Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger Lurking in Flu Shots

[Guest guest]

I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I catch a lot

of what goes

around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least, I am not

giving the flu to

my children.

What is everyone else doing?

>

> http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am not getting the shot fo rmy kids or myself. I did get the shot two of the

last three years and once before that. I figure I have only caught the flu one

year out of almost 40 so I am not too concerned. I am more worried about what

is in the shots!

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " emonline2000 " <emonline2000@...>

I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I catch a lot

of what goes

around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least, I am not

giving the flu to

my children.

What is everyone else doing?

>

> http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

>

>

[Guest guest]

My father in Law got a flu shot every year for the past 20 years at

least. He died at the age of 92 and he didn't have Alzheimer's. So I

don't know if I would believe that or not.

> >

> > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I'm not a proponent of Flu Shots in general. I believe if you maintain a

healthy lifestyle and be cautious around those who are not; then, one

should stay in generally good health. My son is 6 years old and I have

never given him a Flu Shot. He catches a cold here & there and has had a

couple of stomach bugs but has never had the Flu. I've had the flu perhaps

2x in my lifetime. Never a pleasant experience but your body works through

it without drugs. Can you tell I'm anti-pharma....?

" Janice "

<jscott@interbaun

.com> To

Sent by: < @...

childrensapraxian m>

et@... cc

m

Subject

Re: [ ] Re:

10/25/2007 01:01 OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger

PM Lurking in Flu Shots

Please respond to

childrensapraxian

et@...

m

I have read that if you get the flu shot more than 5 times in any single

decade that your risk of alzheimers goes up by 50%.

[sPAM] [ ] Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger

Lurking in Flu Shots

I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I catch

a lot of what goes

around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least, I am

not giving the flu to

my children.

What is everyone else doing?

>

> http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have read that if you get the flu shot more than 5 times in any single decade

that your risk of alzheimers goes up by 50%.

[sPAM] [ ] Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger

Lurking in Flu Shots

I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I catch a

lot of what goes

around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least, I am

not giving the flu to

my children.

What is everyone else doing?

>

> http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am neither pro or antipharma completely. I just don't like the

influence they bear on vaccines that often conflicts with sound

policy and personal decision. In the end they may come up with

something that helps our kids so I see them as friend and foe

depending on the situation.

It never occurred to me to get a flu shot for two reasons:

1) They are guessing at the strain so you could very well get

vaccinated against the wrong thing.

2) They have mercury in them.

It hascrossed my mind to get them and I even asked husband to get one

when I was pregnant because my great grandmother died of the flu

during the flu epidemic in 1918 and I thought if I was not getting

one he could help me not get the flu that way. No one got the flu but

my child was born with delays and my husband's hip and back have

never been right since. Since hubby suffers from fluorosis which hits

males in the hip my guess is the fluoride sucked in the mercury and

wreaked havoc on his gait and thin bones. We may never know but I am

sorry he got that shot. Since he got it at a pharmaceutical co

offering during a time when there wa an alleged shortage I am curious

as to why they felt the need to preserve it in the first darn place.

Were I getting a flu shot I'd request and be willing to pay for one

without preservatives.

> >

> > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I'm a pediatric nurse and would not get another flu shot or give one tomy

children or parents!!! I have never known it to hlep me when I was owrking in

the hospital from not getting the flu. It's just not so. The risks are just to

high. I've read too many things to make it sound unsafe. Unfortuanly I do

believe that these shots are not good for everyone so therefore, until they can

screan to whome they won't hurt, I will not give any more to my family. dian

Janice <jscott@...> wrote: I have read that if you get

the flu shot more than 5 times in any single decade that your risk of alzheimers

goes up by 50%.

[sPAM] [ ] Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger

Lurking in Flu Shots

I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I catch a lot

of what goes

around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least, I am not

giving the flu to

my children.

What is everyone else doing?

>

> http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

>

>

[Guest guest]

in 2003 i got the flu shot, but along with it i was taking medicine for

triglycerides.

in 3 days i was in intensive care with severe pancreatitis.

some of us cannot excrete metals, therefore all the autism prevalence.

i'd think long and hard before getting any shot with metals.

you can always use homeopathic medicine for flu or even prescription meds

to lessen severity of the flu.

kathy h.

