A study published in The Lancet on October 25th, 2011 found that the Flu Vaccine was 40% ineffective and in some years, not effective at all. The researchers also suggested that the people who most need protection from flu including children and seniors may be the least likely to derive benefit from vaccines (1). The CDC recently quietly changed their website from saying that the flu vaccine was 70-80% effective to 50-70% effective.
There are many issues surrounding the efficacy and science behind the flu vaccine:
The flu vaccine comes in either a nasal spray, single dose vials or multi-dose vials. The amount in each individual does of the vaccine is standardized. According to the CDC, the flu vaccine should be given to everyone over the age of 6 months of age.
1) Size Matters: Have you ever been weighed or asked how much you weigh before being vaccinated? Most likely the answer is no. Since each does of the vaccine is standardized, everyone gets the same amount. Someone who is 6’6 250lbs will get the same dosage as someone who is 5’1 110lbs. A 3 year old will get the same dose as a a 30 year old. – http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/dosagechart.pdf Does this make any sense? Absolutely not!
According to the CDC, “Children 6 months through 8 years of age who did not receive at least one dose of the 2010-2011 vaccine, or whom it is not certain whether the 2010-2011 was received, should receive 2 doses of the 2011-2012 seasonal vaccine.” (2). Does this make any sense? Lets give the smallest sized people the most amount of vaccine?
2) What’s in the flu vaccine?
It depends on which type of vaccine you get and who manufactured it. When you go get a flu shot have you ever asked who manufactured the flu shot you are receiving? Depending on which flu vaccine you get, you may also be receiving one or more of the following. For a full list of vaccine ingredients see the table at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf
Thimersol: has been reduced in many vaccines, it is still found in the multi-dose flu vaccine. Thimersol is another name for Mercury. Tiny amounts can cause nerve damage. Has an affinity for the brain. Symptoms of Mercury are similar to symptoms of autism.
Formaldehyde: Found in embalming fluid. Probable cancer causing agent
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): This is the same MSG found in some Chinese food. MSG is a neurotoxin. May cause allergic reactions.
Polysorbate 80: Cancer causing agent in animals
Beta-Propriolactone: Known to cause cancer. Suspected GI, liver, skin and sense organ poison.
Gelatin: May cause allergic reactions
Antibiotics (Gentamicin, polymyxin B, Neomycin sulfate): May cause allergic reactions.
Eggs and Animals proteins: May cause allergic reactions
3) Poor Research: Vaccines along with most medications were developed for and tested using adults as test subjects and were found to be “safe enough” for adults. Yet, most vaccines are given to infants and children. Vaccines were developed to protect against one pathogen and yet they are often combined with other vaccines into one shot such as the MMR or DPT. When vaccines were being developed and being studied, they were only tested over a short duration of time. No one has studied the long term effects of vaccines, the long term additive effects of multiple vaccinations, nor if there might be other issues when vaccines are combined with other vaccines.
4) Same Strain: Did you know this year’s flu vaccine contains the identical strains from last year? If you got the flu vaccine last year why would you need to get it again this year? Have you heard anyone say if you got the flu vaccine last year then you do not need to get it this year? Of course not! This brings up an interesting discussion on the difference between natural immunity and fake immunity.
Natural immunity is where you body get exposed to something naturally and then creates a defense against it for the rest of your life. An example of this would be chicken pox. If you got chicken pox as a kid, you would not be able to get it again because your body would automatically fight it off. Fake immunity is where you get vaccinated against something and then need to have booster shots every so often. Booster shots are needed because the immunity of the vaccine will start to ware off over time.
Since the flu vaccine is the same as the previous year, and the CDC recommends getting vaccinated this year even if you were vaccinated last year, one of two things can be deduced. Either, the vaccine “wore off” in less than a year or the flu vaccine never really protected you last year.
5) Nasal spray: The nasal spray vaccine contains live attenuated (weakened) virus. According to the CDC website, some symptoms that may occur after receiving this vaccine include:
- runny nose
- wheezing
- headache
- vomiting
- muscle aches
- fever (3)
According to the CDC website, some symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (very tired)
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever. (4)
What is wrong with this picture? The same symptoms of the flu are also the symptoms of the flu vaccine! Since the nasal vaccine has live attenuated (weakened) virus, could it be possible to get the flu from the flu vaccine especially if your immune system is not working well?
(1) http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/25/university-of-minnesota-flu-vaccine-study/
(2) http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm
(3) http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
(4) http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm#symptomsof