The vaccine for influenza, better known as the flu shot, is now recommended for all individuals six months old and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assumes that the vaccine
- will reduce the number of cases of the flu,
- will reduce the complications of the flu, and
- will reduce the transmission of the flu.
Is the CDC right to push the flu shot?
Reducing the number of cases of the flu
The flu shot must be formulated well in advance of the flu season to guarantee production of adequate supplies. Scientists make an educated guess at what the infecting viruses will be. When more than 200 separate strains of viruses that produce flu-like symptoms exist, the flu shot covers less than 10% of the circulating viruses that produce these symptoms. As Joel Fuhrman, MD, writes in his book, Super Immunity, "In the real world, the viral strains that are chosen for the vaccine simply cannot be an exact match with those circulating; only a partial match is ever achieved."
Reducing the complications of the flu
A 2010 Cochrane Review of 50 studies involving more than 70,000 people revealed that the vaccine did not affect the number of days lost from work. Furthermore, the flu vaccines did not reduce the risk of complications in healthy adults. Even in high-risk populations (elderly, chronically ill, etc.), the effectiveness is questionable.
Reducing the transmission of the flu
It is thought that children are the most effective at transmitting germs. If we could vaccinate children against the flu, isn't it true that we would cut down on the spread of the flu? The same Cochrane Reveiw found that in children under two, the effetiveness of the vaccine was similar to that of a placebo.
If you're thinking that you'll just get the flu shot because it can only help, guess again. Dr. Fuhrman writes in his book that the risks of getting the flu shot include hives and anaphylaxis, neurological disorders such as nephritis, encephalitis, and optic neuritis, demylentating disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Gullian-Barre syndrome and Henoch-Schonlein purpura.
Your best defense against the flu is to regularly and throroughly was your hands with warm water and soap and to eat foods that can offer you defense against infectious and chronic diseases.
Source: Joel Fuhrman, MD. Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body's Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free. HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2011.
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