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PANDEMIC INFLUENZA TYPE A H1N1
FACTS FOR CONSIDERATION: PANDEMIC IS NOT THE YEARLY SEASONAL INFLUENZA
BY CAROL WARE DUFF MSN, BA, RN
History of H1N1 Influenza
Viruses use the human cell to reproduce. A virus has no nucleus and cannot reproduce on its own. If human cells recognize a virus as an attack of something harmful, the human body will not let the virus invade cells. This is called immunization and is what vaccines are designed to do. Without immunization the body does not have the tools to halt the invasion of the virus.
The H1N1 Influenza virus has had a long history since first being identified in 1918 during what was known as the Spanish influenza pandemic which infected one third of the world’s population of 500 million people. Roughly 50 million people died during this viral outbreak. Not until the 1930s were the linked influenza viruses (now known as H1N1 viruses) isolated from pigs and then humans.
In 1976, an outbreak of influenza occurred at Fort Dix in New Jersey and affected 200, some severely, with one death of a soldier who experienced feeling tired and weak and was dead the next day. Others during this outbreak were seriously ill.
The dread of another pandemic influenza outbreak led to a U.S. national campaign to attempt to immunize almost the entire population. 40,000, 000 people received the A/New Jersey/1976/H1N1 vaccine also called the swine flu vaccine. During this vaccination blitz a strong association developed between the vaccine and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) (disorder of myelin surrounding nerves, which can cause varying levels of paralysis of the body up to and including difficulty/inability to use muscles required for breathing). Five hundred cases were reported with 24 deaths due to complications with the lungs.
Intense investigation has gone into why GBS occurred after some vaccinations and it is found that the 1976, 1991-1992, and 2004-2005 influenza vaccinations produced antibodies to antiganglioside (anti-GM1). Further research has tried to discover the connection. An interesting note is that GBS often occurs after viral or bacterial infections.
There were 12 cases of swine influenza reported in the United States from 2005 till January 2009 with none causing a death. In 1988 a 32 year old previously healthy female died of pneumonia which is a complication of swine influenza.
Previously humans have become infected by close contact with infected pigs but the current virus is a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus which has not been previously identified in humans and appears to spread only by human to human contact.
On March 18, 2009 the first illness (H1N1 influenza A) was reported in Mexico and continued to spread. By May 5, almost 600 more H1N1 influenza cases were confirmed in Mexico and 25 of these people died. Two children were diagnosed in April of 2009 in neighboring counties in southern California with swine influenza A (H1N1), and by April 26th the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a national public health emergency involving H1N1 influenza A.
As of the writing of this article the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that 37 out of 54 jurisdictions ( includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands) have reported regional or widespread influenza activity. There have been 46,329 cases of H1N1 2009 A cases reported with 119 unfluenza related pediatric deaths.
Between August 30 and September 19 of this year the CDC has noted that there have been 10,082 hospitalizations and 936 deaths related to influenza syndromes and pneumonia. The annual 2009-2010 Flu season does not even start until October 4, here in the northern hemisphere. Seasonal (usual yearly influenza vaccines) influenza inoculations offer no protection against the Pandemic H1N1 2009 A.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between April and August of 2009 there were 35,585 reported positive cases of the pandemic flu worldwide. Do note that not all countries keep accurate records or report in a timely fashion when they have pandemic flu cases. As of September 1, WHO has reported that there have been over 200,000 confirmed cases in more than 100 countries and at least 2,185 confirmed deaths.
The seasonal (yearly) flu vaccines produce little to no protection against the 2009 H1N1pandmenic virus. People under 30 have little/no protection from 2009 H1N1 virus but there is evidence that vaccination in 1976 boosted cross-reactive antibodies to the 2009 H1N1 virus.
Four manufacturers are supplying the flu vaccine. The monovalent inactivated, H1N1 influenza type A vaccine is either delivered by injection into the muscle or through inhaling into the nasal mucosa (live virus). Both deliveries of the vaccine stimulate active immunity to influenza virus infection by inducing production of specific antibodies. Immunity occurs 10 days from the day of inoculation.
