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Dr. Mercola
May 06 2008
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Vaccine Blamed for the Worst Flu Season in Four Years

fluThe current flu season is shaping up to be the worst in four years, partly because the vaccine didn't work well against the viruses that made most people sick.

The 2007-2008 season started slowly, peaked in mid-February, and now seems to be declining. Based on adult deaths from flu and pneumonia, this season is the worst since 2003-2004.

This year, the vaccine was only 44 percent effective, according to a study. It was the worst match for flu viruses since 1997-1999, when the vaccine didn’t work at all against the circulating virus.

Every year, health officials make an educated guess to formulate a vaccine against three flu viruses they think will be circulating.

This year, two of the three strains were not good matches.

Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:
Every year the CDC stands on its soapbox and peddles the flu vaccine to just about every man, woman and child in the United States. From the urgency of their message, you would think that the flu shot would at least do what they claim it does: prevent the flu.

But, alas, this year the flu shot was reportedly only 44 percent effective, and it included two strains of flu virus that weren’t even widely circulating this flu season.

However, if you dig a little deeper you find that the flu shot was likely even less effective than that.

To start, that number only accounts for participants enrolled in the three-week period between January 21 and February 8, even though the study continued through March 28. So these are just preliminary numbers.

Meanwhile, anyone who reported feverishness, chills, or cough was eligible for enrollment, but the way “influenza” was defined was those who had these symptoms AND tested positive for a flu test known as RT-PCR.

The control group was not a group of healthy individuals. Rather, it was a group of people who showed flu-like symptoms (feverish, chills, and cough), but tested negative on the test. So all of those people who were vaccinated and tested negative for the flu still felt like they had the flu.

After testing over 600 people, 19 percent of those who tested positive for the flu had gotten it despite their flu shot. Meanwhile, 39 percent who tested negative had had a flu shot, which leaves the 61 percent of those who did nothing, and still did not get the flu, in the majority.

But this is the norm when it comes to the flu shot.

One Harris Poll even found that adults who had flu shots prior to the winter of 2007 were only 24 percent less likely to get the flu than those who were not vaccinated.

Yet, the CDC continues to claim that the flu vaccine is often between 70 and 90 percent effective. Where are they getting these numbers from?

Likely out of thin air, the same place they get their vastly skewed annual flu deaths number of 36,000 (when in reality, in 2005 1,806 people died from influenza, not 36,000. And in 2004 there were just 1,100 flu deaths).

It is high time that the CDC scrapped this whole nonsense of a flu vaccine, but don’t hold your breath for that to happen. Flu shots bring in $15 to $35 a pop, and the drug companies aren’t ready to give up on that pretty penny.

Whose Side is the CDC On?

I think their “Take 3” slogan for preventing the flu says it loud and clear:

1. Take time to get a vaccine.
2. Take everyday actions to stop germs like frequent hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes.
3. Take antiviral drugs if your doctor says you need them. 

Wow. It’s as though they’re not even trying to hide it anymore.

Two out of three of their recommendations involve -- surprise! -- drugs and vaccines. I especially love #3: take the  sometimes fatal flu drugs your doctor says you need (i.e. under no circumstances should you challenge the conventional medical paradigm’s drug-based solution to your illness).

Well, I say think again. The only recommendation I agree with is #2, and even then you need to be careful not to wash your hands too much, as this can damage your skin and make it easier for viruses to enter.

If you want to stay healthy during flu season and after, skip the flu shot altogether and instead use these “secrets” that I’ve used to avoid the flu for over 20 years.
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Community Comments ( 42 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
Aaltrude
 [ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on April 19, 2008 ]
20 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
At last - an admission that a vaccine doesn't work.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Phantom O' Banjo
 		[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on April 21, 2008]
8 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
I mentioned the last time allopathic doc asked if I wanted flu Vac, no thanks its just a crap shoot.  It still be protecting you from that strain they give you.   hahahaha  They only guess as to what strain will hit.  This is really what they do close their eyes and hope!
Mercola
  
samsara
 		[ Joined on 03/08 ]  [ Posted on April 22, 2008]
8 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
If you go directly to the MMWR weekly report from the CDC they admit that they cannot determine at any time with any accuracy what will be circulating anywhere.

