Millions of parents "just saying no" to flu shots

Roll up your sleeve or die.

How many times has the federal government given us that same message when flu season rolls around?

Uncle Sam would have you believe that unless you line up for a flu jab, you and everyone you love could be a sitting duck for a deadly case of flu.

So when my patients come to me for the truth about the flu shot -- and whether it'll do them a lick of good -- I always tell them the same thing.

Flip a coin. Because even in the best years, the shot is only about 50 percent effective -- and in some years, it's failed more than 90 percent of the time for some age groups.

With the terrible reputation the flu shot is developing, I wasn't too surprised by a new study out of the University of Michigan that found that only about half of parents took their kids for a vaccine this year.

Of course, the ink wasn't even dry on this study when the pro-vax mainstream media started up in full force.

These poor parents were called everything from quacks to uninformed for deciding to skip the flu vaccine for their kids. Some folks were speculating that maybe these parents didn't really understand what the flu shot was and how it worked.

You've got to be kidding me! You can't turn on the TV these days or walk into a CVS without seeing an ad for the shot!

Trust me, this is one vaccine we've all been made aware of time and time again. Let me tell you what's really going on here -- whether the media wants to admit it or not.

Parents are doing their jobs, plain and simple.

With all of the research that shows that the flu shot doesn't work like it should AND has harmful side effects, OF COURSE parents should weigh its benefits against the risks!

Given its high failure rate -- and the fact that the flu shot can cause side effects that actually mimic flu -- it's perfectly reasonable for some parents to conclude that it's a waste of time and money.

This isn't some lunatic fringe position -- it's perfectly rational. And that's especially true when you consider that there are safe and effective ways to stop flu, no shot required.

I have my patients load up on vitamin D, vitamin C, and a multivitamin containing selenium, zinc and Vitamin E -- all of which a natural, safe, and widely available at your local pharmacy or health food store.

If you're serious about preventing flu, this supplement regimen is a perfectly safe and reasonable alternative to a shot that seems to fail more than it works.

To Your Health,

Dr. Glenn S. Rothfeld, M.D.