# Debunk this swine flu scare-monger **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502 "2009-11-13T23:17:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![caverject](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@caverject](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caverject)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/1 "2009-11-13T23:17:41Z")
Hi, I received this email recently from a family member who has decided not to get the H1N1 vaccine because of it. It is from a “Dr. Russell Blaylock, MD”. It smacks of quackery, but I can’t find anything definitive about his claims - especially the MF-59 adjuvant he is talking about. \*FYI Dr. Russell Blaylock is a retired neurosurgeon. I’d read what He has to say about the swine flu vaccine if I were you…Scroll down to read His article… Also go to his website ([russellblaylockmd.Com](http://russellblaylockmd.Com)) and read his Research summaries on the general flu vaccine… Dear all: A colleague and friend just returned yesterday from a conference in Washington with the National vaccine Information Center. Please read this article and take it very seriously. Dr. Jordan Plasker 201.5050.WELL(9355) > **[100 Year Chiropractor Montvale NJ Plasker Family Chiropractic Center April...](https://100ylnj.com/)** > > Your Health is Our Priority 100 YEAR LIFESTYLE CHIROPRACTOR IN Montvale, NJ 07645 New Patients Welcome​ We welcome the opportunity to help you and your family heal and reach your chiropractic goals. Book Online Subscribe To Newsletter Office Hours... Please read and discuss with your doctor. A friend sent me an email from Dr. Blaylock, which I have recopied below Along with the link to his bio. I have also included the long article from His web site. His email regarding the swine flu read: "No one should take this vaccine - it is one of the most dangerous vaccines Ever devised. It contains an immune adjuvant called squalene (MF-59) which Has been shown to cause severe autoimmune disorders such as MS, rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus. The newsletter for August covers this and it may not be Out yet. This is the vaccine adjuvant that is strongly linked to the Gulf War syndrome, which killed over 10,000 soldiers and caused a 200% increase In the fatal disease ALS (Lou Gehreg disease). This virus H1N1 kills by Causing a “cytokine storm”, which means that it causes the body’s immune System to overreact and that is why it is killing young people and is a mild Disease in the elderly. (The elderly have weakened immune systems) This Vaccine is a very powerful immune stimulator and carries the real Possibility of making the lethality of the virus much greater. One’s best protection is vitamin D3…One should take 5000 IU a day now and When the disease begins to spread increase the dose to 15,000 IU a day. Vitamin D3 modulates the immune reaction, reducing the chance of an Overreaction and stimulates the body to produce what are called Antimicrobial peptides, which are powerful killers of viruses that does not Involve immunity. This is dose related, which means the higher the dose of D3 the better the protection. Fish oils (the best is Carlson’s Norwegian Lemon flavored fish oil) also reduce immune overreaction. One teaspoon a day Should be sufficient. For severe symptoms, one teaspoon twice a day. Antioxidants of various kinds also help. Feel free to spread this around. People need to know to protect themselves. Russell [http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/](http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/) (this is his bio) Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Dr. Russell Blaylock: Vaccine Maybe More Dangerous Than Flu\* I checked out his website, more pseudo-science and also links to his Brain Tonic. Snopes says research is ongoing. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/2 "2009-11-13T23:36:43Z")
From Shodan’s link in this thread [Please help me confirm or deny this ‘list of vaccine ingredients’](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=537847&highlight=squalene) > [@](#): > > The vaccine does not contain squalene, which has been accused – also without good evidence – of causing Gulf War syndrome. [Innoculation Misinformation](http://www.newsweek.com/id/218513) ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/3 "2009-11-14T00:06:56Z")
Adjuvants, such as the one discussed, ARE used in the pandemic A/H1N1 vaccine that is used in both Canada and the EU. Their regulatory bodies found them to be safe with the main side effect to be a possible increase in local reactions. The EU has been using ajuvants for years. That is one of the reasons they have less of a shortage than we do. The shame is that we, for reasons that are not clear, have not approved them for use here. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/4 "2009-11-14T00:30:07Z")
I have been watching out for high casualties amongst the young versus the elderly as evidence of a cytokine storm, as this was a major component of the deadliness of the Spanish Flu. However, while deaths seem to have been high among the young, it seems to be more prevalent among the _very_ young, i.e. children, which is _not_ evidence of a cytokine storm, which hits teenagers and young adults more. Which is not to say that this isn’t the case as I have not seen a statistical study, it’s just that the media are reporting deaths among the “young” that are very different from the “young” that this email refers to. (and in good measure the deaths among the elderly part of the email might be wrong, too but I’d like to hear more on that.) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/5 "2009-11-14T00:36:14Z")