This is based on the Marshfield model of 616 people who were supposedly immunized and had the symptom criteria. 

The 44% success rate does not address lifestyle, diet, exercise practices, hygiene(handwashing), sleep, hydration....

This can be very misleading to the general public who believe that getting a vaccine will PREVENT you from getting the flu...the article does not  discuss what is actually  IN these vaccines either...
Mercola
  
drjrm
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on April 26, 2008]
8 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
Quoted from Dr Carley (www.drcarley.com)

  " The basic truth that served as the foundation for the mountain of lies known as vaccinations was the observation that mammals which recover from infection with microorganisms acquire natural immunity from further infections.  Whenever cytotoxic T cells (the little Pac man cells which devour and neutralize viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells, thus conferring cellular immunity and are also responsible for allograft rejection) and B cells (antibody producing cells which confer humoral immunity by circulating in the body's fluids or "humors", primarily serum or lymph) are activated by various substances foreign to the body called antigens, some of the T and B cells become memory cells.  Thus, the next time the individual meets up with that same antigen, the immune system can be quickly triggered to demolish it.  This is the process known as natural immunity."   

How about letting our immune system protect us the way its suppose to?!
Support and strengthen your immune system rather than corrupting it.
Mercola
  
DrScott
 		[ Joined on 05/08 ]  [ Posted on May 6, 2008]
8 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Did you ever hear of Bechamp, Tissot, Speransky or "Rational Bacteriology".  These scientists were in direct opposition to Pasteur's germ theory and their research was incredible.  Even Pasteur admitted the 'soil' is more important than the 'seed' (soil being the inner terrain of the human vs the seed being the germ)

As most of you are probably aware, Candace Pert (quoted above) is world‑renowned for her discoveries related to neuropeptides and neuroimmunology.

how about the placebo effect that was produced by Discovery Health...this video was so threatening to the pharmaceutical companies that they pressured Discovery Health to take it off the air...and off their website, where it used to be purchased...may be I will post it on a blog or youtube.

anyway,

  
  
ruskar
 [ Joined on 12/07 ] [ Posted on April 21, 2008 ]
11 Points        
   
 
Novice User
The people that I know that got the flu, were the ones that received the flu shot.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
MooCrazyTN
 		[ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on April 22, 2008]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola
An ER nurse just came in my office and told me she'd had the flu shot but also had the flu on and off (maybe 2 different strains) for six weeks starting in Feb. She had taken the shot in Nov. She said she was then told the vaccine only protected against the flu for 3 months. Has anyone else heard that?
Mercola
  
organigirl
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on May 7, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Same here - and they were sick for a looooong time!  Our school board employees got relocated to a different building because they thought it was sick building syndrome - chances are, they all had a mandatory flu shot.  I didn't get a shot this year, and I didn't get the flu. Go figure.

  
  
CogSciResearcher
 [ Joined on 08/07 ] [ Posted on April 21, 2008 ]
9 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User
"This year, the vaccine was only 44 percent effective, according to a study."

Er, how can they claim it was effective for even those 44%?  Do they know for sure those individuals were not exposed to the flu (other than through the vaccine) or that they are not just healthy people who tend not to get sick anyway?
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
DizzyIzzy1
 		[ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on April 21, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
That's a good point - how do they know how effective ANY are? Correct me if I'm wrong (maths is far from my strong point) but to say a something has a particular percent effectiveness rate, you'd have to assume everyone vaccinated is guaranteed to have gotten the illness without the jab, wouldn't you? And that, of course, is far from the truth...
  
  
USMom68
 [ Joined on 04/08 ] [ Posted on May 6, 2008 ]
7 Points        
   
 
Novice User

What a disgusting mess this generation is creating.  I don't think we've seen the end of it.  These synthetic viruses are going to cause more of problem later.  Just observe and open the vaccine-reaction window just a little.  I don't think reactions to rogue-viruses will all occur in the 90-day timefrane the VAERS allows you.

