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 The cold and flu season got off to an early start this year in the US, and everywhere you turn, you’ve undoubtedly seen ads and media reports urging you to get the flu vaccine.

 Meanwhile, scientific reviews by the independent Cochrane Database published last fall again refuted pervasive “expert” health and media claims that the flu vaccine is the most effective way to protect yourself against the flu, and that it is a safe way of doing so…

 Fortunately, there are many alternatives available, from optimizing your vitamin D levels and taking zinc at the first sign of infection, to incorporating immune boosting foods into your daily diet.

Why the Flu Vaccine is Your Least Effective Option…

 Last fall, the Cochrane group released two new scientific reviews on flu vaccines. Their review of all trials comparing vaccinated versus unvaccinated adults3 found that, at best, vaccines might be effective against only influenza A and B.

 This represents only about 10 percent of all circulating viruses. Under ideal conditions, where the vaccine completely matches the circulating viral configuration, 33 healthy adults need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza symptoms.

 In average conditions (partially matching vaccine)
100 people need to be vaccinated to avoid
one set of influenza symptoms.

 They also found that vaccine use did not affect the number of people hospitalized or working days lost, but
did cause one case of Guillian-Barre syndrome (a major neurological condition leading to paralysis) for every one million vaccinations. So please, carefully weigh the risks versus benefits
before you opt for vaccination. Also do your research on risk free alternatives, such as those discussed here.