again and I have not had the flu at all.

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Posted On Oct 09, 2007

I have never had a flu shot and never will.

Today there was announcement of a successful test against the Bird Flu. Tamiflu is a joke imo.

I keep their product on my shelf for any type of infection.

biz.yahoo.com/.../to449.html

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Posted On Sep 26, 2007

My mother had a flu shot once.

Only once.

She also had severe plurisy within a week, ill ill ill. Go figure.

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Posted On Sep 26, 2007
I've gotten two flu shots in my life, and got sick both times.  I either had the flu or flu-like symptoms - in any event, I was rather ill.  I didn't become as markedly ill as some of you posting comments here fortunately, but the symptoms were still worrisome - nausea, vomiting, fever, gastrointestinal discomfort, etc.  In an idealistic world, medicine is supposed to make you feel better, not worse.  In reality, if I may be so bold to say, it seems as though a lot of medicine is flawed by design. Every year after my second vaccination I have been flu-free.  I'm not sure what my body couldn't tolerate - could have been mercury or God knows what else may be in that vaccine.  So for me it came down to this in short - Flu vaccination, got the flu.  No flu vaccination, didn't get the flu.


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Posted On Sep 26, 2007
A healthy immune system is the best "flu shot" a person can have.  One study I have seen, says that by having the flu shot, the duration of the flu may be lessened by one day.  But it never mentions that you can't get the flu by being immunized.  Flu immunization is a waste of time and money, the only profit maker is the pharmaceutical company.

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Posted On Oct 11, 2007

Absolutely smclark7. A healthy immune system will assure that the attacker cells go out when needed. One can do many things to boost immunity...too numerous to adequately cover. It is however just as dangerous to drive immunity into hyperimmunity. Thus the importance of eating nutritiously, adequate rest, exercise and proper supplementation for replacement of nutrients which perhaps may be lost through stress, poor dietary protocols, adrenal insufficiency due to various fators etc., are all beneficial ways to assure immunity enhancement and support. In other words many things/procedures/ways, which Dr. Mercola and many of you often share and talk about right here.

It is not better living through chemistry, but better living through biochemical enhancement for the physiological,psychological and spiritual benefit of our well being....the body as a whole.  

Thank you for your thought provoking posting.

Blessings

Dr. Trudy  

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Posted On Sep 26, 2007
I read the article several times. The benefits of the flu shot are overstated but they still recommend it? Unbelievable! I haven't taken the flu shot for about 7 years. The last time I did the flu shot the shot injection site ached for a year and I felt like hell for months. Now I exercise and take vitamin d and eat right. No flu! Go figure.

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Posted On Sep 27, 2007
Exactly.  This is why the study is "contraversial."  They continue to recommend it even tho they know it doesn't help (& often causes problems).  But it is contraversial to quit something that has become "standard preventive medical care."

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