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The truth about getting the flu shot
To most medical professionals, the advantages of the flu vaccine far outweigh any risks. But other professionals feel completely the opposite.
Mon, Oct 15 2012 at 11:22 AM
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on average 5 to 20 percent of the population in the U.S. gets the flu each year. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications, and anywhere from a few thousand to 50,000 people die each year from flu.
The best way to prevent getting the flu, says the CDC, is by getting a seasonal flu vaccination each year. But do the benefits of getting the flu shot far outweigh the risks? Can potential lethal illnesses manifest years later in life, a direct result from getting yearly flu shots?
The truth about getting the flu vaccine is difficult to ascertain, with opinions about its safety differing widely depending on which medical professional you ask.
The flu shot does not give you the flu, most of the time
One thing both proponents and opponents of the flu shot agree on is that there are a few different types of flu vaccines, and sometimes, adverse side effects do occur from the shot.
Currently, there are four types of flu vaccines on the market:
- A standard flu shot
- A high-dose flu shot for those 65 and older
- An intradermal-administered shot for those who are needle-phobic
- A nasal spray
Contrary to what many people believe, the first three vaccines listed above do not contain the live flu virus.
“The vaccine is taken from two of the hundreds of different proteins that compose an influenza virus,” says the Mayo Clinic and Infectious Disease Society of America's Dr. Greg Poland. “Taking merely two surface proteins off the virus does not mean it’s live; there’s no organism there … it’s not possible to cause infection or disease with it … the flu shot does not give you the flu,” adds Poland.
As for the nasal spray, which does contain live flu viruses, Dr. Dan Harper, who is against vaccinations of all kinds, is especially leery of this methodology.
“You have 100 million viruses sprayed up the nose, along with other things like MSG (monosodium glutamate) and sugar, which causes inflammation. And since the virus also contains egg [proteins], you run the risk of introducing an avian retrovirus, which can cause encephalitis in humans.
“And so here you are spraying this up into your nose, just a few millimeters from the brain with MSG traveling across the blood-brain barrier, causing potential damage to neurotransmitters,” says Harper, who is based Solana Beach, Calif.
Does the government conclude that flu shots are 100 percent safe and effective?
No, but close to it, though adverse side effects have been documented in peer-reviewed medical journals. For example, a study in Human and Experimental Toxicology reported that there were 590 fetal-loss reports per 1 million pregnant women vaccinated (or 1 per 1,695) during the 2009-2010 flu season (generally regarded as October-March, though flu symptoms can occur any time of the year). The adverse events were tracked by the appropriately named Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS, database.
In a review of vaccines conducted by researchers at the Institute of Biosecurity at St. Louis University, the co-authors concluded, “Vaccination remains a critical intervention during pandemics, but current production technology requires several months to develop sufficient vaccine to meet anticipated worldwide need…. Vaccines for use … during an epidemic are in development but … logistical obstacles to timely distribution exist [though] intensive research is underway to identify a universal vaccine.”
The Institutes of Medicine released a consensus report last year, which concluded that despite 135 vaccine adverse events in the study, few health problems are caused by or clearly associated with vaccines, including the flu shot.
According to most peer-reviewed research, the chances of encountering problems are statistically minimal; however, possible adverse effects from flu vaccine documented in medical literature include:
- Febrile seizure
- Narcolepsy
- Asthma
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
Humane reasons to get the flu shot
Some medical professionals, such as Dr. Elizabeth Baorto, division director of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, N.J., strongly believe that with rare exception — such as someone with an egg allergy — everybody 6 months and older should get a flu shot every year.
Some medical professionals, such as Dr. Elizabeth Baorto, division director of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, N.J., strongly believe that with rare exception — such as someone with an egg allergy — everybody 6 months and older should get a flu shot every year.
“Protecting oneself is an altruistic act. By getting vaccinated, you not only protect yourself, but you protect those around you as well,” says Baorto. “We are fortunate that we have a cheap and effective way of protecting ourselves with the flu vaccine.”
Will the flu shot protect you from a superbug pandemic outburst?
Not according to the aforementioned ardent vaccine opponent Harper (who is on the board of the nonprofit, Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation), who himself contracted polio in 1952, was paralyzed for seven years, and has seven children, none of whom have ever been vaccinated.
Harper thinks the flu vaccine lacks efficacy because the CDC has to guess which strain of influenza will be dominant in a particular year and it doesn't always guess correctly.
“[The CDC] only choose three to five strains of influenza A out of 250-plus strains, and they take only two or three influenza B strains out of 75-100 that are out there at any one time. If they don’t guess the right one, you’re going to get sick. You’re putting your faith in the CDC’s ability to guess the one that might be a pandemic.”
So, is it in your best interest to get the flu vaccine, regardless if a superbug is headed our way?
