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Flu Vaccines: To Get Shot...Or Not?
by Ariana Ayu, DSc, RN
October 2008
Well folks, it’s that time again. Healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical
companies are advertising that influenza (“flu”) shots are available and it’s
time to get yours. There are many people, however, that are opposed to getting
flu shots. This article will present information about the vaccinations so you
can make an informed decision.
How does the flu vaccine work?
It works like any other vaccine. A small amount of the dead virus (three dead
viruses in the case of the flu shot) is injected into your body. The body
recognizes this as a foreign invasion, and prepares antibodies to fight the
foreign bodies. Because the viruses are already dead, they are unable to
replicate inside of the body, so even before the body launches its
counterattack, one cannot get the flu directly from the flu shot. The CDC
recommends the flu shot for anyone aged 6 months or older, and especially in
cases of immunosuppression (since the body cannot fight back if it is already
weakened by another disease) or extremes in ages (those who are either very
young or old are typically unable to ward off infection as well as those in
their prime).
For healthy people (aged 5-49) who want to be vaccinated against the flu, but
prefer not to receive an injection, another option is the nasal spray flu
vaccine (FluMist®). This version contains a weakened (or “attenuated”) live
virus and can cause flu-like symptoms and nasal congestion. Some people say that
because the body has to fight to kill the live virus, there will be a better
immune response, but you are also more likely to have an unpleasant reaction any
time a live virus enters your system.
So far, nothing seems overly objectionable… so why
the debate?
One of the major issues linked with vaccines in general is the use of the
preservative thimerosal, a mercury derivative, which has been linked to
neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and autism. If you
are receiving a flu shot from a multi-dose vial, you are also receiving
thimerosal.
The flu shot is also not guaranteed protection from influenza. Viruses mutate
and new strains are constantly being discovered, so there is no way of knowing
which strain of virus you may (or may not) come in contact with. The flu vaccine
is a cocktail of three viral strands that are projected to be most common over
the next flu season.
Geographical variances, climate, infection control practices, and the virus’ own
ability to mutate and adapt can fluctuate, so the predictions may or may not be
accurate (in which case the vaccine is less likely to keep you from getting the
flu). In addition, the flu vaccine only provides temporary immunity, hence the
need for annual inoculation.
Finally, there is the admittedly emotional objection to putting harmful foreign
substances into one’s body. There is some basis for this response, though. All
of our bodies are different; just as some people are lactose-intolerant, some
people have bodies that are intolerant to other substances. These are called
idiopathic responses, and unless a significant number of the population has the
same reaction, these are typically dismissed as irrelevant, or labeled as ‘other
reactions’. Only you can know how your body responds, after all, you live there
– they don’t.
Is there anything else I need to know if I choose to
get vaccinated?
Ask your healthcare provider for a single-dose, thimerosal-free flu shot. Just
because a certain manufacturer offers a mercury-free version doesn’t mean that’s
what you’re getting; multi-dose vials are cheaper than single-dose delivery
systems.
Anyone who has ever had an allergic reaction to eggs, or who is pregnant, has a
history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, is sick with a fever, or any children/
adolescents receiving aspirin should NOT under any circumstances receive either
type of flu vaccine. And of course, since you must get vaccinated from a
healthcare professional, if you decide to get vaccinated, please TALK with your
provider first about your medical history and any other concerns you have.
Any negative effects from receiving vaccinations should be reported to the CDC
and US Department of Health and Human Services through the Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System (VAERS). If problems with vaccines (or other pharmaceuticals)
go unreported, the data will continue to support things that may be against
public health. Most reactions with begin within 12 hours, so if you get
vaccinated, monitor yourself closely in the day or so after receiving the
vaccine. Also, even if you have received the vaccine once without ill effects,
you may still develop adverse effects after other vaccinations, since the flu
strains used in the vaccination vary from year to year.
I don’t want to get vaccinated, but I don’t want the
flu either… are there other options?
HAND-WASHING IS THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTION.
Did you catch that? Let me repeat it, just in case: Hand-washing is the single
best way to prevent the spread of infection. This does not mean you need to go
buy anti-microbial soaps; simply washing with soap and water and then drying
your hands completely (an important and often overlooked step) can protect you
from getting sick. If you’re using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, you also need
to rub your hands until they’re dry. The flu viruses can typically live for 2-8
hours without a host (on doorknobs, tabletops, etc.), so don’t assume that just
because you didn’t touch a sick person that you can’t catch their germs.
You can also use natural supplements and over-the-counter medicines to fight off
infection. However, if you are taking any medications, please check with your
pharmacist or healthcare provider to make sure there are no drug interactions.
Just because herbs are natural doesn’t mean they’re not medicines and need to be
treated as such. In addition, these need to be started as soon as you begin to
feel ill for their effectiveness to be the greatest. Don’t wait until you’re two
weeks into the cold or flu to start treating it.
Echinacea combined with goldenseal is a well-known herbal combination for
fighting infections. Vitamin C (an oldie but a goodie) helps boost the immune
system so the body can fight off any foreign microbes. Zicam® is an
over-the-counter medicine that can decrease severity and shorten the duration of
colds and the flu (as well as manage symptoms).
My personal favorite regimen is drinking Yogi Tea® (Breathe Deep, Cold Season,
Detox, or Echinacea Immune Support), which gives the medicinal benefits of the
herbs (while opening up the nasal and sinus passages with the warm steam from
the tea), and supplementing that with symptom management of Mucinex®. (The
Mucinex® won’t kill off the microbes, it just provides symptom relief while the
herbs fight the virus/ bacteria and allow the body to heal.)
So, in summary…
What we’re really looking at is the risk and inconvenience of contracting the
flu versus the risk and potential benefit of receiving the flu shot.
It is your responsibility to be an informed consumer, and in this culture of
pharmaceutical power, make no mistake, you are a consumer – you are no longer
simply a patient. You have to make informed decisions about the care you
receive. Besides, you are the one who will live with the consequences of your
health care choices.
Hopefully this has given you something to think about. (And unlike your health
insurance, this was not sponsored by pharmaceutical companies.) Stay healthy.
References and Links
Afluria® flu shot – thimerosal free version available. Web site:
http://www.afluria.com/
Package insert:
http://www.afluria.com/docs/PI.pdf
Fluvirin® flu shot. Manufacturer’s web site:
http://www.novartisvaccines.com/
Package insert:
http://www.novartisvaccines.com/products/fluvirin_pi.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web site:
http://www.cdc.gov/
Good health habits:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm
Flu shot:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-flu.pdf
Nasal spray:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-flulive.pdf
FluMist® vaccine nasal spray. Web site:
http://www.flumist.com/
Package insert:
http://www.medimmune.com/pdf/products/flumist_pi.pdf
Mucinex®. Web site: http://www.mucinex.com/
National Vaccine Information Center. Web site:
http://www.nvic.org/
Flu & flu vaccines:
http://www.nvic.org/Diseases/influenzafacts.htm
Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System. Web site:
http://vaers.hhs.gov
Yogi Tea. Web site: http://www.yogitea.com/
Free samples by mail:
http://www.yogitea.com/Pages/FreeSamples.html
Zicam®. Web site: http://www.zicam.com/
Symptom checker:
http://www.zicam.com/SymptomCheckerInput.aspx
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