Influenza viruses that cause flu, by their nature, undergo mutations very easily and rapidly. Because of these features, it has been recorded that they have caused flu epidemics since the first ages of history.
However, the transportation facilities brought by the developing technology cause much different epidemics today. Outbreaks in times when transportation was not so developed, remained regional. However, today, due to the increase in travel opportunities, we can see that epidemics that started in one continent spread rapidly to other continents.
How can we be more resistant to flu?
The first measure to be taken to protect against flu is to ensure that individuals’ immune systems are strong and that personal hygiene rules are followed. Immunity that develops in the body against influenza infections previously experienced by the person is the most important factor in protection from flu. That is, people who have been in frequent contact with the flu virus before have a higher flu resistance than those who have not. Even simply establishing regular hand washing habits and regularly ventilating indoor environments is very important to protect against flu epidemics.
Should we have a flu shot?
As we emphasized at the beginning of the article, the flu virus is constantly mutating. In other words, it is not possible to know from today which virus will cause influenza in the coming years. The flu shots, which are renewed every year, are prepared according to the previous year’s flu virus strains (family, subgroup). It only protects against viruses that have been found to cause disease in the past. However, it does not protect from new flu viruses that will cause illness in the future. So, for what purpose do you get a flu shot? To be protected from flu in the future. However, the flu shot does not protect you against future flu viruses: The protection of the flu shot against new types of flu viruses that will occur after the day you get it is ZERO!
More than 90% of those who die from the flu epidemic are patients over the age of 65. Therefore, the greatest benefit expected from the flu shot is to protect this age group. So, how much protection is the flu shot above the age of 65? Only 9%! You did not read wrong, only nine percent! Who is giving this figure? American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC – Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention) (1).
Can a vaccine that protects 9% protect enough?
In a study conducted by the University of Minnesota in 2011, 5,707 articles on the influenza vaccine were scanned and 31 articles among them that were deemed scientifically sufficient were analyzed. The analysis also looked at the protection of the 18-65 age range: it was found to protect only 59%. However, for a vaccine to be considered effective, it must have at least 85-95% protection (2).
Another important risk group for influenza is children under 2 years of age. Concerning the efficacy of the flu shot in this age group, the Cochrane group conducted a study and it was revealed that there was not enough evidence about the protection of the flu shot in this age group (3).
Children under the age of 2, the group with the most flu shot: In the USA, 76.2% of children in this age group are vaccinated against the flu. Second place is the elderly over 65 years old. In the USA, 66.2% of the elderly over the age of 65 are vaccinated against the flu. What a striking irony is that there is not enough scientific evidence about the protection and safety of the flu shot in these groups!
The Center for Infectious Disease Research And Policy examined more than 12,000 medical documents published since 1936 on influenza vaccines in a report published in October 2012. As a result of this analysis, it was found that the protection of influenza vaccines is not sufficient in adults (only 59%); They stated that there was no evidence of its protective nature in children and the elderly (4).
Two studies in Europe looked at the protection of the flu shot 3 months after it was administered: Protection was found to be zero in one study and negative one in the other! (5, 6)
Moreover, flu shots are not innocent vaccines without side effects. Studies have shown that the flu shot increases the risk of getting Guillain-Barré syndrome, which causes paralysis (7).
Many countries in Europe withdrew flu shots from the market in recent years: The Ministries of Health of Italy, Spain, France and Germany announced that “quality defects that could threaten human health” were reported in the recruited vaccines.
In the last months of 2014, 11 people in Italy were reported to have died due to influenza vaccine (8).
Even physicians do not believe in the protection of the flu shot. In a study conducted at Akdeniz University, it was revealed that only 14% of physicians had the flu shot. In other words, the marketing studies of the companies could not convince the physicians, 86% of them did not get the flu shot.
The 1976 flu epidemic is a good example of what vaccination does: While only one person died in that year due to the flu, 25 people died due to the side effects of the vaccine.
The flu shot is not included in the mandatory vaccination program of any country in the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) published a statement in December 2014 and stated that the flu shot produced in 2014 had no protection against influenza and it made no sense to have it.
In short, kalam, as a physician, I do not recommend the flu shot to anyone. I am also amazed by the ‘huge’ professors who say that applying a flu shot is an ‘indisputable necessity’!
