Are We Being Overmedicated for Swine Flu?

Swine Flu

There are several strains of swine flu known as of 2009; in particular, the 2009 pandemic known as H1N1. Contrary to popular belief, swine flu is not deadly in and of itself; it is simply another form of influenza, accompanied by chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, headaches, coughing, weakness, and general discomfort. However, there are certain side effects that can potentially lead to fatalities if left unchecked, with the most common being respiratory failure and pneumonia, as well as dehydration and a corresponding imbalance of electrolytes.

The first outbreak of swine flu occurred in 1918, when pigs became ill at the same time as humans. There have been several outbreaks over the years, with the most recent ones occurring in 1976, 1988, 1998, and in 2007 in the Philippines. The most recent outbreak has occurred in 2009, with the World Health Organization claiming that it was a public health emergency of international concern. However, it should be noted that no more people have died from the supposed swine flu pandemic than die every year during the ‘standard’ influenza season.

Typical ways of preventing transmission apply, just as they would with regular influenza. Coughing and sneezing are the most common ways in which the virus is spread between humans, as well as by individuals touching an object harboring the virus on it and then touching their own face – either their nose, mouth, or eyes. It is generally most contagious during the first five days of the illness. Standard precautions against influenza infection include washing hands with soap and hot water in public places, as well as use whenever possible of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Social distancing can also be used if the infection has spread throughout the community, and while there are vaccinations available, it is important to understand exactly how vaccines work and whether you should consider their use or rather avoid this step altogether.

Why Should I Avoid Vaccinations?

The issue with vaccinations is that they work in a very similar fashion to antibiotics. Taken enough times they can actually create a susceptibility to additional strains of viral infection or bacteria because the body eventually becomes so reliant upon the vaccination that it cannot fight off the infection on its own. In addition, there are often attendant side effects, not to mention that the virus can mutate once it has been exposed to the vaccination sufficient times.

Current Vaccinations

Federal authorities have acted rather erratically in the case of the H1N1 outbreak, changing their minds quite frequently about which drugs should be taken at which point in time, and in September of 2009 advised health care providers to consider simply watching for flu symptoms in individuals rather than prescribing the preferred antiviral drugs as soon as an individual was exposed to the flu. Dr. Anne Schuchat, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that, “In the new guidance, we add an option. Instead of preventive use of antivirals, providers might want to consider watchful waiting.”

This new stance confused the general public. Why was the CDC suddenly changing its mind in regards to when antiviral medication should be issued? The bottom line is that the side effects of many of the antiviral vaccinations the CDC was offering as treatment actually worsened many of the symptoms that individuals were suffering from as a direct result of the virus, such as fever and respiratory problems. After the panic settled down a bit, it was decided to allow clinicians to determine whether or not their patients who came into contact with the flu should be given a vaccination, and if so, at what point in time.

This is quite simply common sense. Vaccinations should never be given preventively until the potential side effects are known, and it is this rushed method of treatment that has caused many individuals to question the CDC in regards to their handling of this pandemic. Supposedly, the timing of treatment is important, with the first 48 hours being crucial in terms of determining the outcome and how individuals fare while actually suffering from swine flu.

The CDC now allows doctors to write patients prescriptions which they should only fill after they have developed symptoms and discussed those symptoms with their doctor. What this will do is allow patients to save time by actually have a prescription on hand in case they do become ill. Unfortunately, it does not assist those individuals who are having difficulties with breathing, eating, vomiting, or high fevers.

The CDC is also changing their tune regarding individuals who previously were considered “mandatory” vaccination targets, with Dr. Schuchat suggesting that not everyone needs to have a vaccination. “In fact, if all those people take antiviral medications, things might actually get worse,” she said, cautioning that the risk of mutation might occur after the influenza has been exposed to the vaccine over a wide variety of subjects.

The changing tactics, and mixed messages, combined with those using this pandemic to voice their own agenda regarding the safety of vaccinations of any kind, has sparked outrage amongst the public, who are anxious and confused.

According to Dr. Tom Jefferson, Tamiflu, the most commonly used and preferred method of treating swine flu, has a wide variety of significantly serious side effects which the CDC does not even bother to cite on its website or in its public information brochures. According to Dr. Jefferson, its benefits are modest compared to the risks that the side effects can present, with the only benefits being a shortening of the symptoms by perhaps one or two days and reducing viral excretion from the nose. “The evidence that they do anything else is controversial and there is a possibility of harms which hasn’t been taken seriously.” In addition, he informed CNN during a phone interview that the FDA database actually reports harmful side effects as a result of Tamiflu, ranging from “trivial all the way down to death”, and that use of the drug as a vaccination should be sparing at best.

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