Re: [ ] Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger

Lurking in Flu Shots

>I am not getting the shot fo rmy kids or myself. I did get the shot two of

>the last three years and once before that. I figure I have only caught the

>flu one year out of almost 40 so I am not too concerned. I am more worried

>about what is in the shots!

>

>

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> From: " emonline2000 " <emonline2000@...>

> I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I catch

> a lot of what goes

> around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least, I

> am not giving the flu to

> my children.

>

> What is everyone else doing?

>

>

>>

>> http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

In another life, pre kids and PDD, I was a pharmaceutical rep. I

lived in doctor's offices surrounded by all kinds of sick people. I

never took a flu shot and never got the flu. This was also before I

turned in to " organic earth mother " ...I didn't eat well, drank lots

of diet coke, stayed up late and got up early. So, I wasn't in tip

top shape not to get the flu. Just didn't happen.

Remember, it is an educated guess as to what strains of flu will be

around from year to year. The flu mutates, so it is constantly

changing. They look at the most common strains and build the vacc

based upon those strains. You can get another strain of the flu

even though you took the vac.

Also note, unless things have changed since last year, the flu

vaccine is contraindicated (do not give) for persons who are

allergic to eggs. I don't completely understand the biology, but it

is " grown " on eggs and will/can trigger an allergic reaction if you

don't tolerate eggs. A co-worker got very ill from this vacc for

this very reason.

Best of luck to everyone in your decision making process.

Stephanee

> >

> > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I just got flu shots for my high functioning autistic 3.5 year old and

my neurotypical 19 month old at Kaiser today. The shot for the 19 month

old was thimerosal-free by default, but you have to *request*

thimerosal-free for the shots they give to 3 and above. Interesting, huh?

Jim Kavitsky

emonline2000 wrote:

>

> I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I

> catch a lot of what goes

> around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least,

> I am not giving the flu to

> my children.

>

> What is everyone else doing?

>

>

> >

> > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Viruses are not living, self-contained life forms like a bacteria. They

require a living host cell in order to replicate, whereas most bacteria

will multiply when scattered over a nutrient substrate and maintained at

a reasonable temperature.

The weakened viruses used to construct a modern vaccine are usually

grown in live chicken eggs. It is apparently impossible (or

undesirable) to remove all of the egg proteins when the active viruses

are extracted.

Jim Kavitsky

bscmommy wrote:

>

> Also note, unless things have changed since last year, the flu

> vaccine is contraindicated (do not give) for persons who are

> allergic to eggs. I don't completely understand the biology, but it

> is " grown " on eggs and will/can trigger an allergic reaction if you

> don't tolerate eggs. A co-worker got very ill from this vacc for

> this very reason.

>

> Best of luck to everyone in your decision making process.

> Stephanee

>

> ---

>

> .

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, I am having such a hard time deciding whether or not to give my apraxic 2

year old a flu shot at his checkup in 2 weeks! I am in the medical profession

and have always felt the flu vaccine is important for babies and the elderly but

now I'm really scared to let my son get it this year (the office says the shots

are mercury free). He's making such amazing progress as of late and what if he

regresses after the shot?! On the other hand he goes to daycare/school twice a

week where there are sick kids all the time. Obviously this is a decision I

need to make on my own but it helps to hear what others are doing/feeling.

Kavitsky <jkavitsky@...> wrote: I just got flu shots

for my high functioning autistic 3.5 year old and

my neurotypical 19 month old at Kaiser today. The shot for the 19 month

old was thimerosal-free by default, but you have to *request*

thimerosal-free for the shots they give to 3 and above. Interesting, huh?

Jim Kavitsky

emonline2000 wrote:

>

> I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I

> catch a lot of what goes

> around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least,

> I am not giving the flu to

> my children.

>

> What is everyone else doing?

>

>

> >

> > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I'm 47. My kids are 13 and 17. The flu shot, Hep. B. and many others were

not recommended or given to my oldest when

she was little. The flu shot recommendations are pretty new and probably

the Pharma's way to just make more money.

