Monday, November 2, 2009

Normal flu jabs 'double the risk of catching swine flu'

I'm a little late on this but it's too important not to get out there, in case you didn't already know. And of course, the 'other' experts have dismissed this study out of hand, immediately, without any kind of scientific inquiry at all. They're just a bunch of kooks wearing white jackets, right? Defer to the experts? Well which experts are the real kooks? Gosh, looks like you, the slave, will just have to do the research yourself and trust your own judgment.

    Daily Mail UK -

    Seasonal flu jabs could double the risk of developing swine flu, researchers have claimed.

    The findings from led to some states in the country delaying seasonal flu jab campaigns amid fears the recipients could be more vulnerable to a second surge of the pandemic.

    The UK’s (JCVI), an independent advisory group, says the study’s findings have not been substantiated in any other country.

    Patient receiving flu jab

    Fear: A study carried out in Canada claims that flu jabs double the risk of developing swine flu

    The has also dismissed them, and separate research suggests seasonal flu jabs might actually protect against swine flu.

    Last week, GPs across the UK began their seasonal flu campaign, which aims to protect more than 15million people, including those aged over 65 and those with long-term conditions such as heart disease.

    Many of these people will also be in line for priority vaccination against swine flu, due to start by the end of the month, along with NHS frontline staff.

    Health chiefs are concerned that conflicting evidence about protection offered by flu jabs could deter those at risk of serious illness or dying from getting vaccinated.

    The Canadian study – led by Dr Danuta Skowronski of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control and Dr Gaston De Serres of Laval University, Quebec – has not yet been published in a medical journal but was reported in GP newspaper.


    However, the Government’s chief medical officer Sir said: ‘Other experts are sceptical about this finding.

    ‘It is not substantiated by other data worldwide, but it is something we have asked the
    JCVI to look at.’

    A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘The JCVI has considered the Canadian report suggesting a link between seasonal influenza vaccination and susceptibility to swine flu and has unequivocally discounted its findings.

    ‘The World Health Organisation has also considered the report and discounted its findings.

    ‘The WHO’s current view is that no country should change its position on vaccines on the basis of the Canadian study.’


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