ATTN:: Risks of FluMist Vaccine

[Guest guest]

This is long, if you do not get at the very bottom the words" Red Flag Weekly" then you have been cut off because of length. Let me know, and I will split the post so you can get all of it.

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

 

 

-

 

 

Sunday, December 07, 2003 8:42 PM

Risks of FluMist Vaccine

 

Risks of FluMist Vaccine by Dr. TenpennyThis is long, but your life may depend on it! Spread the word...

hugs, Joyous*****************************************************Risks of FluMist Vaccine, by Dr. Sherri Tenpenny The following article is an article in the OnlineVaccine Conference at Redflagsdaily.com. This importantonline conference on vaccines will play a significantrole in stimulating public discussion on this vital publichealth issue. You can also view other essential articleson vaccines at the Online Vaccine Conference. "MedImmune, the manufacturer of FluMist, recentlyannounced that it signed an agreement that makesFluMist, the new intranasal influenza vaccine, readilyavailable to people as they shop at Wal-Mart, theworld's biggest retailer." [1] As the physician in charge of a bustling integrative medical clinic, questions about vaccines frequentlyarise. After reading about the MedImmune-Walmartjoint venture, I felt compelled to warn our patientsand our Internet rs of the potentially seriouscomplications that may come from direct and passiveexposure to this new vaccine. I also wanted to give a"heads up" to everyone regarding the onslaught ofadvertising that is about to besiege them. Hundreds of TV and print advertisements havebeen designed to persuade everyone into taking the FluMist plunge. The campaign will be the "most intense, direct-to-consumer marketingcampaign ever waged for a vaccine," costing anestimated $25 million over the next 2.5 months [2].In addition, Wyeth, MedImmune's partner, plans athree-year, $100 million campaign to encourageuse of the nasal flu vaccine among physicians. [3] The television arm of the blitz campaign willfocus on the "inconveniences" that your family,friends and co-workers will endure if you don't getthe flu shot and subsequently contract the flu. Printadvertisements and magazine articles apparentlywill use scare tactics--similar to those that wereused while promoting the smallpox vaccine--whichwarned of the high possibility of a "bioterror attackusing the flu virus."[4] Apparently, the goal seems to center aroundfrightening--or inducing enough guilt--so thateveryone would begin to demand the vaccine assoon as it is available. And at nearly $70 a dose,this will be a financial bonanza for MedImmuneand Wyeth, who are expecting the vaccine tobecome the blockbuster new drug that will pushMedImmune's revenues to more than $1 billion/year. [5] However, there are many reasons for caution.FluMist contains live (attenuated) influenza virusesthat replicate in the nasopharynx of the vaccinerecipient. The most common side effects include"cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, irritability,headaches, chills, muscle aches and fever >100° F."[6] These symptoms are nearly identical tothose the flu vaccine is designed to prevent. [7] A cause for significant concern is the vaccine'smost prevalent side effects: "runny nose" and"nasal congestion." It has been documented thatthe live viruses from the vaccine can be shed (andpotentially spread into the community) fromrecipient children for up to 21 days, [8] and evenlonger from adults. [9] Viral shedding also putsbreastfeeding infants at risk if the mother hasbeen given FluMist. [10] In addition to shedding via nasal secretions,the virus can be dispersed through sneezing. Whatis the normal physiological response when anirritant enters the nasal passages? A sneeze .sometimes a big sneeze . sometimes severalbig sneezes. Therefore, the risk for shedding--and spreading--live viruses throughout aschool, church, workplace or store--especiallyone which is administering the vaccine. In the section of the FluMist package insertlabeled "PRECAUTIONS," the manufacturer statesthe following warning: "FluMist® recipients should avoid closecontact with immunocompromised individualsfor at least 21 days." The warning is specifically directed towardthose living in the same household with animmunocompromised person, but the on-going release of live viruses throughout the communitymay be a significant risk to everyone who has aweak, or weakened, immune system. The number of immunocompromised peoplein the United States is enormous: a.. It is estimated that at least 10 percent, ormore than 28 million people have eczema. [11] b.. More than 8.5 million people have cancer. [12] c.. There are reported to be 850,000 individualswith diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV infection orAIDS [13] d.. Based on 2001 data, there were 