Should You Get An Ineffective, Toxic, Flu Vaccine?

I was in CVS the other day and saw the poster stating, “Flu vaccines offered here.”  I thought to myself, who would go to CVS and get a flu shot?  When I asked the pharmacist if a lot of their clients receive the flu shot she replied, “It is a busy part of our practice.”  If  you go to the CVS website, you can see a coupon for 20% off your shopping if you get a flu shot.

Is a flu shot worth 20% off your shopping at a CVS store?  After reading my article, I would be interested in hearing your opinion. I  have posted numerous blogs about the flu shot over the years and wrote a long article in my Natural Way to Health Newsletter (November, 2010) about the ineffectiveness and dangers of the flu vaccine.  More information about my newsletter can be found here:

http://w3.newsmax.com/newsletters/brownstein/improve_health2.cfm?PROMO_CODE=898D-1

The latest blog post about the flu vaccine was posted on 9.23.12 and can be accessed from my blog page.  In that article, I wrote about how ineffective the flu vaccine was and that it should not be mandated for hospital workers.

A new study from the University of Minnesota found that flu vaccines are not very effective.  (1)  (Note:  The University of Michigan Wolverines beat them soundly in football 35-13 and, hopefully, will beat Ohio this weekend—GO BLUE!.)

University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy studied 12,000 peer-reviewed publications dating back to 1936.  Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota stated, “We found that current influenza vaccine protection is substantially lower than for most routine recommended vaccines and is suboptimal.”  The scientists reported that the vaccine protected adults at a rate of approximately 59% and offered little protection for seniors. 

However, Mr. Osterholm still encourages people to get the flu shot.  It is too bad he missed a chance to state what should be apparent from this study.  He might have said, “There is absolutely no reason to give the flu vaccine to the elderly since not a single study has shown it to be effective for seniors.”

What about the rest of us?  If I told you a medication would have a slightly better than 50% chance of helping you avoid the flu would you take it?  Furthermore, if I told you this medication was contaminated with the second or third most toxic substance known to mankind--mercury--would that influence your decision?

I think the decision is easy—wash your hands, take vitamin C and eat good food. That is a better anti-flu regimen when compared to a toxic, ineffective vaccine.

(1) http://www.kare11.com/news/article/994888/391/U-of-M-study-challenges-effectiveness-of-flu-vaccine