Every year, we are all browbeaten (and in some cases such as healthcare workers forced) to get them. Here are some thoughts on the question. I will let the mainstream media continue to promote the alleged benefits.

The need. First, understand that the statistics on flu deaths seem to be greatly exaggerated and that the “science” on flu shots is not as robust as you might think. Read more about that. It has been suggested but not proven that flu shots have benefit against covid-19.

Effectiveness. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the effectiveness of the annual flu shot can be as low as 10% (2004). In 2014 it was 19% and in 2010 hit 60%. The shot for 2021 was only  16% which was deemed not scientifically significant.  The average for 15 years is about 40%. There are over 200 flu-type illnesses and the vaccines usually only target a couple of them. The prevention rates are better in years when the virus type has not mutated into a form that is a bad match to the shot.

Flu shots are more protective for healthy adults aged 18 to 46 and although helpful, are less effective in those 65 and older. In general, the stronger a person’s immune system, the better the vaccines work. Of course, the stronger the immune system, the less the vaccine is actually needed.

Side effects. Influenza Vaccination Linked to Higher COVID Death Rates. Many health experts are rightly concerned about unintended effects of some of the additives in the vaccines which may include as mercury, formaldehyde, antibiotics and MSG. In an interview on our show, Author Russell Blaylock, MD, explained how excitoxins added to flu vaccines overstimulate brain immune cells and lead to neurological damage and dementia. Ronald Hoffman, MD’s Intelligent Medicine website has a thoughtful article on the question–including the idea of whether or not the flu shot helps or hurts regarind covid-19.

Children’s Health Defense (a charitable activist organization) reported: “Recently, AstraZeneca called a temporary halt to their COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials when a participant reported a serious adverse event—transverse myelitis (TM) after her second dose of the vaccine. Internet searches for ‘transverse myelitis’ then surged, but the term ‘myelitis’ is nothing new.  Conditions involving demyelination and paralysis are among the top vaccine injuries for which Americans (primarily adults) have filed claims with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) Their claims state that TM is linked to hepatitis B vaccines, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) and influenza vaccines.”

The US government pays hundreds of millions of dollars each year from its National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to compensate citizens for vaccine injuries. There is more information and resources about this on the vaccine page in our Library.

During Covid-19 it became apparent that previously having had a flu shot made people more vulnerable to trouble with covid-19. Read More.

Time of day. If you do decide to get the vaccine, for body rhythm and hormonal reasons Consumer Reports says that between 9 and 11 am is the best time of day for seniors to get a flu shot

Alternative. Did you know that there is a homeopathic alternative called “homeopropylaxis”.