> [@](#): > > The vaccine does not contain squalene, which has been accused – also without good evidence – of causing Gulf War syndrome. Of course, squalene COULD cause Gulf War Syndrome. So could tap water or sunlight, since Gulf War Syndrome doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/6 "2009-11-14T04:28:54Z")
To the best of my knowledge, retired neurosurgeons are not routinely trained in virology, respiratory medicine, immunology, clinical trial methodology, vaccine methodology, pediatrics or the like. An MD or DO or MBChB on face value does not convey specific knowledge in these areas. If he has credibility in vaccine medicine, he needs to cite the appropriate training. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/7 "2009-11-14T04:38:15Z")
> [@](#): > > _Has been shown to cause severe autoimmune disorders such as MS, rheumatoid > Arthritis and Lupus._ It’s never lupus. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/8 "2009-11-14T04:53:35Z")
From what I read there is a one in ten thousand chance of getting Guillain–Barré syndrome, that’s a little scary in itself. I have also posted earlier in the above mentioned thread that, at least here in Canada, squalene is in the vaccine. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/9 "2009-11-14T05:15:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Of course, squalene COULD cause Gulf War Syndrome. So could tap water or sunlight, since Gulf War Syndrome doesn’t exist. But you are aware that veterans of the gulf war are twice as likely to get ALS as other military personnel, right? Whether you call that gulf war syndrome or not, there is scientific evidence that something is going on. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/10 "2009-11-14T05:27:57Z")
I’d say capitalizing the first letter of every line without regard to sentence structure as well as hawking a particular brand of fish pills are two hallmarks of Not Quite Legitimate Medicine. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/11 "2009-11-14T11:17:43Z")
**JFLuvly** Influenza and other viral illnesses themselves can cause Guillain–Barré (indeed Influenza A infection is responsible for 1% of cases where the causative organism is known) and the risk of a 'flu vaccine-induced Guillain–Barré is more like 1 case per million, rather than 1 case per 10,000. My [cite](http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/339/sep09_1/b3577) is an article in the British Medical Journal by a British doctor who herself had Guillain–Barré and her reasoning on whether or not to have a 'flu vaccine for H1N1. She cites the studies and statistics which have helped her make a decision. I got my H1N1 vaccine a couple of weeks ago- the EU, adjuvant containing, Pandemrix vaccine- as part of the NHS vaccination scheme for front-line health workers. The only issue was a slightly painful arm for a couple of days. I have a young baby and will be returning from maternity leave to work in Paeds- as far as I’m concerned the more things I can protect myself, my child and my patients from, the better. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/12 "2009-11-14T13:59:29Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > But you are aware that veterans of the gulf war are twice as likely to get ALS as other military personnel, right? Whether you call that gulf war syndrome or not, there is scientific evidence that something is going on. And is it not true that american munitions used depleted uranium as an armor buster, thereby engaging in chemical warfare? I ask because I understand this to be true, but am prepared to be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/13 "2009-11-14T15:37:50Z")
Use of depleted uranium, last I heard, is not considered “chemical warfare” any more than lead bullets are. Both are toxic to human beings, after all. Granted, uranium tends to attack the kidneys more and lead the nervous system, but both will mess you up if you’re exposed to a lot of it. People get scared because of the word “uranium”, and because they aren’t familiar with it. There is no indication that depleted uranium is in any was connected to ALS. It IS strongly linked to kidney damage. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/14 "2009-11-14T15:41:09Z")
irishgirl My cite comes from the product information leaflet on the Health Canada government website and it definitely says 1 in 10,000 chance. > [@](#): > > As with all medicines, AREPANRIX™ H1N1can cause side effects. The very common and common side effects are usually mild and should only last a day or two. > > Very common (may occur with more than 1 in 10 doses): > > ``` > * Pain at the injection site > * Headache > * Fatigue > * Redness or swelling at the injection site > * Shivering > * Sweating > * Aching muscles, joint pain > > ``` > > Common (may occur with up to 1 in 10 doses): > > ``` > * Reactions at the injection site such as bruising, itching and warmth > * Fever > * Swollen lympth nodes > * Feeling sick, diarrhea > > ``` > > Uncommon (may occur with up to 1 in 100 doses): > > ``` > * Dizziness > * Generally feeling unwell > * Unusual weakness > * Vomiting, stomach pain, uncomfortable feeling in the stomach or belching after eating > * Inability to sleep > * Tingling or numbness of the hands or feet > * Shortness of breath > * Pain in the chest > * Itching, rash > * Pain in the back or neck, stiffness in the muscles, muscle spasms, pain in extremity such as leg or hand > > ``` > > Rare (may occur with up to 1 in 1000 doses): > > ``` > * Allergic reactions leading to a dangerous decrease of blood pressure, which, if untreated, may lead to shock. Doctors are aware of this possibility and have emergency treatment available for use in such cases > * Fits > * Severe stabbing or throbbing pain along one or more nerves > * Low blood platelet count which can result in bleeding or bruising > > ``` > > Very Rare (may occur with up to 1 in 10,000 doses): > > ``` > * Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels which can cause skin rashes, joint pain and kidney problems) > * Neurological disorders such as encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the central nervous system), neuritis (inflammation of nerves) and a type of paralysis known a Guillain-Barré Syndrome > > ``` > > If any of these side effects occur, please tell your doctor or nurse immediately. If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/15 "2009-11-14T15:46:25Z")
