XTEND-15sec-NEWSt
8th October 2003
Please click on the summary link of interest:
Hints for avoiding the flu... n1
In last weeks issue of Xtend-Your-Life we specifically addressed the issue of the flu vaccine and immunity in general. Tom, one of our subscribers wrote in with the following comment:
"Dear Warren, I read your article about the flu vaccine in your Oct. 1 newsletter. As far as the prevention aspect, while I completely agree with you about the steps you mentioned, I think you forgot to mention the most important steps (in my opinion) that anyone can take. They are...
Wash your hands with soap and water often.
Keep your hands off your face and away from your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing with your arm or sleeve. If you use your hands, wash them!
I preach this to my kids and they are generally healthier than most in the school. Hope you don't mind the feedback but I was surprised that these things were excluded."
Warren Matthews comments: Tom raises a very valid point and I thank him. I did neglect to include these points which I agree with. I would also add a further one which is probably the most important of the lot.
When you go to a public bathroom after you wash your hands use a clean paper towel to cover the handle when you open the door. Door knobs are the most likely means of picking up a virus. These virus's can survive for a long time on a door knob so it is pointless in washing your hands when using a public convenience if you allow your hands to get re contaminated from the door handle.
A recent study showed that a significant number of people do not wash their hands when they visit a public toilet... so be aware...
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More about the risks of FluMist vaccine...n2
There will soon be a significant push to encourage as many people as possible to take this vaccine as a precautionary measure. But, it is not all that it is represented to be. Warren Matthews raised some of the issues about this new vaccine in last weeks issue of Xtend-Your-Life.
In the meantime we have come across an excellent investigative article by Dr. Sherri Tenpenny who examines this new vaccine in depth.
Warren Matthews comments: If you are contemplating taking this vaccine then I believe that this article is a MUST read for the benefit of you and your family. It is crucial that you are 'armed' with the facts so you can make an informed decision.
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Vaccines in your Food?n3
Singaporean researchers have created zebrafish that produce vaccines in their muscles. They say the technology could also be used in more commonly eaten fish, such as salmon.
To read the full article click here.
Warren Matthews comments: I don't know about you but I am totally against genetically modifying animals and plants as I believe it will 'backfire' one day. Most people are unaware of just how serious this whole issue of genetic engineering is, particularly in the area of food production. You may be aware that even now there is corn produced that has a built in contraceptive! Not the greatest thing to eat if you are trying to start a family. It is inevitable that there will be 'mix ups' over the coming years.
The groundwork is slowly taking place in which a few major corporations will benefit at the expense of the many...
Here is a little example of genetic engineering which most people don't think about because it is so far removed from their daily lives...
In Malawi in central Africa a large proportion of the population used to survive on subsistence farming. They were a proud and independent people... but that culture is changing to one of dependency and handouts. Although there are many factors causing this culture change genetic engineering is a contributor. They have been encouraged to switch their traditional farming methods to use genetically modified maize in order to improve yields. BUT... GM seeds are sterile so they cannot prepare their own seeds for next season and as a result they are now totally dependant upon handouts from aid agencies to supply them the seeds each year.
So, even in the poorest countries of the world genetically modified foods are having a negative impact! Is creating a dependency the best use of our aid dollars?
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Important notice: All material provided within XTEND-15sec-NEWS is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this publication. Consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and wellbeing or on any opinions expressed within this newsletter. The information provided in this newsletter is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the editor but the reader is responsible for consulting with their own health professional on any matters raised within.
Risks of FluMist Vaccine f1
An Investigation By Dr. Sherri Tenpenny (Full Article)
www.nmaseminars.com
"MedImmune, the manufacturer of FluMist, recently announced that it signed an agreement that makes FluMist, the new intranasal influenza vaccine, readily available to people as they shop at Wal-Mart, the worlds biggest retailer." [1]
As the physician in charge of a bustling Integrative medical clinic, questions about vaccines frequently arise. After reading about the MedImmune-Walmart joint venture, I felt compelled to warn our patients and our internet subscribers of the potentially serious complications that may come from direct and passive exposure to this new vaccine. I also wanted to give a "heads up" to everyone regarding the onslaught of advertising that is about to besiege them.
