The Center for Disease Control (CDC) advises that the single best way to protect yourself is to get a flu shot or the nasal spray flu vaccine every year, but it should be noted that there is some controversy about the safety of flu shots and other vaccines.
A yearly flu shot alone may not contain enough mercury to cause problems, but because of environmental pollution, yearly flu shots are not the only source of possible mercury contamination. Preservative free flu shots are currently available for adults and children, but you may need to request them specifically.
Flu shots contain dead influenza viruses. Currently there is no flu shot that provides protection from the avian influenza strains of the virus.
The nasal spray flu vaccine, which is sometimes preferred over the flu shots, contains a live, weakened flu virus and is approved for use in healthy people from 5 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. Like the flu shot, the nasal spray vaccine is only effective in preventing certain strains of the flu virus and does not protect against avian flu.
This bears mention because some pharmacies offer flu shots prior to the beginning of the flu season. If you are allergic to eggs, had a reaction to a flu shot in the past, developed Guillain-Barre syndrome after a flu shot in the past or if you currently have a fever or other illness, you should consult your physician before taking a flu shot or a nasal spray vaccine.
Side effects of flu shots include fever, aches, soreness, redness or swelling at the point where the shot was given. The swine flu shots in 1976 were the first to be associated with the syndrome. A study of subsequent flu shot vaccines suggested that some people who take the flu shot may be at risk of developing the syndrome.
Because of the controversy surrounding the flu shot, many people focus on proper nutrition, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements that boost and protect the immune system.
Dangers of Flu Shots
There is plenty of disagreement concerning the dangers of flu shots. Some medical professionals state that flu shot risks are myths and that danger is minimal. While other health care professionals say that the dangers of flu shots are real.
Some doctors and scientists believe that flu shot risks are only slightly increased by the presence of thimerosal in the vaccine, however a group of doctors and scientists recently established a link between thimerosal presence in vaccines and autism.
Other concerns about the dangers of flu shots stem from the fact that many people in the general public may wrongly believe that an annual vaccine will protect them from all strains of flu viruses and therefore take no other precautions to protect themselves.
The CDC lists a number of people who should not take the vaccine, because the known dangers of flu shots would be too great for them. The CDC does not explain the flu shot risks associated with past reactions or if typical flu shot side effects which include fever, body aches and soreness, redness or swelling at the point of injection, should be of concern.
Guillain-Barre syndrome may be one of the dangers of flu shots. The syndrome was first associated with the swine flu shots of 1976, but a subsequent study concluded that Guillain-Barre syndrome was one of the possible flu shot risks.
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