The main route for the influenza to move from person to person is through large droplets from coughs and sneezing. The droplets can travel up to six feet or more and are deposited on the mucous membranes, usually the mouth and nose. Also contamination can be moved by hands touching areas where the virus has been deposited and then placing hands near the mouth or nose. Cover a sneeze or cough, to decrease droplet transfer. Visit by phone, not in person when one may have a virus.
Someone who has H1N1 pandemic influenza can pass the illness to others from one day before symptoms show to seven days after the onset of symptoms. The illness will often last between 4 and six days. Your healthcare provider may determine that you need to take an antiviral agent (discussed later) and this should be done within 48 hours of onset of symptoms.
Symptoms of the pandemic flu are similar, but usually more severe than seasonal influenza and may include:
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Sudden onset of fever (usually high)
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Cough
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Difficulty with breathing or chest pain
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Bluish coloration of lips, nails
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Confusion
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Sore throat
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Body aches
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Headache
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Chills
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Fatigue
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Possible diarrhea and vomiting.
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Seizures
Children may have signs of severe disease such as:
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Periods of not breathing
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Rapid breathing
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Turning blue
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Dehydration (urinating less due to lack of liquids)
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Change in mental status (sleepy or excessively irritable)
Treatment
- Go to bed
- Increase intake of fluids
- Take antipyretics (Ibuprophen, acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to bring down fever, and analgesics (same as list to bring down fever) for aches. Never give asprin or asprin-containing products to children under 18 years because there is a chance of the child getting Reye Syndrome (acute noninflammatory encephalopathy and liver failure).
Your healthcare provider might place you on an antiviral for prevention or treatment. Intravenous fluids may be needed. IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY AND YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY.
Stay home if you are ill until your flu symptoms are gone, avoid being near someone who is sick, wash your hands with soap often, do not touch your face, eyes, nose, or mouth. Contact your healthcare provider by phone or email to report the illness. He or she will decide if you need to come to the office or hospital to be checked if you are not following the normal course of getting better. Remember, wherever you go you can spread the virus.
Those who take care of a family member with the flu should:
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Wash his or her hands frequently with soap and water, use the alcohol-based (at least 60% alcohol) hand sanitizing gels (not as effective as soap and water) when soap and water are not readily available.
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Minimize their contact with the outside world, and it might be best to designate one caregiver for the patient to decrease the chance of spread within the family.
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If face masks are available, the person with the flu should wear one whenever an unaffected person is nearer than six feet from them.
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Do not attend large gatherings if the H1N1 has been diagnosed in the area. People who have chronic medical conditions such as asthma should avoid large gatherings.
The physical condition of a person, before getting the flu, is important. In June of 2009, the University of Michigan reported severe complications for 10 patients, average age of 49, who were obese and required ventilation to breath after suffering severe lack of oxygen and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). All had pneumonia, some with bacterial pneumonia, and four had pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in lungs). In general these patients did not do well, with some dying, but to be noted here is that all had the same factor of being obese.
Most people who get this influenza are able to recover without antiviral (these drugs decrease the release of virus from the infected cells and decrease the spread of the virus) medications. People with more severe symptoms or who are already ill with another illness may need antiviral medications to help their bodies fight the virus.
Early treatment with an antiviral may be considered for those who are at higher risk for complications. These groups are children younger than 2, people who are 65 or older, pregnant women (women who are pregnant or think they might be pregnant should consult their obstetrician or healthcare provider regarding recommended treatment), people with some chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions, and people under 19 who receive long term aspirin therapy.
Laboratory testing has found that the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir, and the CDC maintains weekly status to make sure these antiviral drugs are still working against the H1N1. If it is noted that oseltamivir-resistant seasonal H1N1 viruses become more common or are identified in community outbreaks, zanamivir or a combination of oseltamivir and rimantadine or amantadine should be considered for use for patients who might have oseltamivir-resistant influenza.
On August 25, 2009, the President’s Council of Advisors predicted that the virus would infect up to one half of the U.S. population with hospitalizations of 1.8 million and deaths of between 30,000 and 90,000. This council also estimated that 60-120 million will seek medical care and 300,000 would be hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU) which may fill all ICU beds in most hospitals.
