NEW STUDY CHALLENGES FLU VACCINE USE An important new study by the esteemed Cochrane Collaboration was just released which challenges the commonly held belief that the flu vaccine is safe and effective at preventing flu. With people lining up for flu vaccines, I thought it important to share this new information with you. Discuss these findings with your doctor to see what is best for you and your loved ones.
For those who have already had their vaccine, Dr. Mark Stengler, editor of Bottom Line Natural Healing newsletter, told me that he has had a number of patients suffering from adverse reactions to their shot. He shared his recommendations for minimizing and treating flu vaccine reactions. _http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/offers/sub_bnah.html?sid=store_ (http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/offers/sub_bnah.html?sid=store) Be well, Carole Jackson Bottom Line's Daily Health News FLU VACCINE NEWS Each year when flu season rolls around, we're reminded how important flu shots are, especially for high-risk groups like children. We take it for granted that it's the right thing to do... but is it? A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (October 25, 2006) says yes, while the recent conclusion of the Cochrane Collaboration -- an international, not-for-profit, independent body that critiques health care outcomes -- concluded that there is little scientific evidence backing the safety or effectiveness of the inactivated influenza vaccine in children (British Medical Journal, October 28, 2006). THE CALL FOR A REEVALUATION OF ANNUAL FLU SHOTS Based on its review of prior influenza vaccine research, the Cochrane Collaboration called for a reevaluation of the strategy of routinely promoting annual flu vaccinations in children as public health policy, noting that "large-scale studies assessing important outcomes and directly comparing vaccine types are urgently required." The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) -- a national nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to the prevention of childhood vaccine injuries and deaths -- went even further. Given the Cochrane findings, along with what it considered to be methodological flaws in the JAMA study, the NVIC called for a halt on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation of annual influenza vaccinations for infants and children -- at least until there is scientific evidence to back them up. To get a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding the influenza vaccine, I spoke with NVIC president, Barbara Loe Fisher. Fisher told me that there is a huge gap between the scientific research on the influenza vaccine and government policies on it. In particular, she cites concerns such as methodological flaws in studies, safety considerations (i.e., adverse events due to vaccination) and the relative lack of effectiveness of the vaccines. ABOUT THE STUDIES The JAMA study, which was conducted by researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Clinical Research Unit in Colorado and funded by the CDC, looked at the medical records of children six months to 23 months old (45,356 children with 69,359 vaccinations) who received the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine -- a vaccine containing dead flu viruses -- as well as other vaccines over the period between 1991 and 2003. The objective of the study was to analyze safety issues surrounding the use of the vaccine in children. It did not analyze effectiveness of the vaccine at all. The study design was a non-randomized, retrospective analysis, rather than a more rigorous randomized, placebo-controlled trial. There were no unvaccinated controls. After examining children's medical records, researchers concluded that the influenza vaccine in children six to 23 months was associated with few medical problems, "none of which were serious" or "significantly associated with the vaccine." Fisher is concerned, however, that adverse events, due to the vaccine, slipped through the cracks. She notes that cases of convulsions and Guillain-Barre syndrome (a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by a loss of reflexes and temporary paralysis) were written off as coincidental or attributed to other vaccines. Fisher adds that nine of the 19 Kaiser Permanente and CDC study authors reported financial ties to influenza vaccine manufacturers, and all received CDC funding. Although this does not necessarily mean that they were biased, it is a potential conflict of interest that raises red flags. The Cochrane Collaboration's analysis of flu vaccine studies reached a very different conclusion, pointing out the significant gap between public health policy and scientific evidence. Surprise was registered by the Cochrane Collaboration that there was only one study of inactivated flu vaccine in children under two years, given the recent US recommendation for vaccination of all healthy children from six months to two years old. Moreover, in children under two, the Cochrane Collaboration found that the effectiveness of inactivated vaccine was similar to a placebo. It was impossible for them to carry out safety comparisons, because of the lack of rigorous, standardized, randomized, placebo-controlled studies. According to the Cochrane Collaboration, the influenza vaccine did not fare much better with adults. In an analysis of flu shots in healthy people under 65, there was no evidence that the vaccines had an impact on measurable factors such as time off work, hospital stays or mortality (death resulting from the flu or its complications). In the elderly, the results were so scattered that they were termed "both counterintuitive and implausible." FURTHER RESEARCH IS NECESSARY The Cochrane analysis certainly calls into question the efficacy of the flu shot program, as well as the rationale of the CDC's recommendation. Clearly more research is necessary to come up with good, solid answers about the safety and effectiveness of influenza vaccines. Mark Stengler, ND, editor of Bottom Line Natural Healing newsletter, likewise expresses concern that there are no long-term studies demonstrating efficacy, especially in regard to children, and he worries that