The science of ignorance and swine flu hype

You could not have said it any better.

Great job, Shannon. We live in a fear-based society and that has sent this whole Swine Flu thing out of control. I have known several people now who have gotten the Swine Flu and basically say, "it sucks, but so do all flus". Lets talk about common sense, natural preventative measures (vitamin D, handwashing, etc) and less about how many people die from this. If you're getting the H1N1 shot, fine. If not, fine. Just make an informed decision.

Fine article. I'll add that the public relies on bureaucracy and professional policy-makers to safeguard the public health. It is an unavoidable necessity. The writer points out some flaws inherent in the approach, though, as well as historical evidence that public policy is not always correct, or even as straightforward as we thought. Definitely there is food for more thought here.

Thank you for your insightful and brilliantly written article regarding the H1N1 virus and controversial vaccine.

I am watching this very carefully. The view is quite distorted from here at the top of the fence. I hope that more people will sit alongside me atop this proverbial fence before making an uninformed decision. The truth is, I don't know enough about the vaccine to rush to get one for my son or for me. I also don't know enough about H1N1 (other than the similarities to the regular seasonal flu) to warrant a decision against vaccination.

So, I will do this. I will wait until more data is made available. I will make an informed decision. That is, as informed as any of us can possibly be. I would hope that, at the end of the day, either decision will be an informed decision and not one made out of fear.

Again, thank you.

Dear Shannon,
Thank you for such a well written article.
Too bad most of the population will rather read the information posted on the CDC website than getting the facts straight.
I would be scared to vaccinate my 18 month old, as well.
It is scary that the authorities are urging pregnant women to get vaccinated. There is a strong correlation between vaccination on pregnant women and a high incident of schizophrenia among their offspring. But nobody is pointing this out. Perhaps the same companies that are selling us the flu vaccine are the same ones later on selling us drugs for dementia. A fact worth investigating.
I do believe there is a lack of knowledge in this country about the powerful effects of the immune system to defend us from disease. On the other hand, it is important to note that a large number of the population in this country have weakened immune systems from following poor diets and the ingestion of drugs, including antibiotics-- the number one immune system suppresor.
www.analuque.com

My wife and I hsve read your article as she was prepared to get vacinated tomorrow - I won't. We are now in a verry interesting debate. Thank you for your research.

Regarding the 1976 swine flu vaccine incident:
The vaccine was produced, field tested, and evaluated in April, May and June, 1976. There were problems with producing the vaccine (as there are today), but it was mass distributed between October 1 and December 16, 1976. The vaccine manufacturers then had anticipated the potential for serious side effects from the vaccines they manufactured and had insisted on indemnification by the federal government before releasing the pandemic vaccine. They got it.

Today - from the Health and Human Services website:
"Indemnification under Public Law No. 85-804 is available to government contractors who conduct national defense functions... The Secretary has determined that development of some countermeasures, such as smallpox and pandemic influenza, may be considered a national defense function. Thus, in some cases, the Secretary may issue a declaration under the PREP Act that covers countermeasures for which manufacturers are also indemnified as government contractors..."

Why would manufactureres need indemnification if the rushed, unproven vaccines were safe?

About government decision making:
In 2002, the Bush administration was lobbying for a program to give the smallpox vaccine to tens of thousands of Americans. Fear of bioterrorism was rampant, and everyone on the CDC advisory committee voted in favor — everyone except Paul Offit. The reason: He feared people would die... The problem with the vaccine, he said, is that “one in every million people who gets it dies.”... A preventive vaccine, he said,“was a greater risk than the risk of smallpox [which wasn't a definite threat at the time].”

Had this man not voted against it, hundreds of people would have been collateral damage. It just depends who's in office, on committee or in a position of power at the time. Good intentions are always superceded by politics and money.

Yes, protect yourself from the flu with common sense precautions, like washing your hands and keeping away from sick people. But use your head, not your emotions, when it comes to hype.

