• Recipes
  • Articles

Blog by Vasudha Kaushik, MD

Article

Flu shots: Do they really help?

The moment you go near any medical or pharmaceutical facility during the fall-winter season, you are bombarded with messages and professionals asking you to get a flu shot right away. Media also participates in spreading the fear of influenza infection, makes it bigger than it actually might be and glorifies flu vaccines.

Unfortunately, in addition to the fact that they may not be nearly as effective (2) as advertised, flu vaccines can, and do, cause harm (1). The highest effectiveness that it has reached with the best match, since 2004, is 60%.

Effectiveness

Data from CDC for the past two years:
2014-2015: only 19 percent effective
2015-2016: 47 percent effective

Cochrane, an independent non-profit organization that reviews medical research, found that the measure of effectiveness is correlated with who funded the study on effectiveness (3). Studies funded by vaccine manufacturers, who directly profit from vaccine sales, tend to find that vaccines are more effective. These studies also get published in more visible journals, regardless of the studies’ method quality and number of patients on which the study was done. Studies funded by public sources (e.g. government research grants) did not find the flu-shots as useful.

Harms

Why can flu shots be harmful?

  • Flu vaccines contain dangerous additives (4) such as Mercury and Aluminum, both of which are nerve toxins.
  • They can interfere with our body’s immunity and may trigger autoimmune conditions in some individuals.
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is one of the most dangerous, though rare, autoimmune conditions that flu vaccines can trigger.

Why do some people get sick after getting flu shots?

The viral proteins used in the vaccine cause production of interferons (anti-viral antibodies formed against killed virus in the vaccine) causing flu like symptoms. Similar flu like illness is seen in treatment of Hepatitis C with interferon therapy.

To stay well during the flu season

Influenza infections can effectively be prevented by boosting our immune system instead of faithfully relying on vaccines and medications.

To strengthen your immune system:

  • Get sunshine for 30 minutes, around noon daily, or take Vitamin D3 supplement (5000-10,000 IU/day)
  • Take Probitoics (recommend Probonix. It is available on Amazon.com) daily
  • Eat nutritious food. Avoid foods high in carbohydrates.
  • Do aerobic exercise for about 20 minutes daily
  • Rest and sleep
  • Wash hands with soap and water frequently
  • Stay away from medical facilities with concentration of flu patients, if possible

References

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm#flu
  2.  https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/effectiveness-studies.htm
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20614424
  4. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM305089.pdf

Share

Share
Tweet
Email
Pin
Comment
Previous
Next

Recent Posts

  • Red Meat and Diabetes
  • Breakfast ideas
  • Banana nut muffins (vegan, paleo)
  • Curried vegetable mash
  • Heartburn: do you know this?

Disclaimer

The information on this website is not intended as medical advice and does not replace a one-on-one relationship with your healthcare professional. This website shares information and research for your consideration in making your healthcare choices.

For specific medical advice, please consult your healthcare professional.

Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Copyright 2020 Blog by Vasudha Kaushik, MD