The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was hoping to vaccinate 100 million people this year. It recommends that babies, toddlers, their household contacts, out-of-home caretakers, anyone age 2-49 whose immune systems make them vulnerable to flu complications, such as cancer patients and pregnant women, and every American over age 50, get a flu shot. That’s just about everybody. (SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report MMWR 2003; 52(RR-8)).

While nobody knows exactly which influenza virus types will predominate or how severe the 2004-2005 flu season will be, we do know that we will only get half of the anticipated 100 million doses of the flu vaccine this year. The 2003-2004 influenza vaccine formulation included the type A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2) strain, which was responsible for 25% of all flu cases last year, the type A/New Caledonia/20/99-like (H1N1), and type B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus strains, but omitted the A/Fujian/411/2002 strain that turned out to be the major culprit, infecting 75% of all flu sufferers last year.

This year’s flu vaccine includes the A/Fujian/411/2002 (H3N2)-like, A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like, and B/Shanghai/361/2002-like antigens. Hopefully, this year the scientists guessed right.

When the match between the virus strains in the vaccine and the circulating viruses is close, the vaccine prevents illness in up to 90% of healthy people under the age of 65. However, among the elderly, the vaccine is only about 30-70% effective.

Flu Shot Side Effects

Flu Shot side effects include, fever, chills, or a general sense of malaise, that lasts one to two days and will occur in about 1% of the population, or about 1 million Americans. For as many as 1,000 others, serious adverse reactions will occur that could be life threatening.

Dr. Hansen recommends a safer, oral homeopathic flu vaccine , known as Influenzinum,™ instead of a Flu shot. Influenzinum™ is an oral homeopathic vaccine prepared according to the standards of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, containing a dilution of the same three main viral strains as the conventional vaccine. However, the homeopathic vaccine dilutes these same viral strains to 1 part per billion. This homeopathic method of preparing the vaccine greatly reduces the risk of side effects. Influenzinum 9c Retail Price: $19.95 Your Price: $16.50 Quantity: Influenzinum™ has been proven to be up to 90% effective and safe for all ages 2 and older. In clinical trials, no side effects were noted in 97% of the cases, while 3% experienced nasal discharge. It has been used throughout the world by millions of people for decades. Flu Solutions Retail Price: $19.95 Your Price: $16.50 Quantity: Quantity The homeopathic vaccine is an oral medication that easily dissolves in the mouth. The recommended dose is 3 small granules dissolved under the tongue once per week for 4 weeks, followed by one last dose of 3 granules dissolved under the tongue 4 weeks later. The best time to take the vaccine against influenza is during the months of October and November. If you should get the flu, Dr. Hansen recommends taking Flu Solution,™ a homeopathic medicine developed in France more than 60 years ago. Flu Solution™, known as Oscillococcinum in Europe, is the number one over-the-counter flu medication in France. It stops the fever, chills, body aches and pain of the Flu within a few short hours.