Sneeze
This year, the number of people with the flu seems more that any other. For those that have had the flu vaccine, take comfort that you may be better protected. Note that I state “may” as the vaccine does not give complete protection. Washing your hands frequently and being aware of where they have been before bringing them close to your face is required to avoid becoming sick with the common cold.
Wash Hands
For the non-vaccinated, the debate should continue if you should get it. Many are reluctant to be injected because the benefit is unclear and unequivocal and the risks murky and not clearly defined.
Flu Virus
A short education on the immune system is in order. Your body produces antibodies against foreign agents. It works best if the agent or antigen is a living organism or replication capable virus. This is because these antigens will persist for a longer time in your blood stream as they multiply and invade many different tissues in many different sites. You suffer, but your body will remember how to fight these antigens for a very long time. A passive agent or antigen that enters your body will also cause an antibody response, but these antigens are quickly eliminated, the fight with your immune system is short and the “memory” of how to fight them is also short-lived.
Flu Clinic
Our flu vaccines are made up of the second kind of antigens. Passive, non-living virus particles that elicit an immune reaction, but short-lived. The risk is clear, you will not get the flu from these vaccines. The benefit is murky: if the wrong virus particles are used to make up the vaccine, then your get no protection from the circulating virus of the season; if your body does not respond sufficiently to the “dead” virus particles, then your protection will also be lacking.
Without clear, unequivocal effectiveness, many choose to forgo the flu vaccine. If you have a compromised immune system, suffers from an illness that may be aggravated by the stress of having the flu, or you experience debilitating symptoms from influenza then you should get the flu vaccine.
There will always be a risk when foreign matter is injected into your body. It is unnatural and goes against the desire of keeping to what is natural and organic. No matter how safe and well tested a vaccine, it is an unnecessary intrusion into your body. So what if you want to be protected from the flu, but do not want an injection? There is a solution. You can have a vaccine spray up your nose. It will elicit an immune response and nothing is injected into the body. If you want more information, follow this link: