|
|
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly about the H1N1 vaccine
2009-09-10 |
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 week, 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. |
Return to Guide to Good Health Main Page |
|
|
