Should I Get a Flu Shot?
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009It 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.

