United Healthcare Flu Vaccine Propaganda

[Guest guest]

I got a monthly member newsletter from United Healthcare. Of course I expected them to be shills for this flu vaccine nonsense:

http://www.uhc.com/news_room/swine_flu_advisory.htm

http://www.uhc.com/news_room/swine_flu_advisory/swine_flu_faq.htm

They also have a Doctor's column by: Rosen, M.D., is UnitedHealth Group’s clinical lead in developing comprehensive oncology disease management solutions. He is board certified in internal medicine and hematology.

The following question was asked:

http://pages.unitedhealthcare-hmhb.com/page.aspx?qs=c76003443ff9837da690dabb897252a3f3012f35de79837d9e958702e22de5fda29e1182bf2768f1181dcd3a3903a629472eda4490f4aa79663617bd9884472e15b399cdc0c3c36e0d16c2dd9dcf0de8

If anyone would like to send a reply to the "doctor", refuting his bogus answer, here is his email address. I would, but frankly I don't have all the facts at my fingertips and I'm too sick and on disability mainly due to an MMR vaccine injury 16 years ago.

thedoc@...

Q: Should I get a flu shot every year? A: Getting vaccinated every year is the best way to protect yourself against influenza, or the flu. It’s important to take steps to prevent the flu because it can be a serious illness. In fact, it causes about 36,000 deaths in this country annually, mostly among people ages 65 and older. Almost anyone can get the flu vaccine. But, certain groups should make yearly vaccination a priority. These include:

Children ages 6 months up to their 19th birthday Pregnant women Adults ages 50 and older People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions Those who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities People who visit, live with or care for those at high risk of complications from the flu. This includes health care workers and those who care for children less than age 6 months — these children are too young to be vaccinated. Because the virus strains change each year, you need a new vaccine annually. The vaccine doesn’t guarantee you won’t get the flu. But, it does lower your risk. It also can make your flu symptoms less severe than if you didn’t get vaccinated. You can get the vaccine through a shot or in the form of a nasal spray. You can opt for the spray if you’re:

Not pregnant Between ages 2 years and 49 years and generally healthy. This means you don’t have a condition that makes you more likely to get flu complications. Be aware that some people should talk with their doctors before they get the flu vaccine, such as those who:

Have developed Guillain-Barré syndrome — a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the nervous system — within six weeks of getting the flu vaccine Have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or have had a reaction to the vaccine You also shouldn’t get vaccinated if you’re ill with a fever. Instead, wait until you’re well. Something in the airFlu season in the United States generally runs from November through April. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect, so it’s best to get immunized as early as possible, starting in September. But, you still may benefit from vaccination later in the season. The flu virus is spread easily from person to person through droplets sneezed or coughed into the air. Surfaces, such as countertops and doorknobs, can be contaminated, too. If you touch them and then touch your nose or mouth, you can get infected. Along with being vaccinated, you can lessen your chances of becoming infected by washing your hands regularly. If you get the flu, help keep the virus from spreading by staying home from work or school. Also, talk with your doctor about antiviral medicines. They can help make the illness milder. However, antibiotics won’t help treat or prevent the flu. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/flu.

Rosen, M.D., is UnitedHealth Group’s clinical lead in developing comprehensive oncology disease management solutions. He is board certified in internal medicine and hematology.