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Dr. Mercola
October 23 2007
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Flu Shot Facts -- Battling Influenza

Why do people get flu shots? Because they believe the advice of their doctors and health agencies who recommend the vaccines for most everyone, young and old.

Yet, many people are not aware of the real facts behind flu shots -- and their potential ineffectiveness, side effects, and harmful additives.

While it’s possible to find some positive data about flu shots, there is a significant amount of data from both mainstream medical journals and alternative media sources that question flu shots’ usefulness and efficacy. For instance:

  • "We‘ve got an exaggerated expectation of what vaccines can actually do," said one study author, Dr. Tom Jefferson... "I‘m hoping American and European taxpayers will be alerted and will start asking questions."

  • A study in The Lancet found that even among people for whom the vaccine is most recommended (the elderly), protection can be as low as 30 percent.

  • Only 36,000 Americans die from the flu infection each year, yet an average of 195,000 Americans have died each year from 2000 to 2002 due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors. This means that “over five times as many people will die because they happen to be in the hospital and are unlucky enough to experience a preventable error, than will die from getting the flu, if the vaccine itself doesn’t put them in the hospital.”
The article’s author, research scientist Wilton Alston, sums things up by saying about flu shots, “At best it appears that one is opting to inject a foreign substance with likely only 25–45% effectiveness while hoping that no side-effects occur. (Anyone care to pay for the chance to play Russian roulette?).”

LewRockwell.com October 6, 2007



Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:
This article is packed with useful facts about flu shots, including some from yours truly, that you can use to inform any of your friends or loved ones who are still considering getting one.

Folks, we are in prime season for flu shots in the United States, so don’t be surprised if you see them being promoted everywhere from your doctor’s office to your local grocery store.

Some hard-hitting evidence was released last month that I think should make anyone think twice about them: flu vaccines have never been proven to prevent flu-related deaths in people over age 65, which is one of the key groups for which they’re recommended.

Let me say that again to make sure you did not skim over it.

Flu Shots Have NEVER Been Proven to Prevent Flu-related Deaths in Those Over 65.

You may also be shocked to learn that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grossly distorts the facts about flu deaths. If you go to the CDC’s main flu page, you’ll see their statistic that about 36,000 people die from the flu in the United States each year.

But if you search a little harder, you can find the actual number of people who died from the flu in 2005 (this is the most recent data that’s available). Want to take a guess at what it is?

In 2005, 1,806 people died from influenza, not 36,000. And in 2004, there were just 1,100 flu deaths.

The statistics the CDC gives are skewed partly because they classify those dying from pneumonia as dying from the flu, which is not at all true or accurate. For instance, their 2005 statistics lump influenza and pneumonia deaths together, at 62,804 deaths.

But broken down, there were 60,998 deaths from pneumonia and just 1,806 from the flu.

This will not stop the powers-that-be from touting their yearly fall warnings about this year’s upcoming flu season, and all the flu deaths that will follow. The media (which is largely controlled by corporations, many of which are making or selling the flu shots or the junk food that will actually make you more vulnerable to the flu) would have you believe that getting the flu shot is all you need to do to stay healthy all winter.

How to Prevent the Flu Without Getting a Flu Shot

For most people the flu shot does not make you healthy; it does just the opposite and weakens your immune system. It appears that some of you in the medical field are beginning to catch on to this, as less than 40 percent of health care workers got flu shots in 2006.

The reasons why the workers opted to not get vaccinated were right on:
  • They didn't believe the vaccine would work
  • They believed their immune systems were strong enough to withstand exposure to the flu
  • They were concerned about side effects
If you follow a healthy lifestyle, you will not have to worry about getting the flu. Take it from me -- I’ve never received a flu shot, and I haven’t missed a day of work due to illness in over 20 years. The key steps that I follow to stay flu-free, which I suggest you follow too, include:
Also, keep an eye out for my upcoming Special Report all about the flu and flu shots. It will contain detailed information for you and your loved ones to safely avoid the flu this year and in the years to follow.
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Community Comments ( 41 )
 		Comment on this Article
  
  
KAC
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on October 8, 2007 ]
18 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I don't think people know what ingredients constitute a flu vaccine.  If they did, I think they would think twice about it. 
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Russ Bianchi
 [ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on October 8, 2007]
2 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
PRECISELY CORRECT KAC!
Mercola
  
Lloyd Fielder, D.C.
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 9, 2007]
10 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
That's what is great about this site, just put two words into the search engine and get great info in a snap!

http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/statistics.htm  
Mercola
  
MollyKatz
 [ Joined on 01/07 ]  [ Posted on October 23, 2007]
8 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

My mother passed on at age 93 of heart failure...at home.  She had one flu shot about 10 years previously and had the worse case of flu ever.  She swore off and never again.

As for me....I took the vaccine for 3 consecutive years along with the pneumonia vaccine.   I developed a very embarassing neurological tic and can't overcome it.  After much searching and going back to my first tuberculin test at age 15, which was positive and I spent 9 months in a sanatarium back in 1950.  A positive tb germ was never found even after a stomach pump.   Again in 1989 I had the tb skin test and again my arm nearly came off.  I was x-rayed and tested and told never to take the test again as I was allergic to it.   I searched and studied and found that I am allergic to thimerasol or Mercury and they are in the flu shot.   Long article, but it needs to be said.   9 months out of my prime teen years in a sanitarium because of an allergy and no one picked up on it.   Added interest, when my daughter was 6 the schools gave them the skin test and didn't ask permission.  She also had a severe reaction and I was told absolutely no future skin tests for her.  What they didn't tell me was that Thimerasol/Mercury were the culprits in the serum.

