It happened in the 1970s during the bogus swine flu scare, and again about a decade later with childhood vaccines when producers threatened to shut off the supply of vaccines in this country. Vaccine makers lobbied and soon received the protection they needed from Congress from any liability for the toxic products they produced.

Unfortunately, it's happening again, with Republican leaders pushing this $7-billion appropriation to pay for useless vaccines to combat the made up bird flu epidemic while using broad language to protect manufacturers from any consumer liability.

Neither Democrats nor Republicans say they are willing to bend on this important issue, a shining example of the ongoing fight between the two parties. And, at least one company, Sanofi-Pasteur, won't participate in any national vaccine program without a safety net.

Folks, would vaccine makers be fighting this hard if they knew their products were safe?

Regardless what happens on Capitol Hill, know this: You can't depend on the feds to give you the straight facts, considering many of them regularly take handouts from drug companies.

Just another reminder, your best and safest solutions for boosting your immune system and preventing the flu have nothing at all to do with taking a potentially toxic drug or mercury-laden vaccine.

A key factor to preventing the flu is to start focusing on eating properly. That means avoiding:

• Fast foods
• Sugars
• Grains
• Trans-fats

Additionally you can increase the healthy and essential fats like the omega-3 fats found in highly potent and pure Antarctic Krill Oil. I have seen clear and often substantial improvements in my patients who use it.

There are a number of good brands out there but I have analyzed Carlson's fish and cod liver oil to be clean. It is one of the few brands that put the extra vitamin E in it for you straight from the get-go, so you don't have to take extra vitamin E if you don't want to. It is the brand that I personally take nearly every morning.

You can find Carlson's fish or cod liver oil at your local health food store, or, for your convenience, on my Recommended Products page.

Also, be sure to increase the good carbohydrates like those in vegetables, and the healthy proteins like those in clean, naturally raised meats (i.e., NOT the kind you typically find in grocery stores). That means learn your metabolic type as soon as possible so you know what proportion of fats, carbs and proteins are ideal to build your immune system.

Additionally, if you are to successfully prevent the flu, it is also important to:

• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep
• Address stressors
• Wash your hands regularly