When I was pregnant as well they NEVER recommended a flu shot.

JMO,

new to group,

Kathy H.

Re: [ ] Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger

Lurking in Flu Shots

> Wow, I am having such a hard time deciding whether or not to give my

> apraxic 2 year old a flu shot at his checkup in 2 weeks! I am in the

> medical profession and have always felt the flu vaccine is important for

> babies and the elderly but now I'm really scared to let my son get it this

> year (the office says the shots are mercury free). He's making such

> amazing progress as of late and what if he regresses after the shot?! On

> the other hand he goes to daycare/school twice a week where there are sick

> kids all the time. Obviously this is a decision I need to make on my own

> but it helps to hear what others are doing/feeling.

>

> Kavitsky <jkavitsky@...> wrote: I just got flu

> shots for my high functioning autistic 3.5 year old and

> my neurotypical 19 month old at Kaiser today. The shot for the 19 month

> old was thimerosal-free by default, but you have to *request*

> thimerosal-free for the shots they give to 3 and above. Interesting, huh?

>

> Jim Kavitsky

>

> emonline2000 wrote:

>>

>> I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I

>> catch a lot of what goes

>> around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least,

>> I am not giving the flu to

>> my children.

>>

>> What is everyone else doing?

>>

>>

>> >

>> > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

>> <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

>> >

>> >

[Guest guest]

Sorry if I sound daft but why would you give a 2 year old a flu shot? I can

understand this to some degree in school aged children as viruses are simply

rampant throughout the school. But a 2 year old is generally at home with

mom... and you have a lot of control to what your child is exposed to on

playdates, playground activities etc.

I have never given any of my kids flu shots and they were fine without it even

when attending daycare full time when they were little. We are starting to use

various vitamins when the kids get 'sign's of somethings; it is working

extremely well. In addition, Mark is so well-pumped with vitamins, I am

guessing that he is the 'best-protected' kid in town!

Think about your daycare and take a 'hard' mommy look but for 2 days a week, I

would not bother with a flu shot.

Isn't it good for the body to contract some illnesses so that it can build up

natural immunities anyway? I have seen my friends who get the flu shot annually

and still get sick with the flu! I really like to use Airborne on myself and

find that it works extremely well to minimize the effects of illness!

Janice

[sPAM] Re: [ ] Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger

Lurking in Flu Shots

Wow, I am having such a hard time deciding whether or not to give my apraxic 2

year old a flu shot at his checkup in 2 weeks! I am in the medical profession

and have always felt the flu vaccine is important for babies and the elderly but

now I'm really scared to let my son get it this year (the office says the shots

are mercury free). He's making such amazing progress as of late and what if he

regresses after the shot?! On the other hand he goes to daycare/school twice a

week where there are sick kids all the time. Obviously this is a decision I need

to make on my own but it helps to hear what others are doing/feeling.

Kavitsky <jkavitsky@...> wrote: I just got flu shots for my

high functioning autistic 3.5 year old and

my neurotypical 19 month old at Kaiser today. The shot for the 19 month

old was thimerosal-free by default, but you have to *request*

thimerosal-free for the shots they give to 3 and above. Interesting, huh?

Jim Kavitsky

emonline2000 wrote:

>

> I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I

> catch a lot of what goes

> around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least,

> I am not giving the flu to

> my children.

>

> What is everyone else doing?

>

>

> >

> > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Does the 2 yr old have older siblings who can bring things home? Is the 2

yr old around elderly or immuno-compromised people? Often younger children

are recommended to get flu shots when they live or are frequently around

elderly.

Miche

On 10/26/07, Janice <jscott@...> wrote:

>

> Sorry if I sound daft but why would you give a 2 year old a flu shot?

>

[Guest guest]

Airborne is good stuff! We have used that for a couple years in the winter when

we felt like we might be getting sick.

