Gearing Up for the Flu Season

Catherine J. Frompovich
Activist Post

It’s getting to be that time again when advertising campaigns will begin to persuade you to take flu shots in order to prevent contracting influenza. This writer wonders what kind of advertising campaign the feds will come up with for the 2013-14 flu season to persuade everyone to roll up his or her sleeve for any one of numerous trivalent and this season’s newly-approved quadrivalent influenza vaccines per the CDC’s website.

One has to keep in mind that some flu vaccines have mercury (Hg) in the form of Thimerosal in several multi-dose vial vaccines, that is, those vials from which healthcare professionals can fill empty syringes in their offices, not manufacturers’ prefilled syringes. If you are of the belief that a flu vaccine is helpful but want to avoid mercury in flu vaccines, then you ought to make certain that you receive a manufacturer’s prefilled-syringe-flu-vaccine. That is key with the exception of the Fluvirin® 0.5 mL one dose prefilled syringe, which contains some Thimerosal. For information about prefilled syringes, please see “Flu Vaccine Approved in Prefilled Syringe.”

Since mercury in vaccines is of concern, readers may want to know that the following flu vaccines contain Thimerosal, which is 49.6% Hg – ethylmercury:

Trivalent Vaccines 

Afluria® 5.0 mL multi-dose vial—one 0.5mL jab will contain 24.5 μg Hg package insert here. 

FluLaval® 5.0 mL multi-dose vial—one 0.5 mL jab will contain less than 25μg Hg  package insert here.

Fluvirin® 0.5 mL one dose prefilled syringe will contain ≤ 1 μg Hg 5.0 mL multi-dose vial—one 0.5 mL jab will contain 25 μg Hg package insert here. 

Fluzone® 5.0 mL multi-dose vial—one 0.5 mL jab will contain 25 μg Hg package insert here. 

FluLaval® Quadrivalent 5.0 mL multi-dose vial—one jab will contain 25 μg Hg package insert here. 

Please keep in mind that one (1) microgram (μg) equals 0.0010 milligram (mg).

However,

FluMist ® Quadrivalent is a live-attenuated vaccine that can shed vaccine virus to others, but has no mercury in its 0.2 mL prefilled intranasal sprayer package insert here.

Package inserts are provided for flu vaccines in this article because they contain important information that consumers should know before receiving any vaccine. That’s part of the informed consent process every savvy healthcare consumer should practice. Be certain to read the package inserts carefully, especially with regard to Contraindications, Warnings and Precautions, and Adverse Reactions.

Historically, there have been problems with flu vaccines and one in particular, the 1976 swine flu, was notorious for over four thousand individuals having experienced adverse reactions, especially contracting Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). 60 Minutes reporter Mike Wallace conducted a journalistic investigation of the campaign to get the public to take that vaccine and the results of what happened to some consumers who took the 1976 swine flu vaccine and contracted GBS. See this outstanding 8-minute, 60 Minutes journalism report that never was broadcast

Mike Wallace discusses the 1976 swine flu problems with government officials, who apparently say they did not know of—or denied—there were neurological complications and problems with that swine flu vaccine. Hear wiggle words when Mike Wallace confronts an official. Listen to obfuscation, which apparently is standard procedure.

Wallace discusses the marketing scheme to get consumers to take that 1976 flu shot. As part of that marketing campaign, TV actress Mary Tyler Moore was enlisted as receiving the swine flu vaccine, but told Mike Wallace that she did not take it. Listen as Mary explains what really happened, and how apparent falsehoods were fashioned into media spin. Does that still happen?

Further along in the 60 Minutes investigation, which apparently was banned and never aired but still is making the rounds on YouTube, as discussions go on about compensating GBS patients and Judy Roberts, who wears leg braces resulting from contracting GBS, plus the apparent run around those patients were getting back then. It seems nothing may have changed over the years, including fear-and-persuasion flu vaccination campaigns. Why are such fear tactics necessary? The answer probably is because they may be persuasive. Do your vaccine information homework, including learning that the CDC says flu vaccine does not work and a better flu vaccine is needed. See this and this.

What health conscious consumers can—and should—do now is to fortify one’s immune system by gearing up for the coming flu season to avoid contracting seasonal flu by eating organically-grown foods, no GMOs and junk foods; getting a handle on your vitamin D levels; consider vitamin C supplementation and the herb Echinacea to fortify your immune system; and look into homeopathic remedies and supplements to have on hand just in case you think you may be coming down with the flu. Amazon.com has a great selection of homeopathic flu remedies.

It’s not too early to begin an ‘offensive’ against seasonal influenza.

Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal Studies.

Two of Catherine’s more recent books on Amazon.com are Our Chemical Lives And The Hijacking Of Our DNA, A Probe Into What’s Probably Making Us Sick (2009) and Lord, How Can I Make It Through Grieving My Loss, An Inspirational Guide Through the Grieving Process (2008).