Before You Get Vaccinated...
by Rick Ackerman 
Dec 8, 2003

One of the most enjoyable things about putting out this newsletter is receiving mail from subscribers whose collective expertise takes in such an astounding range of subjects. For instance, I’m tempted to ask where I could buy a copy of a somewhat famous photograph taken by Henry Hamilton Bennett – at a great distance, a man is shown jumping across the chasm formed by two adjacent buttes – but I’ll save that for later.

 It’s flu season now, and I’ve received from a Vancouver reader, Dr. B.W., a fascinating note concerning my apparent wisdom (retrospectively, that is) in having passed up a flu vaccination this year. Not getting my shot seemed like a big mistake when I was laid out Monday night with a 102 temperature and a dust-dry cough of the sort that marks a character for death when it is heard early on in a three-reeler. 

But it turns out there are some compelling facts we need to weigh in advance of any planned immunization. (This is notwithstanding the fact that America’s two flu-vaccine makers evidently have run out of supplies for this year.) I’ll let the good doctor tell you why getting a flu shot is not a no-brainer: [Comments below from Doctor B.W.]

“After some initial intelligent comments regarding risks of getting the Flu (Influenza), you leaped to the conclusion that since your wife didn't get your Flu then it must have worked. Poor scientific conclusion. My wife and daughter got the flu recently but my son and myself did not. None of us was vaccinated. 

Media Love the Flu

“You being business savvy and knowing about Da Boyz in the pits, you also must be aware of Da Boyz in the Av****s boardroom where marketing takes the form of fear mongering and political maneuvering. (Here in Canada, the province of Ontario is offering the flu shot free to everybody! What a marketing coup) The media loves the flu, and marketing by fear is an incredible motivator. 

“Of course your wife was made aware of the ingredients (mercury, formaldehyde) so she could make an informed decision to weigh the risks to the benefit. Bypassing the intestinal lymphatic filtration system by going direct to the blood is not intuitively a good thing to do. Is your wife aware that you now have permanent immunity to the flu strain you encountered, whereas she will lose her immunity (If she even got any) over time and the next time this same strain comes around you will be OK and she must be revaccinated. Ahhhh what's that? Did I hear repeat sales! A marketing dream come true. 

“By the way how many flu shots has she had?

“According to Hugh Fudenberg, M.D., the world's leading immunogeneticist and 13th most quoted biologist of our times (nearly 850 papers in peer review journals): If an individual has had 5 consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied) his/her chance of getting Alzheimer's Disease is 10 times higher than if he/she had one, two or no shots. Dr. Fudenberg said it was due to mercury and aluminum that is in every flu shot (and most childhood shots). The gradual mercury and aluminum buildup in the brain causes cognitive dysfunction. 

Does it save money?

“An article in ‘The Lancet,’ on “Vaccination and the control of influenza,” described the effect of influenza vaccination on a Post Office staff. After comparing absences due to sicknesses in over 50,000 employees in both the vaccinated and unvaccinated, it was concluded that the flu shots did not result in a significant reduction in flu. The effectiveness levels of flu vaccine can be down as low as 30%. Ever since the flu vaccine was introduced, published reports of ineffectiveness and adverse reactions, including deaths, were filling medical journals. Mass influenza immunization programs, as for other immunization programs, instead of protecting, actually predispose many people to the disease and made them susceptible through the process of desensitization to serious and, indeed, fatal outcomes. 

“Are there other side effects?

“Leon Chaitow in his book, “Vaccinations and Immunizations: Dangers Delusions and Alternatives,” says that there is strong evidence to link vaccines with allergies. For example, those adults receiving flu immunizations have shown a worsening of allergic symptoms (in one survey this occurred in 6 out of every 7 people who were immunized) as well as a worsening of other symptoms. Chaitow also explains the “Provocation Disease,” in which a vaccination against one disease leaves the body more susceptible to another disease. This occurs when there is a latent or incubating infection already present.

(“Vaccinations - Deception and Tragedy,” Michael Dye. 1999) 

Can We Trust Them?

“The 1976 ‘Swine Flu Fiasco.’ - Medical officers warned that the ‘swine flu’ would be one of the worst epidemics in medical history, and millions of dollars were appropriated by Congress to develop and administer a vaccine to prepare for this ‘killer flu.’ Only a total of 6 cases were reported, but the ‘swine flu’ vaccine caused a reported 565 cases of Guillain-Barre paralysis, 30-60 deaths and numerous other problems, including blindness and impotency. Although improvements have been made in flu vaccines since 1976, any and all flu vaccines are capable of causing Guillain-Barre.

“Is it about money?

“The Wall Street Journal suggested that there wasn't as much flu as there was advertising about the flu. Some doctors think it is less a matter of medicine than of marketing, and consumer groups say it’s all hype. They argue that the new drugs are expensive and they don't even work very well. Dr. Sydney Wolfe says the drug companies are inflaming people’s worries about the flu in order to sell their drugs. Doctors agree that the flu is serious, but some say the drug companies campaign has reached epidemic proportions. 

‘Flu Epidemic May Be Just a Flu Advertisement,’ ‘Outrage of the Month,’ Public Citizen’s Health Letter. Taken from ABC World News Tonight story on Jan.11, 2000, with Peter Jennings and Ned Potter)