Day 208- Getting Bribed by the Grocery Store to Get a Flu Shot?

Statement made on Von's website:

"Did you know that Vons pharmacists are immunization specialists that have administered more than 5 million doses of the flu vaccine over the past decade? And, if you get your flu shot at Vons, you’ll get an award for 10% off your next grocery purchase! Since you’re already there picking up groceries, why not save yourself a trip and get yourself a professionally-administered flu shot, in a hygienic and friendly environment? Take care of yourself AND save money on groceries too!"

If this doesn't seem like a bribe, what does? And you know people are going to take advantage of this offer; why not get a flu shot? I need to save some extra money.

According to Dr. David Miller:

"The CDC's 15-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations each year on who should be vaccinated. Ten years ago, for the 1999—2000 season, the committee recommended that people over age 65 and children with medical conditions have a flu shot. Seventy-four million people were vaccinated. Next season (2000—01) the committee lowered the age for universal vaccination from 65 to 50 years old, adding 41 million people to the list. For the 2002—03 season, the ACIP added healthy children 6 months to 23 months old, and for 2004—05, children up to 5 years old. For the 2008—09 season the committee has advised that healthy children 6 months to 18 years old have a flu shot each year. Its recommendations for influenza vaccination now covers 256 million Americans — 84 percent of the U.S. population. Only healthy people ages 19—49 not involved in some aspect of health care remain exempt. Pharmaceutical companies have made 146 million influenza vaccines for the U.S. market this flu season."

Flu shots are a big money-making business and usually the people recommending these shots have some kind of financial tie. Therefore the fact that there are various highly reputable publications that document that flu shots are ineffective in all age groups doesn't seem to make a difference.

In the book, "Saying No to Vaccines," Dr. Sherri Tenpenny writes,

"In a review of 51 studies including 17 papers translated from Russian involving more than 260,000 children, researchers concluded that there was "no evidence that injecting children 6 to 23 months of age with flu vaccines is any more effective than placebo." Furthermore, the reviewers found no evidence to back claims that vaccines prevent deaths from influenza or other serious complications in this age group. As for "safety studies," there aren't any.

In healthy adults results were similar. A total of 25 studies were reviewed that included more than 60,000 study participants. Finding that vaccination reduced the risk of influenza by a meager 6 percent and reduced the number of days missed from work by less than one (0.16) day."

In the elderly population, which is the prime target group for the flu vaccine, the effectiveness is overstated. Dr. Jefferson, the lead researcher, went on to say, "Vaccines may have a role, but they appear to have a modest effect. The best strategy to prevent the illness is to wash your hands."

Here is a video from the Thinktwice Global Vaccine Institute:

So what is in the flu vaccine?

According to an article written by Dr. Mercola:

"The flu strains selected are cultivated in chick embryos for several weeks before being inactivated with formaldehyde, which is a known cancer-causing agent. Then they're preserved with thimerosal, which is 49% mercury by weight.

According to the CDC, the majority of flu vaccines contain thimerosal. Some contain as much as 25 mcg of mercury per dose. This means that it may contain more than 250 times the Environmental Protection Agency's safety limit for mercury. By now, most people are well aware that children and fetuses are most at risk of damage from this neurotoxin, as their brains are still developing. Yet the CDC still recommends that children over 6 months, and pregnant women, receive the flu vaccine each year."

How do they determine what strains of the flu will be active during flu season?

Dr. Mercola writes:

"In January or February of each year, health authorities travel to Asia to determine which strains of the flu are currently active. Based on their findings in Asia, they assume that the same strains of viruses will spread to the U.S. by fall. At this point, U.S. vaccine manufacturers start making that season's flu vaccine, which will contain the strains found in Asia. However, if the viral strains circulating in the U.S. that season are not identical to those in Asia, the vaccine you receive is a complete dud."

Yet, even if they find the strains of the virus to be different, vaccines are still given out, although there may be absolutely no benefit.

I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be, but I personally have never gotten a flu shot, nor do I ever plan to. I use my sick days for fun, although I get the occasional sore throat and sniffles, the symptoms never stick around for long. So although saving 10% off my groceries has a nice ring to it, instead I make sure that I get plenty of Vitamin D, eat a healthy diet, limit my sugar intake, get frequent exercise, wash my hands, get enough sleep, and take immune-boosting supplements.

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Cartoon