--------- [sPAM] Re: [ ] Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger

Lurking in Flu Shots

Wow, I am having such a hard time deciding whether or not to give my apraxic 2

year old a flu shot at his checkup in 2 weeks! I am in the medical profession

and have always felt the flu vaccine is important for babies and the elderly but

now I'm really scared to let my son get it this year (the office says the shots

are mercury free). He's making such amazing progress as of late and what if he

regresses after the shot?! On the other hand he goes to daycare/school twice a

week where there are sick kids all the time. Obviously this is a decision I need

to make on my own but it helps to hear what others are doing/feeling.

Kavitsky <jkavitsky@...> wrote: I just got flu shots for my high

functioning autistic 3.5 year old and

my neurotypical 19 month old at Kaiser today. The shot for the 19 month

old was thimerosal-free by default, but you have to *request*

thimerosal-free for the shots they give to 3 and above. Interesting, huh?

Jim Kavitsky

emonline2000 wrote:

>

> I am not getting flu shots for my children, but am thinking, since I

> catch a lot of what goes

> around, that I should get the flu shot for myself. That way, at least,

> I am not giving the flu to

> my children.

>

> What is everyone else doing?

>

>

> >

> > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I don't know who stands to make money on this, but my guess is the

biggest reason to vaccinate your kids is so parents don't miss work

and cost their employers in lost productivity. I mean seriously, why

do they recommend children be vaccinated for chicken pox if they don't

have an underlying medical condition? Because most children are not

at home with their parents - daycares don't want sick kids - and well,

it's inconvenient to stay home when your kids are sick.

All of these 'optional' vaccines are no longer just a good idea for

the elderly or for people who are fragile or immune suppressed.

Because of my son's seizures, we really never wanted to risk getting

any condition that would lower his seizure threshold, so he does get

vaccinated against things my other children do not.

That being said, it is true that children die from influenza and its

sometimes severe respiratory complications. This is not the stomach

flu, or another mild bug. However, the vast majority of kids handle

it fine. But, millions of people being vaccinated for illnesses that

were once accepted as 'normal' would certainly be another thing

driving up the costs of US health care.

Though there

> > >

> > > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> > <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

What is in it? As I recall a teacher developed it which I always

thought was neat.

> > >

> > > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> > <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

What I want to know about the flu vaccine is this: in past years they

have gone on about shortages. If there is a shortage then why

preserve it with mercury or anything since a shortage would indicate

you can't make it fast enough?

Also, what replaces the thimerosol? If it is a luminum that's no

picnic.

> > > >

> > > > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> > > <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Pharmaceutical companies !

More parents miss work ( or cannot work ) due to their children

becoming autistic after too much mercury is injected in

them...............have you thought of it that way ??

There is no guarantee that a shot will keep your kid from getting

sick anyway.

Kathy

[ ] Re: OT/EMERGENCY ALERT: Great Danger Lurking

in Flu Shots

>I don't know who stands to make money on this, but my guess is the

> biggest reason to vaccinate your kids is so parents don't miss work

> and cost their employers in lost productivity. I mean seriously, why

> do they recommend children be vaccinated for chicken pox if they don't

> have an underlying medical condition? Because most children are not

> at home with their parents - daycares don't want sick kids - and well,

> it's inconvenient to stay home when your kids are sick.

>

> All of these 'optional' vaccines are no longer just a good idea for

> the elderly or for people who are fragile or immune suppressed.

> Because of my son's seizures, we really never wanted to risk getting

> any condition that would lower his seizure threshold, so he does get

> vaccinated against things my other children do not.

>

> That being said, it is true that children die from influenza and its

> sometimes severe respiratory complications. This is not the stomach

> flu, or another mild bug. However, the vast majority of kids handle

> it fine. But, millions of people being vaccinated for illnesses that

> were once accepted as 'normal' would certainly be another thing

> driving up the costs of US health care.

>

>

>

> Though there

>> > >

>> > > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

>> > <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

>> > >

>> > >

[Guest guest]

Has anyone used Sambucol? I think is elderberry. I used it last year, but when

I went in to

buy some today, they said something about it being recalled! (That makes you

feel

wonderful.) The man said that it was produced in Israel, and when Nature's Way

went to

inspect the plant, they learned that there were " secret " ingredients being used

that were

not listed on the label. Has anyone heard anything on this? Sounded a little

crazy to me.

