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For those who want to make a case against flu shot vaccinations, the first item to start with is the 'flu shot autism link'. This year (2006) New York state passed a law banning vaccines and flu shots containing thimerosal (a mercury based preservative). But, the ban only applies to flu shots for children and pregnant women. Those who try to make a case against flu shot vaccinations wonder if thimerosal presence is safe for anyone.

The flu shot autism link is related to the presence of abnormally high and unsafe levels of mercury in blood and tissue samples of children with autism. It is believed that while most children may be unaffected by mercury present in flu shots and other vaccines, other children do not have the ability to 'shed' the mercury from their systems, so it builds up and damages nerve and brain cells. Having no way to tell which children can and which cannot 'shed' the mercury, researchers and others have been making a case against flu shot vaccinations and other childhood vaccinations that contain thimerosal as a preservative.

Even though many public health groups maintain that thimerosal as a preservative is safe, several pharmaceutical companies now have thimerosal free or preservative free flu shots, but you may need to request them specifically. In addition to the flu shot autism link, some researchers and medical doctors believe that there is also a link between Alzheimer's and flu shots, again because of mercury build up.

Those who are trying to make a case against flu shot vaccinations containing mercury for anyone, not just children and pregnant women, quote a prominent medical doctor. This doctor states that, according to his research, individuals who had five consecutive flu shots between the years 1970 and 1980 were ten times more likely to develop Alzheimer's than individuals who had none, one or two. And, in fact, the number of deaths caused by Alzheimer's rose from less than one percent of all deaths in 1980 to 2.6% of all deaths in 2003. As a point of comparison, 2.7% of all deaths in 2003 were attributed to influenza and pneumonia. Both the flu shot autism link and the Alzheimer's connection are related to the presence of mercury or other metals in flu shots. It is harder to make a case against flu shots that are preservative free. For some people the benefits of the flu shot may out weigh the possible risks.

Most deaths related to influenza occur when people with weaker immune systems contract the virus, cannot fight it off and develop complications like viral or bacterial pneumonia. Most of the deaths occur in the elderly (those over 70) and babies (under 1 year of age). Those who would make a case against flu shot vaccinations say that a person with a healthy immune system can easily fight off a case of the flu, and that the risks including the flu shot autism and Alzheimer's connections, outweigh the possible benefits of an annual flu shot. Naturalists and others who make the case against flu shot vaccinations recommend herbs like Echinacea, which has been shown in studies to boost the immune system, reduce recovery time and reduce the likelihood of developing complications from influenza. . To learn more about immune system boosters and for more information about the common cold, influenza and other viruses, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.