H1N1 Flu Frenzie

You'd have to live under a rock these days not to have been bombarded by all the warnings to get the new H1N1 flu vaccine that is just hitting the market. But let us consider a few things...

• Thousands die from the regular flu each and every year, but they usually have some other condition or compromised immunity. The Center for Disease Control in the US estimates that on average 36 000 people die of the seasonal flu each year - and this number includes cases where the flu was a contributor to the death and not necessarily the primary cause. In Canada, Health Canada estimates that between 4000 & 8000 die, most of which are seniors
  
• This strain of H1N1 is turning out to be not as bad/deadly as previously thought. To date worldwide, there have been 5335 deaths, 484 of which were in the US, 86 in Canada. Do these numbers really necessitate all the media attention to this p'pandemic'??
  
• Every H1N1 death reported thus far has also had serious underlying medical complications
• There have been no long-term studies to show the effectiveness or side-effects of this new vaccine (remember, H1N1 just started just last April!).
  
• Did you think it was conspicuous that the minute H1N1 became known, they were already developing vaccines for it and talking about how much we need this vaccine as soon as it is available; and now flu season is barely underway and already there is talk about possible shortages (moreso in the US) to make sure people rush out and get vaccinated

My warning is this, please do your research before getting this new vaccine. Unfortunately news media cannot always be trusted to show a true and balanced picture of what is going on, but rather the status quo since 9/11 has been to create panic and then offer solutions to the panic that has been created. Sadly, this panic is only going to line the pockets of pharmaceuticals, which only stand to get rich in the upcoming weeks if people turn out in the thousands to get their new vaccines.

The best thing you can do for yourself is keep your immune system strong and research, research, research before injecting yourself with anything, because sadly, sometimes the things that are claimed will protect us, can actually hurt us!

Next week get an in-depth naturopathic prespective on what you can do to boost your immune system to reduce your risk of getting sick, naturally.

In good health,
:)
m