Swine flu could kill hundreds of thousands in U.S. if vaccine fails, CDC says

The Los Angeles Times ^ | July 25, 2009 | Thomas H. Maugh II

[2ndDivisionVet]

Hundreds of thousands of Americans could die over the next two years if the vaccine and other control measures for the new H1N1 influenza are not effective, and, at the pandemic's peak, as much as 40% of the workforce could be affected, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That is admittedly a worst-case scenario that the federal agency says it doesn't expect to occur.

But the broad range of potential deaths highlights the unpredictability of flu viruses in general and this swine flu virus in particular because it hasn't behaved the way researchers have expected.

The number of potential deaths is much higher than that usually seen in seasonal flu, which kills an estimated 36,000 Americans a year, and is even higher than the nation's most recent pandemic.

A 2003 CDC study of deaths in the preceding decade showed yearly totals ranging from 17,000 to 52,000. The 1957 pandemic of Asian flu killed 70,000.

The vaccine the CDC is counting on is not expected to be available before the end of September, too late to immunize children before the start of school, where the proximity of children is expected to speed up transmission of the virus.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Tens of millions died in 1918, so anything is possible. ***

No antibiotics to fight the flu caused pneumonia back then.

[spectre]

"Can a shot (or tablets) of vitamin D prevent influenza better than a flu shot? There is good reason to believe that it can".

"Doctors in India and Canada give people a once-yearly injection of 600,000 IU of vitamin D (MJA 2005;183:10-12). That would be better, and safer, than having a flu shot. Daily, weekly, or monthly vitamin D tablets work just as well."

"Investigators have completed one double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that shows vitamin D prevents colds and influenza significantly better (P<0.002) than a placebo pill (Epidemiol Infection 2007;135:1095-6)".

"A large multi-center randomized trial conducted over multiple flu seasons comparing vitamin D to a flu shot can show conclusively which is better, and safer. But given the financial stakes underpinning flu shots, and unpatentable vitamin D, who will fund it?"

"In the meantime, considering what is most likely to be the outcome of such a trial, if it is ever conducted, I recommend that you avoid flu shots and take vitamin D instead".
.................. and other studies
. . Two Russian studies, the only such studies in the world, suggest higher vitamin D levels prevent the immune response flu shots attempt to generate. Dr. Scott Dowell, at the CDC, has known about these two studies for at least five years.

source
http://www.theairdb.com/swine-flu/heatmap.html

[Man50D]

More people are becoming disenchanted with The One, even some of the people who voted for him, and I think at some point he’s going to feel the need for a good crisis.

He created one the other night in his press conference.

[cripplecreek]

And this marxist doesn’t take criticism well.

[Nervous Tick]

All my kidding aside, I’m convinced (as you seem to be) that nutrition and hygiene are far more effective than vaccine, especially for flu. That’s a general statement, and I believe there are exceptions.

I have had maybe one flu shot in my 50+ years, and don’t plan another one any time soon.

[livius]

Yes, he’s not only a marxist, but a sociopath, and they can get a little out of control when things don’t go their way.

[livius]

Well, he did create a little crisis for himself, but I mean he’s going to need a crisis (real or phoney) big enough to let him get rid of any pretense of having three branches of government and living under the rule of law. Something like an epidemic, an attack, etc.

I think the mask is beginning to slip and we’re seeing that snarling face which is just behind it. If he suffers a few more setbacks or even becomes much more unpopular, I think he’s going to feel he’s got to do something about it, and he’ll stage a crisis to do it.

[jblann1]

The Administration and CDC can only cry “wolf” for so long on each and every crisis that threatens the extinction of our great nation. Where’s the great Earl Pitts from Cincinnati when you need him? “wake up Uhmerika!”

[JavaJumpy]

Thanks for posting. It’s a good reminder to get tested for Vitamin D deficiency, especially if you live in the Great Lakes.

[agrace]

My best friend is an RN, retired early now due to a chronic illness. She did plenty of ER and critical care rotations and said that the number of people hospitalized for flu vaccine reactions always way outnumbered those hospitalized for the flu.

I have never had a flu shot and even before I heard that little anecdotal statistic, I had decided I will never get one. I don’t know, maybe it’s me, but there’s something about getting a shot that will probably make you sick but MIGHT ward off the right flu strain that makes very little sense.

[2ndDivisionVet]

"No antibiotics to fight the flu caused pneumonia back then."

Influenza is a virus, whereas antibiotics treat infections from germs. Or am I mistaken? Any medical personnel here?

[rebapiper]

I don't think it's going to matter. I hate to say this but I honestly think the swing flu is being used against us. Those trips to Mexico by obozo and Hitlary were nothing more than deals made in HELL. Mexico will do anything to get what they want. The determining factor for the flu vaccine will depend on whether or not the health care will pass. Treason and hate crimes are being used against us and still most of American’s are still to busy to care, many are still in denial, many want the free life, they think our government has a bottomless pit of money and nothing you can say or do will convince them other wise. The RATS in the White House and congress WANT CONTROLED POPULATION. The REVANGE for Slavery is in the making. They had to gain control of congress in order to put all the right people, fill those KEY jobs that make this country tick.
Calling isn't doing much good. the only thing bozo has to say is I won, I won, but did he win. Acorn won, Exselrod won, Emanual won thru Acorn. The communist group is now in power, the czars in time will replace the Senate with out a doubt about. Unless the American people start calling for Impeachment and convictions of the RATS in office we are going down. Those Seniors hooked on drugs and want the free life will soon find out just who they voted for. The right to die law will also be enforced all across the country.
They don't want to stop medicare and Medicaid fraud because those are the people that support the communist way of life. They want to stop seniors from living longer lives.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I’ve been taking a 400 IU Vitamin D-3 + Vitamin A 5,000 IU combined capsule and a 1000 IU Vitamin D-3 gummie daily since this story broke in May. Not sick one day.

[nightlight7]

They can take their vaccine and shove it. I’m not going to be willingly vaccinated.

Your doc and CDC/FDA pharma shills won't tell you this, but the best protection against H1N1 swine flu is the old indian medicine -- tobacco (nicotine on its own provides only a fraction of the protection by the real thing -- the plain tobacco leaf smoke, see also here and an earlier FR discussion). As one might guess, practically all the money buying antismoking junk science, antismoker laws and regulations, propping antismoking "grass roots" groups,... is from the big pharma, which by mere coincidence makes a fortune (including these flu vaccines) as result of its war on this anicent medicinal plant.

[Post Toasties]

Influenza is a virus, whereas antibiotics treat infections from germs. Or am I mistaken?

The antibiotics are for opportunistic bacterial infections.

[ViLaLuz]

If they really cared about people dying they would stop promoting the behavior that spreads AIDS. THOUSANDS die from AIDS every year.

[zerosix]

Obama Flu???

Watch Obama - get sick.

Elect Obama get very, very sick.

Believe Obama - die.

[spectre]

Yes, I believe a healthy immune system can ward off many illnesses.

The Vitamin D supplementation is interesting for a lot of reasons. One is that a friend of mine who suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis has been taking prescription massive strength Vitamin D. It's truly helped ease her pain.

sw

[spectre]

I’ve been taking a 400 IU Vitamin D-3 + Vitamin A 5,000 IU combined capsule and a 1000 IU Vitamin D-3 gummie daily since this story broke in May. Not sick one day.

That is what I'm hearing from others. Amazing..

And my brother has started taking Black Cherry juice for his painful gout...Surprise! No gout pain or flare ups.

sw

[penelopesire]

By the time fall rolls around, so many people will be unemployed because of Obama’s policies, that people will not have to worry about contracting it at work.