1. Study I found VERY interesting (but NOT surprising)…
There was a study done by the Cleveland Clinic, using data from their employees, that showed that those who received the flu vaccine were MORE likely to get the flu. It studied the effectiveness of the shot in the 2024-25 season, involved 53,402 employees, and was posted last April as a pre-print (which means it hadn’t been peer-reviewed yet). According to the paper… “the risk of influenza was significantly higher for the vaccinated compared to the unvaccinated…” You can see that paper by clicking here. People regularly ask me… should I get the flu shot? I don’t tell people what to do when it comes to medicine. First, I can’t. It is beyond my scope of practice, so I can’t. Second, I won’t. ALL medical decisions are to be made by the patient. My job, as is the job of all physicians, is to provide enough information so that the patient can make an educated and informed decision. Most people do believe getting the flu shot is the best way to protect them from getting the flu. This is because medical doctors, major hospitals, the news, and pharmacies blast this message this time of year. But you hear NO negative press about the flu vaccine. And without all the data, how can you make the best informed decision? I do not get the flu shot. My reasons for not getting the shot are simple… I have concerns about the ingredients in the shots, I believe the benefits are exaggerated and overstated, I believe the risks are understated, and I am not super fearful of getting the flu. If you disagree with any of this and feel strongly that the flu shot will help you, the great thing is… you can go get the shot. It is a personal choice. I will add that when I hear that the flu shot is “the best thing you can do to prevent getting the flu,” I shake my head and wonder… how can that be better than boosting your natural immunity through healthy eating, regular exercise, managing your stress, and getting ample rest. I believe (and I think you will too) that, even if you think the flu shot is a great thing, the BEST thing you can do is boost your body’s natural ability to fend off the flu. AND… when you do that, you also boost your body’s ability to fend off ALL pathogens. And a study that comes out of the Cleveland Clinic showing that those that got vaccinated were MORE likely to get the flu should catch your attention. Oh yeah… and considering all facts and data on particular medical interventions and vaccines does not make you “anti-medicine” or “anti-vax”… it makes you more informed.
2. Poem I re-read this week…
There are several quotes and poems that I had printed out and hung above my bed starting in eighth grade and through high school, college, and even through the doctoral program that I attended. One of those poems was Man In the Glass, by Peter Wimbrow, Sr. It’s about staying humble and remaining authentic, honest, and true to yourself. (I referenced this poem in this week’s blog, titled Staying Humble, which you can read by clicking here.) I love re-reading poems, quotes, articles, and books that had a big impact on me earlier in life. We need nudges and reminders from time to time, and reading Man In the Glass might be just what you need right now. I know it was good for me to re-read this week. Read it below and/or click the video below to watch a YouTube post of that poem being read…
The Man In the Glass
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
and the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say
For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
who judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts the most in your life
is the one staring back from the glass
Some people may think you a straight-shooting chum
and call you a wonderful guy
But the guy in the glass says you’re only a bum
if you can’t look him straight in the eye
He’s the fellow to please never mind all the rest
for he’s with you clear up to the end
And you’ve passed your most dangerous difficult test
if the man in the glass is your friend
You may fool the whole world down the pathway
of life and get pats on the back as pass
But your final reward will be heartaches and
tears if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
– Peter Wimbrow, Sr.
3. Quote I read this week…
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Xun Kuang (3rd Century B.C.)