Australia and New Zealand, in the Southern Hemisphere, have just had their winter and experience with the H1N1 Influenza A. Medical records and observation of diseases of this area of the globe resemble those of the U.S., so it is expected that what happened there is a good predictor of what the U.S. may expect during its upcoming flu season.
The numbers of influenza cases give a picture of how this influenza has created more visits to healthcare provider. In Australia/New Zealand the rate of 50 to 249 influenza illness per every 100,000 people per week is average for a normal flu season. Rates greater than 400/100,000 equal epidemic levels. The highest rate during this past flu season was 287 medical visits/100,000 for July 13-19, 2009 which is three times the peak rate of 95/100,000 seen in 2008. The northern hemisphere has now entered its prime time for influenza cases, although during the summer months there have been more cases diagnosed than are ever seen during the warmer months.
Studies for safety are part of the ongoing trials and there is significant assumption of safety because the vaccine is created using methods equal to those which have been used for seasonal influenza for the past 40 years. Current products do not contain thimerosal. Two methods are used to monitor the safety of the vaccine. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the Vaccine Safety Data Link (VSD).
Additional methodical monitoring is being conducted to detect development of Guillain-Barre syndrome due to experiences in 1976. Clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy began in the U.S. on August 7, 2009 and so far there are no “red flags”. (Steenhuysen J. So far, no “red flags” seen in H1N1 vaccine. Reuters. August 21, 2009.)
REFERENCES
Bartlett, John G., MD. 2009 H1N1 Influenza—Just the Facts: What’s New and what to Expect:Epidemiology of H1N1 Influenza. Retrieved on October 1, 2009 from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/709540_6.
Bresee J. CDC Podcasts: Swine Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11226. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Intensive care patients with severe novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, June, 2009. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58:749-752.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009. Interim Guidance for Clinicians on the Prevention and Treatment of Swine-Origin Influenza Virus Infection in Young Children. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/childrentreatment.htm. Retrieved October 1, 2009
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009. Interim Guidance on Antiviral Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection and Close Contacts. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm. Retrieved October 1, 2009
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009. Swine Flu – Vaccine Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/emergency/swineflu.htm. Retrieved October 1, 2009
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009. DC Weekly Report. Retrieved on September 30. 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus and seasonal influenza viruses—New Zealand, 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58:918-921.
Jamieson DJ, Honein MA, Rasmussen SA, Williams JL, Swerdlow DL, Biggerstaff MS, et al. H1N1 2009 influenza virus infection during pregnancy in the USA. Lancet. Aug 8 2009;374(9688):451-8. [Medline].
McNeil DG Jr. U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency Over Swine Flu. New York Times. April 27, 2009;A: 1. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/world/27flu.html?th&emc=th.
Nachamkin I, Shadomy SV, Moran AP, Cox N, Fitzgerald C, Ung H, et al. Anti-ganglioside antibody induction by swine (A/NJ/1976/H1N1) and other influenza vaccines: insights into vaccine-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome. J Infect Dis. Jul 15 2008;198(2):226-33. [Medline].
Roan S. Swine flu ‘debacle’ of 1976 is recalled. LA Times. April 27, 2009;Health: Available at http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-history27-2009apr27,0,967115.story.
Swine Influenza A (H1N1) infection in two children–Southern California, March-April 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Apr 24 2009;58(15):400-2. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Taubenberger JK, Morens DM. 1918 Influenza: the mother of all pandemics. Emerg Infect Dis. Jan 2006;12(1):15-22. [Medline].
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists. Available at http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/phe_swh1n1.html. Accessed April 27, 2009.
Vellozzi C, Burwen DR, Dobardzic A, Ball R, Walton K, Haber P. Safety of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines in adults: background for pandemic influenza vaccine safety monitoring. Vaccine. Mar 26 2009;27(15):2114-20. [Medline].
World Health Organization. Influenza-like illness in the United States and Mexico. WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response. Available at http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_24/en/index.html. Accessed April 27, 2009.
World Health Organization, 2009. Influenza A (H1N1): Special Highlights.
World Health Organization. Available at http://www.who.int/en/. Accessed September 1, 2009.
World Health Organization, 2009. Weekly Epidemiological Record http://www.who.int/wer/2009/wer8436.pdf
Carol Duff graduated from Nursing School at Riverside White Cross in Columbus, Ohio. She has a BA from Bowling Green University in History and Literature and a Masters of Science in Nursing as a Nurse Educator from the University of Toledo College of Nursing.
