Around this time of the year, the message is everywhere: “get your flu shot.” It’s assumed everyone should get a shot because … hey … the shot is supposed to be good for you, right? It’s supposed to keep me from being sick, right?
I have been asked that question many times, and I give the same answer every time. You are responsible for your health and your family’s health. You need to be a good steward of the health that God has given you; I can’t make the decision for you to get the shot or not. What I can do is discuss with you what people say about the flu shot and the research behind it to allow you to make an informed decision.
What People Say About the Flu Shot
What is the first thing people say about the flu shot? “It keeps you from getting sick.” Right? That is the main purpose of getting that shot. However, the flu shot is only designed for a few strains of the Influenza virus. It does not protect you against the cold virus, rotovirus, or any other sickness.
So, you can get a different sickness/virus even though you may have gotten the flu shot. The CDC states that the “Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.” [emphasis added]
Does the Flu Shot Help Against the Influenza Virus?
If the shot doesn’t help against catching a lot of the other illnesses present this time of year, does it at least help against what it is designed to fight?
There are around 150 different strains of the flu virus which are constantly changing, and the flu shot can “protect” against a few of those strains with each shot. So those who are creating the flu shot need to predict which strain of the flu is going to be prevalent, and this is a hard task to do.
But is the Flu Shot Effective?
In school, a passing grade it about 70%. If you get a 70%, you’re doing okay; not great, but enough to move on. Would you take the flu shot if there was a chance that it doesn’t work? Or if there was a 80% chance it would help you? How about 70% chance it could help? What about 60%, 50%, or 10%?
From the years previous, the flu shot effectiveness is 10-52% when it matches correctly. At best, it’s like flipping a coin on if it will work or not.
What Can We Do?
Whatever you choose to do by getting the shot or not, there are other things that still put you at risk for getting sick. By boasting your immune system, it will attach and fight more than just the flu virus even before it becomes a problem.
3 Natural Things You Can Do to Fight Against the Flu.
1) First (and easiest): DRINK MORE WATER. Water helps to boast your immune system by:
• Allowing the white blood cells to move around better
• Helping the kidneys filter out unwelcome molecules
• Helping the lymph system to flush and move better
• Transport vitamins and minerals throughout your body
• Assist production of proteins, hormones, and white blood cells at a higher rate
• And more
2) Second, take Vitamin D3. If you notice, the flu virus comes around every year when we start to get less sunshine. This is when our bodies get less Vitamin D which places us in a compromised situation and lowers our immune system. According to Dr. Mercola, Vitamin D is more effective than the flu vaccine. He states that if you are deficient in vitamin D, you are 10 times more likely to contract the flu. If you are interested in getting your vitamin D levels check, it is an easy and inexpensive test to run. It is worth the time and effort to get it checked.
3) Third, and most importantly, see your chiropractor for an adjustment. Your brain controls your whole body including your immune system, and communicates through nerves that travel through your spine. Studies show that if there is a hindered nerve, a histological change occurs within 24 hours to the organ or system that those nerve are responsible for.
Moving Forward
I’m not here to tell you that you should or shouldn’t get the flu shot, but rather to inform you so you can make an educated decision on your health. And if you do or don’t get the flu shot, there are other methods that can improve your health, boast your immune system, and give you peace of mind.
