1976 Swine Flu PSAs Attempt to Scare Citizens Into Getting Shots

Los Angeles Times ^ | April 28, 2009 | An enterprising conspiracy theorist on Monday posted a pair of U.S. government PSAs from 1976, urgin

[nickcarraway]

An enterprising conspiracy theorist on Monday posted a pair of U.S. government PSAs from 1976, urging citizens to quickly get a swine flu vaccine or risk becoming "very sick"-- although that pandemic never materialized.

The two sensational videos attempt to show that anyone and everyone can get the bug and pass it to children, teachers, postal workers, veterinarians and acquaintances. ("Betty's mother gave it to her best friend Dottie, but Dottie had a heart condition and she died.")

SNIP

The agency, evidently, had a taste for scaremongering. As it turned out, its recommendation was unfounded. Not only did the 1976 swine flu scare result in only 200 cases and a single fatality, but the $135-million vaccination effort did more harm than good: The Centers for Disease Control halted the effort after several days after worrying that the vaccine was causing a rare neurological condition that resulted in the deaths of 25 people.

SNIP

[B-Chan]

Not a duplicate, but the same topic in an earlier thread

[Cedar]

I remember that. I refused to get it then— and will do the same now if they try it again.

[nickcarraway]

Were they related to the, “Its not nice to fool mother nature,” campaign?

[I Drive Too Fast]

I got a flu shot in 1976 for Swine Flu courtesy of Uncle Sam (USAF). I seem to remember that hurt my arm quite a bit.

[SAJ]

You may also recall that the 1976 ''swine flu'' nonsense gave widespread awareness of an hitherto unknown term in the language:

Guillan-Bare syndrome.

Trusting goobermint on anything important, excluding of course ''National Piokle Day'', is just exactly like expecting to be able to get a gourmet meal at McDonald's.

The promo might be wonderful; the reality will invariably be otherwise.

[Terry Mross]

Just like know, we had an empty suit in the WH in 1976.

[Oratam]

When will the WH release a pic of Obama, sleeve rolled up, getting his vaccination? I’ll be a waiting a very long time for that one.

[Lion Den Dan]

Lets see, ‘76. That was Jimmy Carter’s watch.

[Terry Mross]

Only humans can get the disease.

[dfwgator]

Uhh, that was Jerry Ford’s watch, and it was one of the reasons we got stuck with Carter.

[A. Patriot]

I got a swine flu shot when I was in college 33 years ago. I fell for the propaganda and lined up with the other sheep and got it.

I have never gotten any flu shot since since then and never will. (I have also never gotten the flu either)

Funny how mass inoculations are necessary only under radical Democrat presidents. Do you trust the Obama Hussein administration enough to take a shot?

[spectre]

No. I’ll pass.

[Lion Den Dan]

###Uhh, that was Jerry Ford’s watch, and it was one of the reasons we got stuck with Carter.####

My mistake. Hard to tell the diofference.

[dfwgator]

At least I think Ford meant well, unlike Carter.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"Not only did the 1976 swine flu scare result in only 200 cases and a single fatality, but the $135-million vaccination effort did more harm than good: The Centers for Disease Control halted the effort after several days after worrying that the vaccine was causing a rare neurological condition that resulted in the deaths of 25 people."

They are replaying this card again.