• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Questions? Call 1-800-448-4919 M-F 9AM-6PM EST
  • Search
  • My Account
  • Cart
Women's Health Network

Women's Health Network

Making it easier for women of every age to find their way to health

  • Quizzes
    • Symptom Checker
    • Adrenal Stress & Fatigue
    • Bone Health
    • Brain Health
    • Digestive Health
    • Memory & Focus
    • Menopause & Perimenopause
    • PMS
    • Thyroid & Hypothyroid
    • Weight Loss
  • Symptoms
  • Conditions
    • Adrenal stress and fatigue
    • Blood sugar
    • Bone health
    • Breast health
    • Brain health and memory
    • Detoxification
    • Digestive health
    • Fatigue & insomnia
    • Fertility
    • Heart health
    • Hormonal imbalance
    • HRT
    • Inflammation
    • Joint health
    • Menopause & perimenopause
    • Nutrition
    • PMS and menstruation
    • Sexual health
    • Thyroid health
    • Weight loss
    • Health conditions
  • Shop
    • Products A to Z
    • Cost-Saving Combos
    • Programs – Upgrade & Save
    • Adrenal Stress & Fatigue
    • Bone Health
    • Brain Health
    • Daily Wellness
    • Digestive Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Immune Support
    • Menopause & Perimenopause
    • PMS Relief
    • Sex & Fertility
    • Sleep Support
    • Thyroid Health
    • Weight Loss
  • About Us
Women's Health Network
  • Questions? Call 1-800-448-4919 M-F 9AM-6PM EST
  • Search
  • My Account
  • Cart
  • Quizzes
    • Symptom Checker
    • Adrenal Stress & Fatigue
    • Bone Health
    • Brain Health
    • Digestive Health
    • Memory & Focus
    • Menopause & Perimenopause
    • PMS
    • Thyroid & Hypothyroid
    • Weight Loss
  • Symptoms
  • Conditions
    • Adrenal stress and fatigue
    • Blood sugar
    • Bone health
    • Breast health
    • Brain health and memory
    • Detoxification
    • Digestive health
    • Fatigue & insomnia
    • Fertility
    • Heart health
    • Hormonal imbalance
    • HRT
    • Inflammation
    • Joint health
    • Menopause & perimenopause
    • Nutrition
    • PMS and menstruation
    • Sexual health
    • Thyroid health
    • Weight loss
    • Health conditions
  • Shop
    • Products A to Z
    • Cost-Saving Combos
    • Programs – Upgrade & Save
    • Adrenal Stress & Fatigue
    • Bone Health
    • Brain Health
    • Daily Wellness
    • Digestive Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Immune Support
    • Menopause & Perimenopause
    • PMS Relief
    • Sex & Fertility
    • Sleep Support
    • Thyroid Health
    • Weight Loss
  • About Us
Home / Other women’s health / To flu shot — or not?

To flu shot — or not?

close up of woman getting flu vaccination

By Hayley McKinnon

Around this time of year, everyone is asking the same question…

“To flu shot — or not?”

Despite all the ads promoting flu shots, it turns out the answer isn’t so simple. We want you to know the facts first — and make the decision that’s best for you. Here’s what you need to know about the flu shot.

Flu shot ingredients that should concern you

The manufacturer’s own package insert lists the ingredients below. They know almost no one reads the fine print. But you need to know what you’re putting in your body:

  • Formaldehyde: yes, it’s the same chemical used to preserve dead bodies. Even the lowest micro doses of formaldehyde are highly toxic.
  • Thimerosal: a euphemism to disguise the notorious poison “mercury” that causes cancer, autism, brain damage and neurodegenerative diseases, among others.
  • Aluminum: a neurotoxin that causes cancer and is suspected to contribute to Alzheimer’s, among other debilitating diseases. Just Google “aluminum toxicity”.
  • Ethylene glycol: better known as antifreeze, the same chemical that regulates the temperature of your car’s engine. In humans, ethylene glycol leads to kidney stones, kidney failure and acidosis.
  • Beta-propiolactone: an industrial-strength disinfectant classified as a “known carcinogen, mutagen and corrosive” on the Special Health Hazard Substance list. Beta-propiolactone also shows up on the International Hazardous Substances list — which means it’s dangerous enough to warrant major red flags from OSHA, the EPA and many others.

A closer look at those flu shot “benefits”

Given the number of known toxins, carcinogens and other poisonous substances in the flu shot, you would think it must have a lot of redeeming qualities to be endorsed by so many organizations…right?

Unfortunately, the flu shot only provides defense against 3 of the 200+ known strains of influenza. And each year’s shot is formulated based on recent infections strains — often not a good predictor of what strains will be dominant in the upcoming flu season. Even the CDC admits that when flu season brings something unexpected, the flu shot is of little or no benefit. Which means that you can still get the flu, regardless of whether you’ve been vaccinated or not.

