Have you ever wondered why the CDC so aggressively pushes flu vaccines? Is it the compelling science on their 'life-saving' value, or something entirely difference?
How the Government’s Vaccine Policy is Infected by Corruption.
Annually we receive warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of an impending influenza epidemic. Each year the CDC recommends the influenza vaccine. Are the warnings justified? Is the advice that the CDC provides appropriate and supported by scientific findings? Are there any conflicts of interest that would sway what the CDC tells health agencies, health professionals, or the public?
Influenza is a set of contagious diseases, caused by infection by a corresponding set of viruses. The viruses spread from individual to individual by droplet infection. Droplet infection can occur by an infected individual sneezing or coughing directly onto the mucus membranes or into the eyes of another individual. Transmission can also occur from infected droplets in the air landing on surfaces then being placed or wiped into the eye, nose or mouth of another individual. The rate of contagion of influenza varies considerably. Some of the strains of influenza spread very easily and quickly. Some spread more slowly.
There is a characteristic symptomatology for most influenzas. Symptoms usually include fever, headache, fatigue, malaise, body aches, tidal fevers with chills, sore throat, and cough. Less frequent symptoms include diarrhea, and/or vomiting. Severity of symptoms varies from strain to strain, and from individual to individual. There are certain individuals, who when infected with certain influenzas have absolutely no symptoms. At the other extreme, there are individuals for whom, influenza infection alone, or infection in conjunction with other health challenges, is fatal.
Mortality in the U.S. due to influenza, varies from year to year. According to the U.S. Department of the Census, mortality rates due to influenza dropped suddenly in 1945 and has stayed under 10/100,000 since. However, the CDC has more recently been collecting and publicizing data that combines the mortality due to influenza, with that of mortality due to pneumonia. This clouds the perspective with which we are now able to view the effectiveness of the various preventative and curative methods currently available.
There is a huge difference between the data the CDC collects and publishes, and the recommendations they make. For instance the CDC Sentinel study of H1N1 (CDC, 2009) showed that H1N1 was 0.0556% fatal. In other words it was very mild compared to most influenzas. However, despite knowing this, the CDC incited widespread fear of the disease.
Well-established protocols for mitigating the spread of influenza include frequent hand washing (Mitka, 2009), and infected individuals staying home from work or school if symptoms are evident (Falsey et al, 1999). There are other measures that are emerging and some that a hotly debated. Among these are ensuring sufficient serum vitamin D levels (Mascitelli et al, 2012), and inoculation with the influenza vaccine. Most popular in the United States is the influenza vaccine. However, there is growing controversy surrounding the vaccine. Called into question are its safety, its effectiveness, as well as corruption within U.S. federal, state and local government agencies surrounding its recommendation.
Regarding corruption surrounding the recommendation of influenza vaccines; there are no restrictions with regard to conflicts of interest for the employees of the CDC or for those of the FDA (Kuehn, 2010). Each employee of either agency is allowed to own stock in drug companies. There is of course the revolving door. The most blatant example of revolving door corruption may be the action of the former director of the CDC, Julie Gerberding. Gererding blocked the CDC's planned retraction of their recommendation for HPV vaccine after significant numbers of girls had died or been rendered paralyzed by the HPV vaccine. Soon after blocking the retraction, Gerberding was offered and took a position at Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil, the world's best selling HPV vaccine, as head of Merck Vaccines Department (Reuters, 2009). It is a level of corruption that we would expect to see in only third world countries.
In 1993, the Comprehensive Childhood Immunization Act was signed into law by President Clinton. Among the various provisions of the law is one that provides for between $50 and $100 to be paid by the CDC to school districts for every 'Fully vaccinated' child in their district. Here again, we see the opportunity for corruption. Vaccine manufacturers, their shareholders, including government employees, and school districts have the opportunity to make money for themselves, or for their departments. Certainly employees of school districts won't be 'getting fat' on the CDC's $50 to $100, but clearly there is a greater likelihood that they may lose their job due to cuts if the coercion to have students vaccinated ceases.
