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Dr. Mercola
March 18 2008
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Girl's Flu Death Happened Within Hours

flu, drugs, vaccine, childrenWhen 12-year-old Jasmine Levy woke up feeling unwell, her mother gave her Tylenol and sent her back to bed. A few hours later, she was dead.

Jasmine was the first child in Minnesota to die of the flu this season; six children died of flu last year.

Jasmine had asthma and had reportedly developed a staph infection as a complication of the flu, officials said.

The news of her death prompted city officials to announce new flu shot clinics in the area. Meanwhile, a federal recommendation recently moved to expand flu shots to all kids over the age of 6 months within the next two years.

Vaccinating school-aged kids may help to stop the flu from spreading to infants and the elderly, who are most at risk, officials said.

Although health officials have acknowledged that some of the flu strains in circulation are not covered by this year’s flu vaccine, they say the ultimate goal is “universal influenza vaccination for all Americans.”

Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:
This tragic story is, unfortunately, being used for all the wrong reasons; namely to promote the “universal influenza vaccination for all Americans.”

Back in 2005, The Federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously to recommend that all children between 6 months and 5 years old receive flu shots each year. Now they are trying to expand that to include children up to 18 years.

There are three major reasons why this government push to vaccinate all children, not to mention adults and the elderly, with the flu shot is so infuriating:

1. The majority of flu shots contain 25 micrograms of mercury; an amount considered unsafe for anyone weighing less than 550 pounds. And who is most sensitive to the neurological damage that has been associated with mercury? Infants and children.

2. No studies have conclusively proven that flu shots prevent flu-related deaths among the elderly, yet this is one of the key groups to which they’re pushed.

3. If you get a flu shot, you can still get the flu. This is because it only protects against certain strains, and it’s anyone’s guess which flu viruses will be in your area. It even says so right on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) own Web site:

“The ability of flu vaccine to protect a person depends on two things:

1) the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine, and

2) the similarity or "match" between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation.”

There is also a good chance that if you get a flu shot, you will come down with symptoms of -- what else? -- the flu. Side effects from the inactivated flu shot include:
  • Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
  • Fever (low grade)
  • Aches
The live-virus vaccine (marketed under the name FluMist), on the other hand, can cause:
  • Cough, wheezing and runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle aches
  • Fever
So why would you take your chances on a flu shot that has not been proven to be effective, and that can make you feel like you’ve got the very illness you’re trying to prevent? Because the powers that be have done an excellent job of scaring people into believing that they must get a shot to stay healthy.

Health Officials, or Drug Pushers?

I don’t think it is a stretch to make this comparison, although I do believe that many people who push the flu vaccine are simply severely misguided, but not necessarily malicious. There is a very well-oiled machine at work in the United States, and its goal is to get every American to obtain a flu shot. And at a cost of $15 to $35 a pop -- you do the math. Someone is getting rich here, and it isn’t you and your family.

You see, the government is using obvious fear tactics, one of which is a gross distortion of the facts about the flu. Yes, the flu can make you feel miserable. And, yes, the flu can kill you. But the risk is not that high, particularly if you are healthy.

The CDC likes to say that about 36,000 people die from the flu in the United States each year. Meanwhile, they say from 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu each year, and that more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications.

But if you search a little harder, you can find the actual number of people who died from the flu in 2005, according to preliminary data (this is the most recent data that’s available).

Want to take a guess at what it is?

In 2005, 1,806 people died from influenza, not 36,000. And in 2004, there were just 1,100 flu deaths.

The statistics the CDC gives are skewed partly because they classify those dying from pneumonia as dying from the flu, which is not at all true or accurate.

Top Tips to Avoid the Flu -- Without a Flu Shot

So please do not fall for all of the hype. You don’t need a shot to avoid the flu -- in fact the shot will actually weaken your immune system, and you need your immune system working at full speed to keep you healthy. I have never received a flu shot and haven’t missed a day of work due to illness in over 20 years.

Here are the “secrets” I use to keep the flu (and other illnesses) at bay:
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Community Comments ( 68 )
 		Comment on this Article
  
  
PPARGammaGirl
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on March 3, 2008 ]
49 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
The girl's story is tragic but I still think it is sick that her story is used to promote a toxic useless vaccine. Flu vaccines do not prevent the flu however often Dr LyingPantsOnFire types claim it does.
Vaccines do not immunise, they compromise.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
curlilox
 [ Joined on 08/07 ] [ Posted on March 4, 2008 ]
31 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Once again, people get sick from an impaired immune system and being toxic!  How many vaccinations has that little girl had?  What did she eat?   That doesn't sound very nice, but the more toxic you are, the harder you will fall to things like the flu!  It's horrible for this to happen to a precious little girl, and I will be praying for her family.  But, it is a wakeup call for us to be sure to build up our immune systems so we can fight off viruses and bacterias.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
New to Natural
 [ Joined on 11/07 ]  [ Posted on March 4, 2008]
11 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Exactly!  The article also stated that the girl developed a staph infection due to the flu:  So, did she really die of influenza?  Or was it the Staph infection? 