side effects, such as neurological damage, have not been properly assessed. In Dr. Stengler's view, it seems only prudent to conduct more thorough research on the flu vaccine for children, whose maturing organ systems are more prone to damage. _http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/offers/sub_bnah.html?sid=store_ (http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/offers/sub_bnah.html?sid=store) Whatever decision you come to regarding flu shots, keep in mind that there are also many natural ways to avoid infection (wash hands, avoid exposure to infected people, etc.) and enhance immunity during flu season. See Daily Health News, November 22, 2005, for how to protect your family and yourself. _http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/article.html?article_id=37087_ (http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/article.html?article_id=37087) BEWARE ADVERSE REACTIONS TO THE FLU VACCINE Mark Stengler, ND, editor of Bottom Line Natural Healing newsletter and author of The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books) called me a few days ago to comment about the number of patients he had seen in recent weeks suffering from adverse reactions to the flu vaccine. While the debate rages on regarding the efficacy of the flu vaccine (see story above for more on this subject) millions of people will get the vaccine this year, and 5% to 10% of them will suffer a reaction. How can you protect yourself and your family if you do elect the vaccine? _http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/offers/sub_bnah.html?sid=store_ (http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/offers/sub_bnah.html?sid=store) VACCINE OPTIONS Timing is key when it comes to the influenza vaccine. Ideally, it's best to get vaccinated in October and November, though many people get shots as late as December, says Dr. Stengler. The vaccine is said to be effective within two weeks and, in the past, influenza activity has not reached peak levels until late December to early March. There are three different types of injectable flu vaccines -- known as trivalenti inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV), which are given under the brand names Fluzone, Fluvirin and Fluarix -- and one live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) that is administered via a nasal spray called FluMist. According to Dr. Stengler, the important issue to address with the injectable vaccines is their level of the mercury preservative thimerosal. Mercury is a toxin which can accumulate in the body and cause serious neurological damage. The regular injectable vaccine contains 25 mcg per injection (dose) of thimerosal, while the "preservative-free" form contains just 1 mcg of mercury per dose. Quite a difference, observes Dr. Stengler. For those getting the injection, he recommends that you make sure your doctor's office has the "preservative-free" form on hand. The FluMist nasal spray, approved for ages five to 49, contains no mercury. If your child is at least five and doesn't like shots (and what child does), FluMist is a good alternative. Even better, according to the Cochrane Collaboration (an international, nonprofit, independent body that critiques health-care outcomes), nasal spray vaccines are more efficient than injected vaccines at preventing influenza in children. Unfortunately, because FluMist is made with live cultures, those with vulnerable immune systems, including the very old and very young, are recommended not to use it. HOW TO COPE WITH THE REACTIONS As I said, Dr. Stengler is hearing from patients who develop flu-like symptoms including muscle aches, headache, fever and fatigue within 24 to 48 hours following vaccination. To ease symptoms, Dr. Stengler often prescribes a variety of homeopathic remedies and vitamins. For children, the homeopathic doses are often the same, but they typically require lower doses of vitamins. While Dr. Stengler lists general prescriptive guidelines for us here, it is best to speak with a trained professional before taking these products, especially if you are taking any prescription medications. Depending on the individual patient's needs, Dr. Stengler often prescribes a combination of the following product(s)... * To speed recovery, adults and children can take homeopathic Gelsemium 30C -- two pellets three times daily for three days. * For recovery from flu symptoms, adults can take 1,000 mg of vitamin C every two waking hours... children, 250 mg of vitamin C every two waking hours (this is quite variable depending on age and body weight). (Warning: Dosing of Vitamin C at these levels may produce flatulence and diarrhea.) For prevention of symptoms, adults should take 3,000 mg to 4,000 mg daily of vitamin C starting five days before a vaccination and for five days after, most often taken in divided doses away from meals... children should take 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg daily of vitamin C starting five days before a vaccination and for five days after. If stomach upset occurs, talk to your doctor about reducing the dose. * To normalize immune function and remove many vaccine byproducts, adults can take N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) at a dose of 600 mg twice daily... children can take 250 mg twice daily. * For injection site tenderness, both adults and children can take homeopathic Ledum 30C -- two pellets taken orally immediately after the injection and twice more that same day. * Drink lots of water and get plenty of rest. * If you are feeling under the weather -- if you have a cold, cough, upper respiratory tract infection, or any infection -- do not get the flu shot. Wait until you've recovered fully to get it. Your best chance of avoiding reactions -- and avoiding the flu altogether -- is to make sure your immune system is up and running at peak capacity. For more information on how to enhance immunity naturally this flu season, see Daily Health News, November 22, 2005. _http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/article.html?article_id=37087_ (http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/article.html?article_id=37087) Be well, Carole Jackson Bottom Line's Daily Health News
