The flu circus is in town
Have you ever been ready to order food at a restaurant, and they're really pushing the special? And you know it's not because they think you'll really like the fish casserole – it's because they've got a ton of it sitting in the kitchen, going bad.
Well, the flu vaccine is the special of the month. There's been way too much of it produced, and you're about to see it marketed like crazy. Perhaps they'll start offering shots at "clearout prices." Maybe they'll give you a discount if you refer a friend.
At the beginning of the flu season, the Centers for Disease Control announced it had about 145 million doses prepared. That's a ridiculous amount, considering 27 million doses wound up going unused last year. Instead of taking the cue that more people are waking up to the inadequacies of the flu vaccine, the CDC has instead concluded that it just needs to market harder.
This year, in some places, you'll be able to get vaccinated when you vote. Schools are holding vaccination days – probably about as popular as the cafeteria's Sloppy Joe days. The CDC has posted a YouTube video about families who lost children to the flu and are even recommending kids as young as six months get the shot.
Yep, the marketing machine is in full swing. Of course, none of these fancy events or commercials is going to tell you what I told you recently – that new studies are showing that the flu vaccine's success has been overblown. They also won't tell you that the vaccine, which may or may not be effective in a given year, may actually provoke mild but annoying flu-like symptoms in some people. I've observed it a little too often in my office: "That's right, doc -- a few days after I got the shot I started feeling crummy and haven't felt well now for at least a month".
My advice? Whether you and your doctor decide on getting a flu shot or not, you're missing the boat if you your don't work to prevent the flu by focusing on proper nutrition, multivitamin support and learning how to reduce or handle the physical and emotional stress in your life.
Chronic sleep deprivation can reduce your immune response, so try to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Remember, also, that the flu is a communicable disease – regular hand washing (that's a 30-second count the wash basin) can help prevent its spread.
