Recently in The Seattle Times: In what could prove to be a controversial decision, Washington’s Health Department has allowed swine-flu vaccinations to be carried out while temporarily suspending a rule that limits the amount of thimerosal, a mercury preservative, in vaccines given to pregnant women and children under the age of 3. This means that the swine-flu vaccine will be given to these populations despite some fears that thimerosal can cause autism in children.

Health officials believe that lifting the mercury limits will give pregnant women and young children quicker access to the vaccine, since they are considered at high risk for swine flu. Thimerosal is used to keep multiple-dose vaccines free of bacterial growth, but those who have concerns about possible adverse health effects, could opt for the single-dose vials that do not contain mercury. Although the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will carefully monitor side effects, there may always be unforeseen risks when new vaccines are developed.

If you’re concerned about the safety of the swine-flu vaccine and choose to opt out for your family, there are a number of precautions you can follow to prevent catching the infection, some of which include following precautions for basic hygiene, avoiding hospitals and crowded places, and taking steps to boost your own resistance to viruses.

While a healthy lifestyle has a significant role in boosting immunity, a number of herbal remedies, such as Basil (Tulsi), Echinacea, Garlic and Licorice, are known to increase resistance to viruses. When the next round of the epidemic hits, taking an immune system vitamin to increase your immunity could be the wisest thing you and your family could do to protect yourselves.

It is that time of year again … the question on everyone’s minds is,

“Should I get a flu shot?”

This is a personal decision, and whether you get the injection or not, Good Elements wants to make sure you have flu shot information to make the best decision. If you opt out, we also want to make sure you know that there immune system vitamins as an alternative to protect yourself.

Why get a flu shot?

Every year starting in October, millions of people get a flu shot.

There is a personal reason- to develop antibodies for the current seasonal flu so that days of school and work aren’t missed.

Another reason is to protect those around you, especially if you are in the healthcare industry or are frequently around others who have weakened or young immune systems. The last thing you want to do is pass the virus on to a high risk person in your life.

The reason the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting a vaccine every year is because the seasonal strain tends to change year after year. The seasonal flu vaccine is revamped every year to address known changes in the strain. Issues arise when the flu vaccine doesn’t address unknown mutations of the virus. You aren’t protected against the unknown.

Two facts to consider about the flu shot:

1. If the randomized controlled studies are evaluated, the flu shot reduces the absolute risk of contracting the flu by 1%. Meaning 1 out of 100 people receiving the flu shot will benefit from it.

2. The CDC claims that over 35,000 people die from the flu-caused illnesses yearly and this is the reason to get the flu vaccine. In fact less than 1000 people a year die from the flu, and 35,000 people a year die from pneumonia. After carefully reading the research, the flu vaccine does not protect people from contracting pneumonia.

What are flu shot risks and side effects?

The injection won’t give you the flu, but you may experience some side effects of the flue shot, such as
• fatigue,
• low grade fever
• and tenderness at the injection site.

But, a main concern about the vaccine is the additives used to formulate the injection. Thimerosal, aluminum, formaldehyde and other additives make many people nervous about the flu vaccine with good reason.Flu shot ingredients:

• If the flu vaccine is claimed to be thimerosal free, the fine print reads that thimerosal is still used in the manufacturing process.

• Aluminum is also added to the flu shot to promote an antibody response, aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.

• The other toxic ingredients in flu shots include, formaldehyde which can cause cancer, ethylene glycol a component of antifreeze and various antibiotics.

While the CDC assures us that the vaccine is safe and the levels of these ingredients is too low to cause any serious side effects, it is still a good reason to stop and consider your options. And, you do have options, as described below, that give you lifestyle guidelines and offer immune system vitamins to bolster your natural infection-fighting abilities.

What are the alternatives to the flu shot?

For as many people that receive the shot each year, many people decide to opt out each year.

If you decide not to get the vaccine, it is important to follow these CDC guidelines for your safety and those around you:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly! Sing “Happy Birthday” and use soap every trip to the bathroom, after touching shopping carts and any other public situation where you pick up germs.

Have antibacterial wipes and gels on hand for immediate cleaning in public.

Don’t touch your face until you can get those hands washed!

2. Sneeze into tissues and cough into the bend of your elbow to avoid spraying those around you. Toss the tissue immediately. If you forget and use your hands to cover your mouth, wash them.

3. If you feel that little tickle in the back of your throat that tells you something is coming on, stay home and load up on your vitamins. Definitely if you are running a fever, stay home!

4. Get lots of rest, exercise and fill up on healthy foods.

Immune System Vitamins
with Resistance

If you have decided to opt out of getting the flu shot, you need to take measures to keep yourself healthy during the cold and flu season. Good Elements recommends taking immune system vitamins such as the Resistance immunity supplement.

If safety is the main reason for opting out when it comes to vaccines, these supplements are all natural, no fillers or additives, and they enhance the body’s natural abilities to fight off infection.

Immune system vitamins found in the Resistance supplement include

• Vitamins A and C which are antioxidant superheroes.
• Zinc and Echinacea are also added for their infection fighting capabilities. These two are commonly used to treat cold and flu symptoms.
• Ginger is another ingredient that has a long history of anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.
• Other natural ingredients in the Resistance vitamins for immune system include licorice, elderberry, grape root and bromelain.

Good Elements has combined all of these powerhouse ingredients for optimum immune abilities.

Immune system vitamins: Resistance

What is this new virus?

In 1976, a swine flu outbreak occurred at Fort Dix in New Jersey. It was primarily contained to the soldiers on the base. After that, the H1 strains disappeared as a threat to people, until now. This new H1 is a mutated version of the 1976 strain.

