Let's talk about flu shots

Much controversy surrounds flu shots. It is kind of like a balance beam of good vs. bad. You just need to choose which side is which. The government is on one side, rooting and cheering for just about everyone to receive the flu shot. The other side is filled with people, doctors, concerned parents, and others who are wary of the vaccine.

Forbes.com released an article earlier this week, CDC Urges More People to Get Flu Shots.

A couple key excerpts from the article:

""We are concerned that we're going to have more doses of flu (vaccine) than we might use," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 110 million doses - a record amount - are being made for the 2006-07 flu season. The previous record was 95 million in 2002-03. That year 12 million doses went unused and one manufacturer quit making shots."

"Thimerosal was phased out of other childhood vaccinations in 2003. But flu vaccine sold in multidose vials still contains the preservative.
About 9 million of this year's vaccine doses are thimerosal-free, a CDC spokesman said. Those doses - which are targeted for young children - are made by only one manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur.
"Our organization is urging people not to get flu shots that contain thimerosal. And in this year's flu shot supply, 90 percent do contain thimerosal," said J.B. Handley, co-founder of PutChildrenFirst.org."

A quick search for the Sanofi Pasteur website brings up links to the full prescribing information on all the vaccines by this particular company. There are three links for the influenza vaccines -
Fluzone (r) Influenza Virus Vaccine 2006-2007 formula
Fluzone (r) Influenza Virus Vaccine, No Preservative 2006-2007 formula
Fluzone (r) Influenza Virus Vaccine, No Preservative: Ped Dose Pediatric Dose 2006-2007 formula for children 6-35 months of age
Apparently the vaccines with "No Preservative" are thimerosal free.

"DESCRIPTION
Fluzone®, Influenza Virus Vaccine, (Zonal Purified, Subvirion) for intramuscular use, is a sterile suspension prepared from influenza viruses propagated in embryonated chicken eggs. The virus-containing fluids are harvested and inactivated with formaldehyde. Influenza virus is concentrated and purified in a linear sucrose density gradient solution using a continuous flow
centrifuge. The virus is then chemically disrupted using a nonionic surfactant, octoxinol-9, (Triton® X-100 – A registered trademark of Union Carbide, Co.) producing a “split virus.” The split virus is then further purified by chemical means and suspended in sodium phosphate-buffered isotonic sodium chloride solution. Fluzone vaccine has been standardized according to USPHS requirements for the 2006–2007 influenza season and is formulated to contain 45 micrograms (μg) hemagglutinin (HA) per 0.5 mL dose, in the recommended ratio of 15 μg HA each, representative of the following three prototype strains: A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and B/Malaysia/2506/2004.1 Gelatin 0.05% is added as a stabilizer. Fluzone vaccine is supplied in four different presentations: a 5 mL vial of vaccine which contains the preservative thimerosal [(mercury derivative), (25 μg mercury/dose)]; a 0.25 mL prefilled syringe (No Preservative: Pediatric Dose, for 6–35 months of age) distinguished by a pink syringe plunger rod; a 0.5 mL prefilled syringe (No Preservative, for 36 months of age and older); and a single dose vial (No Preservative, for 36 months of age and older). There is no thimerosal used in the manufacturing process of the No Preservative unit dose presentations of Fluzone vaccine. Fluzone vaccine, after shaking syringe/vial well, is essentially clear and slightly opalescent in color."

The information sheet goes on to say that "It is not known whether Influenza Virus Vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Influenza Virus Vaccine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed."

Pregnant mamas be careful!

Fox News reported that Anti-Vaccine Group Challenges CDC's Flu Shot Guidelines for Infants.
Interestingly enough, "The CDC has revised its flu shot guidelines, recommending that all children between six months and five years of age, as well as pregnant women, receive a flu shot. The CDC has launched a major campaign urging Americans to get vaccinated, designating Nov. 27-Dec. 3 as "National Influenza Vaccination Week.""

An organization of parents who believe that thimerosal in vaccines is directly related to autism in their children are upset with the CDC. "PutChildrenFirst.Org is part of a public health movement that has emerged over the past few months that has raised doubts about the government's ability to objectively evaluate vaccine safety, given its public health interest in immunizations, and calling for the establishment of an independent body to evaluate vaccine and thimerosol safety."

"A survey of 9,204 people conducted by Zogby International, a public opinion group, between Oct. 27-30 of this year, found that many people are uninformed about vaccinations, but have strong opinions when provided with information. According to the survey, when asked what they knew about flu shots:

— 74 percent of respondents were unaware that most flu shots contained mercury.
— After learning this fact, 74 percent said they were less likely to get a flu shot and 86 percent of parents w/children (17 or younger living at home) said they were less likely to have their children get the flu shot.
— 78 percent agreed that mercury should not be an ingredient in flu shots given to pregnant women and children
— 73 percent said that the government should warn pregnant women not to get a flu shot if it contains mercury.
— More than 70 percent said Congress, doctors, and medical groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics should take the responsibility to ensure that vaccines do not contain mercury.
— 80 percent of respondents and 82 percent of parents said they are willing to pay additional cost to receive flu shots that do not contain mercury.

In public opinion polling, results over 70 percent can be categorized as "striking" or "remarkable" results, according to Fritz Winzel of Zogby International."

We need to take it upon ourselves as parents to inform ourselves about what is in vaccines and what is being injected directly into our bodies and our children's bodies.