As well as this, one of the few peer review studies comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated in an infected population concluded "according to reliable evidence the usefulness of vaccines in the community is modest" (Jefferson et al, 2005). Yazbak (2013) states "The fact that the number of influenza-related deaths among the elderly kept increasing while the flu vaccination coverage in that particular group was improving steadily and substantially -from about 20% in 1980 to around 65% in 2001- seemed to intrigue the lead author of the study, Lone Simonsen, Ph.D., a senior epidemiologist at the Institute," and "The following findings were noted:
There are reports of increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following influenza vaccination (Haber et al. 2004) (Schonberger et al. 1979) (Juurlink et al. 2006).
One of the world's leading immunogenetecists, Hugh Fudenberg, M.D. said in a speech in April 2004 that those who have had five or more consecutive influenza vaccines are ten times more likely to suffer dementia than those who have three or fewer non-consecutive influenza vaccines.
According to Glaxo Smith Klein (2013) their influenza vaccine can also cause:
- Allergic asthma
- Asthenia
- Abnormal gait
- Allergic edema of the mouth
- Allergic edema of the throat
- Anaphylaxis
- Angioedema
- Arthralgia
- Brachial plexus neuropathy
- Bronchospasm
- Cellulitis
- Chest pain
- Chest tightness
- Chills
- Convulsions/seizures
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dysphagia
- Dysphonia
- Dyspnea
- Encephalopathy
- Eye pain
- Facial or cranial nerve paralysis
- Facial swelling
- Fatigue
- Flushing
- Headache
- Hives
- Hypoesthesia
- Hypokinesia
- Influenza-like symptoms
- Injection site pain, redness, swelling
- Injection site sterile abscess
- Insomnia
- Laryngitis
- Limb paralysis
- Lymphadenopathy
- Malaise Fever Myalgiad
- Microscopic polyangitis (vasculitis)
- Muscle weakness
- Myalgia
- Nasopharyngitis
- Optic neuritis/neuropathy
- Pallor
- Paresthesia
- Partial facial paralysis
- Pharyngolaryngeal pain
- Photophobia
- Pruritus
- Rash
- Reddened eyes
- Rhinitis
- Somnolence
- Sore throat
- Sweating
- Syncope
- Throat tightness
- Tremor
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Urticaria
- Vomiting
Possibly implicated in the detrimental effects of vaccines are some of these ingredients:
- α-tocopheryl hydrogen succinate
- Beta-propiolactone
- Calcium chloride
- Dibasic sodium phosphate
- Egg protein
- Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)
- Formaldehyde*
- Gelatin (standard formulation only)
- Gentamicin sulfate
- Hydrocortisone
- Hydrolyzed porcine gelatin
- Monobasic potassium phosphate
- Monobasic sodium phosphate
- Monosodium glutamate
- Neomycin sulfate
- Nonylphenol ethoxylate
- Octoxynol-10 (Triton X-100)
- Potassium chloride
- Polymyxin B
- Polysorbate 80
- Sodium deoxycholate
- Sodium phosphate
- Sodium taurodeoxycholate
- Octylphenol ethoxylate (Triton X-100)
- Thimerosal*
"Potential Acute Health Effects:
Very hazardous in case of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, . Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, sensitizer, permeator), of eye contact (corrosive). Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive). Severe over-exposure can result in death. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Hazardous in case of skin contact (sensitizer). CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Classified A2 (Suspected for human.) by ACGIH, 2A (Probable for human.) by IARC [Formaldehyde]. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells.
[Formaldehyde]. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. [Formaldehyde]. Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. [Methyl alcohol]. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. [Methyl alcohol]. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Classified POSSIBLE for human [Methyl alcohol]. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available The substance may be toxic to kidneys, liver, skin, central nervous system (CNS). Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated exposure to a highly toxic material may produce general deterioration of health by an accumulation in one or many human organs." and "Section 6: Accidental Release Measures...Prevent entry into sewers." (OSHA, 2005).
*Thimerosal health hazards include:
"Special Remarks on Chronic Effects on Humans:
May cause cancer based on animal data. No human data found. May cause adverse reproductive effects(female fertility - post implanation mortality, fetotoxicity)and birth defects. May affect genetic material.
Special Remarks on other Toxic Effects on Humans:
Acute Potential Health Effects: Skin: Causes skin irritation. Eyes: Causes eye irritation. May cause chemical conjunctivitis.
