[NVIC] Flu vaccine is deadly to some elderly

[Guest guest]

E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER

Vienna, Virginia http://www.nvic.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

#8122

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

" Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982. "

============================================================================

==============

BL Fisher Note:

Failure of government health officials and physicians to acknowledge

biodiversity and individualize vaccine policies is one reason why flu

vaccine may be killing the elderly taking certain medications. The adoption

of risky one-size-fits-all vaccine policies, which employ a utilitarian

rationale that some may be sacrificed for the " greater good, " lead to

complacency when children or adults die or are left permanently injured

following vaccination. Vaccine makers, government health agencies and

physicians all have a duty to make sure that the process of vaccination does

not kill or injure people and they should be held legally accountable if

they fail to do that.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/30/nflu30.xml & s

Sheet=/news/2005/10/30/ixnewstop.html

Telegraph, U.K.

10/29/2005

Flu jab may be fatal to some pensioners

By Beezy Marsh, Health Correspondent

Winter flu jabs are being linked to an increased risk of life-threatening

illness among the elderly.

Dozens of pensioners taking Warfarin to ward off strokes have suffered

internal bleeding after flu jabs, leading to fears of potentially fatal

interactions between the vaccine and blood-thinning medication.

A Government committee has investigated safety fears over the winter flu

vaccine and the clot-busting drug after a cluster of adverse reactions were

reported by general practitioners.

Six pensioners at the same surgery were reported to have suffered internal

bleeding after having the jab, leading to an inquiry by the Government's

Committee on Safety of Medicines.

Medical records going back 35 years show a further 25 cases of suspected

serious interactions between Warfarin and the flu vaccine. In three cases,

the adverse reactions - reported to the Medicines and Healthcare Products

Regulatory Agency - were fatal.

Since 2001, a total of 449 adverse reactions to the flu jab have been

reported. Twenty people are known to have died after the jab, with the

causes of death including sudden death, blood poisoning, heart attack,

pulmonary embolism and pneumonia.

But because many of the patients receiving the injection were elderly,

experts say it could be coincidental that they died shortly after

vaccination, and no evidence of a causal link has been established.

However, CSM experts were concerned that the flu jab - which is mainly aimed

at the over-65s, who are a target group for anti-stroke medication - could

be destabilising Warfarin and increasing the risk of fatal internal

bleeding.

A total of 14 million flu jabs are expected to be given this winter, with

demand heightened by the potential bird flu pandemic.

The World Health Organisation has urged all those eligible, including the

over-65s, people with asthma and diabetes, to have the jab to reduce the

likelihood of getting the flu virus, which if it came into contact with

avian flu may spread it to humans.

During the CSM investigation it emerged that neither the flu vaccine itself

nor the Government's Green Book, which advises doctors on drug interactions,

mentioned problems with Warfarin.

But another medical " bible " , the British National Formulary, does state that

the action of Warfarin is occasionally enhanced by the influenza vaccine.

Thirteen medical studies into the possible reaction between the flu jab and

Warfarin were examined. Three supported the theory, eight did not and two

found that the flu jab actually encouraged blood clotting.

The CSM inquiry concluded that if a risk of interaction did exist, " it may

not be possible to define those at risk " , and it has decided against warning

GPs to watch out for internal bleeding among pensioners on Warfarin who have

the flu jab.

The report added: " The available evidence does not allow any firm

conclusions to be drawn on causality and no regulatory action was

recommended. "

A spokesman for the MHRA last night defended the decision of the CSM and

said that in the cases of the three fatalities the reporting doctor did not

" specifically state that the event was due to an interaction between

influenza vaccine and Warfarin. "

Pregnant women may be offered the winter flu vaccine from next year because

they are more susceptible to pneumonia. A serious case of flu can also raise

the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester and of premature delivery in

the latter stages of pregnancy. The Government's Joint Committee on

Vaccination and Immunisation is reviewing safety data. It is also understood

to be looking at extending free flu jabs to cover all those in the 50 to 64

age group.

=============================================

News@... is a free service of the National Vaccine Information

Center and is supported through membership donations. Learn more about

vaccines, diseases and how to protect your informed consent rights

http://www.nvic.org

Become a member and support NVIC's work

https://www.nvic.org/making%20cash%20donations.htm

To sign up for a free e-mail subscription http://www.nvic.org/emaillist.htm