She has traveled extensively and has written on military history, veterans health issues and related subjects. She is the mother of several children and 10 cats and 1 guinea pig.
She can be reached via email at: Thehertz@aol.com
Related Posts:
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=8864
Posted by Carol Duff on Oct 9 2009, With 0 Reads, Filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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“Current products do not contain thimerosal” ??
You need to do your homework:
http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/thi-table.htm
And they’re targetting pregnant women and children with these shots. The rule of thumb is to avoid the multi-dose vials (the type more likely to be used in mass vaccination campaigns, unfortunately)
Furthermore the H1N1 vaccines contain squalene, which has been strongly linked to gulf war syndrome. And will someone please explain how a virus with genetic components from viruses which infect 3 different hosts (swine, bird, human) could naturally come together without an intermediate “missing link” ? We are truely in a brave new world, where $billions can be made from a single lie.
And whatever happened to this scandal:
Baxter in ‘full scale’ production of swine flu vaccine”
“Baxter International Inc. said it is now in “full scale” production of a vaccine for the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, and anticipates the first commercially available dosages to be available in early July.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-baxter-swine-flu,0,3120722.story
Baxter: Product contained live bird flu virus
“The company that released contaminated flu virus material from a plant in Austria confirmed Friday that the experimental product contained live H5N1 avian flu viruses. …
People familiar with biosecurity rules are dismayed by evidence that human H3N2 and avian H5N1 viruses somehow co-mingled in the Orth-Donau facility. That is a dangerous practice that should not be allowed to happen, a number of experts insisted.
Accidental release of a mixture of live H5N1 and H3N2 viruses could have resulted in dire consequences.
While H5N1 doesnt easily infect people, H3N2 viruses do. If someone exposed to a mixture of the two had been simultaneously infected with both strains, he or she could have served as an incubator for a hybrid virus able to transmit easily to and among people.
That mixing process, called reassortment, is one of two ways pandemic viruses are created”
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/02/27/8560781.html
The information placed in the article I wrote was correct. Check references at end of article. The plain fact is that vaccines save lives. Lack of vaccines make children and adults ill, very ill, or dead. I am no friend of the drug companies. But yet again, vaccines save lives, prevent deadly diseases, and can prevent death. You, of course, have a freedom to decide whether you will take them.
Carol
Another useful link:
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=newsHighlights&newsId=46
From the Merck Manual of Medical Information second Home Addition Page 1159: “The most common complication of influenza is pneumonia.This can be viral pneumonia, in which the influenza virus itself spread into the lungs, or bacterial pneumonia.”
Appropriate to addressing this most complication of H1N1 and all influenzas is for all adults and children, unless contraindicated, to become vaccinated with the Pneumovax vaccine which prevents or ameliorates pneumonia associated with influenza and bacteremia (blood infection).
From the 2004 Lippincotts Nursing Guide (page 1265):”Indications—–Prophylaxis in community groups at high risk for pneumococcal infections–institutionalized persons, groups in an area of outbreak, patients at high risk of influenza complications, including pneumococcal infection.”
Therefore, it is essential for all adults and children to obtain the Pneumovax vaccination, unless contraindicated, to protect, in part or whole, against the most prevalent complication of H1N1 and other influenzas.
I am a Registered Nurse.
