Friday night a week ago on Real Time with Bill Maher, Bill made some strong assertions about the H1N1 vaccine. He was WRONG then and he was wrong again tonight. He reiterated his unsupported opinions again tonight on the last episode of his show for this season. Clearly, Maher is defensive on this issue. He claims he is only asking people to think about it, but that is not what he advocated.
First, let's try to separate fact from fiction.
1. Swine flu or H1N1 is a real strain of influenza and it has killed and sickened many people around the world.
2. Ordinary flu kills thousands of people every year.
3. The cases of H1N1 (swine flu) in the U.S. are on the rise and certain parts of the population are at at more risk than others.
4. The Centers for Disease Control have recommended vaccination for certain parts of this population -- younger people, people with immune deficiency, children, and pregnant women.
And if you don't trust the CDC, this URL is from WebMD which has no particular profit to be made from vaccinations. Pregnant women are significantly more likely to have complications or death from swine flu, for a variety of reasons.
5. Many people question the effectiveness of vaccines in general, and there are legitimate questions that can be raised. How effective was the regular flu vaccine during the 2007-08 season? Below is some factual information about the effectiveness of vaccines.
The effectiveness of the vaccine depends in part on the match between the viruses in the vaccine and influenza viruses that are circulating in the community. If these are closely matched, vaccine effectiveness (VE) is higher. If they are not closely matched, vaccine effectiveness can be reduced. During well-matched years, clinical trials have shown VE between 70% and 90% for inactivated influenza vaccines in the prevention of serologically confirmed influenza infection among healthy adults.
Interim results from a study carried out this season with the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin found overall vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 44% for the 2007-08 flu shot. This included VE of 58% effectiveness against the predominant influenza A (H3N2) viruses, but no effectiveness against influenza B viruses. No influenza A (H1N1) viruses were seen in the study population, so VE against these viruses could not be assessed. A higher VE against H3N2 viruses than against influenza B viruses was likely because the circulating H3N2 strains and H3N2 strain in the vaccine were closely related while the circulating B viruses were antigenically and genetically much different from the influenza B virus in the vaccine and there was little to no cross-reactivity.CDC has other systems for estimating vaccine effectiveness. These systems cover multiple sites across the country, which provides vaccine effectiveness data on different populations in areas where different influenza strains may predominate. However, vaccine effectiveness estimates using these systems are not yet available.
6. There is a lot of fear-mongering about the dangers or effectiveness of vaccines, particularly swine flu vaccine. But if you look at the sources of this information, they come from less than credible sources. People who warn against vaccinations do so most often with very little evidence that can be corroborated. News articles and individual physician opinions are not always accurate or based on more rigorous scientific evidence.
This is where Bill Maher is absolutely wrong and actually dangerous. He is suggesting that pregnant women should not be concerned, but he gave NO evidence to support his assertions other than his assertion. Dr. Frist totally disagreed, based on evidence from researchers but Maher didn't listen to him.
This flu season there will be illness and death. There always is. But if you are in a high risk group, not to be vaccinated seems like a big risk to take. And whatever you decide, don't base it on Bill Maher. Base it on whatever good information you can get from sources you can trust. Hopefully those sources will be from physicians, clinicians and people who understand data and evidence. Not entertainers.
UPDATE: Apparently both Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh agree with Bill Maher about the dangers of swine flu vaccine. Strange bedfellows indeed.
Andrew Baumann: Voters Tiring of Republican Partisanship on Healthcare
Momentum is growing for passage of health care reform, and, because of their continued obstructionism, so is the threat to Republicans.
AP Poll: Third of parents oppose swine flu vaccine - Yahoo! News
FDA approves new swine flu vaccine - Yahoo! News
Swine influenza - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pregnant Women Among First In Line For Swine Flu Vaccine; Elderly ...
AMA has nothing to do with research except they have a peer reviewed journal
This is great
(2004)
http://www.medicine.emory.edu/id/ecirve/faculty_speaker_slides/Iskander_Influenzavaxsafe_EmoryOct05fin.ppt
This is technical (2008)
http://cdc.confex.com/cdc/nic2008/recordingredirect.cgi/id/3667
Are you going to call or am I going to call your Doctor to get set up for an early vaccination?
http://drtenpenny.com/the_truth_about_the_flu_Shot.aspx.
Having checked her bio. It's clear she has zero credentials on vaccines, viruses, or public health.
So she and I have the same formal credentials: None.
I looked at the linked web page. It's the middle of October and the CDC told everyone months ago that NO US FLU VACCINE WOULD BE ADJUVANTED but according to Dr. Tenpenny Novartis will probably add it. She spends a 1/4 of the page on mandatory vaccination nonsense. I can't believe she's serious about that. Nobody can seriously believe that. Yes, the laws are in place.
So here's what I think she's all about. She's made up her mind and not only will nothing change her mind, she won't stop at anything to get you to agree.
If you oppose vaccination, stay away. This one's way, way, off the deep end. Hell, compared to her Dana Ullman (whose still all wrong) is a paragon of accuracy and fairness.
