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ADH reports 4th flu death, professor encourages vaccine with new book

A microbiology professor with the University of Central Arkansas, Dr. Ben Rowley, uses a book he wrote to teach his class the importance of the flu vaccine, but not everyone agrees.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The Arkansas Department of Health reported Tuesday that a fourth person has died from flu-related illnesses in the state. The department also reported 34 counties reported flu cases last week and more than 1,400 positive flu tests have been reported since Sept. 30.

The Health Department still encourages people to get their flu shot. A microbiology professor with the University of Central Arkansas, Dr. Ben Rowley, uses a book he wrote to teach his class the importance of the flu vaccine, but not everyone agrees.

“My students, my colleagues, people get sick of me telling them to get their flu shot," Rowley said.

Rowley is a huge advocate for the flu shot.

“Don’t think just about yourself,” Rowley said. “How many people are likely to get sick from you when you’re around them and you have the flu?”

His concern came after the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

"People just weren’t concerned," Rowley said.

He wrote Get Your $&$! Flu Shot, which he uses in his microbiology classes to teach how your immune system responds to things, how vaccines work and what the flu vaccine is.

“I wanted to make sure people had a chance to get more and better information about the possibility about what the flu can really do," Rowley said.

He has students and hears from parents against the vaccine, parents like Kara Kenner.

“It’s just not worth it," Kenner said.

She’s the mom of a 2-year-old and opts against vaccines, including the flu shot.

“Whenever I was younger I was fully vaccinated and I had a lot of adverse reactions from the flu vaccine, but I didn't realize what those reactions were until I did research on them," Kenner said.

She believes the flu shot contributed to her ADHD and poor immune system, which is why she now takes other precautionary measures.

“I take elderberry syrup, I try to get out in the sun, if it’s winter time I take a supplement of Vitamin D3,” Kenner said.

But according to an article written by William Dodson, M.D. for ADDitude Magazine, there is no evidence that vaccines cause either autism or ADHD.

"The best information currently available points only to a genetic cause for ADD/ADHD," Dodson said.

Dr. Rowley may not agree with Kenner, but what these two do agree on is do your own research when deciding what's best for your family.

“The overall point of me writing this thing is to make people better-informed consumers for themselves and their families," Rowley said.

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