Hello C.V. Compton Shaw, fellow registered nurse,
As reported in the September 29 issues of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, studies have shown that bacterial infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae may have contributed to the previous deaths in the US from the H1N1 2009 influenza. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are suggesting pneumoccal vaccinations got those who will benefit. The lung tissue from 77confirmed fatal cases of H1N1 2009 showed that co-infections with bacteria existed in 29% of the deaths between May 1 and August 20 of this year. Of these cases 10 had co=infection with S pneumoniae, 7 with Staph aureus, 6 by S mitis, and one with H. influenza. In four of these cases there were multiple pathogens. Not all potential bacterial pathogens were evaluated because the information for the patients was limited and the bacterial co-infections were performed only at autopsy. Although the findings may have had some limitations, it shows that it is important to manage patients with influenza who also might develop bacterial infections. Vaccination with the pneumocccal vaccine, as well as seasonal influenza vaccine and now the pandemic influenza Type A H1N1 2009 monovalent are recommended. The pneumococcal vaccine was discussed in a previous article on this site, regarding immunizations recommended for adults. Antivirals (some restrictions apply) may become necessary to give extra protection or for treatment when the person has already been infected with either the seasonal or pandemic influenzas. Pneumoccocal vaccine can prevent infections in those who are not immunized by enacting the herd effect, where those who are not vaccinated are protected from a virus or illness because those around them are vaccinated and thus will not get the illness, and will not be able to pass it on. The CDC recommends that the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine should be given to all children younger than five years (for children less than 59 months, children older than 24 months who are at high risk for pneumococcal disease and adults over 65 years of age and all of those aged 2 to 64 with high risk conditions should receive the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. The 23 valent pneumococcal polysaccaride (PPSV-23) vaccine is also recommended for adults 19 through 64 who smoke (many have other coexisting illnesses) or have asthma. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (AICP) does recommends a single dose of the PPSV23 for all people 65 years and older, people 2 to 64 with high-risk conditions because these groups are at an increased risk of pneumoccocal disease as well as the more severe complications from influenza. A single revaccination five years after the initial vaccination, if vaccinated before 65, is also recommended. People who are at high risk for pneumococcal infections are those with disease of the spleen, no spleen, those with HIV infection, AIDS, and a malignancy. Influenza puts people at risk for bacterial infections and community acquired pneumonia. Historically pandemic influenza in the 20th century have illuminated that secondary bacterial pneumonia was a cause of illness and death, mostly from the Stretococcus pneumoniae and has been linked to the current pandemic influenza illness. Perhaps the name pneumococcal vaccine is not the best name for this important vaccine. The pneumococcal vaccine suppresses/kills bacterial infectants which can lead to greater level of infection. Vaccines can prevent illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. Carol
Oh my Goodness!
All my paragraphs went into one big, long mess when posted. I bit of a problem with the posting aspect? Hope you can make sense of the mass of words.
Carol
>”The plain fact is that vaccines save lives.”
That may be, but thimerosal is present in these vaccines according to numerous govt and independent reports, not just the johns-hopkins site I listed, and it hurts children. They phased it out of european vaccines years ago. There’s been a coverup of the thimerosal/autism connection since 2005 when Jill James demonstrated that children with a specific mitochondrial vulnerability are 100% guaranteed to get autism from thimerosal.
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=%22jill+james%22+autism
Even if they refuse to remove Hg from vaccines, there’s no reason in the world why they can’t screen kids for this disorder before exposing them to a lifetime of misery. The only reason they’re not doing it is the legal liability. This is unconscionable.
Squalene is also present according to scientific journal articles and corporate blurbs, and many researchers have pointed out the correlation between squalene antibodies and gulf war syndrome. It wouldn’t be surprising since squalene is included in vaccines to provoke a strong immune response. Apparently this response can degrade into a chronic autoimmune disorder (GWS). They’re using far more squalene in these vaccines than they used in the gulf war anthrax vaccine because of a scarcity of biological material.
There has been very little research into the safety or efficacy of these vaccines due to the rush to get it to market, and the manufacturers have legal immunity for injuries thanks to a finding by the HHS secretary.
In the face of the relatively mild symptoms of swine flu the vaccine sounds like a poor gamble.
In June 2000 a joint statement on thimerosal in vaccines was prepared by the American Academy of Family Physisicans, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committe on Immunization Practices, and the Public Health Service as a response to two things. The first was the progress of achieving the national goal declared in July 1999 to remove thimerosal from vaccines and to address the results of studies which examined potential associations between exposure to mercury in thimerosal-containing vaccines and health effects. In this statement all groups recommended continuing efforts of curren policy to move toward vaccines that are free of thimerosal as a preservative.
The goal to remove thimerosal was a precautionary measure because no evidence existed of harm caused by the low levels of thimeroal in vaccines. As a matter of interest and truth, since the removal of thimerosal from childhood vaccines, there has been an increase in cases of autism, not the decrease that should have happened if thimerosal was causing autism. Reducing mercury in children seemed like a prudent effort because infants are immediately exposed to mercury in foods and the air they breath. No need to add the potential for more mercury exposure. Now that mercury is eliminated from vaccines, how about eliminating it from foods and the environment?????