This H1N1 variation, also known as the swine flu, made an appearance in the spring of 2009. It contains two different flu genes and was primarily found in pigs, though it is not contracted by eating pork. It also contains avian and human genes. It isn’t clear how the virus jumped from swine to human, but the first recorded case of this virus reemergence was in April 2009. Since then, it has spread rather quickly across the globe.

According to statistics on Flu.gov, 70% of those affected by the virus severely enough to be hospitalized had a pre-existing condition making them high risk. This is why developing a swine flu immunity is stressed by the CDC for people with asthma, diabetes, heart conditions and even pregnant women because they are all in the high risk category. In the absence of high risk, most cases have been mild.

Why is there a swine flu vaccine in addition to a regular flu vaccine?

The genetic make-up of this strain is very different from the traditional seasonal flu variety that most people experience. Therefore, the seasonal flu shot is not going to offer swine flu protection. Additionally, anyone who may have built up antibodies from the previous swine flu outbreaks occurring in the 1970s and earlier, may not be fully protected because of slight variations in the strains.

Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Everyone has to decide for himself or herself if they should get the swine flu shot or nasal spray or opt out of vaccination.

A major concern for many people is the additives to the vaccine and whether they will trigger additional health problems. It is thought that the vaccine increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as arthritis and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Another possibility is an allergic reaction because of the presence of egg and chicken proteins.

Most of the H1N1 vaccine is in multi-dose vials, which means they must have a preservative. This means most of the new swine flu vaccine will contain the mercury preservative, thimerosal.

Another consideration is that the swine flu is not going away. It will reappear every year
When it comes to swine flu protection, carefully consider what your personal risk factors are and talk to your doctor. If you are not at a high risk, you could opt for alternatives that include certain supplements and multi-vitamins, exercise and getting sufficient rest during the season.

Who should worry about swine flu immunity?

Everyone should do what they can to prevent the spread of this new virus that is already at pandemic levels. Whether it is getting the vaccine as soon as it is available or by taking the recommended precautions listed below, everyone needs to be vigilant in staying healthy this flu season.

The CDC strongly recommends and has set a schedule for these individuals to receive the first supply of vaccines: pregnant women, particularly in the later stages, 6 month-24 year olds, anyone working in the healthcare industry and people with chronic health issues and a compromised immune system.

Are there alternatives to getting the vaccine?

The speed at which this new vaccine has been produced and is now in distribution, many people have reservations about its safety. While the CDC has assured the public that it is safe and produced in the same manner as the traditional flu vaccine, many will forego the shot or nasal spray for other swine flu protection methods. Here are some guidelines from the CDC to reduce your risk of infection as well as supplement suggestions to boost your immunity:

1. The first line of defense according to the CDC is hand-washing. By now, you have surely heard the recommendation to sing :Happy Birthday” while soaping up. When out in public, antibacterial gels and wipes are sufficient when you can’t get to a sink.

2. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing. Use a tissue and the bend of your elbow to protect those around you.

3. Try not to touch your face if you haven’t been able to clean your hands. Germs can get into the mouth, nose and eyes very easily.

4. If you don’t feel well, stay home.

Immune System Vitamins with Resistance

Powerful Immune System Vitamins

At Good Elements, Resistance immune system vitamins contains ingredients to help boost your immunity, especially if you opt not to get the swine flu immunity vaccine.

Vitamin C and A both offer super antioxidant power and infection fighting properties that can help the body fend off the flu germs.

Zinc, Echinacea and ginger are also ingredients in the supplement that offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunity boosting power to the body. These ingredients are all great ways to stay healthy and a natural alternative to the vaccine if you are worried about the ingredients of the shot.

Whether you opt for the vaccine or simply take immune boosting supplements in Resistance and wash your hands, prevention is the key to controlling the spread.

Immune system vitamins: Resistance

The media is hyping up the swine flu and until we actually know the potential and the real details about this virus there is no reason to panic.

Instead take action to boost your immune system which is the number one confirmed way to avoid contracting a virus.

Flu Prevention Elements:

1. Don’t stress: As we have been discussing in our adrenal fatigue series, stress elevates cortisol, the primary stress hormone, which suppresses our immune cells and leads to a weakened immune system.

(How to limit stress–> breathe, exercise, don’t get caught up in the hype by stressing over the news and headlines daily and get a massage.)

2. Take immune boosting nutrients like the ones found  in Good Elements’ Resistance. There are various, potent anti-viral and immune stimulating herbs, vitamins and minerals in this product such as echinacea, oregon grape root, elderberry, licorice, ginger,  vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc.

Take Resistance:  2 capsules 2x daily to prevent contracting a virus. Take 2 capsules 3x daily especially if you plan on traveling.

3. Avoid immune suppressing substances such as sugar, alcohol, coffee, and hydrogenated oils.

4. Eat immune stimulating foods such as garlic, ginger, onion, cayenne, wild fish, broccoli, kale, sauerkraut, and plain yogurt with live cultures.

5. Take Vitamin D3. This is a fat soluble vitamin so the best way to know how much is safe to take is to get your doctor to run a test called serum 25 OH Vitamin D. But in the meantime you can take at least 1000IU of Vitamin D daily. I have some of my patients taking up to 5000IU daily once I have confirmed their blood levels. Vitamin D is found in Good Elements’ Essentials daily multivitamin and mineral supplement.

6. Practice good hygeine, wash your hands regularly or use a hand sanitizer after shaking other people’s hands, touching door knobs and spending time in public places.

7. Drink plenty of water to flush out your system

8. Sleep and rest. Your body regenerates and heals during sleep.

9. Review the Good Elements’ health tips to generally strengthen your immune system and prevent disease.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Britta Zimmer

Chief Naturopathic Physician and Founder of www.goodelements.com