Diagnosis: No flu shot

A casual passerby of the news this weekend will hear these 3 headlines regarding one top news story: MN's first flu death of the season, 12 year old girl, no flu shot.

If you listen a bit longer you will hear the family did not have health insurance (the government's fault, right?). On one station one time, I stuck through the story until they got to the point of interviewing a dept. of health official who said it is not known whether the flu shot would have helped; it hadn't yet been determined whether the girl had one of the 3 strains present in this year's vaccine.

Of course when they do determine this, the only result that will make it back on the news is if the strain tests positive as one in the shot. Makes sense to me that every "no flu shot" headline would be followed by this "unknown if it would have helped" disclaimer. But the public responds well to fear.

Instead the news got another story with the "massive rush to flu shot clinics expected Monday" headline.

Just once I'd like to hear discussion about nutritional and environmental influences on that girl's health. Did she eat only natural foods? What was her sugar consumption like the week before she got sick? Did she consume pasteurized milk, which increases mucus production in the body? Did she take any basic nutrition supplements to make up for where our modern diets fall short? Did she take anything to enhance her immune system function at onset of the illness?

Just once I'd like to hear a pros and cons discussion re: the flu shot. I would love to see a naturopathic or chiropractic doctor discuss side effects and alternatives to vaccination. But medicine owns the media and therefore this country. A study done outside of the U.S. of course showed a tenfold increase in Alzheimer's among patients who'd had just 3 flu shots in their lifetime (compared to those who'd had none). Since I had two before I knew better I'm on my way I guess.

I believe in flu shots for those who have compromised immune systems - the risks and benefits need to be weighed - but it's very unfortunate they still contain mercury in this part of the country (this costs the insurance companies less than non-mercury based preservatives) unless one has a special reason to request one without. Every year in MN there's a group at the capitol that tries to get the mercury out, but each year "50 cents - 1.00 more a shot? Denied!"

A healthy immune system can handle the flu. It is unfortunate that we have to suffer through these superbad strains that in my opinion have developed due to resistance to previous drugs and vaccines in the first place.

Guess we'll just have to hope the mercury-free vax group has their way before next year when all school children are required to get the flu shot (legislation is pending) . And thankfully I live in a state that allows exemptions!