The Flu Shot and Other Vaccines

There is so much hype in the media about the flu and the flu shot, but few people know much about the vaccine itself. Or vaccines in general, for that matter.  I sure didn’t until about a year ago, when I finally decided to do my own research.

My primary concerns revolved around immunizations for kids, which is a separate but related topic.  (How I wish I’d done my research before having babies!  If I’d known then what I know now, I’d have done things so differently).

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If you’ve looked into this topic for yourself, you’ve probably heard of The Vaccine Book by Dr. Bob Sears.  Maybe in a future blog post I will tackle the subject of Vaccines for Kids, but for now I’ll just point out that this book provided my first real look at the flu shot.

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[Update: I finally wrote that post here: Should You Vaccinate Your Children?]

Should You Get the Flu Shot?

Do you know what’s in the flu shot?
Do you know how it’s made?
Do you know if it works?

These are questions that deserve answers, especially when we’re talking about our kids, who blindly trust us to do what’s best for them.

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Last week I had the privilege of attending a presentation on Cold and Flu Prevention and Treatment, given by the wife of my holistic MD–who also happens to be a holistic MD herself–and the registered nurse who works at their office.

It was excellent!

Here’s what I learned:

• what the flu is (Do you know the actual symptoms of the flu?)
• why it’s so prevalent in the winter
• how to strengthen the immune system naturally in order to prevent the flu
• how to strengthen the immune system naturally in order to treat the flu
• how the flu vaccine is developed
• the ingredients of a flu shot
• the documented efficacy of the flu shot
• the documented dangers of the flu shot

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By the way, if you’re looking for natural ways to maintain a healthy immune system, I’ve got a few suggestions:

• Homemade Elderberry Syrup
• Immune Support Roller Blend
• 20 Ways to Support the Immune System with Essential Oils
• Homemade Chicken Broth
• Magic Tonic with Apple Cider Vinegar
• Herbal Teas for Self Care
• Zand HerbaLozenges: fight colds and flu naturally!

For now, I want to focus on the flu shot.

Check out this 8-minute video, which answers these questions and more. The research cited comes from the CDC (the very ones who recommend getting the flu shot) and the Cochrane Database, which is sort of like the gold standard of medical research for physicians world-wide.

Can’t see the video?  Watch it here.

A very brief summary:

• The flu shot contains dangerous ingredients and is not as effective as we’re often led to believe.
• Each year the flu shot is created as a sort of “best guess” by certain experts.
• If you contract a strain of the flu which does not match the strain in the vaccine (which is often the case), the flu shot offers absolutely no benefit.
• Until recently, when healthcare workers have been required to get the flu shot in order to remain employed, most healthcare workers (doctors and nurses) chose not to get the shot.

Dr. Anne also provided a more in-depth look at the vaccine and at the “high risk groups” identified by the CDC.  The main idea: unfortunately, the high risk groups–such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly and anyone with an underlying medical condition–are the very ones who are most vulnerable to the dangers of the flu shot, and who are most likely to have adverse reactions to the vaccine.

I’m no doctor and I can’t tell you whether or not to get the flu shot.  But I will say that neither I nor my husband have had a flu shot in years, and none of my children have ever had a flu shot.

Please don’t take my word for any of this!  My hope is to inspire you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions.  Don’t just blindly follow the advice of mainstream officials, many of whom stand to profit financially and/or politically from the flu vaccine, or whom are themselves blindly following what they’ve been taught to believe.

One more video, just to keep things light.  This hilarious clip even includes instructions for making your own “flu shot”!

Can’t see the video?  Watch it here.

 Sources and Further Reading: 

• Tackling Cold and Flu Season Naturally: How to prevent and treat winter illness with food, lifestyle and natural remedies  (presented on January 15, 2013 by Dr. Anne Stewart, MD, and Marna Regehr, F.N.P., of Loudoun Holistic Health Partners)
• The Shocking Lack of Evidence Supporting Flu Vaccines – Health Impact News
• 10 Reasons Why Flu Shots Are More Dangerous Than A Flu – Be Well Buzz
• Flu Shot Merits?  – Keeper of the Home

photo credit 

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