A pinch is all you have to fear from a flu vaccine,
not dystonia (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
In a news release by Jenny McCarthy's anti-vaccine group, Generation Rescue, the group uses the case of Desiree Jennings to highlight the "dangers" of vaccines. Ms. Jennings claims she acquired dystonia from a flu vaccine. The release notes that "the condition dystonia is listed in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) as a possible side effect from vaccines and there are 67 reports of dystonia in the system." This is true. There are 67 cases of dystonia entered in the system. However, there are only 5 related to flu vaccines since 1990. The other 62 are associated with other vaccines.
VAERS is a database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The database is designed to report and track incidents associated with any type of vaccine in the United States.
After previous reports of Desiree Jennings acquiring dystonia from an influenza vaccine she received in August, a search of the VAERS database was done for any cases of dystonia associated with the influenza vaccine. Although there is no identifying information associated with the report, one record fits Ms. Jennings' case. The record, number 359903-1, is of a woman in the 18 to 29 age group (Ms. Jennings is 25). It was filed in October, and it told the story of her symptoms two weeks after receiving the flu vaccine:
Sore throat, nasal congestions, followed by fever, body aches, chills, and headache.10/8/08 Medical records received, Dates of Service 10/2-10/3/09. Diagnosis: Weakness. Pt. experienced sore throat, congestion, body aches, chills, headache, fatigue and fever 3 days after receiving the influenza vaccine. The fatigue continued for almost 2 weeks during which the patient continued to work, but on 9/12/09 she presented to the ED with generalized weakness, lightheadedness and an episode of syncopy that was accompanied by generalized convulsions. Admitted to the hospital from 9/12-9/14/09. CK and LFT's were noted to be significantly elevated. Returned to work on 9/17/09 and continued to experience nausea and syncope with all over trembling and was readmitted to the hospital overnight. On 9/21 her PCP told her she had a positive ANA and lupus. Pt. began experiencing chest pain, for which steroids were prescribed. She saw an Infectious Disease MD on 9/22 and had a lumbar puncture which was normal. Pt. began experiencing difficulty walking, chills, sweats, tremors and vivid dreams with difficulty sleeping. She began having headaches described as a ""cold spot"" on the back of her head, had subsequently developed a stutter, but was able to speak clearly if she whispered. Her symptoms persisted and progressed to erratic movements of the toe, intermittent uncontrolled blinking, difficulty focusing, uncontrolled shaking, cold feet and sharp pains in the legs. Upon this admission the plan was to rule out GBS, MS, malignancy, Lyme and MG. Pt. noted to have dystonia, speech dysfunction, gait dysfunction, anxiety, SOB, photophobia, tinnitus in the left ear, and increase in appetite, a 2 lb. weight loss. It was also noted that the symptoms were worsened by warm water, especially at the knees. The admitting neurologist felt that there was a strong psychogenic component to the symptomology, and made a final diagnosis of weakness. 10/13/09 Medical records received from dates 10/2/09-10/4/09 Presented to for eval of p (REDACTED)"
(United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Public Health Service (PHS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) 1990 - last week, CDC WONDER On-line Database Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/vaers.html on Nov 4, 2009 10:20:23 AM)
Millions of people receive the seasonal influenza vaccine each year, and only 5 cases since 1990 have been reported where this "tragic story" has occurred. The numbers just don't add up.
UPDATE: Ms. Jennings went to see one Dr. Buttar who treated her with "chelation therapy" and has now almost completely recovered. In her own words, on her own video. The same Dr. Rashid Buttar who has been charged with unprofessional conduct before the North Carolina Medical Board. The same Dr. Rashid Buttar who claims there is no such thing as autism.
*CORRECTION: The article mentioned the VAERS record as being for someone in the "18-39" age group. It has been corrected to "18-29".
Comments
I think all these article's on the flu shot are cover ups! If it happened to that poor cheerleader it can happen to anyone of us... Numbers are not always going to add up! i am pretty sure there are many cases not reported...
All i am saying is dont take something you dont need! I havent taken any flu shots and i have not gotten sick! Everyone that gets the flu shot is always sick!?
