Many patients ask me about a flu shot, my usual reply is “don’t bother!”  Why?

According to the CDC, officials select three strains of flu virus for the vaccine, that they think are most likely to be circulating during the next years winter season. (They have not “guessed” correctly, even missing the swine flu, remember that?)

Common substances found in the vaccine include: antibiotics, MSG, formaldehyde, mercury containing Thimerosal and Polysorbate 80, which can cause severe anaphylactoid reactions.

The Group Health study(the Lancet,8/2/2008) found the vaccine doesn’t protect seniors as much as has been thought, the greater then 70 age group accounts for 75%  of all flu deaths mostly from bacterial pneumonia, not viral.