Hundreds of TV and print advertisements have been designed to persuade everyone into taking the FluMist plunge. The campaign will be the "most intense, direct-to-consumer marketing campaign ever waged for a vaccine," costing an estimated $25 million over the next 2.5 months [2]. In addition, Wyeth, MedImmune's partner, plans a three-year, $100 million campaign to encourage use of the nasal flu vaccine among physicians.[3]
The television arm of the blitz campaign will focus on the "inconveniences" that your family, friends and co-workers will endure if you don't get the flu shot and subsequently contract the flu. Print advertisements and magazine articles apparently will use scare tactics-similar to those that were used while promoting the smallpox vaccine-which warned of the high possibility of a "bioterror attack using the flu virus."[4]
Apparently, the goal seems to center around frightening-or inducing enough guilt-that everyone would begin to demand the vaccine as soon as it is available. And at nearly $70 a dose, this will be a financial bonanza for MedImmune and Wyeth, who are expecting the vaccine to become the blockbuster new drug that will push MedImmune's revenues to more than $1billion/year. [5]
However, there are many reasons for caution. FluMist contains live (attenuated) influenza viruses that replicate in the nasopharynx of the vaccine recipient. The most common side effects include "cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, irritability, headaches, chills, muscle aches and fever > 100° F."[6] These symptoms are nearly identical to those the flu vaccine is designed to prevent. [7]
A cause for significant concern is the vaccine's most prevalent side effects: "runny nose" and "nasal congestion." It has been documented that the live viruses from the vaccine can be shed (and potentially spread into the community) from recipient children for up to 21 days,[8] and even longer from adults.[9] Viral shedding also puts breastfeeding infants at risk if the mother has been given FluMist.[10]
In addition to shedding via nasal secretions, the virus can be dispersed through sneezing. What is the normal physiological response when an irritant enters the nasal passages? A sneeze…sometimes a big sneeze…sometimes several big sneezes. Therefore, the risk for shedding-and spreading-live viruses throughout a school, church, workplace, or store - especially one which is administering the vaccine.
In the section of the FlumMist package insert labeled "PRECAUTIONS," the manufacturer states the following warning:
"FluMist® recipients should avoid close contact with immunocompromised individuals for at least 21 days."
The warning is specifically directed toward those living in the same household with an immunocompromised person, but the on-going release of live viruses throughout the community may be a significant risk to everyone who has a weak, or weakened, immune system.
The number of immunocompromised people in the United States is enormous:
It is estimated that at least 10%, or more than 28 million people have eczema. [11]
More than 8.5 million people have cancer. [12]
There are reported to be 850,000 individuals with diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV infection or AIDS [13] and
Based on 2001 data, there were 184,000 organ recipients [14]
An even more extensive list of at-risk people includes the untold millions on drugs called corticosteroids. Prednisone®, Medrol®, and a variety of similar medications are given to both adults and children. These drugs are prescribed for dozens of conditions including asthma; allergies; eczema; emphysema; Crohn's disease; multiple sclerosis; herniated spinal discs; acute muscular pain syndromes; and all types of rheumatoid and autoimmune diseases. As much as 60% of the entire population could be considered to be "chemically immunosuppressed." It is important to realize that FluMist is CONTRAINDICATED for people who are immunocompromised. People who receive FluMist and are living with an immunocompromised person put their loved ones at risk.
Will this make stores that administer the vaccines-like Walmart and the other pharmaceutical chain stores that have announced they will carry FluMist [15]-risky places to shop for large segments of the population? What measures will be taken in these stores to ensure that the virus will not become commingled with food? What hand washing policy is going to be enforced in the stores for all Walmart employees and customers who have received FluMist? These are reasonable questions that deserve answers.
The target market for FluMist is "healthy children and adults, ages 5 to 49 yrs." Some believe that by vaccinating these people, a type of "herd immunity" will occur that will protect the very young and the elderly who are excluded from getting this vaccine. However, it is these very "at-risk" populations who may suffer the most from the flu by being exposed to people who are given FluMist.
According to information presented at the May, 2003 National Influenza Summit,[16] approximately 85% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 50 go unvaccinated, and nearly 66% between the ages of 50 and 64 do not receive the flu vaccine. Have there been "raging epidemics" across the country due to lack of flu vaccinations? It appears that the massive campaign to vaccinate everyone this year appears may be motivated, in part, by economics.
The viruses suspected to be the most likely cause for the flu this season were negligibly different from the strains used in last year's flu vaccine. Therefore, the influenza vaccine produced for the 2003-2004 season is identical in composition to the one used last year. This marks only the second time that the same strains have been used during two consecutive flu seasons.[17] Consider that antibodies from other viral vaccines-such as MMR, polio and chickenpox vaccines-last at least 3 years, and in some instances, up to 15 years. If the viruses used in the vaccine are the same as last year, why is this year's vaccine even necessary?
