Crossing the Universe

[Guest guest]

" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch

HSI e-Alert - Crossing the Universe

Thu, 26 May 2005 07:30:00 -0400

 

 

 

 

HSI e-Alert - Crossing the Universe

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

****************************************************

May 26, 2005

 

Dear Reader,

 

Gardens are starting to bloom, the school year is drawing to a close,

summer vacations are right around the corner, and it's time to start

making plans for flu vaccines.

 

If you're thinking, " One of these things does not belong, " then you're

probably not in the business of selling the public on the idea of

getting a flu shot.

 

Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosted

a national flu vaccine summit for a group the Associated Press (AP)

referred to as " vaccine providers, distributors and manufacturers. "

Note that the summit wasn't for doctors and researchers, but

apparently for those who are in the vaccine business. Pity those

folks. They have a hard time moving their product. But the CDC has a

plan to boost sales.

 

One of the primary topics at the vaccine summit was universal

immunization (UI). That's a formal way of saying " a flu shot for

everyone. " CDC officials currently recommend that people in certain

high-risk groups get immunized. But in a few years that recommendation

is expected to be expanded to include everyone, whether they're in a

high-risk group or not.

 

But why beat around the bush? Let's go all-in on this one and give

this plan some teeth: It's time for MANDATORY universal immunization

of every man, woman and child in the U.S.

 

I'll give you three reasons why this is a wonderful idea.

 

-----------

Tough sell

-----------

 

Reason Number One: Flu shots don't manufacture themselves.

 

In a business where a drug company can net millions of dollars before

breakfast, production of flu vaccines is a chump change operation. The

dilemma: Vaccine makers have to produce a brand new product every

year. Then at the end of each flu season they have to destroy whatever

vaccines have not been used.

 

CDC executives do what they can to help sell the vaccine by mounting a

yearly campaign to give everyone the heebie jeebies about the flu.

Strategically placed announcements in the mainstream media emphasize

four selling points: 1) There's a limited supply of vaccines, so get

yours while you can, 2) This year's flu season may be one of the worst

on record, 3) Someday we'll get hit with The Big One; a pandemic that

could kill millions, and 4) About 36,000 people die of flu related

complications each year (according to the CDC), and most of those

deaths are among elderly people.

 

Problem is, even with these motivating announcements most people just

don't bother to get a flu shot. But mandatory universal immunization

would take care of that in a jiffy.

 

-----------

Estimated benefit

-----------

 

Reason Number Two: Mandatory universal immunization would save lives

among the elderly.

 

Well, okay, there's no actual evidence that would happen. In fact...

 

In a February 2005 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine,

researchers for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Diseases compared flu-related mortality among older people to rates of

immunization. Their finding: During the past quarter century,

immunization rates for the elderly have climbed substantially while

the elderly flu-related mortality rate has stayed the same.

 

The authors of the research wrote: " We conclude that observational

studies substantially overestimate vaccination benefit. "

 

-----------

Back to reality...

-----------

 

Reason Number Three: Of course, mandatory universal immunization is a

ludicrous idea.

 

As far as we know, the CDC has no plans to add " mandatory " to its UI

recommendation. But that's probably what it would take to sell enough

vaccines to make vaccine manufacture a lucrative venture. If the CDC

does eventually recommend UI that will be like saying: " We suggest

vaccinations for those who probably won't get the flu. "

 

That lame sales pitch will not be enough to convince healthy people to

get in line for a flu shot. For one thing, consumers seem to be

catching on to the fact that the flu vaccine may not be as necessary

as the CDC would have us believe. Last fall, vaccine supplies were

suddenly cut in half because one of the manufacturers was found to

have a contaminated facility. Nevertheless, in spite of severe

shortages there was no widespread flu epidemic to cope with.

 

And consumers may be coming around to a realization of what HSI

members have known for some time now: A strong immune system can

effectively prevent influenza. No vaccine is necessary.

 

In the e-Alert " Kall the Kops! " (1/4/05), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen,

M.D., shared some tips on how to support and strengthen the immune

system. And it just so happens that spring is a perfect time to start

improving your immune defense. If you get started now, by next autumn

your system will be more prepared to help keep the flu at bay.

 

 

 

Sources:

 

" Annual Flu Shots to be Recommended for Everyone in the U.S. "

Healthcare News, 5/15/05, news-medical.net

" In Future, Flu Shots May be Recommended for Everyone " The Associated

Press, 5/13/05, ap.org

" More of Us Should Get Flu Shot " CBS News, 9/23/04, cbsnews.com

" Impact of Influenza Vaccination on Seasonal Mortality in the US

Elderly Population " Archives of Internal