5 Swine Flu Qs
The questions to ask to get the answers you need
Dr. George is not stating that Americans should not take the vaccine. But rather, she argues that the vaccine may not be suitable for all Americans. To that end, she wants you to ask the following questions:
-
Does the Vaccine contain additives such as mercury or squaline?
Her reason: Additives called adjuvants like mercury (thiamerisol) are added to
inhibit bacterial contamination. However, some studies have implicated
mercury as a cause of autism and squaline as a cause of neurological
damage respectively.
- How can I avoid getting a vaccine that contains mercury?
Her reason: Ask to receive your vaccine from a single dose vial. Unlike the
multiple dose vials which contain thiamerisol, the single dose vials do
not contain that additive.
- Will getting the vaccine completely protect me from getting the swine flu?
Her reason: The vaccine comes in two forms—a nasal spray and an injectable liquid.
The nasal form contains a live virus that has been altered (attenuated)
to be less infectious. The injectable form is made from a dead form
of the virus. Because there is an increased risk of actual infection,
the live (attenuated) virus should not be given to individuals with
compromised immune systems such as pregnant women, HIV patients, those
on chemotherapy or children.
- Is the swine flu more dangerous than the seasonal flu?
Her reason: Since the outbreak of the flu this past spring, over 74 countries have
documented cases of the H1N1 virus. There have been approximately
345,000 cases world wide with 4,100 deaths. Conversely, there are
approximately 40,000 deaths due to the seasonal flu each year in the
US. Statistics continue to suggest that the H1N1 virus is not as deadly
as has been reported. To date it has been a relatively mild and
self-limited infection in both adults and children.
- What are the risks and benefits of taking the vaccine?
Her reason: The mortality rate is largely associated with pneumonia caused by
secondary bacterial infections. In fact secondary bacterial pneumonia
was the main cause of death in the influenza pandemic of 1918. It is
important to weigh the risks associated with the potential side effects
of the vaccine vs. the vaccine's inability to protect from the more
deadly complication of bacterial pneumonia.
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