Influenza virus Photo CDC/C. Goldsmith
Pregnant women are at increased risk for serious H1N1 influenza-related complications. Pneumonia (infection of the lungs) is more common and 6% of reported H1N1 deaths have occurred in otherwise healthy pregnant women. Because of these serious risks the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommend universal vaccination against H1N1 for pregnant women.
Here are the top 4 H1N1 influenza vaccine myths, with particular attention to the concerns of pregnant women:
1) The flu vaccine could harm a developing baby because it contains thimerosal.
Thimerosal is a preservative used in the manufacturing process of some vaccines. It prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi while the vaccine is grown in eggs. The biggest concern about thimerosal is that it contains mercury; however, there is no scientific evidence linking thimerosal with any health conditions, including autism. By the time the flu vaccine is ready for use, the traces of preservative are so minute that the vaccine is considered to be thimerosal free. If the vaccine is packaged as a single dose vaccine (meaning one dose per vial) no additional preservative is used. This single dose flu vaccine is reserved for pregnant women and it contains far less mercury than 1 oz of canned albacore tuna. If the vaccine is put onto larger vials more thimerosal preservative is needed because each time a dose is withdrawn a tiny amount of bacteria could be introduced. Even the thimerosal containing flu vaccines pose little risk – a dose of flu vaccine from a multi-dose vial has about the same amount of mercury as 3 ounces of canned albacore tuna.
2) The vaccine causes Guillain-Barre syndrome (paralysis)
Also not true. The association between Guillain-Barre and flu vaccine has been well studied. The most common trigger for Guillain-Barre is an infection. In fact, the risk is actually seven times higher among those people who get influenza. Receiving the flu vaccine has been shown to lower the risk of acquiring this disabling syndrome.
3) The vaccine causes the flu.
The vaccine recommended for pregnant women, the flu shot, is a dead virus. It cannot cause the flu. There is a nasal mist that uses a live, but weakened flu virus. This is not recommended for pregnant women. So if you get the shot you are just fine.
4) The flu vaccine doesn’t work.
While the effectiveness of the H1N1 vaccine is still not known for sure there is every reason to believe it will be as effective as the vaccine for regular influenza A and B. Current flu vaccines reduce the risk of getting the flu anywhere from 50 to 90%. If you are vaccinated and still get the flu your chances of developing a severe flu-related illness, such as pneumonia, are reduced by 80-90%.
If you are pregnant contact your OB/GYN about getting vaccinated. H1N1 vaccines should be available in October. It is still crucial to get the regular influenza vaccine, which is available now.
For more info: go to www.cdc.goc/h1n1
Remember, this column does not represent individual medical advice.
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Comments
Sorry, hon, but you didn't do your homework. Mercury is toxic, and it builds up when you get the shot annually. Swine flu vaccine absolutely can cause Guillain-Barre, which is why recent news articles have stated that doctors are on the lookout for GB in swine flu vaccine trials. Flu vaccines can cause the flu - just because you don't know HOW doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Especially medimmune which is a live virus vaccine - viral shedding can happen for up to 10 days. As for the vaccine doesn't work, well you said it yourself, we don't know yet, do we.
Good thing you added the medical disclaimer to this, as it's full of misinformation. The type of mercury in tuna is very different from the type used to preserve vaccines, the jury's still out on GB with this shot, and the timing on 'serious side effects' will not be seen until AFTER the vaccine's mass usage. How convenient for the manufacturer (who's already been given a pass for any victims illness or death.) Go ahead, get the shot and then see who's willing to help you out.
If it is so safe why are the manufactures given immunity from being sued if anything happens????
I'm not INJECTING albacore tuna directly into my bloodstream, am I? And my OB/GYN told me not to eat tuna while pregnant because it carries too great a risk. This article is full of terrible misinformation. What about the squalene adjuvant in the swine flu vaccine? Let's inject an adjuvant into our systems to cause our bodies to have an immune reaction to the dead virus in the vaccine - unfortunately, now we will have an immune reaction to the squalene naturally occurring in our bodies - thus all the auto immune disorders suffered by Gulf War vets who received squalene adjuvants. I'm not putting myself or my infant at risk, thanks.
Jenn,
nobody is injecting vaccine directly into their bloodstream either. It is an intra muscular injection like all the other vaccines. There is no squalene in the swine flu vaccine being prepared for the USA. Theri s squalene in the vaccines being prepared for use in Europe. So what? We have had squalene as an adjuvant in Europe for ten years now. It is safe and effective. It does not create antibodies to the naturally occurring squalene in our bodies any more than the naturally occuring squalene does and it does not cause Gulf War Syndrome.
Source: sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=851
Anne S
dose makes the poison. The mercury in vaccines is less than a bite from a tuna sandwich. Swine flu vaccine causes Guillain-Barre Syndrome in 1 in a million cases. The naturally occurring rate of G-B is 1 in a million. Vaccines do not cause flu. The dose is too weak. Viral shedding? Nothing like the real thing. We know the virus causes flu and spreads very rapidly.
