Sorry Doc, but I think you have been snorting too many mushrooms!! As you know about thirty six thousand people die each year from the flu. We are not talking about a bad cold here. Thanks for your advice but I am going with the shot.

P.S. I think it was clever to say Jane got the flu while waiting in line for a flu shot but most folks don't know where they picked up the virus.

I actually agree, know your body before getting the flu shot. The one year I did get the flu shot I never got the flu, but I did get the most colds ever. I normally get one or two colds a year. I can deal with that. Should I ever have a suppressed immune system, then I'll consider the flu shot. Until then, I'll listen to my body and let the natural antibodies work.

Herd immunity (or community immunity) describes a form of immunity that occurs when the vaccination of a significant portion of a population (or herd) provides a measure of protection for individuals who have not developed immunity. Vaccination acts as a sort of firebreak or firewall in the spread of the disease, slowing or preventing further transmission of the disease to others.Unvaccinated individuals are indirectly protected by vaccinated individuals, as the latter will not contract and transmit the disease between infected and susceptible individuals. Hence, a public health policy of herd immunity may be used to reduce spread of an illness and provide a level of protection to a vulnerable, unvaccinated subgroup. Get the shot for yourself, and for those weaker than you.

Is there mercury in the flu shot?
If so, don't get a flu shot

Thanks for writing this. It's brave to speak up on this subject as opinions are strong and emotions tend to run high. For the moment we are lucky enough to have a choice whether or not we vaccinate, and I believe more study is needed that is not funded (either directly or indirectly) by the pharmaceutical industry. I wanted to mention that another wonderful resource for self care is Gathering Thyme in San Anselmo. There are helpful and gifted herbalists in the store who can steer you to what you need.

Thank you Miarun. I agree, more information is needed but then again, you have more control if you just take care of your body and your immune system up front by being healthy. That is something we are in control of.

Read about the great flu epidemic of 1917 that swept the globe three times. More people died form the flu than from WWI. btw where did you do your residency and fellowship? Perchance are you boarded?

I understand the Patch has a "free speech" policy, but posting this anti-vaccine opinion piece is a danger to public health. It's the year 2012, and a thing called "medical science" has a whole lot of statistics and studies that show you are wrong on every point regarding the dangers of vaccine. You, my dear Madam, are a danger to public health and as a father in Novato I resent you passing your uninformed opinion as medical fact.

And, fwiw, there is little if any "science" to Chinese medicine. Most of it is not reproducible, little of it can be double-blind tested, and that which can is usally folk remedy that has been handed down. (Witness use against malaria of traditional herb, qing hao-su or artemisinin, which even then is supplemented by "western" drugs.) It's a wonderful and rich cultural heritage, but it's not something that can reinforce itself based on trial and testing.

Dr, why would you make the statement that there is mercury in vaccines & that it is one of the theorized links between vaccines and autism??? Thimerosal hasn't been used in any vaccines since 2002, and the link between mercury and autism has been completely & thoroughly debunked. You are a medical doctor, and should know better. To make statements like that is irresponsible and dangerous. Also, why do you suppose that eastern and western medicines are mutually exclusive? Flu vaccinations may only been 60% effective, but that's a massive improvement over 0. Do you have similar peer reviewed, epidemiological studies for your herbs?

Well, there certainly are a lot of comments and statements. Let me just respond to all of you, that I am fully in favor of Western medicine and do prescribe and give medications to my patients, when they need it. I give antibiotics, and do appropriate testing as needed. I am in fact in favor of some vaccinations, when they are for defined, illnesses with proven success such as small pox, pertussis, polio etc.
There is still thimerisol in some vaccines, supposedly not in toxic doses. Chinese medicine is a document, proven modality approved by the World Health Organization and the FDA for a number of conditions which were studied and documented before they were approved. Additionally it has been in use for over 5000 years as an effective healing modality.
I'm really happy to see that you all feel so strongly about your points of view and wish you the very best in your healing quests.