Poland unequivocally thinks so. “Which risk would you take?” he asks: “One in a million of a side effect or a one in 10,000 risk being hospitalized or dying. Flu-related illnesses cost the U.S. $90 billion a year, or almost one percent of GDP,” adds Poland.
But in contrast, Harper believes the risks of the flu shot far outweigh any benefit.
He claims that formaldehyde is an ingredient in the common flu shot and is a known carcinogen. “Another ingredient in the flu shot, thimerosal, contains mercury, which is known to impair neurological and immune systems. There are detergents, antibiotics, chemicals and allergens like polysorbate-80 that causes infertility,” adds Harper, along with other ingredients he deems unsafe for human consumption.
Indeed, the CDC does list some of these ingredients on its website. But the CDC claims, that at least in the case of thimerosal, “There is no evidence of harm caused by the small amounts of thimerosal in flu vaccine.”
Still, Harper is not convinced: “Someone who gets vaccinated could say, ‘Well the flu didn’t kill me.’ But when you’re sitting there with Alzheimer’s, ALS, MS or you’re watching your kid develop seizures or become autistic you’re going to kick yourself in the butt for allowing your child or you yourself receiving it. It’s frightening to me the stuff they put in the vaccine. These diseases, at least in part, are because of vaccines,” concludes Harper.
Do you think the flu vaccine is safe? Join the conversation in the comment section below.
Judd Handler is a health writer in Encinitas, Calif., and the author of "Living Healthy: 10 Steps."
Related flu stories on MNN:
- 10 flu-fighting foods [Photo gallery]
- CDC: It's time to get your flu shot!
- Google can help predict flu outbreaks
- Flu vaccine side effects
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Paul, I don't know how to break this to you, but you simply are wrong. There. No easy way to break it to you. Just simply... completely... downright... WRONG. Flu doesn't happen in the summer? Really. Vitamin D prevents flu? Nope. Eating right means you don't get sick? Nope. Certainly helps your immune system vs all infection, absolutely, but it's not a talisman.
Vitamin D is a calcium pump. It supplements the natural uptake of Ca in the digestive tract. I suggest you study an anatomy and physiology textbook before spouting such ill formed statements
Also, the 1918 flu pandemic - notable for it's spread and virulence, killing roughly 3% of the world's entire population, around 50 million out of 1.9 billion - was by far more active during the summer than winter.
Epic anecdotal fail on your part.
??? This is the strangest post I've seen all day. Correlation and causation. Paul, you should really research the difference between the two.
No, you moron.
Influenza happens in the winter because people are indoors, in close quarters, for longer periods of time.
The virus is spread in droplets from coughing and sneezing.
Also, if vitamin D prevented influenza, why are there flu pandemics in tropical countries?
I assume you're not very educated since you use terms like "moron". It is well known that Vitamin D significantly reduces the risk of the flu. I have never had the flu in 25 years. Vaccinations are not necessary. You get less sun in the winter because you are indoors. In the tropical countries, flu is NOT more prevalent. What is the source of your data? My 3 kids have never been vaccinated and they are very healthy as they have never missed a day of school.
I'm at risk for dying of complications if I get influenza. I get vaccinated. It's the only thing that actual science has shown to work.
It could be another way the government makes money off drugs? I mean the flu-shot is not free. At safe way and Walgreens they charge $35.00 that's a lil pricey if u ask me.
The pharmaceutical companies make money off the shots, not the government, they may save money on less hospitalizations of those on Medicare/Medicaid
How is the government making money off private companies like Safeway and Walgreens selling a vaccine? What do you think the price of flu shots should be, since you're clearly so knowledgeable about the pricing of pharmaceuticals? Do you think at all before you type?
How does the government make anything off the $35 you spend at Wallgreens getting a flu shot? Maybe sales tax?
I never got a flu shot for about 25 years. Starting getting one for the last 3 years with no adverse affects. No colds or flu during the last 3 years
As someone who is at risk of dying of complications if I get influenza, thank you.
Please present an intelligent opposing response from a well recognized health professional expert...Some of Dr. Harper's assertions seem to be nonsensical and designed to promote irrational fear of immunization
Not only was the paper retracted - the original author is facing serious jail time for fraud. He cooked up non-existent results for the sole purpose of shorting a particular vaccine manufacturer; his co-authors, who accepted his data at first, unanimously withdrew their support for the article and have repudiated its conclusions. It is pure, unadulterated rubbish.
Yet people will happily accept the word of a con artist and a washed-up pole dancer over that of actual scientists.
Thank you, SixDegrees.
This comment section appears to be full of folks who would also attest that dihydrogen monoxide will kill them.
It can kill you if you drink enough of it to flush all your electrolytes.
Also, if you get too much in your lungs.
Harper seems like a total quack.
Yup.
Or are you going to kick yourself in the butt when the kid gets the flu and dies. Stop watching faux news.
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