Why would I be writing with an antagonistic voice about an “epidemic” that is supposedly so pervasive and potentially fatal, when I could just as easily join the bandwagon and attempt to peddle my wares, cashing in on the whole over inflated scare from this emergency preparedness/food storage blog?

Oh, believe you me, I will attempt to sell you something, and you should make a discerning judgment for yourself, independently, whether or not my motivations for doing so are genuine and sincere.  But what I am not selling you is a bunch of nonsensical, ballyhooed, fear mongering hype with a capital “V” for vaccination.

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire– we were warned of such impending doom with utterances of the “P” word (pandemic) almost even before the there were a dozen or so identified case of Swine Flu (with the more official terminology being a formal-sounding H1N1) passing beyond the borders of Mexico.  Now that the scare has fizzled somewhat in the minds of the masses, the media swoops in to remind us of the potential of a vengeful comeback that will predictably serve up a worse fate than the mild and timid Swine Flu Debut.

A careful, logical, and prudent look inside the phenomenon reveals that the potential danger from the propagandized Swine Flu is nearly equal that of other severe or less than severe flus, generally speaking.  The deaths that have resulted from this fairly new strain of flu are regrettable, but should be mourned in similar fashion to any other death resulting from like causes.  The point being, death should not be minimized in any way, shape, or form regardless of the circumstances, and the Swine Flu is no more, no less a killer than many other flu strains.

For a lengthy period, even years beforehand, the public had been conditioned for the response that has been achieved with this latest large scale outbreak.  The Bird Flu (Avian Flu) had been written about, talked about, and publicized through the various media outlets.  Our trust in the prognosticators has deepened because of our unconscious “remembering” (though many have forgotten on the conscious level) of the warnings sounded at least a few years in advance by some of the brightest scientists, and the repetitive nature of echoes sounding from the walls of officials of our health.

The war cry against this morbid marauder is almost as trendy as “Got Milk?”  “Got Vaccine?” has been used in other campaigns and may as well be used here, too, with the way it is being presently “advertised”.

A vaccination is no assurance against contracting a communicable disease.  The only way to become truly immune to anything is to be exposed naturally to its influence.  Stating this is not to advocate that we should prophylactically expose ourselves to cause our immune system to graciously bestow upon us the gift of immunity.  Rather there are other ways that we can enhance the functioning of an already capable immune system to ward off the intrusion of unwanted disease.  These include some of the things that we as Americans sometimes have an aversion to (I’m just as guilty as the next person) like exercise, healthy eating habits, and dietary supplements.  Furthermore, is it worth introducing foreign materials and the attenuated (weakened) influenza virus into the bloodstream?  Here are some quotes taken directly from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/nasalspray.htm:

“Who can be vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®)? LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.”

And here is the *: “* ‘Healthy’ indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.”

Why the worry about giving this vaccination to people who are deemed to be unhealthy, and predisposed to influenza complications?  Wait, why would there be influenza complications, it’s a vaccine, right?  I have in years past and being healthy, two years in a row before doing my own research on vaccinations, submitted to getting vaccinations for the seasonal flu virus. Both times I got the flu directly after receiving the vaccination. Coincidence? No, it was mere hours after receiving the vaccinations that I came down with the flu that lasted a few days both times.

Also from the CDC website: “What side effects are associated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®)? In children, side effects can include runny nose, headache, wheezing, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. In adults, side effects can include runny nose, headache, sore throat, and cough. Fever is not a common side effect in adults receiving the nasal-spray flu vaccine.”

Folks, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, let’s just call it for what it is, a duck, or in other words the flu. In other words, it’s common to get a milder version of the flu as a side effect, and if you’re unlucky, although they don’t admit to it, you’re in for worse. Why wouldn’t they promote the vaccination for people who have an underlying condition that “predisposes them to influenza complications”? Probably because it could cause the person’s health to take a dive. But we trust that if we are “healthy” that this type of invasion won’t affect us, or is the lesser of two evils?” How do we know if we are “healthy” or “healthy enough”? It’s simply too hard to tell, and you rarely hear of the terrible and fatal reactions to vaccinations in the news. It doesn’t get the coverage. Why spread that around when the “greater good” is supposedly served?

At what point does this whole promotion of the flu vaccine push get to sounding a bit sketchy? Maybe when they can’t decide how many doses you need, or when they change their minds?

Again from the CDC site: “Children who only get one dose but who need two doses can have reduced or no protection from a single dose of flu vaccine. Two doses are necessary to protect these children.”

So why is two the magic number? Will the magic number change? And what happens between the first and the end of the second received dosages that all of a sudden grants the coveted “immunity” from H1N1? Or, are they really just not sure, and are just putting up their best guess? You decide, as for me the H1N1 vaccine is better left alone.

Other ways of taking on the responsibility of looking after your own health, instead of looking for an easy route that could do more harm than good, are to exercise regularly (I like to walk; and I’m sure I could use even a “heartier” form, but I do what I can). It can’t hurt to cut down on your sugars in your diet. It’s not about anything than what most people already know. Eat a variety of healthful foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Take dietary supplements that boost the immune system. Perform random and deliberate acts of kindness. What? Yes, smile and help other people, this will cheer you and enhance the functioning of your immune system.

It’s not too hard to figure out, once you decide to take back the responsibility and live a healthy life of prevention. And then if you get the Swine Flu, it will likely only brush by you, and not cause any catastrophic harm, just like any other flu you’ve ever had.

Related Posts:

Emergency Preparedness: Physical Fitness
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A Simple Sample of an Emergency Food Storage Solution