Exercise improves vaccine effectiveness in the elderly.

Advancing age brings a decline in immune system function. Regular exercise helps improves immune function in seniors, leading to a reduced rate of infections and the deaths they cause, and increases vaccine effectiveness.

PositiveTip: Multiple short daily walks can improve immune response to annual flu shots.

Risks from the flu are many times greater than the risk of vaccination.

The media is full of sensationalist, sloppy, poorly researched, and outright false articles on the claimed dangers of flu vaccines. There are no absolute guarantees in medicine and science. It is always a risk vs. benefit assessment. Those who fear monger are focusing only on the fear, not the benefits. Here are several links to the facts about the safety and efficacy of the current flu vaccines. They are well worth the read!

Vaccines for 2009 H1N1 flu now approved--will take four weeks for initial distribution.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza A. Several recent studies indicate most healthy adults will need only one dose. Guidelines for optimal dosing for children have yet to be determined. Distribution of the first lots in the United States will take about 4 weeks.

PositiveTip: Healthy living, good personal hygiene, and vaccination when available are important tools to fight pandemic. Don't forget the power of prayer, too.