The Swine Flu Vaccine, is it safe? 

 ATLANTA - As the first wave of swine flu vaccine crosses the country, more than a third of parents don't want their kids vaccinated, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll.
 
Some parents say they are concerned about side effects from the new vaccine - Jackie Shea of Newtown, Conn., the mother of a 5-year-old boy named Emmett, says the vaccine is too new and too untested. "I will not be first in line in October to get him vaccinated," she said in an interview last month. "We're talking about putting an unknown into him. I can't do that."
 
The AP poll found that 38 percent of parents said they were unlikely to give permission for their kids to be vaccinated at school. The belief that the new vaccine could be risky is one federal health officials have been fighting from the start, and they plan an unprecedented system of monitoring for side effects.
 
The AP poll, conducted Oct. 1-5, found 72 percent of those surveyed are worried about side effects. Giving flu shots to schoolchildren is also an idea many parents are still getting used to. It was only last year that the government recommendation kicked in for virtually all children to get it. Seasonal flu vaccination rates for children last year ranged from about 48 percent for toddlers to about 9 percent for teens.
 
The AP poll found 59 percent are likely to let their kids be vaccinated at school. But the kind of concerns voiced by parents could put a dent in public health efforts. A survey Davis directed for C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Michigan suggested one reason for rejecting the vaccine is that about half of parents said they did not consider swine flu any worse than the seasonal bug. "Basically, the swine flu is the flu. I'm not overly excited about it," said Julie Uehlein, a Tullahoma, Tenn., mother who is against swine flu vaccinations for her 8-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. "My concerns about the vaccine are what are the long-term effects," she added.
 
Some, like Shea, recall the 1976 swine flu immunization campaign that vaccinated 40 million Americans against an epidemic that never materialized. Worse, many who got the shots back then filed injury claims blaming health problems on the vaccine, with some reporting a paralyzing condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome.
 
For some parents, fears are compounded by worries about thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that will be in roughly 60 percent of the 225 million swine flu doses ordered for Americans. The preservative is not in the FluMist nasal spray, which can be given to healthy kids age 2 and older. But it's in many injectable doses, which are packaged in multi-dose vials that require thimerosal to prevent bacterial contamination.
 
Some autism advocacy groups echo parents' concerns about swine flu vaccine, and also argue it's a bad idea to spend so much time and money on the new flu. "We're flipping out over swine flu, but it's only affected a few thousand people. Why isn't somebody freaking out about the autism epidemic?" said Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association.
 
The AP-GfK poll was based on a nationally representative sample of 1,003 adults age 18 or older, contacted by telephone on land lines and cell phones. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points for all adults, 5.2 percentage points for parents.

 

 

Dr. Ernst, Chiropractor and Clinic director for Shelton and Hoodsport Chiropractic.  Dr. Ernst enjoys helping the patient reach their potential health and well being through chiropractic.  Dr. Ernst and Shannon have 4 children and one grandchild.

Dr. Morson is our token Canadian chiropractor, contributing to the multicultural feel of the office- not really eh!  He is a 2002 graduate of the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, and has been practicing chiropractic in the South Sound since 2003.  He lives in Shelton with his wife and 4 young children, and  enjoys aviation in his free time.

Shannon Ernst is our Office Manager and the better half of Dr. Ernst!! :) We have been in Shelton since 1998, We enjoy the beauty of this area and the small community. We have a great staff at Shelton Chiropractic and Hoodsport Chiropractic, and we are here to help you!

Carolyn H.; She's back:) Carolyn returns to our office after a brief retirement.  Happy to have her back to help you with any office needs.

Erika, Chiropractic Assistant.  My Husband Curtis and I moved from North Bend to Shelton in 2005. Including Shelton Chiropractic I have nine years experience working with chiropractic. When I'm not at work you will most likely find me knitting on some project. Look forward to seeing you soon at Shelton Chiropractic Center.  

Carolyne W. Chiropractic Assistant started at Shelton Chiropractic July 2007 she is learning the ropes and is eager to help you.

Kristin, massage therapist, joined Shelton Chiropractic in 2000. She specializes in deep tissue and personal injury work. Kristin also works part time as our office manager/massage therapist in our Hoodsport office.

Jennifer, massage therapist, graduated from Massage School in August of 2000 and has worked at Shelton Chiropractic since April of 2005. She lives here in Shelton with her husband and two daughters.

Abbey, massage therapist, licensed in 2001.  Abbey lives in Shelton and loves the small town community.  Over the last three years, Abbey lived in Germany, a great experience, but she is "very happy to be home!"