I work in a large office building with recirculating HVAC.  Let me tell you, even though I did NOT receive the vaccine (because I'm adamently opposed to all vaccines), I got a killer dose of the nasty bug this year.  Several people (who adamently believe in the vaccine) did receive the vaccine and came into work sick for weeks and one older gentlemen for months.

However, here's the kicker...when I went in to the doctor to refill my rescue inhaler for asthma, he wrote out three prescriptions.  Two for asthma medications (which is why I went in) and one for antibiotics (full-spectrum).  What a royal jerk.  If I were an idiot and filled that prescription, I would have been taking an antibiotic for a virus (which is a viral faux pas).  Watch those doctors people.  They love to prescribe antibiotics for every little snotty nose, cough or hangnail.  I left the pharmacy paying just under $200.00 for two asthma prescriptions (and that's with insurance coverage).  The fancy NEW asthma medication he prescribed me (Advair) cost me out-of-pocket $130.00 (with insurance coverage).

Now that's messed up and is the reason I don't trust ANY medical doctor at this time.  They give you the flu and than they attempt to treat it with antibiotics (anti-bacterial medication)?  I'm appauled at the blatant malpractice.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
lolafolana
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on May 6, 2008 ]
7 Points        
   
 
Novice User

strenghten your immune system and get adjusted!! Find a principled chiropractor.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
Think First
 [ Joined on 02/08 ] [ Posted on May 6, 2008 ]
6 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Okay how about a personal experience? I work in a convenience store and see about 250 - 300 people a day. The other people I work with all dutifully got their flu shots for them and their families. They split between having the flu twice or three times during the winter. Yes we have people coming in sick all the time with colds, flu and various other diseases, coughs and runny noses. If someone comes in sick, at least one of them will pass it to a couple of others. However in three years, armed with nothing more than my regular doses of my supplements and vitamins, only natural forms of course, I have never gotten sick. I did get a cold for a couple of days, upped my D3 to compensate and by the third morning, sniffles gone, no problem. So while they're all moaning, sneezing and coughing behind the counter, sometimes home in bed for a few days, I haven't missed once.

I keep telling them but they don't listen. They'd rather trust their Doc's instead of the evidence their own eyes and sick bodies are giving them. Now I just laugh and make jokes about it. They hate me when they're sick but ask how to make it better. What is it about having eyes but cannot see? I haven't had a flu shot in more than 15 years and don't plan to start ever. The reason I stopped was because every time I got one, I got sick. Stopped getting it and no problem. Personal experience says stay the course of healthy foods, natural supplements of the right types and balance, and it's perfectly okay to rub their noses in it.

Oh, if you take Ester-C with the phytonutrients as I do from a good source, you'll never worry about depleting anything. That's why I say to take the time and find the right balance and get the ones that have as much of the whole supplement, not just the main form and you'll see a difference. Learn to take your supplements at the right times, with or without food, and the number of times a day. Aren't you worth it?

Enjoy!

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
What else
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on May 7, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Think First,

Good for you!!  Flu shot=flu.  No flu shot=no flu!!

you've got to wonder if the flu vac doesn't actually GIVE you the flu!!  What a money maker that would be!!

  
  
OzDi
 [ Joined on 05/08 ] [ Posted on May 6, 2008 ]
6 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Many years ago I was strongly advised by a GP (I had cancer and he said I couldn't afford to get flu) to have a flu vaccination, guess what? I got the flu for the first time in my life at the age of 40! Go figure!

 [ Reply ]
  
  
New to Natural
 [ Joined on 11/07 ] [ Posted on April 21, 2008 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
My guess would be this years' tough flu season is also a result of our weakening immune systems (the general public, that is).  Most people rush to the doctor ASAP when they're sick and never fight things off naturally.  

Sometimes all you need is a day off and a bowl of chicken noodle soup!   
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
paulabob
 		[ Joined on 10/07 ]  [ Posted on April 22, 2008]
4 Points