When it comes to the flu shot, I take a far more conventional approach than many WholeHealth Chicago patients expect of a doctor who considers himself alternative\/integrative. It\u2019s also worth noting that after reviewing some of the online advice warning people away from the flu shot, it\u2019s my sense that this is frequently followed by \u201c\u2026and this is my product you can buy instead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here\u2019s my unvarnished recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because we\u2019re (still) in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, this season we\u2019ll be facing two potentially lethal viruses, eerily named a \u201ctwindemic.\u201d We don\u2019t have a vaccine against Covid-19, but with the flu vaccine in your body at least you\u2019ll potentially have some protection against the flu virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Granted, the flu vaccine has never been perfect. Because the flu virus changes every year, the scientists who prepare the vaccine have to take a best guess beforehand on how it will manifest itself. In a good year, about 50% of those immunized won\u2019t get the flu and, usually, the other 50% if infected will have a milder case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since we really don\u2019t know for certain the precise relationship between Covid-19 and seasonal flu (for example, does getting the flu render you more susceptible to Covid-19?), common sense tells us to get whatever protection we can. It\u2019s certainly possible that if you\u2019re a symptomless Covid-19 carrier and also get this year\u2019s flu, the Covid-19 could become activated and you\u2019d have both infections simultaneously, a seriously unpleasant thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending flu shots for everyone older than six months. (Yes, the CDC has recently been co-opted by the an<\/a>t<\/a>i-science Trump a<\/a>dministration regarding Covid-19 statistics, <\/a>but the administration has not compromised the seasonal flu recommendations.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The flu vaccine can be safely administered to infants via injection. The nasal-spray form is fine for those ages 2 to 49. For people over 65, get the higher-dose Fluzone shot to compensate for your elderly immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need a flu shot, call the office (773-296-6700) and schedule a flu shot only. Our supplies are limited so don\u2019t be surprised if we refer you to your nearest CVS, Walgreens, or urgent care center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that many flu symptoms are the same as those of Covid-19. Click<\/a> here for more.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n That time my wife and I had the flu for a month We\u2019d awaken in bed wondering if we were still sick before coughing deeply and gasping for breath, muttering \u201cYep, still sick.\u201d We staggered around the house. Friends left groceries at the front door. It will not surprise you to know that since 1974, neither of us has ever missed a flu shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And while we\u2019ve had the occasional light case of flu despite being immunized, we\u2019ve never been that sick again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what about\u2026 –I had the shot and got the flu anyway.<\/strong> This is possible. You may have had your shot too late in the season and thus your immune system didn\u2019t have enough time to make antibodies. Or perhaps the vaccine didn\u2019t target the exact flu strain that year. But at least with immunization you have a chance at protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –I\u2019m allergic to eggs.<\/strong> For more on egg-based flu-vaccines, click here<\/a>. Very few people have a true allergic reaction to eggs, which causes the sudden onset of hives and wheezing. This isn\u2019t the same as not digesting eggs well or being egg-sensitive, which can appear as a positive result on food sensitivity testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –I don\u2019t want the mercury.<\/strong> It\u2019s true that Thimerosal, which contains 25 micrograms of mercury, is used in the multidose flu vaccines as a preservative. A microgram is a millionth of a gram, such a minute amount that it\u2019s cleared out by your liver and is harmless. If you\u2019re still agonizing about the mercury, try to find a center that uses prefilled single-dose syringes\u2014these have no mercury at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –I never get a flu shot and I\u2019ve never had the flu.<\/strong> You apparently have an immune system like a long-range missile protection program. Or you\u2019re living a relatively isolated life and aren\u2019t exposed to many other humans. Since there\u2019s no government mandate to be immunized, it\u2019s your choice. Here\u2019s hoping your luck holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Talk about Tamiflu<\/strong> You need to take it early, at the first sign of symptoms, or don\u2019t bother. If a family member comes down with the flu, Tamiflu may (repeat, may<\/em>) prevent you from getting infected. I personally keep a fresh packet at home for a just-in-case event. If you don\u2019t have insurance, Tamiflu costs $26 with a goodrx coupon.