H1N1 Vaccine Risks and Tamiflu Risks for Kids

As the new school year gets underway, we’re hearing a lot more about H1N1 “prevention,” including, of course, the “importance” of vaccinations. We’ve already writtenquitea bit about problems with vaccinations and the need for people to be completely informed before opting for or against jabs for themselves or their children. Now, reports the Daily Mail, there appear to be some specific concerns about the H1N1 vaccine in particular:

A warning that the new swine flu jab is linked to a deadly nerve disease has been sent by the Government to senior neurologists in a confidential letter.

The letter from the Health Protection Agency, the official body that oversees public health, has been leaked to The Mail on Sunday, leading to demands to know why the information has not been given to the public before the vaccination of millions of people, including children, begins.

It tells the neurologists that they must be alert for an increase in a brain disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which could be triggered by the vaccine.

GBS attacks the lining of the nerves, causing paralysis and inability to breathe, and can be fatal.

The letter, sent to about 600 neurologists on July 29, is the first sign that there is concern at the highest levels that the vaccine itself could cause serious complications.

Concerns have already been raised that the new vaccine has not been sufficiently tested and that the effects, especially on children, are unknown.

It is being developed by pharmaceutical companies and will be given to about 13 million people during the first wave of immunisation, expected to start in October.

As the article details at some length, this scenario bears a haunting resemblance to the 1976 American flu shot fiasco in which swine flu vaccine killed 25 individuals and sickened thousands more. (You can see 60 Minutes ‘ 1979 story on the matter here: Part 1 and Part 2.)

Notably, the US government has already granted legal immunity to federal officials and makers of H1N1 vaccines alike.

Meanwhile, another warning has gone out about the effects of the main flu “medicines,” Tamiflu and Relenza. Byron Richards reports that an Oxford research team has found that the drug provides less benefit to children than the risks may merit.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the use of anti-viral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, on children under 12 was conducted to determine their safety and effectiveness in treating children with flu and in the ability of these drugs to prevent children from getting the flu.

The drugs were found to reduce the duration of the flu by a day, yet not to reduce the complications of the flu such as fewer asthma problems in children with existing asthma or the need to use antibiotics to treat secondary ear infections arising as part of the flu illness process. This data alone suggests any benefits are very weak and offer far less protection than basic nutrients that have no adverse effects such as vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and acidophilus.

In the preventive sense, a full level treatment dose needs to be given to 13 children simply to prevent one case of the flu – again a very weak result.

On the other hand, 1 in 20 children develop nausea and vomiting from these drugs, which not only could be mistaken for flu symptoms but can cause life-threatening dehydration in any child who gets the flu as well. For such little benefit, public health officials are willing to expose millions of children to potentially serious and life-threatening medical “prevention” treatment.

So although we’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: Learn all you can. Ask tough questions. Become informed so you can make the best choices possible for both your own health and that of your children.