The Good, the Bad and the Ugly About the H1N1 Vaccine
The H1N1 virus (swine flu) has had a relatively mild run in the U.S. so far, with about 550 virus-related deaths reported to the CDC. Worldwide, it‘s caused about 2,000 deaths.
Unfortunately, we haven‘t seen the end of H1N1. Government officials say as many as 60 million Americans could get hit with the virus this winter.
But don‘t worry. The CDC has it under control. The new H1N1 vaccine will protect you from this deadly pandemic!
Officials at the CDC plan to have 45 million doses of it ready by October 15th for when flu season starts to take off. Plus, the government will keep pumping out 20 million doses a week throughout flu season. Eventually, the CDC hopes to vaccinate millions of Americans against the virus.
(Plus, if they think they‘re running short on supplies...there‘s a little something called an adjuvant that they can add to the vaccine to make it stretch. More on that pearl of an ingredient in a moment.)
The CDC wants children (and their caregivers) and pregnant women to get vaccinated first. Then they want to move on to adults between the ages 25 and 64 who have compromised immune systems. Why aren‘t older adults on that list, you ask? Well, that‘s because a similar H1N1 flu went around in 1957, so anyone born before then may already have some immunity to the virus.
Questions about efficacy and safety
Now, I know that the H1N1 virus has got a lot of you worried. But here‘s something to keep in mind as you hear the word "pandemic" thrown around by newscasters urging you to get the H1N1 vaccine this fall.
Roughly 36,000 Americans die each year because of complications due to the seasonal flu. Even if the swine flu reaches that scale this winter -- which it won‘t -- it‘s still a bad idea to get the new vaccine.
First of all, just because you get the new vaccine, doesn‘t mean that you‘re 100 percent protected against the H1N1 virus. You could still get it. In fact, the government has been pretty cagey about the vaccine‘s effectiveness. You won‘t find them going on record anywhere giving us any real data about how effective the H1N1 vaccine will be. The best offer you‘ll hear is that it will be about as effective as the seasonal flu vaccine. And maybe that‘s why about half of one group of care workers -- when surveyed -- said they won‘t get the H1N1 vaccine when it‘s ready.
Safe as mother‘s milk?
I also have serious questions about the vaccine‘s safety. Clinical trials for the vaccine involving adults and children began in July. In Maryland, officials had to sweeten the deal to encourage mothers to enroll their children in the clinical trial. In fact, they are handing out a $40 gift card to Target every time a mother brings her child into the clinic.
Before it‘s all said and done, the vaccine will get tested only on about 4,500 human guinea pigs before rolling out to millions of Americans. But don‘t worry, in an August teleconference, government officials said the vaccine appears to be safe with no serious side effects. Riiight.
Remind me...how many people have been given the vaccines...4,500? And how long have we been watching these people for adverse effects...three months?
Okay, so based on a sample of 4,500 people, we‘ll know everything there is to know about the long-term effects of this vaccine by mid-October!
Heck! It took me longer to paint my house than it will take the CDC to develop, test, and market this brand-spanking-new vaccine that will be given to millions of Americans. I guess the government can be efficient when it wants to be.
It‘s just that I don‘t have a whole lot of faith in our government or the drug makers to get this right. First of all, the last time they pushed through a vaccine for the swine flu, the vaccine caused a paralyzing condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. How do we know the kind of same thing won‘t happen with the 2009 vaccine?
In fact, it‘s possible that the H1N1 vaccine will roll out to the general public before the FDA‘s even had a chance to review all the data from this summer‘s clinical trials!
To be continued...
Next time, I‘ll continue my rant about the H1N1 vaccine. I‘ll also tell you all about a dangerous ingredient called an adjuvant the government may add to the vaccine to make it more potent.
Plus, the head of the Department of Health and Human Services has enacted a law that protects Big Pharma from any lawsuits brought against the new vaccine. So even if the H1N1 vaccine kills thousands of people, the drug companies can‘t be sued. Learn all about Big Pharma‘s big fat carte blanche next week, plus how you can protect yourself against H1N1 without getting the vaccine.
Printer-friendly version
Nationally acclaimed as America’s “Nutrition Physician,” Dr. Spreen has been helping people stay healthy and disease-free as a private doctor, published author, and noted researcher.
In addition to his role as a Senior Member of the prestigious Health Sciences Institute Advisory Panel in Baltimore, MD, Dr. Spreen also coaches diving at the international and Olympic levels. NorthStar Nutritionals is proud to have Dr. Spreen as our Chief Research Advisor.
Dr. Spreen also writes the Guide to Good Health.
Email this Article
Comments
Sara
Thank you so much for this article!
i've been wondering about whether or not i should get it or not, and i've decide, thanks to you, that i'm not going too.
Because you're absolutely right, it has NOT been tested long enough to know the LONG TERM EFFECTS.
Plus, i think if i get the regular flu shot, and then GET The swine flu, i'm still going to be pretty ok, because the death rate is just like the flu's.
the only thing i worry about, is getting both on top of each other, i think that's when people begin to die.
Anonymous
I'm not sure about this flu-shot because of the ideas on the internet on how they are trying to kill off the population, or how when you take the flu-shot you somehow fall down, start screaming and then internally something is going to go wrong.
I know that isn't true, but it makes you wonder, but I will not be taking the shot, it hasn't been tested for long time unexpected things.
