Marketing disease with the influenza vaccine
The annual influenza vaccine, known as the flu shot, is pushed under the guise of scientific rhetoric stating the vaccine is virtually risk free, prevents transmission and saves lives. Yet studies don’t substantiate these claims and it appears the vaccine manufacturers have a vaccine looking for a disease.
The 2014 Cochrane Database review, Vaccines for Preventing Influenza in Healthy Adults, found that “vaccination had a modest effect on time off work and had no effect on hospital admissions or complication rates.” The 2010 Cochrane review found similar results with the vaccines, noting “there is no evidence that they affect complications, such as pneumonia, or transmission”.
Of concern, in both reviews, the authors made a specific note that studies funded by the vaccine industry were more likely to cast a positive light on the data whereas publicly funded studies were not so supportive of flu vaccines. They conclude “the review showed that reliable evidence on influenza vaccines is thin but there is evidence of widespread manipulation of conclusions and spurious notoriety of the studies.”
Surely there is better evidence to support the flu vaccine for the “high risk” groups of people under age 2 and over age 65… In 2006 and 2008 Cochrane reviews showed the flu vaccine was no more effective than placebo in children under age 2.
Another review from 2010 analyzed flu vaccine efficacy in the elderly and found “the available evidence is of poor quality and provides no guidance regarding the safety, efficacy or effectiveness of influenza vaccines for people aged 65 years or older. To resolve the uncertainty, an adequately powered publicly-funded randomized, placebo-controlled trial run over several seasons should be undertaken.”
Overall, the studies show that the flu vaccine has a very modest impact on reducing your chance of getting sick with influenza, and ultimately is not shown to lower your risk of dying from the flu, nor prevent you from transmitting the flu to someone else.
Clearly the studies reveal the vaccine is not the invincible protection against the flu that many presume. The good news is there are several proven things you can do to limit the severity and duration of these infections, but you need to prepare ahead of time as these treatments work best when started at the onset of infections.
There are good studies showing evidence of benefit for natural treatments of viral infections including influenza, with supplements such as zinc, vitamin C, N-acetyl cysteine, thymic protein A, astragalus, andrographis, black elderberry, and echinacea.
In our clinic we find the vitamin packed “Myer’s cocktail” to be a potent treatment for halting cold and flu symptoms. This mixture of vitamins and minerals is given by intravenous infusion in about 30 minutes and many patients report almost immediate improvement in symptoms.
Vitamin D is well known to support immune function and many studies confirm the association between low vitamin D levels and higher rates of influenza infections. Have your blood level of vitamin D checked. Supplement using vitamin D3 to get blood levels into the 80-100 ng/ml range, or, taking between 2,000 and 5,000 units per day is a reasonable estimate for most adults.
Don’t forget other simple yet critical immune system support, such as getting to plenty of rest, eating a diet rich in colorful fruits and veggies, avoiding excess sugar and alcohol, and enjoying immune supporting drinks such as green tea.
Avoid influenza exposure by using good hand hygeine, taking note that the ethyl alcohol gels work best for disinfecting hands. At the end of the day, our immune system works best when proper support is already in place, so to be well, be prepared.
Bio
Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Telluride (imcwc.com/imc-telluride/). For further information or to schedule an appointment please contact us at the Alison Palmer Physical Therapy and Wellness Center at 970-728-8065. We are located in the Cimarron Lodge at the bottom of lift 7. Wellness is the full integration of mind, body and spirit. We look forward to helping you towards a healthier life.