An ever greater concern about FluMist is the contents within the vaccine. Each 0.5ml of the formula contains 10 6.5-7.5 particles of live, attenuated influenza virus. That means that between 10 million and 100 million viral particles will be forcefully injected into the nostrils when administered. The viral strain was developed by serial passage through "specific pathogen-free primary chick kidney cells" and then grown in "specific pathogen-free eggs." That means that the culture media was free of pathogens that were specifically tested for, but not a culture that was necessarily "pathogen-free." The risk that the vaccine may contain contaminant avian retroviruses still remains. In addition, a stabilizing buffer containing potassium phosphate, sucrose (table sugar) and nearly 0.5 mg of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is added to each dose. [18]
One of the most troubling concerns over the injection of this "chemical soup" is the potential for the viruses to enter directly into the brain. At the top of the nasal passages is a paper-thin bone called the cribriform plate. The olfactory nerves pass through this bone and line the nasal passages, carrying messenger molecules to the brain that are identified as "smells" familiar to us. The olfactory tract has long been recognized as a direct pathway to the brain. Intranasal injection of certain viruses has resulted in a serious brain infection called encephalitis, presumably by direct infection of the olfactory neurons that carried the viruses to the brain.[19] Time will tell whether the live viruses in FluMist will become linked to cases of encephalitis.
The pharmaceutical companies do not necessarily always do a reasonable job of considering the "down side" when they are pushing new drugs or new vaccines. FluMist has the potential for causing the worst, most severe flu epidemic seen in years. Parents tell their young children not to put things up their noses because they might cause them harm. It would be wise to consider that advice for adults. With all the risks involved, one should be extremely cautious about what one allows to be sprayed in one's nose.
REFERENCES
DowJones Business News. Sept. 12, 2003. FluMist Available In Pharmacies This Fall.
Washington Post. Nasal spray for flu to get big media launch. Sept. 10, 2003, pg. E01
Washington Post. Spray vaccine for flu wins FDA clearance. June 18, 2003. pg. A01.
Mohammed, Madjid. Influenza as a bioweapon. J.R.Soc.Med. 2003;96:345-346.
Adler, Neil. MedImmune awaits the $1 billion mark and a new flu drug. The Business Gazette. Feb. 7, 2003.
FluMist package insert.
Vesikari T., et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlledtrial of the safety, transmissibility and phenotypic stability of a live, attenuated, cold-adapted influenza virus vaccine (CAIV-T) in children attending day care. Presented at the 41st Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, (Chicago, IL). 2001
ibid. (Chicago, IL). 2001
Zangwell, Kenneth. Cold-adapted, live attenuated intranasal influenza virus vaccine. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2003; 22(3):273-274.
Diepgen TL. Is the prevalence of atopic dermatitis increasing? In: Williams HC, ed. Atopic Dermatitis: The Epidemiology, Causes and Prevention of Atopic Eczema. New York: Cambridge Univ Pr; 2000:96-112.
National Cancer Institute. CanQues.
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Epidemiological Fact Sheets on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections: United States.
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). All Recipients: Age at Time of Transplant. Available at http://www.unos.org/. Accessed January 14, 2002. ibid.
FluMist package insert.
Knipe, David. M. Ed. Fields Virology. Philadelpthis: Lippincott, 4th ed. 2001. pg. 1057
Edible vaccines 'could end jabs'
Vaccinations could one day come in the form of a tasty morsel of fish, rather than via an injection, researchers have claimed.
Singaporean researchers have created zebrafish that produce vaccines in their muscles.
They say the technology could also be used in more commonly eaten fish, such as salmon.
But they say the fish would have to be eaten raw because cooking would destroy the vaccine.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore have genetically modified zebrafish so that they produce hepatitis B vaccine.
The next stage will be to test the sashimi vaccine on animals which can be infected with hepatitis B to see if eating the fish has a protective effect.
The researchers say previous studies in this area to make vaccines in plants or animals in this way have been unsuccessful because they do not produce enough protein.
But they suggest the zebrafish could produce large amounts of protein. They estimate every kilo of fish muscle could produce 27 grammes of vaccine.
Fluorescent fish
They say edible vaccines could be fed to farm animals and fish in their feed.
Other scientists have already created sheep that produce human proteins in their milk and goats that can be milked for spider-web proteins.
Professor Gong Zhiyan, the biological scientist who is leading the research, is an expert on zebrafish, and has carried out a number of studies, including creating genetically modified fluorescent fish.
He told The Straits Times newspaper that using fish would be cheaper than other methods of producing vaccines.
He added there would be no concerns over passing on diseases to humans - as there would be if mammals such as cows were used.
However Professor Gong added: "We haven't reached the stage yet where we know how many fish you would have to eat for a correct dose of vaccine, but based on the high levels of the protein they produce, it shouldn't be much."
The researchers stress that edible vaccines are in the early stage of development and years of research will be required before they can be made widely available.
Recognition
Professor Jim Johnson of the Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology at Queen's University, Belfast, told BBC News Online: "It's extremely unusual for vaccines to be delivered through the gut.
"But we use a sugar pill for polio, so it is possible."
Professor Johnson said the scientists would have to ensure the vaccine was able to survive the digestive process.
He added: "It would have to pass into the bloodstream in a form which could be recognised by white blood cells for using to develop immunity against a disease."
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