Since July 1999, progress have been made in removing thimerosal from vaccines. By March 2000 all US children has access to hepatitis B vaccines that did not contain thimerosal. Begining July 2000 only sincle-dose, thimerosal free, Haemophilus influenza type B has been produced in the US. Diptheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) that does not contain thimerosal as a preservative is also available. Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) has never contained thimerosal but has been blamed for autism (easily disproven by research testing). In addittion to the MMR, Varicella, inactivated polio, and pneumoccocal conjugate vaccines have never contained thimerocal. Much devious press has been given to the erroneous blaming of thimerosal in vaccines as the cause of autism in children. Parents have been scared and what has happened is an under-vaccinated population of children who now stand the increased chance of serious complicatons,diabilities, and even death from diseases that they could have been protrected against. A big leap back into the DARK AGES.
The use of thimerosal (50% ethylmercury) goes back to the 1930s and was introduced to stop bacteria growth in multi-dose vials. Everytime a needle is placed into the vial for another vaccination, there is a chance that bacteria can be introduced into the vial. Multi-dose vials will continue to be necessary in much of the world due to production, cost, and storage capacity. Manufacturers have been encouraged to seek alternatives to thimerosal.
Carol
For most people the pandemic influenza, if they contract it, will make them sick for a few days. For others getting the pandemic influenza, to which they will have no previous immunity, can turn deadly. Complications with bacterial pneumonia are quite common, and if there are other chronic illnesses already messing with their bodies, they will be less able to fight the virus. But there are also many deaths each year from the seasonal flu for the same reasons.
The concept about the pandemic influenza is that it is one that most of the younger population has had no experience with, thus there will be a far easier time for the influenza to invade the body of someone who has no level of immunity.
If one chooses to not take the pandemic influenza vaccine, which is not available to everyone yet unless they are healthcare workers, pregnant (not live vaccines), take care of an infant younger than 6 months, or an older person, or have chronic illnesses then the increase in hand washing with soap and water, not touching face with hands, avoiding being around those who are sick, stay away from large gathering if there has been the diagnosis of pandemic influenza in your general living area, and if sick stay away from others until your symptoms are gone. The pandemic is generally making people sicker than the seasonal flu and those who were not completely healthy to begin with are at increased risk of complications which can be serious.
In a study based in Findland, concerning saqualene-based biodegradable MF59 used in influenza vaccines, it has been deemed safe and actually created a greater level of immunity in young children than the regular injectable influenza vaccine. Influenza vaccines are generally not as effective for children who have had little exposure to the influenza viruses due to their young age. Generally vaccines that have been boosted (adjuvanted) have not been used in children for fear of the potential for local and systemic side effects. It is likely that better response to the vaccine will lead to a greater level of immunity. There were more side effects in the squalene group, but still there more antibodies and these antibodies covered more of the influenza types.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2009;28:563-571.
The soldiers during the Gulf Wars have been exposed to neurotoxins, especially in insecticides, which have led to various neurological disorders. I am suspecting that the vaccines these warriors received were perhaps the least of the causes for their illnesses. On this site the aspect of Gulf War syndrome is addressed in postings by DSNurse who is quite qualified in that area.
Again, if you go back to the johns-hopkins site I listed, the multidose flu vaccine vials still have thimerosal. Your posted article seems to go out if its way to skate around this issue by only listing single-dose. Also since the flu vaccine is given every year, the significance of removing thimerosal from the other vaccines pales in comparison to the multidose flu vaccine issue.
Children rely on their parents to protect them. It’s time to stop delegating that function to strangers. If there’s one thing that should be increasingly apparent in these days of collapsing empire, virtually every major institution has been exposed as being fundamentally corrupt, and that includes our medical establishment, which has an obvious conflict of interest wrt admitting culpability in the autism epidemic. Children deserve skeptical parents.
