H1N1 shots

The shot is full of controversial ingredients, including mercury or squalene as the adjuvant (squalene is the ingredient in the soldier-mandated anthrax vaccine from the first Gulf War and the cause of Gulf War Syndrome). The H1N1 vaccine is another fast-tracked vaccine which means it has undergone very few safety studies. They are finding that 2-4 shots must be given to ensure effectiveness. That can mean up to 48mcg of mercury, more than 3 times the “safe” amount for an adult that weighs 125lbs (if the shot you get uses Mercury as the adjuvant). Lastly, I think it’s interesting that one of the U.S.’s most famous doctor’s wife and children will not be getting the H1N1 vaccine. Check out this clip of Dr. Oz on CNN (sounds like his wife wears the pants in their family):

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A nurse at our community meeting said it best: “Probably the best thing you can do this flu season is make sure you are prepared to hunker down at home for 2-4 weeks if the swine flu hits your home town hard. That means having enough food, Tylenol, and anything else you need so that you don’t have to leave the house.” Personally, I’m more worried about the long-term effects of the vaccine than I am getting the virus. We plan to be prepared to stay home vs risking putting a highly controversial vaccine into our or our baby’s bodies.

Here’s the problem with “suspicious” vaccines: mindful, research-oriented parents like me are beginning to distrust the entire vaccination industry and government recommendations because of the controversy surrounding vaccines that are pushed by the CDC yet have been proven ineffective (Gardisil, chickenpox), are inappropriate (Hep B), where the disease can be prevented by less risky means (Gardisil), or where the risks from getting the vaccine could be worse than getting the disease itself (all vaccines mentioned above). Many of us parents have become paralyzed, only partially vaccinating or not vaccinating our kids at all.

Unfortunately, there are no clear answers, and, given the dynamics of big business and government pockets, it is hard to know who to trust. Dr. Mercola recently wrote an article pleading with parents to not give their children the H1N1 vaccine due its potential dangers and the unwarranted fear of the flu itself. In it, he mentions the size of government contracts for H1N1 producers. I know someone needs to produce (necessary) vaccines and they should be paid for it, but, at what point, does greed come into play?

One of the main reasons I am generally tentative about vaccinations is that, in addition to my fears of short-term severe reactions, I am increasingly more concerned about the long-term effects of vaccines on our health, given the rise of unexplained autoimmune disease, autism, and neurological disorders that seem to have risen in parallel with the number of vaccinations we are administering to our children. Frankly, given these concerns plus the CDC push of seemingly unnecessary vaccines, I am having a hard time signing up to give my daughter any vaccines. Yet I and many other mothers I talk to are concerned that, perhaps, some vaccines warrant being given. We wonder how stupid we will feel if our child contracts one of the actually deadly diseases because we chose not to vaccinate for it. We are on our own, as usual, taking ours and our children’s health into our own hands.