> > >

> > > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> > <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Wow. , check this out. Whats done is done but please, there is

a lot of information available.

I also suggest you go to u tube and search: Dr. Ayoub... there

is a MUST SEE presentation he did at a conference - a lot about the

flu vax.

below also written by him..............

Vaccination programs not always beneficial

Published June 18, 2007

Roxanne Dewyer\'s column \ " Responsible remedy\ " (SN 6/13), cannot

discuss the

issue of vaccine safety fairly without speaking to researchers and

physicians

who hold the opposite opinion.

The vaccine program in the U.S. is one of the most corruptly

influenced health

care programs in existence. Using scare tactics of widespread death,

industry-influenced agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, and organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics

mandate

vaccines to \ " save lives\ " while drug companies make billions in

profits. The

influenza vaccine, for example, is about 5 percent effective in

preventing

flu-like illness and this is only theoretical.

Deaths among children and pregnant women are virtually unheard of,

yet public

health programs scare citizens into getting the flu vaccine because

of 36,000

annual flu deaths - a figure that is hyperinflated by adding all

pneumonia

deaths (which is common, especially in cancer patients, etc.) to

influenza

deaths. More than 90 percent of flu vaccines still contain

ethylmercury, and

children following the CDC\'s recommendation can receive more than

half the

mercury dose prior to the time it was taken out of other childhood

vaccines.

Few journalists and physicians are aware there has never been safety

testing on

Thimerosal - it is such an ineffective preservative that in 2004, the

U.S. lost

more than half of its flu supply because bacteria grew in Chiron\'s

flu vaccine,

in spite of Thimerosal\'s presence. Why do health officials still

insist on

using this if it doesn\'t work?

The link to vaccines and autism is undeniable, and the studies that

refuted the

link are sponsored by liable drug companies and health care agencies

like the

CDC who are responsible for oversight failure. Dewyer should have

presented the

other side of the story. This used to be called \ " balanced

journalism\ " - today

it is just one-sided propaganda.

Ayoub, M.D.

Springfield, Ill., resident

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

Everyone please check this out - flu vaccine specific

http://www.wellwithin1.com/flu.htm

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

And now my personal opinion. It is utterly CRAZY business to subject

a child on the spectrum or a sibling a flu shot.

The fact that that particular health care facility made a prevision

only suggest to me that someone although clueless, has a conscience.

Children and elderly are the population who SHOULD NOT EVER get any

vaccine.

Mother of a recovering VACCINE INJURED CHILD

> > >

> > > http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm

> > <http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_70.htm>

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Airborne is great...we love it too!!! It has Homeopathics, Echinacea, minerals,

vitamiins, and aminoacids!!! Love, Gabby. :0)

[Guest guest]

My immediate family has never gone for the flu vaccine -but my mom

who is considered in a high risk group due to her age does each

year. Being informed doesn't necessarily mean that you won't

vaccinate yourself or your child child -but that you will be able to

make an educated decision based on you or your child's risk (asthma

etc)

You'll be hearing about the Faces of Influenza next month. The flu

is one of the top killers in the US including sadly to young children:

" You also will come to realize that influenza is not the common cold.

It's serious. Each year, approximately 226,000 Americans are

hospitalized with complications from influenza. An average of 36,000

people die from the virus and its complications.1 "

" Among the faces featured on this site are two families who suffered

the deaths of healthy, vibrant children to influenza. "

http://www.facesofinfluenza.org/

" On the morning of February 28, 2004, 4-year-old Kanowitz

developed a cough and moderate fever. By the next morning, she was

vomiting, but her parents and Alissa kept an eye on her and

expected her symptoms to improve and go away.

By that evening, however, grew increasingly weak and her lips

appeared gray. A call to the doctor eased their fears. He told them

that as long as was kept hydrated with little sips of water,

she'd get better and be okay.

Around 3 a.m. the next morning, awoke complaining of thirst

and a stomach ache. A glass of water and a trip to the bathroom

seemed to help, and she returned to bed.

