Other than the flu and shingles shots, most adult vaccines don’t get a lot of attention these days. I’ve shared my opinion on such vaccines pretty extensively before, and if your not sure of my opinion, just ask. I think the substantial risks that have been documented speak for themselves, but that is a decision that you will have to make for yourself and your family.
Researchers at University College London have found that excess inflammation in older folks not only decreases immunity, it can often diminish a vaccines’ efficacy. Therefore, researchers have been trying to determine what the effect of reducing inflammation in your body could make have on the vaccines.
Particular interest in the skin cells that produced inflammation in response to a virus. They investigated this response using the varicella zoster virus (VZV). VZV can cause chicken pox and shingles, according to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
While the commercials on TV tell everyone that has had chicken pox is at risk of getting shingles, this isn’t necessarily true. In fact, it’s just the opposite. If you’ve had chicken pox, you should be immune to shingles, which is caused by a reactivation of VZV. The trouble comes when your immune system isn’t strong enough. That’s when you can end up with shingles.
For The Study
78 participants over the age of 65, and 97 participants under the age of 40 were recruited. All of whom had previously suffered through chicken pox. Participants one of two injections – one of the VZV antigen and one containing a benign saline solution. The researchers found that in the older participants with weakened immune systems, even the saline produced an inflammatory response. Those with the highest levels of inflammation had the weakest immune responses to the VZV, indicating that the body was not developing immunity properly.
The researchers repeated the test with 18 of the older participants, this time giving them the drug Losmapimod for four days before the injection. Losmapimod inhibits an enzyme that’s part of the inflammation pathway. Sure enough, the immune system responded a lot better to the VZV and developed more effective immunity.
Anti-inflammatory treatments prior to receiving vaccines could be greatly beneficial to older adults because by decreasing inflammation, the treatments activate the immune system, thereby making the vaccines more effective.
BUT…
Why take an anti-inflammatory drug and a potentially harmful vaccine?
Why not just activate your immune system without the vaccine by lowering your levels of inflammation?
This makes particularly good sense in older men and women and in people who are already battling inflammatory conditions. I don’t think you need to take a drug. You can reduce inflammation and promote a healthier immune response by taking omega 3 oil. Eat a couple of servings of fish each week and take Fish Oil every day. The fish oil has nutrients that act to quell inflammation, and thus help your immune system work better to fight off all of the infections that the vaccines are supposed to prevent.
Yours for better health,
Dr. Jack Belitz, DC
PS Not all fish oil is created equal. If you want to really cut down on the inflammation in your body,make sure you use a good quality fish oil. The stuff you buy in walmart or walgreens just isn’t worth the money. Call us at 402-333-4848 and we will make sure you get the right thing!