Any bad parent who refuses to get their child vaccinated for this highly contagious and dangerous form of influenza is commiting child abuse! You twist the facts based on yours fears and ignorance-shame on you!

I'm going to completely agree with you on this. I am finding more negative information than positive on this issue. And while I know I have to disregard the paranoid information found on some web sites, some facts do hold true. Like the lack of proper testing, the lack of tracking the actual virus. Most of the reported cases are "Assumed H1N1". That means anyone with a slight cold will get scared, see a Dr. and he/she will lable it "Possible H1N1". The goverment knows this and uses this fear to push the vaccine. I am of the opinion that if I do get swine flu I will just have it treated with anti-biotics, or whatever, rather than take an experimental drug. I have to gotten a flu in 20 years, with no flu shot. I plan on keeping it that way, the less unknown drugs in me the better.

Dennis wrote:

Any bad parent who refuses to get their child vaccinated for this highly contagious and dangerous form of influenza is commiting child abuse! You twist the facts based on yours fears and ignorance-shame on you!

I'm sorry, but why are you labeling anyone who refuses this for their family a "bad parent"? We all have a right to live the way we see fit. I find it good judgement to not jump into unexplored waters. For me, risk taking should not involve my or my family's health.

If you could state your educated opinion without name calling it would better serve to open a dialog.

Thank You

All well said. I just got Swine Flu and its no worse than regular flu. In fact, I've had regular flu much worse than this. After 3 days, my fever subsided (100.5) and I just have a cough now.

I think all this hype is making someone a LOT of money...so lets ask ourselves who that is.

I would NOT recommend this vaccine...Hasn't been tested over time and it probably isn't necessary anyway.

I think you should think twice about making this appear not as bad as what people say. Not all people react the same way. I have been battling it for 8 days now and it's been horrible. It started with a bad headache, fever between 102 and 104 for 3 days then it just hovered between 100 and 101. I had major body aches in my legs, mild runny nose, a sore throat up to what feels like my molers, no appetite, some diarhea but most importantly is the way that it effects your lungs and the horrible fatigue. The cough is never ending - all through the night even with cough medicine with codeine. I eventually started coughing up blood and had my chest xrayed for pneumonia -- no pneumonia but they are watching a spot on my lung for development. I cannot imagine a person with asthma, copd, etc coping with this. Trust me -- when you have this - you can't do anything but lay on the couch. When you speak it feels like you are using all your energy and air to do so.

So while the media report might be an exaggeration for some -- if I was well and didn't want to miss a week to two of work or possibly die from a respiratory infection- I'd get the vaccine!

For those who choose not to get the vaccine -- watch for the early warning signs and don't leave your house until 24 hours after your fever has broke - or wear a mask to the store, dr. etc. You just never know who you will pass it to and how they will react to this.

Oh and by the way - -I have had the regular flu in the past as well -- - and I thought this was much worst.

Applaud Applaud ... I'm tired of listening to the propaganda involving this. I haven't received a flu "vaccine" in, well, EVER, and I think the last time I had, "FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS" was when I had mono ... 22 years ago!

CBS News Investigation:
Swine Flu Cases Overestimated?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/21/cbs...

Swine flu, SARS, MRSA - all a bunch of hype. The media outlets are backed by the pharmaceutical companies who pay big dollars for advertising, so of course they're going to scare us into getting vaccinated. The publicly traded pharmaceutical companies makes lots of cash for shareholders when their vaccine sells. Everybody wins. They don't care about adverse side effects. They just want money. Remember Thalidomide - an "FDA approved" drug prescribed to expectant mothers to alleviate morning sickness.

I bet the regular Flu vaccine works better than the H1N1 vaccine. It will probably at least weaken the effect of any flu.

this article was very interesting.
i just wasnt very suure when if this was an opionated or factal article. being that i am only 12 years old. besides from that small, but kinda important detail, this article gave me a new take on the swine flu.