Should I Get the Annual Flu Vaccine?

The flu is caused by a virus, called the influenza virus. When we are infected
by the flu virus, our immune system creates cells to fight and remember the
virus so we cannot be infected by it again. The Influenza virus, much like the
common cold virus, easily mutates and creates numerous strains. This means
it changes proteins on itself so it can avoid our immune system from
recognizing it and it can then infect us again the next year. This is called
“antigenic drift” and is the main reason this vaccine is repeated each year.

How effective is the vaccine?

The identity of the current, circulating strains of the flu vaccine is not known
until long AFTER the vaccine has been produced for that year. Therefore, the
strains that are placed in the vaccine are a guess and are NOT guaranteed to
be the most effective strains for that year’s circulating strains.

If conditions are ideal, the vaccine is about 60% effective1. This means the
individual getting the vaccine is healthy, less than 40 years old, doesn’t smoke,
has a proper immune system response to the vaccine AND the guessed
strains are correct for that year. Research shows that all vaccines are LESS
effective if you are over 40 years old, are overweight, smoke or have a chronic
condition2. The influenza vaccine is only about 30-40% effective in preventing
illness among persons 65 years of age and older even when the vaccine strain
is the same as the circulating strain3,4. If you’re older than 70, there are no
studies showing that the flu vaccine is effective for this age group, and most
deaths from influenza occur in those older than 70 years old2.

The vaccine ALONE will not completely protect you against the flu. Other
modalities such as good hand washing, good nutrition and good immune
system function are needed.

What are the risks of not getting the vaccine?

If you get the flu, this is generally uncomfortable and can cause typical viral
symptoms such as fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose/stuffiness,
muscle aches, headaches and even vomiting and diarrhea. The flu itself rarely
causes complications such as hospitalization or death. It can be dangerous in
those with severely compromised lung/heart function and in patients older

19365 SW 65th Avenue, Ste 209, Tualatin, OR 97062 | 503-855-4341 (P) | 503-741-2184 (F)
than 70 years old. These patients have a higher risk for secondary pneumonia,
caused by inability to remove fluid from the lungs and subsequent bacterial
infection5. Fortunately, there are lots of preventative measures to help reduce
the risk of developing a complication such as pneumonia from the influenza
virus. You can discuss these with your doctor at anytime.

Currently, statistics claim that influenza is the 8th-9th leading cause of death in
North America, but this is because influenza is lumped with pneumonia – even
if the pneumonia was caused by something else. In fact, the CDC states that
only about 8.5% of all pneumonia deaths are related to influenza, and only 2.1%
of all respiratory and circulatory deaths are influenza-related6.

If you get the flu, this natural infection induces both subtype-specific
antibodies and cross protective T-cell to related strains of that virus as well.
The result of this is that it offers more global protection from new and
emerging strains caused by antigenic drift. It is unlikely that the flu vaccine
offers this same benefit7,8. Natural immunity to diseases also lasts a lifetime,
whereas most vaccine immunity only lasts 1-20 years9.

What can I do to prevent getting the flu?

If you are exposed to the influenza virus, there is no guarantee you will actually
get the flu. Pathogens such as the influenza virus are only a risk to someone
who is susceptible, and determining susceptibility includes the following
factors:
Exposure size or how much virus you’re exposed to
+
Virus virulence or the strength of the virus to get passed your immune system
+
Susceptibility or the overall strength of your immune system

We cannot change how virulent a virus is, but we can decrease the exposure
size by practicing good hygiene (washing hands, staying away from others
who are sick, etc.) and we can decrease our susceptibility by being healthy
and supporting a good strong immune system.

Vitamin D, even at lower doses, has been shown to be effective in reducing

incidences of colds and flus10.

19365 SW 65th Avenue, Ste 209, Tualatin, OR 97062 | 503-855-4341 (P) | 503-741-2184 (F)
Echinacea is an herb which helps reduce the ability of the flu virus to enter our
cells and helps to stimulate the immune system cells11. It works similar to
Tamiflu, an antiviral medication commonly prescribed for the flu.

Elderberry is another herb which helps prevent the flu virus from binding to our
own cells and helps to stimulate the immune system cells12.

Other helpful nutrients for the immune system include Vitamin A, Vitamin C
and probiotics13.

Homeopathic Flu Nosode and other homeopathic preparations are also helpful
to prevent influenza infection and reduce severity of symptoms.

Hydrotherapy treatment has been shown to increase the number of circulating

immune cells by as much as 10,000x after a single treatment!14, 15.

Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm
2. Castrucci MR, Factors affecting immune responses to the influenza
vaccine. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2017 Jun 15:1-10.
3. Vu T, Farish S, Jenkins M, Kelly H. A meta-analysis of effectiveness of
influenza vaccine in persons aged 65 years and over living in the
community. Vaccine. 2002;20:1831–1836.
4. Nichol KL, Margolis KL, Wuorenma J, Von Sternberg T. The efficacy and
cost effectiveness of vaccination against influenza among elderly
persons living in the community. N Engl J Med. 1994;331:778–784.
5. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.htm
6. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm
7. Guiomar, R. et. al., Cross-protection to new drifted influenza A(H3)
viruses and prevalence of protective antibodies to seasonal influenza,
during 2014 in Portugal. Vaccine. 2017 Apr 11;35
8. Mandelboim, M., Significant cross reactive antibodies to influenza virus
in adults and children during a period of marked antigenic drift, BMC
Infectious Diseases 2014
9. Chaves, S., et. al., Loss of Vaccine-Induced Immunity to Varicella over
Time, N Engl J Med 2007

19365 SW 65th Avenue, Ste 209, Tualatin, OR 97062 | 503-855-4341 (P) | 503-741-2184 (F)
10. Cannell, J. et. al., On the Epidemiology of Influenza, Virology Journal.
Feb. 2008
11. Hudson, J, Applications of the Phytomedicine Echinacea purpurea
(Purple Coneflower) in Infectious Diseases. Journal of Biomedicine and
Biotechnology, Aug. 2011.
12. Porter, RS, Bode, RF, A Review of the Antiviral Properties of Black Elder
(Sambucus nigra L.) Products. Phytother Res. 2017 Apr;31
13. Kubena, KS, McMurray DN, Nutrition and the immune system: a review
of nutrient-nutrient interactions. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996 Nov;96.
14. A Mooventhan, L Nivethitha, Scientific Evidence-Based Effects of
Hydrotherapy on Various Systems of the Body. N Am J Med Sci. 2014
May;
15. National University of Natural Medicine, Changes in CBC and CMP after
constitutional hydrotherapy treatment.

19365 SW 65th Avenue, Ste 209, Tualatin, OR 97062 | 503-855-4341 (P) | 503-741-2184 (F)