I agree with numita. EVERYONE, all 200 million people who get the flu vaccine are sick. All of them. 200 million walking around backwards and talking like kids. The cheerleader's doctor wrote that report into vaers as a cover up. The nurses who saw her are in it too. And all those mothers of kids who die? They're probably getting good money for that, too. It's all a cover up! All of it! (NOT)
You all realize that the "flu shot" is an inactive form of the virus and that is physically impossible to get the flu from essentially what is a dead virus...right? If you get sick after the vaccine, it is what is called coincidence, and you were going to get sick anyways--with or without the vaccine! and putting your name twice but simply spelling it backwards the second time so you can agree with yourself is pathetic
The flu vaccination is NOT an inactive form of the virus. It is a "live" virus that is injected into your system in very small quantities so that your body can produce immunities to that virus. If the they injected a "dead" virus into you, your body would produce nothing. So you are really wrong, REALLY?
1) the age range is 18-29 (not 39)
2) this record is from Virgina (same as Desiree Jennings)
3) this record is for Fluzone--an inactivated virus vaccine. So there is no way to catch the flu from it.
4) the record is for a vaccination in August (same month)
5) the record is for a female
it would seem very likely this is the VAERS report for Ms. Jennings.
"The flu vaccination is NOT an inactive form of the virus. It is a "live" virus that is injected into your system in very small quantities so that your body can produce immunities to that virus"
This is wrong.
From the website for the vaccine mentioned in the VAERS report:
www.fluzone.com/?fa=protect/fluzone/about
"Fluzone vaccine contains three inactivated (killed) influenza viruses "
"If the they injected a "dead" virus into you, your body would produce nothing"
You really should read up a bit on vaccines. Many vaccines are based on fragments of the infectious agent. The pertussis vaccine, for example, is a fragment. Rotavirus, is a fragment.
Your body doesn't need to see the entire infectious agent to mount an immune response.
Technically a virus is not classified a living thing. It is not capable of metabolism, therefore it is not alive. It works by getting into the cell nucleus and reprogramming the DNA to it's code.
I took a anatomy class in cosmetology school and so I can speak with lots of authority about vaccines and I think they make you walk backwards.
I do not see how anyone can say that it is all in the cheerleader's head. That is just ridiculous to even say. It just shows you can always find someone to say what you want them to say. Think for yourselves.
Everyone who gets the flu shot is NOT always sick. I've had the flu shot annually for years and have not been sick with the flu once.
Rayne, hope you enjoyed reading the other versions to support the inactive virus, or non living virus, posted on this site. Yes the flu shot is a strain of the virus to alert your body to it and build immunities, but that does not mean it is live. They are inactive forms. The active form that is currently out there now is the H1N1 flu mist that is given in a nasal spray form and that is only given to a select population because it is indeed an active, or live, virus. This form is not given to anyone over 49, it is not given to pregnant women (who are in the first tier to receive the vaccine), it is not given to people with asthma or who are immunocompromised--because it is active. Do you see this happenining with the normal seasonal flu shot?
From what I understand there are both forms of vaccine. I'm not taking either, but if it was statistically relevant (in terms of my chances of dying versus getting sick), I would consider it. If these doctors could ID the problems, they would have a little more credence. I have only taking the regular flu shot and I have never been sicker with minor colds in one winter's time. Don't know what happened there?
You're all wrong. I'm a cheerleader and I am going to be validictorian. Swine Flu is taking over the world. We are all going to die. It says so in the bible. Jesus is coming. And my generation is going to Hell. See you all there.
I wonder if every time Jim Carrey tells Jenny that her claims sound a bit odd she just flashes him or otherwise "convinces" him her Google PhD makes her wild claims be right?
www.fda.gov has all the manufacture's inserts so you can read about the risks and related side effects from the seasonal flu as well as the swine flu vaccines. If this was a man with these symptoms do you think they would be saying it was in his head? I don't think so. There are risks to getting flu vaccines. There are risks to getting the illness. I just had the swine flu virus and would rather have it then risk an untested vaccine. My right not to vaccinate. If you fear the swine flu soo much get the vaccine and then you are considered protected so don't worry about those of us who don't vaccinate. Get over it!
@RANDOM, you have no right to infect others who cannot get the vaccine because they have AIDS or cancer or whatever with diseases. If you want to be the martyr, that's up to you, but leave the innocent out of it. Go die of measles and ignorance, jerk. Your right. I bet it's all about you, you, you!