Mercola
  
fullofoats
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 24, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

To look up exactly what is in each vaccine (i.e., aluminum, formaldehyde, mercury, cow blood and skin, monkey kidney tissue, rodent blood, etc), take a look at the U.S. government's web site.  Here are 2 VERY interesting links.  Take some time to educate yourself:

www.cdc.gov/.../excipient-table-1.pdf

www.cdc.gov/.../excipient-table-2.pdf

I agree with Dr. Mercola's suggestions and follow some additional ones found on naturalpureorganics.com/totalhealth.htm
Mercola
  
Aaron E. Mohr, D.C.
 [ Joined on 10/07 ]  [ Posted on October 25, 2007]
4 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I think I'd like to increase my chances of getting Alzheimer's.  I'll take a couple rounds of that flu tonic please.

www.angelfire.com/.../flu_shots_and_flu_vaccines.html
Mercola
  
momster
 [ Joined on 11/07 ]  [ Posted on November 1, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I'm 55 years old, and only had one flu shot about 20 yrs ago. I caught the flu!
  
  
foxtroter
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on October 8, 2007 ]
13 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Why do people get flu shots?   Because they believe and trust their medical physicians.  Why do medical physicians give shots? Either out of ignorance or for profit.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
samurai
 [ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on October 8, 2007]
2 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
I second that, Foxtroter.
Mercola
  
Lloyd Fielder, D.C.
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 9, 2007]
11 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
There is a great book by Dr. Donal Epstein called "Healing Myths, Healing Magic" and is awesome how he goes back to the beginning of modern society and shows how we have all these myths, magic and pretty much dogmatic beliefs that determine our actions.  As "educated" as we are today we still operate largely off of dogmatic and cultural beliefs. 
  
  
concernedparent
 [ Joined on 10/07 ] [ Posted on October 23, 2007 ]
8 Points        
   
 
Novice User

I have a 4 year old little boy who was given the FluMist vaccine just 2 weeks ago.  He had a severe allergic reaction with flu symptoms and horrible hives.  He was so miserable for 3 days and nights with hives from his scalp down to his toes.  His entire body was swollen, whelped and blood red!  I cried for hours the first night because nothing I tried worked to give him any relief.  He vomited and ran fever along with the hives.  It really scared me!  Even his pediatrician was horrified when he saw him.  He said he was going to file an "adverse reaction" report and I'm making sure he follows thru.  He put my son on Prednisolone which has a mile long list of side effects.  One of the side effects is bone pain and on the 3rd day of taking this "drug" he developed horrible aches in his knees, fingers and feet.  I immediately took him off the drug and visited our local health food store.  What I received from this store helped him more than anything else.  I urge other moms to strongly consider the possible allergic reaction which we were never told about.  He isn't allergic to eggs which is asked prior to administering the FluMist.  So, the reaction came from something else which we will never find out because we'll never do it again!!!  I've had a terrible guilty conscious since putting my son through this.  I just hope and pray that nothing else pops up later in his life from this vaccine.  Maybe this comment will help other moms make the smart decision before taking this risk with their childrens' health.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Birdlady
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 23, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Flumist is a LIVE VIRUS! Never give your children a live virus especially at 4 years old. Your doctor should be ashamed of himself. I would never go back to that doctor, EVER no matter how nice he has been in the past.

This is whats's in FluMist. It says no preservatives, but it has MSG in it which is a neurotoxin! (Read Russell Blaylock's Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills)

It probably passed through the blood brain barrier in your child.

"Each pre-filled refrigerated FluMist sprayer contains a single 0.2 mL dose. Each 0.2 mL dose contains 106.5-7.5 FFU of live attenuated influenza virus reassortants of each of the three strains: A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1), A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2), and B/Malaysia/2506/2004 [1].

Each 0.2 mL dose also contains 0.188 mg/dose monosodium glutamate, 2.00 mg/dose hydrolyzed porcine gelatin, 2.42 mg/dose arginine, 13.68 mg/dose sucrose, 2.26 mg/dose dibasic potassium phosphate, 0.96 mg/dose monosodium phosphate, and < 0.015 mcg/mL gentamicin sulfate. FluMist contains no preservatives."
  
  
BeyondOrganic
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on October 22, 2007 ]
8 Points        
   
 
Savvy User

I just can't believe all these people who run out to get their flu shot!  Big NO THANKS for me and my family!!!  

 [ Reply ]
  
  
Debrah
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on October 23, 2007 ]
6 Points        
   
 
Savvy User

We use elderberry concentrate--it has been shown to prevent flu and/or lessen symptoms. Of course, diet, excercise and hand washing are good ideas too! I also make a spray with essential oils that are known to be ant-bacterial and anti-viral.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
mmc88121
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on October 8, 2007 ]
6 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
As as nurse I never worked at a place where it was Mandatory to get flu shots, however, they were strongly encouraged, I did get a couple over the years and those were the years I was usually the sickest during the winter.  I was never officially diagnosed with the flu but the symptoms were all the same.

Mary
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Patty D
 [ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on October 9, 2007]
2 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
In Florida, I worked in dialysis, nursing homes and rehab.  At each of these, we were basically told that we were risking our jobs if we didn't take the shot because of the risk to our sick and debilitated patients.  Maybe they couldn't have legally done it, but I never knew one person who refused.  I only got away with it because of documentation that I was allergic.
  
  
potts
 [ Joined on 02/07 ] [ Posted on October 23, 2007 ]
4 Points