It's pretty simple: Tens of thousands of Americans die annually from the flu. The government, in the interest of protecting its citizens, strongly urges us to cough in our sleeves and get flu shots. The science shows that these policies, while not foolproof, do have some efficacy.
If you choose to ignore the data, don't get a flu shot. Just like if you choose to ignore the Surgeon General's warning about the hazards of smoking, puff away.
THE CALVARY HAS ARRIVED.
NVIC Launches Research Fund To Study Health & Vaccination
http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-News/October-2009-(1)/NVIC-Launches-Research-Fund-To-Study-Health-Vacc.aspx
Help the chidren by passing this good news on to everywhere you can.
PLANS TO TAKE CHILDREN FROM SCHOOLS FOR MASS VACCINATIONS AND QUARANTINES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kka3K4RqcjU
The guy at the end of this video asks a most important question.
((((WHERE IS IT?)))
I did a search & could not find one word about it.
Here's information on the International Swine Flu Conference he's talking about that took place on August 19, 20 & 21st but where is the follow up?
Not one word!
http://www.new-fields.com/ISFC/brochure.pdf
Hating to use Fox news as reference but as they say "even a
broken clock's right twice a day so here's Judge Napolitano on Forced Vaccinations in Massachusetts;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXSB2oca7f8
A most revealing & eye opening video on this most urgent matter, ever made.
This must see video says it all & should be used often to help educate as many as possible to help save our children & future generations from injury, disease & sometimes, even death:
"Vaccination Nation"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6531447125053615129& hl=en#
They filed their federal case, Docket No. 1:09-cv-01924 (US District Court, District of Columbia.
http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=3617
"New York lawyer Patricia Finn Esq. will be in court Wednesday seeking an injunction on a NY state court challenge to the "emergency" regulation."
Her number is: 845-398-0521
Other actions happening in other states, including FL, WA, CA.
Other lawyers in New York are also seeking to bring actions.
"HealthCare Workers Revolt Over Swine Flu Vaccine"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ6ZVL_0yD4&NR=1
They say the vaccine will probably unleash the very pandemic claimed they're trying to avoid!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7slquv-wus
Makers of H1N1 refuse to take it so what does that tell "US", people?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4SmFxyust0
Read more fact to the swine flu matter at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chairman-ed-towns/are-we-ready-for-a-flu-pa_b_311588.html?show_comment_id=32621589#comment_32621589
"The vaccine brainwashing game has now been widely exposed as a fraud. More and more people are openly revolting against swine flu vaccinations for thoughtful, rational reasons"
Mike goes into the five main reasons why swine flu vaccine just doesn't add up.
He explains it all:
http://www.naturalnews.com/027222_swine_flu_flu_vaccine_swine_flu_vaccine.html
Also:
The Alliance for Natural Health is calling for a scientific inquiry into the dangers of cervical cancer vaccines in the UK:
http://www.naturalnews.com/027218_health_vaccines_cancer.html
Did you know children are being exposed to medically-unjustified levels of harmful radiation through unnecessary CT scans?:
Read more here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/027221_trauma_CT_scans_NaturalNews.html
I would assume you've already researched PubMed for studies on mercury crossing the placenta barrier. If not here they are:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez
Another good source is Neuroscience for kids:
"These forms of mercury are soluble in lipids and cross the blood brain barrier and placenta easily."
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/merc.html
I'd bet his qualifications come from paying attention without taking any one's word for fact but by adding all information together & deciding for himself.
Yes, I'd bet that could be the case & if so, I'd say his qualifications are pretty good.
Flu: Nasty, sometimes dangerous and can kill. Adds lots of antigens.
As someone with a compromised immune system, I will talk to my doctors about the pros and cons of the H1N1 vaccine.
You'll get more health risk from consuming the high-fructose corn syrup in colas, juice-drinks, flavored yogurts or commercially-prepared cookies than you will from an annual flu shot.
Don't even get me started on sushi.
He should not be making this political.
His oxygen saturation was dropping and he was fighting for air, poor little guy, with some fluid in his lungs.
He spent three days on oxygen and being treated for the impaired lung function.
He's fine now -- thank goodness -- but the flu is no joke in babies and small children.
I worry about a percentage of the children out there who may have some type of immune system damage.
I saw a video the other night about two young overweight girls with asthma who had a very hard time and almost died. I don't know if wieght had anything to do with it but I heard the asthma does. My mother in law has bad asthma and is about 60.
Unfortunately, when the flu strikes down young, healthy people it is via their immune system -- that is the young and healthy flu victims who die tend to "drown" in their own fluids, released into their lungs by a strong immune reaction.
My grand-nephew was this type of patient -- his lungs had fluid in them from his immune system reacting strongly to the flu virus. There's no way to know if he was ever in any mortal danger, but eventually a baby CAN become exhausted from working so hard to get oxygen and can simply fall asleep and suffocate. Putting him on oxygen for three days allowed him to get his oxygen saturation up high enough that he could safely sleep (under the watchful eye of his family and the nurses, while being monitored with telemetry to alarm if his oxygenation got too low.)