Also, the mother said in the article that she had (her daughter) the flu for a couple of days, so this title is VERY misleading. 
  
  
mama bear
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on March 4, 2008 ]
25 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User
Did she really die from the flu or was it from the Tylenol?
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Anathema
 [ Joined on 02/07 ]  [ Posted on March 4, 2008]
14 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola
I think your observation is apt because acetaminophen can deplete glutathione.  So can viruses. 
Mercola
  
PPARGammaGirl
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on March 4, 2008]
12 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Anathema you make a good point about acetaminophen and glutathione. If you OD on acetaminophen, the hospital will give you IV Parvolex to prevent liver failure. Parvolex is n-acetyl cysteine, a glutathione precursor. Vaccinations cause instant scurvy in small children according to Dr Al-Bayati, Toxicologist and Pathologist. Most parents give acetaminophen following vaccination when the child reacts with a fever. Vitamin C depletion + glutathione decrease could be a deadly combination.
Mercola
  
samurai
 [ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on March 4, 2008]
5 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
PPARGammaGirl,
Could you please put that in dingy blonde terms so that I can understand it?  I have a 7-year old that recently became quite ill that started from an ear infection.  Finally, I put her on Cefdinir.  It worked well.  Also, I love my elixir (which my daughter refuses) that I swear keeps the flu away; 1 cup Kefir, 4 garlic cloves, 1/2 a lemon, and about one inch of a cucumber along with a niblit of sea salt.  Is it true that garlic has anti-viral properties, or am I just lucky that I haven't been ill sense I left good 'ol Pepsi-Cola? 
Please advise.
Mercola
  
PPARGammaGirl
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on March 5, 2008]
15 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

Acetaminophen is metabolised in the liver and forms a toxic metabolite (breakdown product). The metabolite is rendered non-toxic by the addition of glutathione. Once liver glutathione runs out (as in OD) the toxic metabolites then bind with liver proteins causing liver damage.

Dr Kalokerinos made the vitamin C connection with vaccination while working as a medical officer in the Australian outback. Infant mortality was very high; especially after vaccination and more so if the child had an existing infection. With improved nutrition, oral vitamin C, avoidance of vaccination during even minor illness and intravenous vitamin C during a crisis he almost abolished infant mortality. His work was never acknowledged and no studies done to confirm his findings. However, I have seen enough vaccination research to see why vitamin C depletion would follow vaccination. Vaccines induce an inflammatory cytokine response, which uses up body stores of antioxidants like vitamin C and glutathione. An inconvenient truth for the vaccine industry and not one they are willing to study.
Mercola
  
samurai
 [ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on March 5, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Thanks so much.  Your input is always appreciated and respected.
Mercola
  
curlilox
 [ Joined on 08/07 ]  [ Posted on March 7, 2008]
6 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Samurai,
Garlic is vitally important to our immune system.  Not only is it anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbial, but is also anti-parasitical.  I'm told it is the #1 prescription in Germany.  Garlic does much to stimulate our immune system!
Mercola
  
BeyondOrganic
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on March 18, 2008]
4 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

That was my first thought.  And.... where did she get the staph infection?  Who says it was the flu that killed her??!!
Mercola
  
T_rex
 [ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on March 18, 2008]
4 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Exactly ! Was Tylenol the fatal poison ?
Mercola
  
CaptainKirk
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on March 18, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Interesting note on the Vitamin C.

I just learned it is a chelator, and can bind to mercury.

Hmm, vaccines eat up the Vitamin C...  Or is it the Vitamin C giving

themselves up to attack the Mercury from the Vaccine.

Finally, my daughter has Asthma and Constipation.  She takes 2 GRAMS

of Vitamin/Day (Divided).  This does not get her to her bowel tolerance

Limit, which is interesting...  But it helps with the regularity.  She takes

4-5Grams/day if she gets sick...  I am starting to think about the chelating effects AFTER reading this post....  THANKS.
Mercola
  
LEWRA
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on March 20, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Yes, it looked to me like the child died from artificially lowering the fever with tylenol.  Fever is a normal response to the presence of bacteria and viruses.  If you lower it artificially without addressing the underlying cause, the body must, of necessity, make some extreme adjustment or have an untoward reaction.  They say, "Don't give Aspirin to children with fevers!" but I think the propblem isn't the aspirin, per se, but the artificial lowering of the fever without addressing the underlying cause.
  
  
Jonny_
 [ Joined on 01/08 ] [ Posted on March 4, 2008 ]
19 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User
This post was deleted because it violated our Terms Of Use :
Abuse, harass, humiliate, deceive, threaten, impersonate, intimidate or engage in any other abusive behaviors with those who comment on Mercola.com.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
qualitygeek
 [ Joined on 10/07 ]  [ Posted on March 4, 2008]
30 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
"universal influenza vaccination for all Americans"

Over my cold, dead body....I will NEVER willingly get another vaccine - of any sort....And, after I'm through school & licensed to practice as a DC, I will educate my patients so they can make INFORMED decisions rather than being a lemming...