Vaccination Liberation - Information |
Alternate resource for reading this article: http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferences/vaccines/oct03_Tenpenny.html Risks of FluMist VaccineAn Investigation By Dr. Sherri Tenpenny www.nmaseminars.com
"MedImmune, the manufacturer of FluMist, recently announced that it
signed an agreement that makes FluMist, the new intranasal influenza
vaccine, readily available to people as they shop at Wal-Mart, the
worlds biggest retailer." [1]
As the physician in charge of a bustling Integrative medical clinic,
questions about vaccines frequently arise. After reading about the
MedImmune-Walmart joint venture, I felt compelled to warn our
patients and our internet subscribers of the potentially serious
complications that may come from direct and passive exposure to this
new vaccine. I also wanted to give a "heads up" to everyone regarding
the onslaught of advertising that is about to besiege them.
Hundreds of TV and print advertisements have been designed to
persuade everyone into taking the FluMist plunge. The campaign will
be the "most intense, direct-to-consumer marketing campaign ever
waged for a vaccine," costing an estimated $25 million over the next
2.5 months [2]. In addition, Wyeth, MedImmune's partner, plans a
three-year, $100 million campaign to encourage use of the nasal flu
vaccine among physicians.[3]
The television arm of the blitz campaign will focus on
the "inconveniences" that your family, friends and co-workers will
endure if you don't get the flu shot and subsequently contract the
flu. Print advertisements and magazine articles apparently will use
scare tactics—similar to those that were used while promoting the
smallpox vaccine—which warned of the high possibility of a "bioterror
attack using the flu virus."[4]
Apparently, the goal seems to center around frightening—or inducing
enough guilt—that everyone would begin to demand the vaccine as soon
as it is available. And at nearly $70 a dose, this will be a
financial bonanza for MedImmune and Wyeth, who are expecting the
vaccine to become the blockbuster new drug that will push MedImmune's
revenues to more than $1billion/year. [5]
However, there are many reasons for caution. FluMist contains live
(attenuated) influenza viruses that replicate in the nasopharynx of
the vaccine recipient. The most common side effects include "cough,
runny nose/nasal congestion, irritability, headaches, chills, muscle
aches and fever > 100° F."[6] These symptoms are nearly identical to
those the flu vaccine is designed to prevent. [7]
A cause for significant concern is the vaccine's most prevalent side
effects: "runny nose" and "nasal congestion." It has been documented
that the live viruses from the vaccine can be shed (and potentially
spread into the community) from recipient children for up to 21 days,
[8] and even longer from adults.[9] Viral shedding also puts
breastfeeding infants at risk if the mother has been given FluMist.
[10]
In addition to shedding via nasal secretions, the virus can be
dispersed through sneezing. What is the normal physiological response
when an irritant enters the nasal passages? A sneeze...sometimes a big
sneeze...sometimes several big sneezes. Therefore, the risk for
shedding—and spreading—live viruses throughout a school, church,
workplace, or store — especially one which is administering the
vaccine.
In the section of the FlumMist package insert labeled "PRECAUTIONS,"
the manufacturer states the following warning:
"FluMist® recipients should avoid close contact with
immunocompromised individuals for at least 21 days."
The warning is specifically directed toward those living in the same
household with an immunocompromised person, but the on-going release
of live viruses throughout the community may be a significant risk to
everyone who has a weak, or weakened, immune system.
The number of immunocompromised people in the United States is
enormous:
Will this make stores that administer the vaccines—like Walmart and
the other pharmaceutical chain stores that have announced they will
carry FluMist [15]—risky places to shop for large segments of the
population? What measures will be taken in these stores to ensure
that the virus will not become commingled with food? What hand
washing policy is going to be enforced in the stores for all Walmart
employees and customers who have received FluMist? These are
reasonable questions that deserve answers.