Inhalation: Causes respiratory tract irritation. May cause allergic respiratory tract irritation. Exposures to high concentrations may produce unconsciousness with cyanosis(a bluish discoloration of the skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood) and cold extremities and may also affect the cardiovascular system (rapid pulse). Acute exposure to high concentrations of mercury vapors may also cause kidney damage and affect behavior/central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and autonomic nervous system, and liver and cause gastrointestinal effects (nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting). Ingestion: Harmful if swallowed. May cause gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, headache. Exposure to high concentrations may affect respiration and cardiovascular system which may produce unconciousness with cyanosis, cold extremities and rapid pulse. May also cause central nervous system effects and/or neurological effects, and may affect the urinary system (kidneys),and liver. Chronic Potential Health Effects: Skin: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause skin sensitization, an allergic reaction. Inhalation and Ingestion: Repeated or prolonged exposure may cause cause kidney damage, and may affect the liver, and bone marrow. Chronic exposure to mercury vaporsbehavior/central nervous system and peripheral nervous system (depression, irritability, nervousness, weakness, ataxia, fatigue, tremor, jerky gait, limb spasms, personality changes), metabolism (anorexia, weight loss) and cause gastrointestinal disturbances which is collectively referred to as "aesthenic-vegetative syndrome." Chronic ingestion may cause accumulation of mercury in body tissues and may result in salicylism which is characterized by nausea, vomiting, gastric ulcers, and hemorrhagic strokes." and "Section 6: Accidental Release Measures...Prevent entry into sewers," (OSHA, 2012).
These are some of the ingredients included in influenza vaccines (CDC, 2012)
Despite published research available to the public demonstrating the dangers and ineffectiveness of the influenza vaccination government officials maintain their support of the influenza vaccine. My assertion is that corruption has overrun departments that should, for the safety of the public, be immune from the long arm of the pharmaceutical industry and its money.
[Use the GreenMedInfo.com Vaccine Research Database for more information.]
References
CDC (2012). CDC Sentinel H1N1 study. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/reportingqa.htm
CDC (2012). Vaccine Excipient & Media Summary Excipients Included in U.S. Vaccines, by Vaccine 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/b/excipient-table-2.pdf
Falsey, A: Criddle, M; Kolassa, J; McCann, R; Brower, C; Hall, W. (March 1999) Evaluation of a Handwashing Intervention to Reduce Respiratory Illness Rates in Senior Day Care Centers. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. Vol. 20, No. 3 (pp. 200-202)Glaxo Smith Klein (2013) Influenza vaccine product insert. http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_flulaval.pdf
Haber, P. DeStefano, F. Angulo, F. Iskander, J. Shadomy, S. Weintraub, E. Chen, R. (2004) Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following Influenza Vaccination. JAMA.;292(20):2478-2481.
Jefferson, T. Rivetti, D. Rivetti D., Rudin, M. Di Pietrantonj, C, Demicheli, V. (1 October 2005) Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines in elderly people: a systematic review. The Lancet,: Volume 366, Issue 9492, Pages 1165 - 1174.
Juurlink, D. Stukel, T. Kwong, J. Kopp, A. McGeer, A. Upshur, R. Manuel, D. Moineddin, R. Wilson, K. (2006): Guillain-Barré Syndrome After Influenza Vaccination in Adults. A Population-Based Study. Arch Intern Med.;166(20):2217-2221.
Kuehn, B. (Feb 3, 2010). Office of Inspector General: CDC Lax in Policing Advisors' Conflicts of Interest. The Journal of the American Medical Association
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Reuters, (Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:53pm EST). Former CDC head lands vaccine job at Merck. http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/12/21/us-merck-gerberding-idUSTRE5BK2K520091221
OSHA (2005) Material Data Safety Sheet: Formaldehyde.
OSHA (2005) Material Data Safety Sheet: Thimerosal.
Schonberger,
L. Bregman, D. Sullivan-Bolyai, J. Keenlyside, R. Ziegler, D.
Retailliau, H. Eddins, D. Bryan, J. (1979). Guillain-Barré Syndrome
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Yazbak, F.E. (2013) .The Flu Vaccine Saga: The Latest Twist. Vaccination News, http://www.vaccinationnews.com/node/19928