This may be the most important newsletter I have written to date. Here are the questions that will I will cover with the quick answer given if you are not interested in the whole story:

*Does the flu shot increase the risk for coronavirus infection? YES!

*Could a new flu vaccine be partly responsible for the COVID-19 mortality rate in Italy?  YES!

*Is the rush to a vaccine the best solution? No, it could bring catastrophic results.

*How does the SARS-CoV-2 infect and are protease enzyme supplements the key to creating our own endogenous antiviral protease inhibitors? Yes, I believe so!

*Are there certain medications like blood pressure drugs and proton pump inhibitors that increase risk for infection and mortality?  YES

*Is it chloroquine or is it zinc that is working as a possible aid in treating COVID-19? A strong case can be made for zinc!

*Can plant polyphenols and flavonoids act to increase the antiviral effects of zinc? YES! And they possess other benefits too!

The rest of the newsletter will explain these somewhat controversial conclusions. It is a lot to cover. So, I am going to be as concise as possible. References are provided for those so inclined.

Does the flu shot increase the risk for coronavirus infection?

There is evidence that influenza vaccines specifically increase the risk of coronavirus infection. Here is why, a phenomenon known as virus interference. Yes, it appears that the flu shot protects against influenza and it appears some other types of viruses as well, but it comes at a price of actually increasing the risk for coronavirus infections. That is exactly what a study that compared the respiratory virus status among 2,880 Department of Defense personnel based on their influenza vaccination status demonstrated. The study concluded "Vaccine derived virus interference was significantly associated with coronavirus."1  

Could a new flu vaccine be partly responsible for the COVID-19 mortality rate in Italy?

In case you are not aware, the infection rate mortality rate in Italy to COVID-19 is dramatically higher. Why? Well the standard answers of an elderly population and the failure to implement social distancing soon enough just don't explain what is happening. My colleague, Dr. Alex Vasquez, provided me with a valuable insight. In September 2019, Italy rolled out an entirely new type of influenza vaccine. This vaccine called VIQCC is different than others. Most available influenza vaccines are produced in embryonated chicken eggs. VIQCC, however, is produced from cultured animal cells rather than eggs and has more of a "boost" to the immune system as a result. VIQCC also contains four types of viruses – 2 type A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and 2 type B viruses.2 It looks like this "super" vaccine impacted the immune system in such a way to increase coronavirus infection through virus interference that set the stage for what happened in Italy.

How does the SARS-CoV-2 infect and are protease enzyme supplements the key to creating our own endogenous antiviral protease inhibitors?

Here is a quick primer

*The virus contains surface proteins that bind to receptors for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the entry receptor. These receptors are found not only on blood vessels, but also throughout the lining of the respiratory tract and lungs.

*The virus then uses the host cells serine protease to breakdown proteins in the viral and cellular membranes to fuse them together and form a bridge to allow the virus to enter the cell.

Antiviral drugs that are serine protease inhibitor are showing promise against SARS-CoV-2 by blocking its entry into cells, especially those that line the lungs, and respiratory and GI tract.4 Dietary supplements that contain proteases such as mucolase, serratia peptidase, bromelain, and fungal proteases exert significant benefit in upper respiratory tract infections by improving the composition and structure of the protective mucus layer. These enzymes may also digest the viral proteins within the GI tract. But here is an interesting additional mechanism to consider. There is a balance in the body between proteases and protease inhibitors. When taking dietary supplements containing serine proteases, cells throughout the body but perhaps especially those with ACE-2 receptors respond increasing the manufacture of serine protease inhibitors. I believe that this increase in the level of the body's own serine protease inhibitors may block the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into epithelial cells just as the serine protease inhibitor drugs. These are safe dietary supplements that are definitely indicated during these times. Here is a link to an article that I wrote on these enzymes along with other key nutrients to support the airways (click here). The product that I personally take is Enzyme Defense from Enzymedica.