Zed
we know the side effects of flu. 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the USA annually, including 100 children. I'll take the vaccine any day.
Kim asks
"If it is so safe why are the manufactures given immunity from being sued if anything happens????"
Your government accepts liability so you can still sue the government if anything goes wrong.
Intramuscular injections very quickly find circulatory pathways that give them direct entry into vital structures (brain, heart, liver, etc.) rather than undergoing an attenuating process, which is afforded when microbes enter via mucous membranes...the old fashioned way. This makes them very 'unnatural' in their mode, and though provacative, not necessarily 'safe.'
Also, Mike, would you please provide your evidence that squalene is safe. (There's an important reason the "experts" are advising against its use here.)
My husband almost died from Guillian Barre after taking his first flu shot. It took him six weeks in the hospital just to be able to stand up on his own. The medical bills almost bankrupted us. You have to survive GB to be diagnosed with it. If he had died before showing GB signs of regression, it would have been ruled a result of stroke or organ failure. Doctors are hesitant to diagnose GB because they do not want to be held liable, especially if they advised taking it in the first place.
Long story short, I'd take by chance with the swine flu before 1) believing a government that is corrupt and is in business with the companies that will profit and 2)signing the disclaimer that clearly states I can get Guillian Barre from the flu shot.
Zed,
so will you use the nasal spray vaccine instead?
according to joseph Albietz at sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=851
"As of 2009, over 40 million people have been given squalene containing influenza vaccines in Europe. The incidence of serious adverse events so far reported, 1.4/100,000 doses administered, is at the baseline of the general population with no exposure to the vaccine.
As far as long-term follow-up, squalene has been studied as part of influenza vaccines in over 30 phase 1-4 trials, 13 of which had 4-6 month follow-up, and included over 14,000 people, and the current influenza vaccines in development are subject to clinical trials with a 6-12 month follow up schedule."
Which experts are advising against its use and why?
Dr gunter - thanks for the informative article. We have seen several pregnant patients end up in our icu on vents from h1n1. I hope the vaccine can help prevent this!
Thanks for the info! My cousin was really worried about getting the vaccine but I sent this to her and she's feeling better about it.
Sorry, AnneS, but YOU didn't do your homework. There's lots of mercury in lots of foods, including fish, chocolate, and bakery products. The cumulative amounts are much more than you'd get from a thiomersal containing vaccine.
There's mercury all around us, but in very small quantities.
Mike Stanton,
No, I won't "use the nasal spray instead" because I don't see vaccines as the safest, most effective way to cope with a relatively innocuous influenza. As for the squalene, the CDC and HHS ruled against its use in swine flu because the history of neurological dysfunction is too high. Some other countries will be using it (as they have before) and the injuries appear to be more delayed than a matter of days or weeks.
So Zed, let me see,
adverse effects of squalene based on 40 million doses over 10 years: 14 in a million;
risk of G-B from swine flu vaccine: 1 in a million;
risk of adverse effects from flu virus: 100 per cent, including 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the USA alone.
OK. you keep taking the virus. I'll go with the vaccine.
The crude (overestimated, but still) death rate of H1N1 has just reached 1.1% (that is 11'000 in 1 million), pregnant women are overrepresented 14x amongst the fatalities (1% of H1N1 cases are pregnant women, but 14% of the fatalities were pregnant). *What* are we debating?
Danger to pregnant women was arrived at in this manner: Study included 34 women who contracted swine flu, 11 of whom were pregnant. Of these 11, 6 died. ALL SIX WHO DIED RECEIVED TAMIFLU AFTER THEIR DIAGNOSIS. THEIR (HEALTHY) BABIES WERE TAKEN FROM THE DEAD MOTHER'S WOMB. NOTE: THE INFANTS DID NOT HAVE SWINE FLU, WHICH INDICATES IT WASN'T THE DREADED VIRUS THAT KILLED THE MOTHERS.
Yes, keep the vaccine for yourself M Stanton. Good luck.
Interesting what is said here. But like the circumcision debate, I'll keep on going natural. When things are not "known" best to side with mother nature. I balance what is said here and at Dr. Mercola's site.
Frank - it is perfectly "natural" to die from infectious disease or to get really really sick.
Effects from ingesting chemicals is entirely different from injecting them. Squalene is only dangerous and causes severe (often horrible) effects when injected, but can be eaten in fairly large quantities with no adverse effects. Of course this hasn't stopped the government from forcing soldiers to take squalene enhanced anthrax vaccines which provide no protection against any of the military grade strains of anthrax available to terrorists. The key word is profit.
Flu vaccines can of course give the flu. The level of mass production, and the quality control implemented allows many vials to contain live virus, and some totally destroyed virus that gives zero protection. The goal of a vaccine is to introduce a severely weakened virus that the body will react to and produce antibodies without being in danger of the virus multiplying. The actual vaccines produced are within a bell curve considered satisfactory.
I think it is interesting how Mike responds to almost everyone who talks against the flu vaccine, except Swan, who made a great point and almost lost her husband due to a reaction from a flu shot...
rmh makes some great points.
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