Posted on 11/12/2015 6:29:09 PM PST by upchuck
An important and definitive “mainstream” government study done nearly a decade ago got little attention because the science came down on the wrong side. It found that after decades and billions of dollars spent promoting flu shots for the elderly, the mass vaccination program did not result in saving lives. In fact, the death rate among the elderly increased substantially.
The authors of the study admitted a bias going into the study. Here was the history as described to me: Public health experts long assumed flu shots were effective in the elderly. But, paradoxically, all the studies done failed to demonstrate a benefit. Instead of considering that they, the experts, could be wrong–instead of believing the scientific data–the public health experts assumed the studies were wrong. After all, flu shots have to work, right? So the NIH launched an effort to do "the" definitive study that would actually prove, for the first time, once and for all, that flu shots were beneficial to the elderly. The government would gather some of the brightest scientific minds for the research, and adjust for all kinds of factors that could be masking that presumed benefit.
But when they finished, no matter how they crunched the numbers, the data kept telling the same story: flu shots were of no benefit to the elderly. Quite the opposite. The death rate had increased markedly since widespread flu vaccination among older Americans. The scientists finally had to acknowledge that decades of public health thought had been mistaken.
Read the government study that found no flu shot benefit in elderly
In 2006, lead author Lone Simonsen spoke with me on the phone and agreed to do an on camera interview with me on her study results, which she felt were very important. However, her bosses at the National Institutes of Health blocked the interview. I ended up finding one of her co-authors who was independent from the government and was able to interview him. These study authors who were honest, at their own career peril, should be commended.
After the Simonsen study, many international studies also arrived at the same conclusion. You probably haven’t heard much about these “incendiary” findings. Too much money being made promoting flu shots?
Read Simonsen’s commentary on her study
Read current CDC flu information
Lets see....I’m 61 ...when does this “elderly” stuff begin?
Ping.
Never would I have the flu shot voluntarily. When I was still working, the hospital where I was employed (along with all the other hospitals in the area) made it mandatory under penalty of losing your job starting in 2009. Lots of hysteria about the Swine flu back then. Big Pharma created international panic with their collaborators at WHO. In America, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations promoted 100% compliance on its sponsored website with guess who: GlaxoSmithKline! No conflict of interest there. The Infx Control doctor at the hospital had no interest in collecting any data on effectiveness of the vaccine. In fact, influenza is usually not the cause of death, but complications in high risk patients who end up getting pneumonia.
Big Pharma will not like this at all...we need another panic... QUICK!!!
Oh, my. As usual, an anti-vaxxer grossly misrepresents studies, fails to accurately report what they say, and shows an utter lack of comprehension of what the study does say.
I only read the study at the link “Read the government study that found no flu shot benefit in elderly” (I am not including the actual link). What it said is that the elderly they looked at were already immune to the H3N2 as a result of the 1968 pandemic—therefore, they did not benefit from being vaccinated. That is wildly different than saying that vaccinations do no good.
This study had some severe limitations, in that ALL of its conclusions were made on the basis of *estimates* of influenza illness, and not on actual diagnosed cases. To do a study properly, there must be *matched* control and study groups. There are various ways in which to set up such a study—one would be to vaccinate one group, but not the other, and then compare the rate of diagnosed influenza illness between the groups.
The claim that there was a higher death rate in elders following the increase of vaccination rates is easily interpreted by keeping in mind that there are more elders, and thus, more of them to die from these illnesses. It has nothing to do with vaccination; it most certainly does not mean that increased vaccination rates are *causing* higher death rates.
It is a well-known fact that the immune system becomes weaker after about age 65, and that people in that age group do not respond well to vaccines. This is why some companies have developed special high-dose influenza vaccines for the elderly. This is also behind the current recommendation to vaccinate everyone, and not just those in the high-risk age groups. If fewer people in the low-risk groups become ill, then the people in the high-risk groups are less likely to be exposed.
It is rather funny that the article hints at some government conspiracy that is preventing government scientists from speaking out—but the author of the article used publically available medical journals to find out what those same government scientists are saying, in their own words (even if the author did misrepresent what they said). It seems that if there were some big cover-up preventing government scientists from speaking up, you wouldn’t be able to find their articles in medical journals. The fact is that government scientists are encouraged to publish—in fact, their careers depend on it. They also attend research conferences and present their work. There is no evidence of some conspiracy meant to shut them up.
In closing, I will add that the flu vaccine has been reformulated since last year, and provides very good protection against the currently circulating strains of flu. I have had my vaccine, and expect another flu-free year.
Here in the Philippines, they start putting out the Christmas lights and displays in SEPTEMBER. All the stores have Christmas music playing. They like to get an early start.
They don't have any special sales or such, just sell, sell, sell!!!!
Oh there you go asking for data. Sheesh. It's Cheryl for crying out loud ! She's brave, she's beautiful ! Come on now !!
We, my wife and I, do not get flu shots. We do not get any kind of vaccines or shots, and we are neither of us on any prescription drugs. We eat healthy, take a few supplements, and are both in very good health. My wife is 68, I will be 80 in five weeks.
The drug cartel, including the vaccine part of that cartel, can go to H3ll! we will not support them in any way.
We help people who are in a like minded way and need educational support on how to be healthy and how to overcome health issues naturally.
In the first 1,600 years or so of this creation people lived to be hundreds of years old...all without drugs from the drug cartels and with out vaccines. And they did not have ObamaCare!
“Lets see....I’m 61 ...when does this “elderly†stuff begin?”
Much, much later. I’m middle-aged at 75.
Thanks for the ping.
Well, even if you’re out of the age bracket, it might be good for you.
They used to give Immune Serium Globlin to boost people’s systems a bit. Not sure if they do that sort of thing anymore.
Of course your physician or local pharmacist will be the only one who can guide you. Just thought I’d mention it.
Maybe they know of something better on the market too.
Best of luck to you.
BTW:
As you are probably aware, with all the immigration legal and illegal, we’re bringing in a veritable smorgasbord of germs into this nation.
There is continually a weird set of things floating around these days.
I take 10,000 IU of Vitamin D3 morning and again in evening to help prevent Flu. It has worked so far! I’m 67.
So medicare does not want to cover flu shots, another fake study is the result
Well it depends on what is meant by effective. Aluminum and Mercury are pretty good neurotoxins, so they are effective in accelerating the onset and exacerbating dementias.
Given that the Feds want us docile or dead, vaccines are effective. Slow kill by stealth.
75
I’d like to know the vitamin d3 levels of all those who contract flu...THAT would be an interesting study
Several years ago, one of the most brilliant physicians we have encountered gave this Rx to my wife who was sick with many problems: No flu shots; No pneumonia shots, ever! We have followed his advice with good results.
In God we trust, all others - Bring Data....
>> an anti-vaxxer grossly misrepresents studies, fails to accurately report what they say, and shows an utter lack of comprehension of what the study does say <<
Agreed. My former enthusiasm for Sharyl has now waned significantly.
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