The target market for FluMist is "healthy children and adults, ages 5
to 49 yrs." Some believe that by vaccinating these people, a type
of "herd immunity" will occur that will protect the very young and
the elderly who are excluded from getting this vaccine. However, it
is these very "at-risk" populations who may suffer the most from the
flu by being exposed to people who are given FluMist.
According to information presented at the May, 2003 National
Influenza Summit,[16] approximately 85% of Americans between the ages
of 20 and 50 go unvaccinated, and nearly 66% between the ages of 50
and 64 do not receive the flu vaccine. Have there been "raging
epidemics" across the country due to lack of flu vaccinations? It
appears that the massive campaign to vaccinate everyone this year
appears may be motivated, in part, by economics.
The viruses suspected to be the most likely cause for the flu this
season were negligibly different from the strains used in last year's
flu vaccine. Therefore, the influenza vaccine produced for the 2003-
2004 season is identical in composition to the one used last year.
This marks only the second time that the same strains have been used
during two consecutive flu seasons.[17] Consider that antibodies from
other viral vaccines—such as MMR, polio and chickenpox vaccines—last
at least 3 years, and in some instances, up to 15 years. If the
viruses used in the vaccine are the same as last year, why is this
year's vaccine even necessary?
An ever greater concern about FluMist is the contents within the
vaccine. Each 0.5ml of the formula contains 10 6.5-7.5 particles of
live, attenuated influenza virus. That means that between 10 million
and 100 million viral particles will be forcefully injected into the
nostrils when administered. The viral strain was developed by serial
passage through "specific pathogen-free primary chick kidney cells"
and then grown in "specific pathogen-free eggs." That means that the
culture media was free of pathogens that were specifically tested
for, but not a culture that was necessarily "pathogen-free." The risk
that the vaccine may contain contaminant avian retroviruses still
remains. In addition, a stabilizing buffer containing potassium
phosphate, sucrose (table sugar) and nearly 0.5 mg of monosodium
glutamate (MSG) is added to each dose. [18]
One of the most troubling concerns over the injection of
this "chemical soup" is the potential for the viruses to enter
directly into the brain. At the top of the nasal passages is a
paper-thin bone called the cribriform plate. The olfactory nerves pass
through this bone and line the nasal passages, carrying messenger
molecules to the brain that are identified as "smells" familiar to
us. The olfactory tract has long been recognized as a direct pathway
to the brain. Intranasal injection of certain viruses has resulted in
a serious brain infection called encephalitis, presumably by direct
infection of the olfactory neurons that carried the viruses to the
brain.[19] Time will tell whether the live viruses in FluMist will
become linked to cases of encephalitis.
The pharmaceutical companies do not necessarily always do a
reasonable job of considering the "down side" when they are pushing
new drugs or new vaccines. FluMist has the potential for causing the
worst, most severe flu epidemic seen in years. Parents tell their
young children not to put things up their noses because they might
cause them harm. It would be wise to consider that advice for adults.
With all the risks involved, one should be extremely cautious about
what one allows to be sprayed in one's nose.
REFERENCES
Pass the FluMist article out at your church and at choir practice. Give a copy to your local city council members. Tell everyone at your local PTA meetings--especially teachers!! Tell people at your local gym/Bally's. Any place where you have a "group."
This is the best vaccine to start your "educational process" with because it is completely optional and no "bad experiences" with pediatricians to face.......and it may open the door to further discussion about the other vaccines.....
This can be "grassroots activism" at its best.....letting your LOCAL Walmart know that they may have fewer customers passing through their doors during the upcoming holiday shopping season due to the decisions of Upper Management. That should get some people's attention! (Sending concerns directly to the home office probably won't do a thing.)
Does anyone have any idea if Walmart could have liability if an immunosuppressed person dies from the flu and they blame Walmart for it? (I think the viral strain can be identified as flu vaccine-strain vs another type of virus).
Dr Sherri
PS...keep us all posted about the results (and please pass this on)
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