All vaccines for children are thimerosal free. Mult-dose vials may still be out there, but for children in the US those vials would be out of date. I am aware that multi-dose vials would have a preservative in them to halt bacteria growth. Parents can ask the healthcare provider if he or she is using single dose vaccines. Issue here again is that thimerosal was never proven to cause autism in children. Many of the vaccines never had thimerosal in them. As mentioned previously after the removal of thimerosal from vaccines, the incidence of autism has risen, not decreased. Looking to the environment as the cause of this increase would be time better spent than beating the dead horse of vaccines with thimerosal. Vaccines for children are thimerosal free.
Parents have the right and responsibility to make decisions for their children. They have the right to smoke in the presence of their children. Take a look in a car next to you at a traffic light and watch the adult in the front seat smoking while a child or children sit in the car. The windows might even be rolled up. They also have the right to decide for the child whether the child will receive vaccines which would keep them safe from diseases which will maim and possibly kill. Perhaps the child, when he or she reaches the age when he or she can make decisions for him or herself will wish to receive the vaccines he or she should have had during childhood. Being a parent does not necessarily make someone a wise person.
I skate around no issues when the health of children are at stake.
>”Mult-dose vials may still be out there, but for children in the US those vials would be out of date.”
See FDA approved H1N1 vaccine formulations:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182401.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182242.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182404.pdf
and 2009 seasonal flu formulations:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM112730.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM112904.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM123694.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM123704.pdf
All these are linked from the johns hopkins page I posted above.
>”Issue here again is that thimerosal was never proven to cause autism in children.”
No, it’s just that a particular mitochondrial dysfunction which impairs the body’s ability to eliminate heavy metals tracks autism in children with 100% accuracy in two samples of 75 autistic and 75 non-autistic children.
http://www.math.missouri.edu/~rich/MGM/blog/autism.txt
As far as I’m concerned, this is close enough to “proof” that it’s a bad idea to inject such children with mercury.
And what’s this with “proof” anyway? Do we really need “proof” of the harm of a medical intervention which may or may not even help a particular non-consenting child? I think certainty is not the appropriate standard to use here. Something along the lines of the precautionary principle would be more appropriate.
>”As mentioned previously after the removal of thimerosal from vaccines, the incidence of autism has risen, not decreased.”
Exposure to Hg has in all likelihood increased, not decreased since the introduction of annual flu shots with thimerosal.
And how can our so called medical authorities justify this:
“State lifts limit on mercury preservative in swine-flu shots
“In preparation for swine-flu vaccinations next month, the state’s Health Department on Thursday temporarily suspended a rule that limits the amount of a mercury preservative in vaccines given to pregnant women and children under the age of 3. …
“About 15 percent of the vaccine supply will be mercury-free, but people may have to wait longer for it to become available.”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009938638_vaccine25m.html
If the 15% figure is representative of the seasonal flu vaccine as well, chances are very good that kids are getting more Hg from vaccines than ever before, given that seasonal flu vaccinations are done annually.
NO MERCURY IS IN VACCINES GIVEN TO CHILDREN…..NONE, NADA, NEIN, NIET, ETC.
AUTISM HAS BECOME MORE PREVELANT IN CHILDREN NOW WHAT THERE IS NO THERMOSAL IN VACCINES. WHY?
LOOK TO THE ENVIRONMENT FOR LEVELS OF MERCURY IN CHILDREN OR FOR CAUSES OF AUTISM, NOT VACCINES.
>”NO MERCURY IS IN VACCINES GIVEN TO CHILDREN…..NONE, NADA, NEIN, NIET, ETC.”
This is getting ridiculous. Did you follow the links? Do you think the FDA is doesn’t know the vaccine formulations they’ve approved for 2009 ???
>”AUTISM HAS BECOME MORE PREVELANT IN CHILDREN NOW WHAT THERE IS NO THERMOSAL IN VACCINES. WHY?”
No. Go back and read what I posted. Children who get annual flu vaccinations from multidose vials are getting MORE mercury from vaccines, not less. Why is this so hard to grasp? Go back and look at the links I posted and tell me where I’m wrong.
Or don’t. I’ve given up trying to reason with you, but I trust the readers will be able to make up their own minds.
Missouri’s health director has granted an exemption to a law requiring mercury-free vaccines for young children and pregnant women.
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/oct/23/vaccines-containing-mercury-okd-for-use/