The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has released the 2007-2008 recommended immunization schedules for adults in the US.
The schedule includes 11 different types of vaccines for adults, including:
* Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Td/Tdap)
* Human papillomavirus (HPV)
* Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
* Influenza
* Herpes zoster (shingles)
Key changes in this year’s recommendations include:
* Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination is recommended for all adults that have no apparent immunity to the virus
* Zoster (shingles) vaccination is advised for all adults 60 years of age and older, regardless of whether they have had a prior shingles episode
* HPV vaccine is recommended for women over the age of 26, who have not already completed the three-dose series
It is recommended that flu vaccination be administered to anyone with the following medical conditions:
* Chronic disorders of the cardiovascular or pulmonary systems, including asthma
* Chronic metabolic diseases, such as diabetes
* Renal or hepatic dysfunction
* Immunosuppression, including suppression caused by medications or HIV
* Pregnancy during flu season
Sources:
* Reuters October 18, 2007
* Annals of Internal Medicine October 18, 2007; 147(10) (Free Full-Text Guidelines)
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Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola’s Comments:
Folks, as I’m sure you can tell by the massive promotions bombarding you everywhere you go, we are in prime season for flu shots in the United States.
Vaccinations of all kinds hit you right at the core of your fears, no matter what vaccine we’re talking about. Just take a look at these examples:
* A West Nile Virus vaccine
* Antibiotics to fight anthrax
* Chickenpox vaccine
* A drug for breast cancer (for women who DO NOT HAVE breast cancer)
* A human vaccine for bird flu
Did you know they’re even working on a vaccine for dental caries (cavities)?
I about fell off my chair when I read that one. But it’s true. The CDC actually defines dental caries as an infectious, communicable disease, and a vaccine may be here sooner than you think.
This is beyond ridiculous when you consider that there are many cultures in the world that simply have virtually NO tooth decay and I can strongly assure you that it has absolutely nothing related to any vaccine. It is because they are not eating processed foods and sugars and are mostly consuming foods appropriate for their nutritional type.
I firmly believe, as Dr. Weston Price confirmed in his pioneering research a century ago, that if you eat the proper foods you can avoid dental decay virtually your entire life.
Unfortunately that simply wasn’t true for me and the majority of my teeth were LOADED with silver mercury amalgam fillings by the time I graduated high school. It wasn’t until the mid 90s that I realized that it was best to have the mercury removed BUT unfortunately I saw a conventional dentist that was clueless about the precautions required to remove these fillings and as a result, I suffered some kidney impairment that I still struggle with today.
So if you have silver fillings removed make sure that a good “biological” dentist does the replacements for you. My current favorite replacement material is a metal free composite. I actually have two bridges constructed from this and a mouth full of composite crowns.
Why do People Still Believe in the Flu Shot?
But getting back to the vaccines, Big Pharma may appear idiotic, but they are no fools. They know people want guaranteed safety. “Here, take this shot and nothing bad will happen to you,” they say. And a lot of people believe them, even when evidence of the opposite comes out. They just want the magic pill to be true.
Some hard-hitting evidence released just a couple of months ago should make anyone think twice about the flu shot: flu vaccines have NEVER been proven to prevent flu-related deaths in people over age 65, which is one of the primary groups for which they’re recommended.
You may also be shocked to learn that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grossly distorts the facts about flu deaths. If you go to the CDC’s main flu page, you’ll see their statistic that about 36,000 people die from the flu in the United States each year.
But if you search a little harder, you can find the actual number of people who died from the flu in 2005 (this is the most recent data that’s available). Want to take a guess at what it is?
In 2005, 1,806 people died from influenza, not 36,000. And in 2004, there were just 1,100 flu deaths.
The statistics the CDC gives are skewed partly because they classify those dying from pneumonia as dying from the flu, which is not at all true or accurate. For instance, their 2005 statistics lump influenza and pneumonia deaths together, at 62,804 deaths.
But broken down, there were 60,998 deaths from pneumonia and just 1,806 from the flu.
This will not stop the powers-that-be from touting their yearly fall warnings about this year’s upcoming flu season, and all the flu deaths that will follow. The media (which is largely controlled by corporations, many of which are making or selling the flu shots or the junk food that will actually make you more vulnerable to the flu) would have you believe that getting the flu shot is all you need to do to stay healthy all winter.
How to Prevent the Flu Naturally
For most people the flu shot does not make you healthy; it does just the opposite, as it weakens your immune system. It appears that some of you in the medical field are beginning to catch on to this, with less than 40 percent of health care workers getting flu shots in 2006.
The truth is, if you follow a healthy lifestyle, you will not have to worry about getting the flu.
Take it from me — I’ve never received a flu shot, and I haven’t missed a day of work due to illness in over 20 years. The key steps that I follow to stay flu-free, which I suggest you follow too, include:
* Get plenty of sunshine or vitamin D
* Eat right for your nutritional type, including avoiding sugar
* Exercise
* Get adequate sleep
* Address emotional stress
*
Wash your hands regularly
Take the Time to Make Informed Decisions
Whether or not you will subject yourself to the flu shot, or any of the other recommended vaccinations, is an important decision. Unless you’ve already studied it carefully, I would implore you to spend some time analyzing both sides of the argument before you make up your mind. Rushing blindly ahead could have dire consequences, especially if you’ve never considered the potential for side effects. You can use the links on my Favorites Page to start your journey.
If you do the research and decide that a vaccination is NOT for you, you do have the legal right to refuse it.
If you would like more details, my new book Take Control of Your Health has an entire chapter devoted to this topic, along with a thorough Appendix that tells you step-by-step how to legally avoid vaccinations.