Health, Taken Seriously

Flu season is almost upon us. It lasts from November through April, with the peak occurring December through March. That means many of us are gearing up to get our flu shots. Usually the flu shot is only recommended for at-risk individuals–the elderly, children ages 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems or certain lung diseases. The influenza vaccine is most frequently delivered via a shot, although nasal mist vaccines (with weakened flu virus) are available for those ages 2-49 who do not have weakened immune systems and are not pregnant¹.

Why try to avoid the influenza virus? Yes, it can make you uncomfortably sick, but so can the common cold. Are a few days of fever, sore throat, cough, and body aches really that threatening that we must vaccinate against them? For the average person, no. But the flu can progress into much more serious illnesses. It can lead to pneumonia, particularly in the elderly, and can result in hospitalizations or even death. But is a flu shot really the best preventative measure and does it even really protect us from the flu? Here are some things to take into consideration before getting a flu shot for yourself and/or your children…

• The influenza vaccine’s effectiveness can very wildly from year to year. Since vaccine makers must attempt to predict which strains of influenza will be problematic each year, before the flu season begins, the shot can often miss some of the strains that end up striking. On a year when they get it right, the flu shot is still only 40 – 60% effective for the people for whom it’s recommended, children and the elderly^{2, 3, 4}.
• The majority of illnesses contracted in the winter months are not even caused by influenza. The flu shot has no effect on the common cold.
• Children often need not one but two flu shots to receive protection from influenza. At least one study has found one shot to be ineffective³.
• The majority of flu shots contain a preservative called Thimerosal, which is approximately half mercury⁵. Mercury is a known neurotoxin and Thimerosal has been shown to have toxic effects on neurons⁶. While manufacturers claim that the amount of mercury in each shot is minimal, does a neurotoxin belong in the bodies of pregnant women and young children at all? In 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement saying “mercury in all of its forms is toxic to the fetus and children, and efforts should be made to reduce exposure to the extent possible to pregnant women and children as well as the general population.” Despite this, as of 2006, 90% of flu shots still contained thimerosal⁷.
• Some of the most effective methods against disease transmission carry no risks whatsoever–hand washing, adequate sleep, and a nutritious diet. Washing your hands frequently throughout the day with warm water and soap for 20 seconds or more is one of the best ways to avoid catching the flu or a cold. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants and sleeping well gives your immune system the tools it needs to fight off illnesses effectively. Also consider taking a probiotic supplement or eating plenty of yogurt, as the beneficial bacteria help keep your gut flora strong and healthy. Since more than half of the immune cells that produce antibodies line your intestines, keeping them healthy with good bacteria can reduce your chance of getting sick and/or reduce the severity of the illness once you’ve caught it⁸. (I can attest to this as the first winter of my son’s life, our entire family was eating homemade yogurt regularly and we caught one cold the entire season!) Getting a flu shot may give you a false sense of security and you may fail to do some of the simplest things to prevent illness.
• If you still decide to get a flu shot, always insist on one that is Thimerosal free. The manufacturer sanofi pasteur estimates that 10-12 million doses of thimerosal-free vaccine will be produced for the 2007-2008 season, and MedImmune is projecting 7 million doses. Novartis provides a thimerosal free vaccine called Fluvirin that is approved for people 4 and older, and GlaxoSmithKline’s Fluarix is approved for those 18 and older⁵.

Sites worth visiting:
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/12-tips-prevent-cold-flu
http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/autism/thimerosal.htm
http://www.uniklinik-freiburg.de/iuk/live/forschung/publikationen/Mutter_Autism_NEL.pdf

1. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm, Accessed 10/16/07.

2. Shuler, GM, et. al. Vaccine Effectiveness against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza among children aged 6 to 59 months, 2003-2004. Pediatrics. 2007; 119(3): 587-595.

3. Allison, MA, et. al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness in healthy 6 to 21 month old children during the 2003-2004 season. J Pediatrics. 2006; 149(6): 755-762.

4. Herrera, GA, et. al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness among 50-64 year old persons during a season of poor antigenic match between vaccine and circulating influenza virus strains: Colorado, United States, 2003-2004. Vaccine. 2007; 25(1): 154-160.

5. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/thimerosal.htm, Accessed 10/18/07.

6. Ueha-Ishibashi T, et al. Effect of thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, on intracellular Ca2+ concentration of rat cerebellar neurons. Toxicology. 2004; 195(1): 77-84.

7. Smith, Mike. Most Americans Surprised, Concerned that 90 Percent of Flu Shots Contain the Toxin Mercury. Putchildrenfirst.org, Nov 13, 2006. See: http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/pressrelease2.pdf.

8. Winkler, P, et. al. Effect of a dietary supplement containing probiotic bacteria plus vitamins and minerals on common cold infections and cellular immune parameters. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2005; 43(7):318-326.

Filed under: Vaccines on October 23rd, 2007