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s some advice on Tamiflu<\/a> from the Cleveland Clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019ve probably surmised, Tamiflu is utterly useless against Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoiding the flu (and Covid too) Keep in mind that all strains of the flu virus are airborne (just like Covid), spread by the invisible droplets people shower onto you and nearby surfaces when they cough, sneeze, and touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump of course knew this but decided to keep the information to himself. The medical profession will never forgive him for it, and it\u2019s a fair assumption that neither will the families of the 200,000 who died on his watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take these steps to avoid the flu and Covid too: Wash your hands and don\u2019t touch your mucous membranes.<\/u> <\/strong>All viruses also spread from surfaces, including skin, health club equipment, phones, remote controls, and keyboards. If you see someone covering her mouth with her hand when she coughs, it\u2019s best not to shake that hand or use her phone, computer, remote, or StairMaster and then inadvertently touch the mucous membranes of your nose or eyes with your own hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I carry a large box of disposable rubber gloves in the car for grocery shopping and pumping gas, but remember the gloves won\u2019t help you if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your nose or eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you cough or sneeze, do so into the crook of your arm<\/u> rather than into your hand. Yes, even if you\u2019re wearing a mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clean surfaces with isopropyl alcohol or any of the dozens of sanitizing products readily available.<\/u> Purchase an inexpensive bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol from the drugstore and regularly wipe down remotes, keyboards, laptops, phones, places you touch in your car, and desks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m personally using the following supplements into the flu season and until the Covid-19 pandemic ends: If you feel you\u2019re coming down with any viral respiratory infection<\/u>, start V Clear EPs 7630<\/a>, a homeopathic remedy licensed in the US from one of Europe\u2019s largest nutritional and herbal companies. EPs 7630 is obtained from the roots of the South African pelargonium sidoides<\/a> plant and in a post-marketing survey of more than 9,000 patients was shown to reduce the severity and duration of a wide variety of viral respiratory illnesses. One published study of 103 patients showed significant symptom improvement using EPs 7360 when compared to placebo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other useful natural treatments for flu include black elderberry<\/a> and the homeopathic Oscillococcinum<\/a>. Personally, were I coming down with flu, I\u2019d use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>I became a major advocate of the flu vaccine in 1974, when there was a flu epidemic and my wife and I forgot to get immunized. Being in health care, I got the flu quickly from one of my patients and brought it home to share. Illness-wise, we look back on that March as the most wretched month of our lives: four solid weeks housebound with fever, headaches, exhaustion, and body aches that seemed to never go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Let\u2019s review some of the arguments made by people who choose not to get a flu shot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The information about the antiviral Tamiflu (oseltamivir) seems to change every year. Sometimes the statistics show using it early shaves one to two days off the length of a flu illness, but sometimes it doesn\u2019t do much of anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>This next section is a slightly modified version of what I wrote last year about preparing for the flu. It\u2019s sadly ironic that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, you likely know each of these bullet points by heart because you\u2019ve been using them to prevent the spread of Covid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step away from coughers\/sneezers.<\/u> One reason elementary school teachers get frequent colds is that their moist, drippy little charges lovingly cough right into their faces. If you\u2019re at a movie (remember movies?) and the person behind you is coughing mightily, change seats. Avoiding crowded spaces like buses, planes, and elevators also helps with the flu, and we know with Covid-19 that being outside is always preferable to being inside. Sadly, the CDC just released data showing that 50% of people with new Covid-19 cases had been at a restaurant sometime during the previous two weeks<\/a>. Patio, masks, social distancing all irrelevant. Bummer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/u>–Five Defenders or Mycotake or Immunokinoko, depending on availability. These are immune-stimulating mushroom blends (one capsule twice daily).
–Vitamin C (600-1,000 mg twice daily).
–Vitamin D (5,000 IU daily).
–Zinc picolinate (50 mg once daily).<\/p>\n\n\n\n