Should I Get A Flu Shot?

How often are you asked, especially in the fall and winter months, "Should I get a flu shot?" Usually, it is someone whose business or place of work is administering the shots free to its employees; more often than not, it is a medical or nursing home facility where they really should know better.

The answer to the question should be "Why would you want to take a flu shot?" In the first place, this year's flu vaccine is either from last year's strain of flu virus, or from a strain that the Center for Disease Control guessed at. However, since Congress has mandated money to be used for a Medicare influenza vaccine demonstration project (69 million dollars in 1988-1992, and 87 million dollars to continue the project in 1993), we will continue to push these vaccinations on the unsuspecting American public. The truth is the statistical success rate among these seniors receiving the flu vaccine has been very poor, and if published by the media, would cause a major revolt against `vaccination by the general public. The pharmaceutical industry certainly would not like that.

About the only effect the flu vaccine has is to weaken the immune system. Those of us who practice natural health and wellness believe that the resistance of the host is far more responsible for health and resistance to disease than is the virulence of the organism.

Questions? Call call  us at 313.561.1800 or email Dr. Bartell at drbartell@bartellchiropractic.com