You're a quack!

The column starts out, “Jane had the flu for three weeks. She got it after standing in line for six hours to get the flu shot.” First, unless there was a genomic analysis of Jane’s strain of flu, there is no way to know where she ‘got’ it. Second, almost every drug store and many grocery stores with pharmacies offer a flu shot ($25, insurance pays if you’ve got it, there are NO lines). Third, this statement implies that Jane got the flu from the flu shot (which contains inactivated virus). Fourth, flu symptoms typically last 1 week; 3 weeks is aberrantly long.
In short, the author uses falsehoods and scare tactics to try to convince readers not to get the flu shot. The column is a mix of truths (the vaccine only protects against a few strains of flu, which are predicted, but not guaranteed, to be prevalent that year) and weirdness (kidneys [are] the source of vitality and energy; wind and rain enter the body via points on the neck just below the ear; eating mushrooms protects you 100% against the flu [see the author’s comments, above]).

What we do know is that the flu can kill. Mostly it doesn’t, but sometimes it does. Just last year a kindergartener in Mill Valley contracted the flu and died. The flu shot may not always be protective, but sometimes it is. Personally I’d rather protect myself against a few strains than against no strains. Not everyone should get the shot, but everyone should use reputable medical information to make an educated decision.

Doctor - I am astonished with your advice but first two things stand out for me regarding your follow-up comments.

First, you wrote "mercury is one of the preservatives used in vaccinations" but then you failed to acknowledge or deny that mercury has not been used for about ten years, nor did you address the comment that there has been no link established to autism.

Second, you did not respond to the question about your residency and fellowship.
Your non-response to these two items is a red flag, but that is not what is most troubling to me.

I think your advice by Grandmother, and to get plenty of rest, keep your body warm, avoid stress, and boost immune systems through nutrition etc. are solid and can stand alone as beneficial.

However you said "I am against the flu shot for many reasons". As someone who reports to be a medical doctor, I expected you to cite some studies, reviews or other scientific documentation to support your opposition, yet you provided nothing of the sort!

The closest you came to providing just one of your “many reasons” is some vague reference to “a person with weak immunity the shot can stress the system more”. What?

I find your position of being "against the flu shot" is a disservice to those that trust in your profession.

I just hope no one dies from the flu after following your advice.

I'd like to ask the good Dr a question. Your alma mater, University of Washington requires all medical students to be immunized.
" Documentation of immunization compliance is required of all medical students prior to matriculation. All medical students must maintain compliance with these requirements throughout their tenure in the medical school program, even while in a non-clinical segment of the curriculum. If reported as non-compliant, the student will not be allowed to train in patient care settings...INFLUENZA: Influenza vaccination is offered as a benefit of the health fee each fall to health sciences students. Annual vaccination is required by the SOM. The CDC guidelines recommend the vaccine in order to protect staff, patients, and family members, and to decrease health care worker absenteeism. Many clinical placement sites expect students to provide proof of current influenza vaccination.

So a very simple question is this.....assuming this was the policy when you graduated in 1984, would you have refused it? Or would you have told the compliance dept that your immunity system was strong enough that you would in no way endanger patients or those around you........

Doctor - Did you go to the Jenny McCarthy School of Medicine? I'm surprised to see you are an MD, and seem to ignore all the clinical data. I don't have an issue with herbal supplements in the least; but to augment, not replace traditional Western medicine. I think what you are recommending is truly medically negligent. Are you just trying to increase your patient base?

As a side note, I have just spent the last few days with the worst flu of my life. This is one of the only years in which I have not had a flu shot (I've been a bit busy of late). My wife is now ill, and I am terrified that my two toddler children get this. To then see this on our Patch - well, to be polite, let's just say I am deeply saddened to see your blog.

A great thread of comments on this...I share the sentiments of all of you who reject the pseudo-science of Dr. Sokitch, and am particularly gratified to see the number of folks willing to challenge the fear stoking claims against vaccination with data to back you up.