In fact, according to CDC data, flu illnesses are “only caused by an influenza virus in 14% of cases.”

So if healthy people should avoid the flu shot, is there any benefit for the elderly?You should know that the package insert specifically states that there haven’t been any scientific studies or clinical trials performed on individuals ages 65 and older. Translation: we have no idea whether the flu shot is even safe, let alone effective, for the 65+ population.

So if you hear the claim – even from the CDC – that the flu shot “protects” the weak and/or elderly, remember there is zero evidence to back it up.

It’s worth noting that the flu itself is almost never the lone cause of death. The vast majority of individuals who die with an acute flu infection suffer from preexisting health conditions, compromised immune systems or limited access to proper healthcare.

As a final “risk ratio” factor, remember that the number of vaccinated individuals who end up contracting the flu (despite industry promises that the flu shot would “protect” them) is exponentially higher than the total number of people who die from influenza.

If this is disappointing, keep in mind that the flu shot is a big industry. Total sales are over $4 billion a year. Your local pharmacy makes about $9 for every single flu shot it administers. So there are incentives to make strong, simple claims.

Is there a more natural alternative?

Your body was designed to survive (and thrive!) all by itself, protected by the built-in natural defenses of the immune response. In fact, this is the primary purpose of the entire immune system: to protect the body from foreign invaders.

So everything you can do to enhance your immune function helps build an alternative to the flu shot. Good health habits, a strong digestion (supplemented by a daily probiotic), and stress management are all important.

Some experts argue that handwashing is just as effective as the flu shot. If you ask doctors about personal hygiene, they are all trained to avoid touching their hands to their face — a key to giving pathogens access to your body — and to wash their hands right before they do. Simple translation: don’t touch your face between meals, and wash your hands right before you eat.

So, the question remains: to flu shot…or not?

There’s an old saying: It’s never as good as it seems, and it’s never as bad as it seems. This is a pretty good summary of the flu shot argument. It’s not as safe or effective as claimed, but it’s helpful for some people. It isn’t as easy to identify who benefits as the industry says. Ultimately you have to decide what feels right for you and your family.

References
  • https://www.fda.gov/downloads/biologicsbloodvaccines/vaccines/approvedproducts/ucm263239.pdf#page5
  • https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/beta-propiolactone.pdf
  • Analysis of 11 years of data from CDC Weekly Flu Activity & Surveillance Reports. October to May (wk 40 to wk 20) each year. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm>

Published December 21, 2017 - Last Updated October 21, 2020Filed Under: Other women’s health

Primary Sidebar

Essential reading on women’s health issues

  • General women’s health topics
  • Phytotherapy – a doctor’s view on plant-based medicine
  • Seven myths about women’s health
  • Alternative medicine — can it help you?

The latest on women’s health issues

Covid-19 vaccines are good for our country, but are they good for you?

Want to activate the benefits of Vitamin D? Take a probiotic 

Best DIY hair oil treatment for winter hair

Arguing with your family or friends about using masks to lower Covid risk? “Swiss Cheese” can help!

What can you do to prevent gray hair?

6 surprising health benefits of drinking warm water in the morning

Suffering from
hormonal imbalance?
one   Read about your symptoms
two   Take a Quiz
three   See our products for hormonal imbalance
Memory Solution Restore your hormonal balance naturally
Reviews
Buy Now

Women’s Health Network is not affiliated with the National Women's Health Network (www.nwhn.org)

Questions?

We are available M-F 9am-6pm EST
Call us at: 1-800-448-4919

Footer

Shop

  • Menopause & perimenopause
  • PMS
  • Adrenal health
  • Thyroid health
  • Bone health
  • Weight loss
  • My Account

Conditions

  • Adrenal stress and fatigue
  • Blood Sugar
  • Bone health
  • Brain health and memory
  • Breast health
  • Detoxification
  • Digestive health
  • Fatigue & insomnia
  • Fertility
  • Heart Health
  • Hormonal imbalance
  • HRT
  • Inflammation
  • Menopause & perimenopause
  • Nutrition
  • PMS & menstruation
  • Sexual health
  • Thyroid health
  • Weight loss
  • All conditions

Quizzes

  • Symptom Checker
  • Adrenal Stress & Fatigue
  • Bone Health
  • Brain Health
  • Digestive Health
  • Memory & Focus
  • Menopause & Perimenopause
  • PMS
  • Thyroid & Hypothyroid
  • Weight Loss

Your Health

  • Symptoms

About Us

  • Newsletter sign up
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy policy
  • Return policy
  • International
  • Terms of use
  • 100% guarantee
  • About us
100% Money Back Guarantee SSL Verified by Comodo BBB A+ Rating

© 2021 Women's Health Network