Health Buzz: Flu Vaccines and Other Health News

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CDC data reveals few flu deaths

News articles frequently repeat that 'the flu' causes ~36,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

A more accurate number is 140, with more than 100 of those deaths in people at least 75 years old.

The CDC's own data shows it. See http://www.sailhome.org/Concerns/Vaccines/Flu_Myth.html

toxouts of CA @ Sep 27, 2008 14:26:07 PM

Just the facts please

As stated by the CDC 5%-20% of the population gets the "flu" each year. That includes "flu-like illnesses" which the vaccine couldn't mitigate even if it were 100% effective. This also means that each year between 80% and 95% of the population DOES NOT get the flu. Since the CDC never mentions the percentage of the people who have the strains covered in the vaccine, there is no way to determine the actual effective of it.

And with the vaccine only 70%-90% effective against the strains included, the number of people "protected" from it is ridiculously minuscule. Even if every case of the flu were from viri included in the vaccine, AND it was 100% effective, only 3% to 18% would be protected. These numbers are laughable.

Laurice of MD @ Sep 26, 2008 14:53:33 PM

Flu Shot

According to the CDC

The CDC says that in terms of preventing lab-confirmed influenza, the vaccine is nearly always over 50% effective, and as much as 90% effective in healthy adults.

Last year, two of the three flu strains in the vaccine did not match the flu viruses that actually circulated. Yet early data suggest the vaccine was 44% effective. (WEBMD.COM)

What they don't tell you is that the immunity doesn't last. If you get the flu you have immunity for life (People who survived the pandemic 1918 flu still have immunity according to a recent study).

Basically that means about every ten years you will get the flu if you get a shot. I'm 45 years old, an educator and have a 8 year old. That means I have been or worked in the worst flu environment next to being in a medical office, all my life. I have gotten the flu 4 times, last one about 15 years ago. I'll take my chances. There has to be some bad effect of getting a shot every year for decades.

Jasper of NY @ Sep 26, 2008 09:54:33 AM

Umm, wow!

Here's a Thought:

WHO CARES???

Logan Maness of NC @ Sep 26, 2008 05:52:14 AM

If you are otherwise a healthy and well-nourished person, you would have to be insane (which some psych institutions would call normal in today's backwards world) to get a vaccination for a natural illness that gives the body a chance to exercise its immune, rest, and cleanse. Besides get a nice break from school. I say this even though the government, which I dearly respect for holding this great country together as best it can, is doing it's best to convince us to "get your flu shot." Well, it's not "my" flu shot, it's some lab's. MY body is just fine and complete. In this case the gov is misinformed by a paradigm of science that just throws the baby out with the bathwater. If our food had more than twenty something minerals (there are 70 minerals is natural, non-industrialized soil), our immune systems would be equipped to the nines to deal with the flu viruses. I know people who never get it. And once in a while when I do, I feel great and strong for adapting to yet another natural shift in my external and internal biological environment.

And then for any religious, spiritual, and or just plain purity beliefs about the sanctity of human blood (a great book by that title exists also), why, why, why would you put cat, duck, turkey, dog, and other cell tissues, preservatives, and more into your blood? Uggghhhh. Yuck. That the brain gets inflamed after shots is a known fact.

You might say I'm drawing lines that don't exist, but don't be so constricted. Maybe Wall Street is depleted of funds because our soil is depleted of nutrients and our bodies are depleted of vital life force and immune health. Money is energy, the country's greatness is our creative energy, our creative energy is our life energy. Hedge funds "rotted" the market because conditions let them. Infectious germs "rot" us from the inside because our terrain - saccharine, nutrient-sparse diets and sedentary living - is in rottable, compostable condition. Get the colon moving from clogging foods, cleanse our urban pollutant toxins and food-additive toxins, and we can have a terrain that is so alive it just will refuse the germs from settling in. Read a little holistic nutrition and natural health.

Michael of AZ @ Sep 26, 2008 02:05:11 AM

Got Mercury?

Just say NO to Thimerisol! Keep your poison.

J.A. of MI @ Sep 25, 2008 22:14:02 PM

Panic Attacks/Anxiety

Have your hormone levels checked!

Go to WWW.lef.org and search for panic attacks.

There is a better way to live.

- Jerry

Jerry Segere of GA @ Sep 25, 2008 21:41:01 PM

Go to lemonparty.org

cghjmmnh @ Sep 25, 2008 17:23:48 PM

Panic attacks can be cured with TCM

Traditional Chinese Medicine - acupuncture, herbs, breathing exercises.... have you tried this for your anxiety?

I do recommend it, natural cures are real cures.

of CA @ Sep 25, 2008 17:15:53 PM

panic attacks paxil

Tis is one of the worst drugs on the market....oversold and overprescribed by physicians....AND ADDICTIVE,,,try getting off of it and see it's addictive nature...It's worse than the diazepines for sure (valium, xanax ec)....

his rampant overprescribing and use of antidepressants must be curbed...They are dangerous drugs..

See a qulaified psychiatrist....please

T Ford of TN @ Sep 25, 2008 15:48:57 PM

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