Plus, how to survive the “home stretch” of this years’ flu season—without a useless shot in the arm
The brunt of the influenza vaccine propaganda machine is dying down, at least for this year. But that doesn’t mean you’re completely in the clear…
And if years past are any indicator, the vaccination fanatics will have one last-ditch effort to pressure you to get a flu shot to ward off supposed “late-season” illness. (After all, they’ve got inventory to move and quotas to meet!)
Meanwhile, the abject failures of this government flu vaccine continue to become more evident.
It’s gotten to the point where even doctors will admit how ineffective the vaccine is, right before recommending you just run out and get one anyway.
That’s because these doctors are facing their own onslaught from the government, which is now advising that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot each year by the end of October. And shockingly, that recommendation even includes pregnant women…
Seemingly, these government propagandists are so busy deciding who should get the vaccine that they failed to account for exactly what has been happening to those who do.
For instance, the CDC claims the flu epidemic is getting worse each year. Yet, at the same time, more and more people are getting the vaccine every year. I think there’s a connection between the two.
Something isn’t quite adding up here. Let’s look at why these trends are so contradicting…
Why flu vaccines don’t work… and what does
The truth is that flu strains are unpredictable. They morph and change from year to year. And that’s one reason the flu is still around. Plus, a new study from the University of Chicago found that even the slightest change in a virus can cause a vaccine to stop working.1
Ideally, flu vaccines encourage the immune system to produce antibodies that recognize the specific strains of an influenza virus.
These antibodies target and disable unique sites on the virus—and are supposed to activate any time they encounter that site again, even if it’s years later. (That’s basically the way the immune system is always supposed to work.)
But the University of Chicago researchers found that if a flu strain changes, the site your antibodies recognize may still be there, but they may not be able to neutralize the virus.
They also noted that antibodies produced from your first encounter with the flu (either from a vaccination or actually being sick) tend to take precedence over the antibodies created by subsequent vaccinations.
In other words, you’re most likely protected from the flu strain you were initially vaccinated against, and subsequent vaccinations might only produce a weakened immune response to newer flu viruses. And that’s why you can still get sick even if you’ve had a flu shot.
What is effective for preventing the flu—and common cold—are simple hygiene measures, like washing your hands regularly and avoiding crowded spaces. (For other ways to stay out of the doctor’s office this winter, see pages 4 and 5).
Of course, your doctor may not tell you about these types of preventative measures, depending on how brainwashed he or she is by the government’s “Flu Force.” But it’s important to know the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to the flu, so you can arm yourself against the vaccination onslaught.
The not-so-secret life of the flu virus
As you know, cold and flu viruses are typically spread by touching a contaminated surface, and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. And of course, you can inhale the virus particles when an infected person coughs or sneezes near you.
But sometimes, sensible prevention isn’t so obvious. Especially since people without obvious symptoms (fever, fatigue, coughing, or sneezing) can still transmit the flu. In fact, once infected, people can pass along the virus for 5 to 10 days.
Notably, children are typically contagious longer than adults are. (And people with immune deficiency may pass on the virus for weeks.)
Plus, the incubation period between contamination with the virus and onset of symptoms ranges from one to four days. So your seemingly healthy friend could be brewing up a nice batch of flu, just for you. (This is how viruses survive and spread among people.)
The difference between a cold and the flu
So if you start coughing and feeling feverish, how do you know if you have a cold—or the dreaded flu?
Both usually start out with some coughing and respiratory symptoms that usually progress.
But you’ll start to realize it’s the flu if you experience a few of specific, concrete differences:
- A sudden feeling of illness. The flu can come at you fast. For example, you may start out watching a movie or TV show feeling fine, and be completely sick by the end of it (and not because of the poor Hollywood performances).
- Fever. You’ll usually have a fever between 100 and 104 degrees (although it’s typically lower in older people).
- Elevated heart rate. This is typically due to high fever, also causing your skin to feel hot to the touch (especially if you’re dehydrated).
- Red and watery eyes.
- Dry cough or sore throat. Of course, this is a shared symptom with the common cold, but the key difference is that you won’t have a runny nose.
- Serious fatigue. However, you likely won’t have vomiting, stomach cramps, or diarrhea. Those GI symptoms are more common in children than adults.
So if you do get the flu, be sure to get plenty of rest and drink an ample amount of fluids. And if you develop symptoms in your lungs (like coughing up mucus or blood, breathing trouble, or experiencing chest pain), make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible, and ask if you need a chest x-ray to detect any presence of pneumonia.
So if you do end up with either a cold or flu as the winter winds down, remember that there are all-natural, effective ways to treat it—without subjecting yourself to a useless vaccine.
And of course, as I mentioned above, the best tactic is always early prevention. In addition to hand washing and avoiding crowded spaces, one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy is to focus on your GI system—where a large portion of the body’s immune cells live.
For tips on keeping your GI in good working order, I urge you to revisit “Seven keys to a whole-body health reboot” in the June 2018 issue of Insiders Cures’. (Simply visit the Subscribers Sign-In portion of my website to access all of my newsletter archives.)
And remember, if you DO feel a cold or flu coming on, take immediate action to lessen your symptoms. See below for my personal prescription for easing cold and flu symptoms.
All-Natural Feel-Better Remedy
If you feel a cold or flu coming on as the winter winds down, take action with my all-natural prescription for feeling better:
- Take 300-400 grams of echinacea, goldenseal, and/or elderberry daily. I prefer to take ALL of these herbal remedies in hot infusions (teas) together with honey, lemon, and flu-fighting ginger.
- In addition, 50-60 mg of zinc twice a day
- 200 mcg of selenium daily (in organic form, such as selenomethionine).
Source:
1“Poor Immunogenicity, Not Vaccine Strain Egg Adaptation, May Explain the Low H3N2 Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in 2012-2013.” Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Jul 18;67(3):327-333.