Hey, remember the swine flu?

[jellyphish]

Australia and the US are seeking volunteers for the brand new swine flu vaccine for which millions, even billions, of dollars have already been set aside by these and other countries to purchase the vaccines.  When it comes to deciding whether to get the vaccine or not, please don't forget about the swine flu outbreak of 1976 and the resulting vaccine and consequences.

Oct 1976 the first two weeks of the swine flu vaccine program finds several people dying within 48 hours of receiving the vaccine.  The US even awarded widow $285k after her husband officially dies from the shot (this was not the only case like this).

Dec 1976 the shots were suspended after they were linked to Guillain-Barre and paralysis.

Jan 1977 the ban on the vaccine is controversially lifted with the condition that patients must consent after being made aware of the risks of GB and paralysis.

The US trials of Aug 2009 will be, as they claim, testing the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.  Volunteers will get two doses of the shot 3 weeks apart, their blood will be tested 8 days after the shots.  They'll receive check ups at four and six months and asked to keep personal logs of their experiences.  After a mere 6 weeks, though, the vaccine will be considered safe and likely offered to the public.  Six weeks is hardly an adequate time to decide whether a vaccine that will be recommended to the entire world's population is safe.

Of course there are still lots of questions- how many people died of the actual flu? how is this shot different from the current shot? how are they the same?  These are answers I couldn't find.

But I do know this- we're not lab rats.  The flu, despite what the media tells us, really isn't that scary.  It's the flu.  Yes, people have died, people have died from more common flu strands every year as well, and people die from the flu shot every year.  But most importantly- there are much safer, better ways to prevent and treat the flu.  Adequate vitamin D prevents the flu- so firstly get out in the sun and consume fortified foods.  Vitamins C and A are great for the immune system, so get some oranges & strawberries and yams & squash.  Foods like mangos (which also happen to be a great source of vit A) are antiviral.

Astragalus is a safe herb to consume on a daily basis- it strengthens the immune system (take it while healthy, stop if you get sick).

Echinacea is great for boosting the immune system to help the body fight disease (although it should not be taken on a regular basis as the immune system will start to rely on it).

Wash your hands.  Wash your hands.  Wash your hands.

A good, healthy diet and common sense is really all we need to ward off the flu.  And if you do get sick, go to the doctor!  The flu is treatable.  The swine flu isn't worse than any other flu strand (so says my pediatrician).

All I'm really saying, is please be safe.  If you're considering getting this shot for you and/or your family, please read about it first.  Read about the contraindications, the ingredients and their side effects, and read about the history of the swine flu.

Good health be with you.

[fivefikes]

Jul. 23, 2009 at 12:04 AM

I answered a question in Yahoo answeres last week on this subject. I think it's interesting what a RN said about my comment: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoIKcuCfkV9P.baGu4KeIyHsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090715001436AA3pGhb&show=7#profile-info-pkZBBvlzaa

I'm QtMommy btw

[ThaMCE]

Jul. 23, 2009 at 12:47 AM Hey, FiveFikes, great job! You got 10 pts AND I gave you a thumbs up in Y!A...

Hey JP, thank you for this info. It's so scary. The Swine Flu is scary, yes, but not as much as the vaccine scares me.

[pinkgemini85]

Jul. 23, 2009 at 7:43 AM

I have known since it came out that there is no way in hell my family will be getting that vaccine. We dont get the yearly flu vaccine either.

[DyperDuty]

Jul. 23, 2009 at 1:15 PM

Can I copy this and put it as a journal post on my page as well? I hope that no one is dumb enough volenteer to be a guinae pig for this vaccine!!

[jellyphish]

Jul. 23, 2009 at 1:29 PM

Absolutely, Dyper!  Spread the word!  (You may have to reenter the links, though.)

(Original Poster)

[aurorabunny]

Jul. 23, 2009 at 2:57 PM

Swine flu doesn't scare me.  The vaccine does, tremendously.  Thanks for posting.

[logansmomma2007]

Jul. 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM

I heard this on NPR and it made me uneasy.  I can't believe that 1.) so many people would line up to be guinea pigs for something like this, and 2.) that the vaccine is going to be released so quickly! 

[Inle_Rabbit]

Jul. 23, 2009 at 7:51 PM

Wow! A vaccine already? My family will not be getting it. It's too new, just like all new medications, I stay away from them! How many run of the mill pharmaceuticals have been pulled off the shelves in recent years because they were unsafe after being rushed through. It's ridiculous to think that this vaccine will be any different. Although technically the swine flu is a pandemic, it is not a dangerous one.