Flu shot

Finally, there is a report reinforcing what I’ve been saying for years, giving me hard statistical evidence to back my position. The flu shot is a racket! It DOES NOT guarantee you will not get the flu. It isn’t like a polio vaccine.

A CDC employee stated “This year, the match between the circulating strains looks very good.” What is very good? “According to the study, only 11 percent of influenza strains across the United States were similar to those in the vaccine during the 2003 to 2004 flu season. The number increased to 36 percent in the 2004 to 2005 season.”

“According to the CDC, 72 children died from the flu last year.” While that is sad, is that statistically significant, given the number of children in the US? “A recent study, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, found MRSA contributed to 30 percent of flu deaths in the 2006-2007 flu season.” So, that means that roughly 22 children died of MRSA in relation to influenza. However, the same CDC employee goes on to say, “flu shots do not guarantee protection from MRSA pneumonia or other respiratory infections.”

“With hopes of encouraging the public to vaccinate, the CDC recently released a video testimonial of families who have lost children from complications related to the flu. In an emotional confession, each family claims their child's death could have been prevented by the flu vaccine.” We should do a similar video where parents that lost children in car wrecks warn against the dangers of letting your child ride in a car. By preventing your child from riding in a car, you COULD prevent their death. One parent in the video lost her 15 year old son in 2005 to influenza. She goes on to say she is bothered by the number of deaths from the flu “Because I know it's preventable.” The year her son died the vaccine contained only 36% of the influenza strains across the US. I’m not sure how that equals “preventable” though.

A doctor is quoted as saying, “Even if [the flu] doesn't match the vaccine strain of the year, you do get some protection.” Really, how is that? If it doesn’t match the currently active strains then what good is it? It protects you from the non-active strains? That’s like saying you wear your seatbelt only on Mondays and Fridays, but that’s better than no protection. Wearing a seatbelt doesn’t make a bit of difference if you don’t ride in the car. Sensationalism is everywhere.