You can almost SMELL it already.
Sure, the temperatures might still be rising. But in just a few short weeks, the first pumpkin pies will start turning up in stores.
And just as soon as the pumpkins appear, you know what happens next. It’s FLU SHOT season, the least-wonderful time of the year.
They push the shots everywhere now, it’s not just medical clinics. Drug stores… supermarkets… libraries… and more ALL have flu shot setups these days.
But don’t roll up your sleeve just yet. Because new research reveals the truth about the flu vaccine’s effectiveness.
It might still be the best option for you. But the truth is, the shot is simply NOT the flu-fighting miracle it’s been made out to be.
Flu shot sales pitches will rely on fear this year
This year you can expect a bigger push than ever before. After all, they have an almost irresistible fear-based sales pitch.
Flu symptoms are almost a perfect match for coronavirus symptoms. If you experience them… especially fever… you could have an all-out panic attack thinking it’s COVID-19. And of course, since hospitals will be full of coronavirus victims, flu patients could get exposed there, doubling the misery (and the risk).
So even if you usually elect to skip the flu shot, it will be especially tempting to get one this year. And that’s a decision you and your doc should make together. But you should make it with all the facts on hand, and not because of fear tactics and heavy virus-linked sales pitches.
And remember, having one doesn’t mean you’re necessarily protected from the flu, either. You still need to take ALL the same precautions to stay healthy.
What they DON’T tell you about the flu shot
I’ve shared with you before how the flu shot has a shockingly low effectiveness rate. In a “good” year, it might offer 60 percent protection. And that doesn’t mean it protects 60 percent of people, only that it cuts your risk – already quite low – by another 60 percent.
But this past season WASN’T a good one. A new report finds the effectiveness was just 39 percent. That’s better than the 20 percent effectiveness rate from a season back. But let’s face it, it’s still nothing to write home about.
And as bad as those numbers are, the shots tend to be even LESS effective in seniors.
None of this means the flu isn’t serious business. Of course, it is – and sometimes deadly, too. And with the threat of COVID-19 still looming, there are very valid reasons to want to avoid doctors and hospitals whenever possible to reduce your chances of being exposed to coronavirus.
But if you want protection from the flu, you’ll clearly need more than JUST the shot, alone. You need a solid backup plan.
- First, the same steps you’re taking to avoid the coronavirus will also help protect against flu. Avoid people, stay away from crowds, wear a mask anytime you go out, and you can minimize the risk of being exposed to the virus.
- And second, arm your immune system with flu-fighting essentials, including vitamin D, vitamin c, fish oil, and Echinacea.
Along with protecting against flu, those same steps can also help prevent the common cold – and there’s not a shot in the world that can promise that.
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