How Important Is It To Have Flu Shot If You Are A Mom Of 2 Kids Ages 5 And 3.

I am 53 years old and never had a flu shot. I have never had the flu. Why should I get a flu shot?

Because “The Flu” can kill you fast and furious. The flu shot given in October or November each year reduces the risk of getting the flu by 50% to 70%. It actually reduces your risk of death from the flu even more as those who get the flu after a flu shot still have a reduced risk of death.In addition, scientists are concerned about the recurrence of the flu strain (H1N1) that caused the 1917–1918 flu pandemic. You may not have heard of this relatively modern day plague because of military censorship during those years. More people around the world died of the flu that winter than died in both World Wars combined. Traditionally the flu vaccine was made from the most common three strains found in Hong Kong each January. Recently the flu vaccine was changed to still include those strains but always adding H1N1 as insurance against the recurrence of another 1917–1918 style pandemic.You say that you have not had the flu in 53 years. That may or may not be true, but keep in mind that on average one gets the flu only about once in 15 years. On the other hand people get about 6 colds per year. Since there is some overlap in the symptoms between a cold and the flu people tend to confuse the gravity of the two very different diseases. Colds rarely kill. In a year that one gets the flu disease ones average mortality risk is about one in seven thousand. It’s like buying a lottery ticket where the winner is executed. And death can come within hours of first symptoms. The flu shot reduces your risk of being entered in that lottery.Some people have heard “fake news” concerning the risks of the flu vaccine. You can’t get the flu from the flu shot. How do I know this? Because it’s dead. (And not just resting ;>) The nasal spray is NOT dead and is a live attenuated vaccine. The side effect profiles of the two are very similar.It is true that a small proportion (5%) of people will feel bad for a day or two after the vaccine but it’s not the flu. It’s reaction to the vaccine.So, even though the flu season just started on December 1, it doesn’t peak until January or February ands not over until the middle of May. I would strongly suggest getting your flu shotASAP and then in October or November in future years.People who should not receive the flu shot include those with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome ( a rare neurological condition) and infants under the age of six months.

Did you or your family get flu shots this year? If you are against the idea, why?

Yes, we all did. This is generally the case for my immediate family, as the downsides of the vaccine are few and, assuming the roll of the seasonal dice are right, we minimize or avoid potentially serious health issues and minimize loss of time.This year we have additional reason for doing so: Last year my father-in-law underwent mitral valve annuloplasty; he also suffers COPD that stages out around three (safety tip, kids: don’t take up smoking). During his recovery, a non-immunized neighbor who was only becoming symptomatic decided to visit; a few days after said neighbor became symptomatic, so did my father-in-law. The difference was stark; the health 30-something male took to his bed for a few days; my mid-70’s (we don’t call it “the decade of death” for nothing) father-in-law ended up spending ten days in the ICU with sporadic afib, pneumonia, sepsis, and borderline renal failure.My father-in-law hadn’t gotten around to getting immunized, and while I understand that lack of interest in even thinking about going somewhere while in the initial stages of cardiac rehab, he still had a choice and failed to exercise it. However, there are people who do not have a choice: the very young, cancer patients and those who are otherwise immunocompromised and are not candidates for the vaccine. Healthy individuals who elect not to receive the vaccine are, like my father-in-law’s neighbor, a potential unknowing risk to others, and as such I and my family view immunization as not just something that is the correct decision for ourselves personally, but the socially responsible decision as well.

What is the best cure when you have the flu?

The Herbal Mom If one of us starts coming down with cold or flu symptoms we reach for our homemade Elderberry shots or store bought syrup. I cannot remember anyone getting the full blown flu in our family in the last 10 years. As soon as someone comes down with a headache, seems a little feverish, or is just more tired than usual, I quickly start dosing them with the syrup. They even say it tastes good!The syrup is made from dried elderberries that originate from the sambucis nigra plant and are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds that are shown to help beat the cold and flu.Elderberry has been used for centuries. In the study below, 60 patients suffering from flu-like symptoms for 2 days or less were enrolled. Patients received three teaspoons of elderberry or placebo syrup four times per day for five days. Symptoms were relieved on average four days earlier and the use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry.please join The Herbal Mom FB group for more info on how to prevent the flu*This is my recipe for homemade elderberry syrup-1 half cup dried elderberries, or 1 cup fresh elderberries (organic) We use the dried berries that is on The Herbal Mom<3 cups filtered water. We use the Berkey water filter which is on the The Herbal Mom-1 half cup honey (organic raw honey is preferred) My favorite kind is on The Herbal Mom-1 tablespoon cinnamonIn a small sauce pan bring water to a boil, add elderberries and reduce heat and cover. Let simmer for 30-45 minutes or until water is reduced by half. Let cool and then strain into a clean glass container. Add honey and cinnamon and mix well, then refrigerate.* Do not give to children under one year of ageI am in no way speaking as a healthcare professional. Please refer to your physician before taking any supplements. Please refer to my disclaimer policy on my website The Herbal Mom*This post contains referral affliate links. Please visit my disclaimer page for more details.