Just the Facts on the Flu

During the flu epidemic of 2003-04 about 36,000 people died. Most of the deaths were in the older than 65 age group, but some were in the 50-65 range and 143 children were in the reported statistics.  What is important to note is that the number of deaths and hospitalizations were not significantly more than in previous epidemics.  In fact - an epidemic of flu occurs every year in the US.

Do doctors recommend the flu shot? Overwhelmingly yes.

The history of the flu immunization is not faith inspiring.  In the 70's the flu vaccine was responsible for Guillain-Barre syndrome in 1 out of every 100,000 people. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a disease that caused paralysis of the legs.  We are assured by all involved that such a thing won't happen again.

If you have an allergy to eggs, then you can't take a flu shot.

The flu vaccine is made by growing the virus in eggs, purifying it and then killing the virus with formaldehyde.  Since it (that particular strain of flu) is dead it cannot cause flu.  The side effects - pain, redness and tenderness at the site of injection and the sometimes fever and muscle aches - are not flu symptoms they are symptoms of your body's reaction to the vaccine and the chemicals in the vaccine.

The claim is that the vaccine will protect 75 out of 100 people.  There is really no way to make a claim like that.  Who can say that of those 75 people -- how many would not have gotten the flu anyway.

Since the flu is a major step in the direction of pneumonia, the vaccine is recommended for older people, the very young, people with asthma or chronic diseases of the lungs, heart or kidneys and people who work in the health care field.

If your immune system is depressed by age or disease, then you would stand a good chance of the flu turning into something deadly like pneumonia.

That being said, there is no flu shot that will protect you from every strain of the influenza virus.  The virus mutates too quickly. 

The very best way to protect yourself is common sense.  Eat the right healthy foods, exercise in some form every day, make sure you get enough sleep and wash your hands frequently. 

Before flu season starts you might want to up your daily intake of vitamin D. Flu season is traditionally December, January and February and the shots are issued in October and November.  However the flu season would appear to be increasing since the swine flu scare this year was in the spring.

Prevention is all about having a strong healthy immune system. And if you do manage to "catch" the flu, any strain, that same immune system is what will bring you safely through.