Consumer health advocate Mike Adams, author of "Conquering the Common Cold," called flu vaccine shots "one of the greatest medical cons perpetrated on the populations of the world," and questioned new U.S. policies pushing the vaccines on young children and expectant mothers.

"Flu shots only prevent colds in about 1 percent of people who get them, making them 99 percent useless," Adams said. "They also inject unhealthy substances such as mercury preservatives directly into tissues, poisoning the patient with a chemical burden that accumulates with each flu shot."

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) states that 90% of deaths from influenza occur among the elderly. Considering that nearly 65% of all deaths (from any cause) occur in this age group, it is nearly impossible to prove that flu shots significantly increase life expectancy in this group. The truth is that most people--young and old--will weather a bout of the flu without hospitalization or complications.

What harm is there in the flu shot?

There is always some element of risk when you intentionally introduce a virus to the body, even if it's a dead virus. There is also a suspected link between flu vaccinations and Alzeheimer's Disease. Hugh Fudenberg, MD, an immunogeneticist and biologist with nearly 850 papers published in peer review journals, has reported that if an individual had five consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied), his/her chances of getting Alzheimer's Disease is ten times higher than if they had zero, one, or two shots.This may be a bit over-exaggerated but although the mercury in the shot is minute, it does accumulate in the body over time. Further research in this area is critically needed.

Another reason to not get the flu shot is that if you are a healthy individual with a normal immune system, a fever brings a healthy boost of your body's own interferons. Interferons are a group of proteins called cytokines produced by white blood cells, fibroblasts, or T-cells as part of an immune response to a viral infection such as the flu. Interferons affect the immune system in a number of ways , including anti-tumor activity. Therefore, while you rest (due to your fever), the body produces these miracle chemicals that literally do the spring cleaning of your body.

What can you do instead to prevent getting the flu?

There are a number of simple and quite effective things you can do for yourself to prevent the flu. Some of the following recommendations are even arguably much more effective in keeping illness at bay than a flu shot:

• Wash your hands! A common way people contract viral illnesses is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with a virus. The CDC states, "the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands."
• Get enough rest. A worn down body equals a less effective immune system, and is five times more likely to catch a virus, from the common cold to the flu. Shoot for a minimum of eight hours a night, and when you feel yourself beginning to get sick, get at least an hour more each night.
• Eat a healthy diet. A well-nourished body has a far better chance of fighting a budding illness than one which exists on chips and sodas. Avoiding processed foods, refined sugars, and trans-fats is always a good idea, but during flu season, it's even more important.
• Exercise regularly. A healthy blood flow ensures a healthier you.
• Drink plenty of purified water daily; this will flush toxins from the body more quickly and efficiently, and will result in a healthier, hydrated you.
• Use herbs. Astragalus and Ashwagandha are both good herbs to help build a stronger immune system. And if you feel yourself getting sick, switch to Echinacea for a boost to the immune system.