184,000 organrecipients [14] An even more extensive list of at-risk peopleincludes the untold millions on drugs calledcorticosteroids. Prednisone®, Medrol®, and a varietyof similar medications given to both adults andchildren. These drugs are prescribed for dozensof conditions including asthma, allergies, eczema,emphysema, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis,herniated spinal discs, acute muscular painsyndromes, and all types of rheumatoid andautoimmune diseases. As much as 60 percentof the entire population could be consideredto be "chemically immunosuppressed." It isimportant to realize that FluMist isCONTRAINDICATED for people who areimmunocompromised. People who receiveFluMist and are living with an immunocompromised person put theirloved ones at risk. Will this make stores that administer thevaccines--like Walmart and the otherpharmaceutical chain stores that haveannounced they will carry FluMist [15]--risky places to shop for large segmentsof the population? What measures willbe taken in these stores to ensure that thevirus will not become commingled with food?What hand washing policy is going to beenforced in the stores for all Walmartemployees and customers who have receivedFluMist? These are reasonable questions thatdeserve answers. The target market for FluMist is "healthychildren and adults, ages 5 to 49 years." Somebelieve that by vaccinating these people, atype of "herd immunity" will occur that willprotect the very young and the elderly whoare excluded from getting this vaccine. However,it is these very "at-risk" populations who maysuffer the most from the flu by being exposedto people who are given FluMist. According to information presented at theMay 2003 National Influenza Summit, [16]approximately 85 percent of Americans betweenthe ages of 20 and 50 go unvaccinated, and nearly66 percent between the ages of 50 and 64 do notreceive the flu vaccine. Have there been"raging epidemics" across the country dueto lack of flu vaccinations? It appears that themassive campaign to vaccinate everyone thisyear may be motivated, in part, by economics. The viruses suspected to be the most likelycause for the flu this season were negligiblydifferent from the strains used in last year'sflu vaccine. Therefore, the influenza vaccineproduced for the 2003-2004 season is identicalin composition to the one used last year. Thismarks only the second time that the samestrains have been used during two consecutive flu seasons. [17] Consider that antibodies fromother viral vaccines--such as MMR, polio andchickenpox vaccines--last at least three years,and in some instances, up to 15 years. If theviruses used in the vaccine are the same as lastyear, why is this year's vaccine even necessary? An even greater concern about FluMist is thecontents within the vaccine. Each 0.5 ml of theformula contains 10 6.5-7.5 particles of live,attenuated influenza virus. That means that between10 million and 100 million viral particles will beforcefully injected into the nostrils whenadministered. The viral strain was developed byserial passage through "specific pathogen-freeprimary chick kidney cells" and then grown in"specific pathogen-free eggs." That means thatthe culture media was free of pathogens thatwere specifically tested for, but not a culturethat was necessarily "pathogen-free." The riskthat the vaccine may contain contaminant avianretroviruses still remains. In addition, a stabilizingbuffer containing potassium phosphate, sucrose(table sugar) and nearly 0.5 mg of monosodiumglutamate (MSG) is added to each dose. [18] One of the most troubling concerns over theinjection of this "chemical soup" is the potentialfor the viruses to enter directly into the brain. Atthe top of the nasal passages is a paper-thin bone called the cribriform plate. The olfactory nervespass through this bone and line the nasal passages,carrying messenger molecules to the brain thatare identified as "smells" familiar to us. The olfactorytract has long been recognized as a direct pathwayto the brain. Intranasal injection of certain viruseshas resulted in a serious brain infection calledencephalitis, presumably by direct infection of theolfactory neurons that carried the viruses to thebrain. [19] Time will tell whether the live viruses in FluMist will become linked to cases of encephalitis. The pharmaceutical companies do notnecessarily always do a reasonable job ofconsidering the "down side" when they arepushing new drugs or new vaccines. FluMisthas the potential for causing the worst, mostsevere flu epidemic seen in years. Parents telltheir young children not to put things up theirnoses because they might cause them harm.It would be wise to consider that advice foradults. With all the risks involved, one shouldbe extremely cautious about what one allowsto be sprayed in one's nose. Red Flags Weekly October 3, 2003