Anonymous
If you are worred about the H1N1 shot, do the mist. I was worreied about the murcury based preservitive. But then I found this info on the link below:
"The preservative is not in the FluMist nasal spray, which can be given to healthy kids age 2 and older. But it's in many injectable doses, which are packaged in multi-dose vials that require thimerosal to prevent bacterial contamination.
"Vaccine makers are sensitive to demand for preservative-free shots. Parents can ask their doctors to order preservative-free, single-dose vaccine for their kids, said Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091...
Now it does make me wonder how Obama and his family have NOT recieved the vaccine- not even his children. It also makes me wonders why the inventors of the vaccine refuse to take it and urge their family not to. But i think I feel better towards the Mist vs the shot.
Anonymous
I was born in 1989 and far back as i could remember every single shot i've gotten i've either gotten weird head pains, dizziness, puking, fever. brain farts, loss of memory long term..
In my eyes vaccines are jokes. period. The last 2 shots i was suppose to get in high school i refused to get them because of many reasons. I've done some study on vaccines and early childhood vaccines and well sure vaccines can help people but do people really need them?Well think about do you live in a third world country? do you drink clean water and eat healthy food everyday?do you wash your hands and shower everyday.
well i can say yes for all of the above. So if im preventing myself from getting sick and im in a clean environment whats the point of getting vaccinated..well people will say to protect yourself just incase you do get sick or infected with the killer disease but in true sight there giving the the killer disease. ITs in you for the rest of your life... people open your eyes 1976 swine flu shots.. it left people paralized.. anyways i can go on forever with all the BS but my main point is when i was 4 month old i almost died from a vaccine i had ammonia mercury whatever you wanna call it. i lost many brain cells neurons in other words i should of been a smart cookie and well i struggled in high school...
Anonymous
I just got the swine flu shot today. And i don't know why you all are being babies. SOme little boy in toronto died on the spot well taking a bath because of swine flu and you are all pretending oh no i am immune. Open your eyes just because you shower everyday and stuff doesnt mean you want chatch it. It only takes 1 hand on the desk then to oyur face and voila swine flu.
Anonymous
I've done a lot of research the vacine is just the normal flu shot with an adjuvant added. The list of ingredients is like any other, I would rather protect my kids then be sorry like the child who was my teachers daughter die. Also theres one in Toronto and one in the Yukon. The people who decide not to get vaccinated might be safe because of all us who did get the vaccine, but what if you are not.
Anonymous
Do your research people all the negative comments are coming from uneducated people or people that are chiropractors they are out for propaganda. It has been tested long term effects can't be tested on any drug you always have to wait.
Darlene
I have been struggling with this my daughter is 6 yrs old, she is "high risk" according to her Dr. she was a premmie, she got RSV from daycare at 16 weeks ended up in hospital for 8 days,
the last 3 yrs she has gotten the flu from the "flu" shot. each year worse than the year before. last year she was so sick with the flu they almost put her in the hospital, she missed 12 days of school had to return to school with 2 different types of inhalers..we decided after last year that we would not get her the shot anymore, how much sicker would she have been without it? now we have this swine flu..... We are afraid to give her the shot , various reasons, not enough testing and what do we do if it gives her the swine flu.... but on the other hand with her history what happens if we dont??
John G Hasse
There are many products developed to help your immune system. I would suggest taking one (some) of them rather than insulting your body with a 'vaccine' and hoping that it gets stronger as a result.
Anonymous
Just because you get the H1N1 doesn't mean you can't transmit it. It is airborne and it lives on surfaces. So in fact you could walk around picking up virus and touching surfaces and infect someone that hasn't had the vaccine.
If you get H1N1 you will get the immunity. I think they should test people to see if they have H1N1 before they immunize whether you need it or not.
That may make people more open to receiving the vaccine.
I like the idea of the mist available without the preservatives.
Everyone is getting fillings removed because of mercury, you aren't supposed to eat fish more than once a week because of the mercury. So why are people so shocked that people would be hesitant to get this vaccine or any vaccine with these contaminants. Also, they are saying if you had the flu vaccine last year you are more susceptable to H1N1 this year. That was a real confidence builder re getting any vaccines. I think a lot of people prefer to get their own immunity. I personally think I have already had it so don't really think I need a vaccine for it.
Anonymous
I work in a hospital where it is manditory for the vaccine because of how high our positive outcome has been past few months all girls in our area had it no side effects will if be a side effect later in life who knows will there be a side effect to anything else you take or eat or do on a normal day? we take chances everyday with many virus's and diseases i think if there is something willing to take if it is available to them go for it. you dont realize how often you grab a dirty door, open a rest room door, elevator, car door, restuarnt door and then casually touch your face. I do believe it wasebt researched long enough but at the same time they woouldnt release something harmfull to the united states that easily.
J rizzle
umm i dont believe all this bs. i got the shot and so far i'm fine. this isnt like the first shot where they didnt have good matchines and stuff, people are more educated now. and everything is fine. stop worrying and get it done before you touch your face and die.
Anonymous
Well I'm even more confused. Thanks for the info. As for me I'm less worried about all this contraversy but I have three litller kids under 8 years old and. This whole thing has scared me to death. I personally believe my whole family has had it either once or twice. Both times I felt liike I was going to die. My husbands immune system kicked its butt. My kids don't really suffer being sick but we take them to ther docter if need be right away. I think workimg on the immune system is thr smartest way to go. Ie vitamins, vitamin c eating fruitsand veggies drinking plenty of water coupled with having a clean home having and teaching good hygeine and habits and if its for praying for your loved ones is what we need!
Post new comment