However, when the family woke up at 7:30 a.m., 's parents found

her lifeless in bed. had been stricken with influenza—a

vaccine-preventable disease. "

http://www.facesofinfluenza.org/PortraitGallery.html

Influenza-Associated Deaths among Children in the United States, 2003–

2004

Niranjan Bhat, M.D., G. , D.V.M., M.P.H., R.

Broder, M.D., L. Murray, M.S.P.H., E. Greenberg, M.D.,

M.P.H., Maleeka J. Glover, Sc.D., M. Likos, M.D., M.P.H., Drew

L. Posey, M.D., M.P.H., Klimov, Ph.D., E.

Lindstrom, Ph.D., Balish, B.S., Marie-jo Medina, M.S.,

R. Wallis, M.S., Jeannette Guarner, M.D., D. Paddock,

M.D., M.P.H.T.M., Wun-Ju Shieh, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., Sherif R. Zaki,

M.D., Ph.D., J. Sejvar, M.D., K. Shay, M.D., M.P.H.,

A. Harper, M.D., M.P.H., J. , Ph.D., Keiji Fukuda,

M.D., M.P.H., M. Uyeki, M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P., for the

Influenza Special Investigations Team

Perspective

by Dolin, R.

Letters

PubMed Citation

ABSTRACT

Background Although influenza is common among children, pediatric

mortality related to laboratory-confirmed influenza has not been

assessed nationally.

Methods During the 2003–2004 influenza season, we requested that

state health departments report any death associated with laboratory-

confirmed influenza in a U.S. resident younger than 18 years of age.

Case reports, medical records, and autopsy reports were reviewed, and

available influenza-virus isolates were analyzed at the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention.

Results One hundred fifty-three influenza-associated deaths among

children were reported by 40 state health departments. The median age

of the children was three years, and 96 of them (63 percent) were

younger than five years old. Forty-seven of the children (31 percent)

died outside a hospital setting, and 45 (29 percent) died within

three days after the onset of illness. Bacterial coinfections were

identified in 24 of the 102 children tested (24 percent). Thirty-

three percent of the children had an underlying condition recognized

to increase the risk of influenza-related complications, and 20

percent had other chronic conditions; 47 percent had previously been

healthy. Chronic neurologic or neuromuscular conditions were present

in one third. The mortality rate was highest among children younger

than six months of age (0.88 per 100,000 children; 95 percent

confidence interval, 0.52 to 1.39 per 100,000).

Conclusions A substantial number of influenza-associated deaths

occurred among U.S. children during the 2003–2004 influenza season.

High priority should be given to improvements in influenza-vaccine

coverage and improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of influenza

to reduce childhood mortality from influenza.

Source Information

From the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Career Development Division,

Office of Workforce and Career Development (N.B., J.G.W., K.R.B.,

M.E.G., M.J.G., A.M.L., D.L.P.); and the Influenza Branch (E.L.M.,

A.K., S.E.L., A.B., M.M., T.R.W., D.K.S., S.A.H., N.J.C., K.F.,

T.M.U.), Infectious Disease Pathology Activity (J.G., C.D.P., W.-

J.S., S.R.Z.), and Office of the Director (J.J.S.), Division of Viral

and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.

Drs. Bhat and contributed equally to the article.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Bhat at the Division of Viral and

Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC,

Mailstop A-32, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, or at

nbhat@....

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/353/24/2559

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[Guest guest]

I am sick about this topic since we just got the shot for my 3.9 year old

grandson. I posted about our quandary a few weeks ago and got a few replies but

nothing like the debate that is going on now. In the end we decided to go on

the advice of our pediatrician who has been a personal friend of mine for 25

years. He said of course the decision was ours but if it were his grandson he

would give the shot given his respiratory issues that he is not calling asthma

but is treating like asthma. I can't change the fact that he has now had the

shot, but can anyone who feels the shot is dangerous because of the thimerisol

(which my ped. says is about the amount in a salmon meal), tell me when to

expect the bad things to start happening. So far I have not noticed anything,

but it has only been 5 days. I would like to know at some point that I can stop

worrying that we may have made the wrong decision. Aggie