"I just had the swine flu virus and would rather have it then risk an untested vaccine."
Good thing the vaccine was tested, eh?
Why do people persist in saying things that are just untrue?
"f this was a man with these symptoms do you think they would be saying it was in his head? "
Do you understand the word "psychogenic"? It's serious. It just isn't dystonia.
And, yes, if this case involved a man people would still be calling it "psychogenic", just as Desiree Jennings' own doctor appears to have done.
"I just had the swine flu virus and would rather have it then risk an untested vaccine."
Good thing the vaccine was tested, eh?
Why do people persist in saying things that are just untrue?
"f this was a man with these symptoms do you think they would be saying it was in his head? "
Do you understand the word "psychogenic"? It's serious. It just isn't dystonia.
And, yes, if this case involved a man people would still be calling it "psychogenic", just as Desiree Jennings' own doctor appears to have done.
Did you see all the hating over at the age of autism blog? Wow. You really ticked them off. One question to ask them is: Why have so many studies, some even from anti-vaccine movements, not found a definitive causative link between vaccines and autism? Are they all wrong? Is everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, in the pocket of big pharma? Is that even possible? (I guess everything is possible for those loons.)
Please watch these YouTube videos:
Desiree Jennings: Tongue Evolution & Fox News Flu Shot Hoax
Yeah...I think Ms. Jennings developed an ambulation backwardus mutation as a result of her 'flu shot.' I hear FOX News will has cashed in on this wonderous oddity. Stay tuned for more info, if said mutant rematerializes...
@Mom, How do you explain that there is now news that she was miraculously cured by chelation therapy? Chelation therapy cures genetic mutations?
The VAERS report accords with the Fairfax Inova report glimpsed in the youtube video, where the symptoms are identical and there is initial report of rhabdomyolysis and transaminitis CK and liver enzymes). The impression was the presentation was somatic however.
This VAERS report is clearly that of Jennings.
Great post. Perfect example of correlation not equaling causality. Her psychogenic disorder came after she got the vaccination ergo the vaccine MUST have caused it. It's going away now as she's receiving "chelation therapy" therefore Dr. Buttar MUST be doing wonders.
Neurologist Steven Novella wrote this on his blog: "The movements and symptoms that Ms. Jennings displays on the public videos I have seen are not compatible with the diagnosis of dystonia, or any other movement disorder. Dystonia is one type of involuntary contraction of muscles. It can be reduced or exacerbated by certain movements or positions, and there are “task specific” dystonia, such as writer’s cramp, that come out only with certain activity. Jennings does not display the type of movements that are consistent with dystonia. Her speech and movement are, however, very suggestive of a psychogenic disorder."
What are the risks of catching swine flu, H1N1?
Based on CDC data, 3-6% of those hospitalized for H1N1 flu and flu complications will die. For August 30-November 3, 672 Americans have died of swine flu or its complications, 3.7% of those hospitalized. 11% of those that died were pediatric patients.
How many people have died from the vaccine in either form? Over 20 million doses have been given.
Let's look at 1976. 500 adverse events and 25 deaths in 40 million doses. Had there been an actual epidemic, using 1957 flu rates, 0.2% of those infected would have died. That's 80,000 people.
If there is a risk from the vaccine, it has yet to be demonstrated that it is larger than contracting the illness itself. Indeed, your risk of death from swine flu appears to exceed any risks from the vaccine by orders of magnitude.
That poor girl. You people are despicable.
@GOTMYSHOT Chelating agents were introduced into medicine as a result of the use of poison gas in World War I.
It removes heavy metals from the body such as Lead, Arsenic, or Mercury. Mercury is found in Vaccines and if she was exposed to a combination of any of those metals, that would explain her symptoms since Mercury has an adverse neurological effect on the human mind (autism). You can deny the correlation between the vaccine and her illness but by doing so you're ignoring the fact that she has been disabled. It may not have completely caused the effects, but I'm sure it played some sort of role.
So the Big Pharma doesn't lobby the CDC or FDA? First they tell you it's completly safe then if you look into their records they say certain disorders might be connected to vaccines. Of course they don't ever seem to do tests on it to see.
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