Boosting Your Immunity Naturally to Sail through the Cold & Flu Season!
JJ Virgin, PhD, CNS
Celebrity Wellness Expert

Has the country gone crazy?  They were actually advertising flu shots available at our local supermarket last week!  While I am glad people are thinking about protecting themselves during the cold and flu season, I am praying that they are not thinking that the flu vaccine is the ultimate solution. The goal is for you to be proactive about your health by taking the steps to boost your immune system naturally. Remember, when the body is treated correctly through balanced nutrition, smart exercise, healthy lifestyle strategies and regular chiropractic adjustments it has what it needs to get and stay healthy.
 
As a celebrity wellness expert, my clients rely on my advice to keep them on the set or stage. Here are three of my top tips that I use to keep them at their best all of the time.  For all seven of my top celeb tips grab my Boosting Your Immunity handout from your doctor. And do it quickly, the cold and flu season is upon us!

1. Optimize your vitamin D.  Vitamin D is actually a "pro-hormone".  I am sure you have heard about it for bone health, but it is also a powerful immune modulator. Optimal blood levels of vitamin D are 60ng/ml(the test is 25-hydroxyvitamin D).  Ideally, spend 20 minutes a day in the sunshine without sunscreen. If this isn't possible due to your weather or work schedule then you will want to supplement with Vitamin D.  A good maintenance dose is 2000 iu daily and if you are working to raise your level the recommendation is 10,000 iu daily for 1-3 months and retest.

2. Stress Less! Stress lowers natural killer cell activity and depletes vitamin C.  Okay, so you can't change the economy or fire your boss but you can change your attitude.  Bust a gut... a little laughter daily raises natural killer cells and interferon.

3. Sleep Deep!  Just one night of poor sleep raises stress hormones and impairs immune function. Poor sleep also increases appetite, cravings and ages you. Step one is making sure that you are MAKING TIME 7-9 hours of high quality sleep nightly.  My favorite technique to help ensure a good night's sleep is to use the alarm clock to remind you to GO TO BED.  Set your alarm clock for an hour before bedtime and start powering down your electronics-yep shut off your computer, tv and cellphone and take some time to relax your body and mind.  My favorite way is to take a hot bath and read a good book.

Remember to ask your doctor for my other 4 immune boosting tips I use to keep my celeb clientele at their best all year long. And make sure to check with the Doctor to see how all of this effects the health and wellness of your entire family!

 

Seasonal Flu Shot May Double Swine Flu Risk

A Canadian study found that people who are vaccinated against ordinary seasonal flu double their risk of catching swine flu. The unpublished study has stunned government agencies and thrown national vaccination plans into upheaval as well as tested the public's faith in the government's ability to protect their health. Although many experts are skeptical of the study's results, several provinces in Canada have announced plans to suspend seasonal flu vaccinations.

"It has confused things very badly," Dr. Ethan Rubinstein, head of adult infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba, told The Globe and Mail. "And it has certainly cost us credibility from the public because of conflicting recommendations. Until last week, there had been much encouragement to get the seasonal flu vaccine."

Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan provinces have suspended seasonal flu shots for all people under 65 years old. Instead, they are focusing on vaccinating for the H1N1 "swine flu" virus during the autumn months and plan to resume seasonal flu vaccinations early in 2010.

"By the time the H1N1 wave is over, there will be ample time to vaccinate for seasonal flu," Rubinstein said.

So far, health authorities in the United States have stated they haven’t found a similar link. The head of vaccine research for the World Health Organization has suggested the Canadian study is flawed, but Dr. Rubinstein doesn't agree.

"There are a large number of authors, all of them excellent and credible researchers," he said. "And the sample is very large—12 or 13 million people taken from the central reporting system in three provinces. The research is solid."

Senior citizens, who carry antibodies that seem to largely protect them from the effects of H1N1, are still urged to get the seasonal flu shot, since they are more likely to be susceptible to the worst effects of seasonal flu.

Scientists do not understand the link between seasonal flu shots and the H1N1 virus. "At the present time, it is quite perplexing," said Dr. Rubinstein.

 

Holiday Coupon

November starts our offices annual Holiday coupon program.  If you have a friend or loved one that you feel could benefit from drugless Chiropractic Care, simply call our off at the above number and mention the Holiday Coupon program which enables family members, friends, and loved ones, receive a consultation, examination, and X rays if needed, complimentary.  

 Just call the office directly at the above number or respond to this newsletter and mention the Holiday Coupon Program, to make their appointment.  The greatest gift we can give to someone else is the gift of drugless health.

 

Please call our office for your appointment today!