They’ve given out well over a million doses of vaccine by now. If there were a significant increase in the incidence of Guillain-Barré Syndrome from the vaccine, Jenny McCarthy would be having multiple orgasms raving about it. She is not. There is no epidemic of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/16 "2009-11-14T16:12:48Z")
**JFL** , the format stops at the label of “Very Rare” which is defined as less than (“may occur with up to”) 1 in 10,000. Everything under that is in that group. How much [does occur](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15562126?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_SingleItemSupl.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=5&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed)? Well, the range through the years has been > [@](#): > > a high of 0.17 per 100,000 vaccinees in 1993-1994 to 0.04 in 2002-2003 I have been told, but cannot cite, that the risk of GBS after natural influenza infection is seven-fold higher. The closest to it is in **irishgirl** ’s cite: > [@](#): > > An important question is whether the syndrome is more likely to develop after flu vaccination or after flu infection itself. A study of 553 people with the syndrome and 5445 matched controls found an 18-fold increase in the risk of recurrence of the syndrome in the two months after flu-like illness (odds ratio 18.6 (7.5 to 46.4)), whereas the study suggested a possible protective effect of vaccination (odds ratio 0.16 (0.02 to 1.25).20 A more recent, self controlled case series using 775 episodes of the syndrome showed that the relative incidence within 90 days of flu-like illness was 7.4 (4.4 to 12.4), higher within 30 days (16.6 (9.4 to 29.5)), whereas the relative incidence within 90 days of vaccination was 0.76 (0.41 to 1.4).19 These studies suggest that although flu-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome is rare, the risk is much higher than that after vaccination. Large scale flu vaccination has even been proposed as a means to protect against the syndrome.16 ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/17 "2009-11-14T16:25:23Z")
DSeid I agree with what you are saying, but it could also be read as up to and including 1 in 10,000 for this particular drug. I am assuming that the different manufacturers are making different drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/18 "2009-11-14T16:37:23Z")
Dr. Russell Blaylock is another of those M.D.s who thinks that his degree legitimizes his embrace of a wide range of quackery (not just antivax nonsense). There’s a good takedown of his nonsense [here](http://scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/2009/11/what_do_we_need_most_during_a.php). _“The opening page of his website reads like a roster of denialism, quackery, and crankism. In the first few inches, titles of articles read, “Vaccines can kill”, “Cholesterol drugs are dangerous”, “Why fluoride is toxic”, and some other great ones like “Stop aging”…Blaylock argues that there is a vast conspiracy to hype this year’s flu season and claims that his ideas are supported by the mainstream literature. Even a cursory glance at the data he cites shows that his conclusions are creative at best, mendacious at worst.”_ ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-swine-flu-scare-monger/517502/19 "2009-11-14T16:44:15Z")
There is no specific information showing any greater or lesser risk of GBS with any particular flu vaccine, including those used in Canada and the EU which contain adjuvants. Understandably as even pooling all data together the best you can say is that there _may_ (or may not) be an increased risk following vaccination. GBS is so rare and it so rarely occurs in the time period following influenza vaccination that even with large populations over many years we can merely say that the data is “consistent with a possible causal association”. What you need to watch is if the rate of GBS goes significantly over normal [background rates.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19880172?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=1) > [@](#): > > Highly visible health conditions, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, spontaneous abortion, or even death, will occur in coincident temporal association with novel influenza vaccination. On the basis of the reviewed data, if a cohort of 10 million individuals was vaccinated in the UK, 21.5 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome and 5.75 cases of sudden death would be expected to occur within 6 weeks of vaccination as coincident background cases. In female vaccinees in the USA, 86.3 cases of optic neuritis per 10 million population would be expected within 6 weeks of vaccination. 397 per 1 million vaccinated pregnant women would be predicted to have a spontaneous abortion within 1 day of vaccination.