There is plenty of disagreement concerning the dangers of flu shots. Some medical professionals state that flu shot risks are myths and that danger is minimal. While other health care professionals say that the dangers of flu shots are real. In this article, both opinions are presented in order to help you make an informed decision.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) advises that the single best way to protect yourself from seasonal flu is to get an annual vaccine. Most of the controversy surrounding the dangers of flu shots involves an ingredient called thimerosal, which is commonly used by pharmaceutical companies as a preservative. Some doctors and scientists believe that flu shot risks are only slightly increased by the presence of thimerosal in the vaccine, however a group of doctors and scientists recently established a link between thimerosal presence in vaccines and autism. Because of this link, New York recently passed a law banning the use of thimerosal in vaccines or flu shots to be given to young children and pregnant women.

Many health care professionals believe that the dangers of flu shots are not limited to pregnant women and young children and that thimerosal use as a preservative should be banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Thimerosal is mercury based and is a known neurotoxin, meaning it is a poison that damages or destroys nerve tissue. So, concerns about flu shot risks are similar to concerns about unsafe levels of mercury in the fish we eat and in our environment.

Other concerns about the dangers of flu shots stem from the fact that many people in the general public may wrongly believe that an annual vaccine will protect them from all strains of flu viruses and therefore take no other precautions to protect themselves. The annual influenza vaccine contains three strains of dead viruses, the three that are believed to be the most common in the United States at that time. Therefore, any number of flu viruses could still make a person sick. In this case, the flu shot risks have to do with a possible misunderstanding.

The CDC lists a number of people who should not take the vaccine, because the known dangers of flu shots would be to great for them. People who are allergic to eggs should not take the vaccine. This has to do with the manner in which the viruses are grown. People who have had a reaction to a flu shot in the past should not take the vaccine, without consulting their physician. The CDC does not explain the flu shot risks associated with past reactions or if typical flu shot side effects which include fever, body aches and soreness, redness or swelling at the point of injection, should be of concern.

Guillain-Barre syndrome may be one of the dangers of flu shots. This is a disease in which the body damages it's own nerve cells resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis and sometimes permanent nerve damage. The syndrome was first associated with the swine flu shots of 1976, but a subsequent study concluded that Guillain-Barre syndrome was one of the possible flu shot risks. The CDC recommends that anyone who suffered from Guillain-Barre syndrome in the past should consult their doctor before taking an annual flu shot. Risks may be minor, but are still of concern. Concerns about the dangers of flu shots lead many to seek alternatives and the best alternatives are efforts to build and protect a healthy immune system, while practicing good health habits. For more information about supplements that can boost your immune system and for general information about the flu, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years as a health care professional and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. Read more at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.