Brace yourself…this got lengthy quick! With an office adjacent to the pharmacy, I hear 95% of our patients mention getting sick or knowing someone who got sick after receiving the flu vaccine. Perhaps they are just looking for something to say, are afraid of the needle, or don’t trust vaccines. It’s also possible that they are grossly misinformed. If you are ever witness to someone who believes the flu vaccine gave them the flu, feel free to share these 4 facts: 1) The flu shot doesn’t give you the flu. It never will because it can’t. The vaccine is made either with a) flu vaccine viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ and are therefore not infectious, or b) with no flu vaccine viruses at all (which is the case for recombinant influenza vaccine). 2) It takes two weeks for the body to gain protection after getting vaccinated so it’s possible you already have the flu before getting the shot. Vaccinate earlier in the season to lessen this risk. 3) Non-flu viruses also circulate during flu season and cause flu-like symptoms…an example is rhinovirus. That’s not the flu and the flu vaccine certainly didn’t give rhinovirus to anyone. 4) The flu shot protects against the 3 or 4 most common flu viruses circulating in that year. It’s possible to contract a different flu virus not covered by the vaccine. Again, that wasn’t the flu vaccine that got ya sick! All that said…the effectiveness of the vaccine can vary from season to season and person to person. So, while the vaccine won’t make you sick, it’s not 100% guaranteed to work every single time. 10 more ways to support your immune system this flu season: 1) Nourish! Choose fruits, vegetables, nuts and protein. Avoid added sugar. These are our natural sources of zinc, selenium, folic acid, and vitamins A, B6, C, D and E. 2) Soak in some sun. Speaking of vitamins, regularly spend short periods of time in the sun without sunscreen to create vitamin D without getting burned. Supplements may be necessary for those without access to regular sunlight. Vit D deficiency correlates with asthma, cancer, several auto immune diseases, and susceptibility to infection. 3) Eat bugs! Tiny bacteria in live-cultured products like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi enhance immune function in our intestinal, lower urinary, and upper respiratory tracts. Probiotic supplements are also available over-the-counter. 4) Move! Exercise discharges tension, reduces stress, and enhances immune function. 5) Stress less. Take a pro-active approach by practicing deep breathing, positive thinking, and eliminating unnecessary stressors. 6) Sleep soundly. Sleep is a time to grow, repair, de-stress, reduces inflammation, and reduces the risk for respiratory infections. Pro-actively arrange for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. 7) Socialize more! You might think the more folks you interact with, the more chances you have to get sick. Not true! A healthy social life enhances overall health, longevity, and quality of life. 8) Similarly, pet/animal contact (especially those that get us outside and exercising like dogs and horses) increases immunity by actually creating antibodies that fight infection! They can also help us reduce stress which lowers blood pressure, boosts immune system, and makes us feel good. 9) Make love! Studies show it reduces the risk of colds. 10) Quit for good. You already know smoking is bad for you…so I’d like to emphasize the fact that quitting is good for you! In regards to immunity, your smoke-free future will have less inflammation and mucus which reduces the risk for respiratory infections, including colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and middle ear infections. You’ll also heal faster, breath deeper, smell better, taste food better, spend less money, be more kissable, work out better, and age more beautifully.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:23:23 +0000
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