The first video below is an overview of the flu shot and influenza in general. The second is a more in-depth explanation of a meta-analysis of 40 years' worth of flu shot studies, done by the Cochrane Systematic Review of Databased. The second video also addresses evidence of safety and effectiveness for asthmatics.


 

Sources for the above report:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/22/AR2005102200042.html

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/f/flu/deaths.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm

http://www.vran.org/vaccines/flu/flu-ingredients.htm

http://www.medicalconsumers.org/pages/FluVaccineisRarelyEffective.html

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/01/15/flu.vaccine/index.html

http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/1677/0

http://www.vaclib.org/basic/fluindex.htm#adverse

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/vitaminDToxicity.shtml

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51913.php

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health/autism/role-of-sunlight.shtml

On the epidemiology of influenza.
Cannell JJ, Zasloff M, Garland CF, Scragg R, Giovannucci E.
Virol J. 2008 Feb 25;5:29. Review.

Epidemic influenza and vitamin D.
Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, Holick MF, Grant WB, Madronich S, Garland CF, Giovannucci E.
Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Dec;134(6):1129-40. Epub 2006 Sep 7. Review

The statistics regarding mitochondrial disorder, the CDC and autism came from:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/the-next-big-autism-bomb_b_93627.html




What is the evidence for its effectiveness?
Cochrane Systematic Review of Databases meta-analysis,published in BMJ
: Publication in prestigious journals is associated with partial or total industry funding, and this association is not explained by study size or quality.
Government-funded studies were less likely to favour effectiveness of the vaccine
() the higher the studys quality (and the lower the risk of bias),the higher the probability of concordance. In addition, the higher the probability of concordance, the lower the probability that a studys conclusions were in favour of vaccines effectiveness.

Visit Cochrane Review site to read reviews of flu vaccines yourself:
Flu vaccines for healthcare workers: "no conclusive evidence"
http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab005187.html

Flu vaccines in healthy children:"no more effective than placebo in children 6-24 mos"
http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004879.html

Vaccines for preventing influenza in people with asthma:
http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000364.html

Mayo Clinic study found triplerisk of influenza-related hospitalization in flu-shot vaccinated children:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090519172045.htm

Package insert from squalene-containing 'pandemic' H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine to be used in Canada
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20313100/Contents-and-Usage-of-GSK-s-Pandemrix-H1N1-Vaccine

Insert shows that NO studies have been done on children under 3. Only very limited studies have been done on children 3-9. 20% of children developed flu-like symptoms with fever following vaccination.
NO long-term safety data available WHATSOEVER.

On regimen of two half-doses, seroprotection (based on antibody titers) rate in children age 3-5 ad 6-9 drops to 6% and 4.5%, respectively, after 6 months. With regimen of two full doses, it is 68% and 61% after 6 months. Remember that efficacy as determined by antibody titers does NOT translate into equivalent effectiveness (see Cochrane review) and influenza vaccine has NEVER been shown to reduce days of illness, days missed from work, hospitalizations or deaths in adults or children.

Disclaimer: the contents of this website are for information purposes only and should ot be construed as medical advice. Please talk t your doctor before making decisions about vaccination for yourself or your children.