On March 8, 2010, ABC News reported that “Osteoporosis Drugs, Like Fosamax May Increase Risk of Broken Bones in Some Women” and that “Long-term Use of Popular Class of Osteoporosis Drugs May Have Opposite Effect for Some Women.” (click here to watch the ABC video)

Fosamax and Boniva are the two most popular drugs in this class of drugs called bisphosphonates. They are supposed to make bones stronger, but now there’s mounting evidence that, for some women, taking these medications for more than five years could cause spontaneous fractures.

“We are seeing people just walking, walking down the steps, patients who are doing low-energy exercise,” said Dr. Kenneth Egol, professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. “Very unusual, the femur is one of the strongest bones in the body.”

This entire class of drugs should be withdrawn from the market, says Dr. Hansen. On January 1, 2009, the New England Journal of Medicine published a report from the FDA, which says that the Osteoporosis drug Fosamax may now be linked to cancer. The FDA received 23 reports of esophageal cancer possibly linked to the drug between its October 1995 debut and May 2008. Of these patients, eight have died so far, according to the report. This is worrisome news for the tens of millions of American women that currently take Fosamax for Osteoporosis.

Good News! There are safe and effective Natural Alternatives to drugs like Fosama & Boniva

Osteoporosis affects approximately 25 million Americans. Women know they need to do something to prevent Osteoporosis, but they don’t know what. They are trusting their doctors and the drug companies to give them something to help. Most doctors know nothing about prevention through diet, nutrition and exercise. So by the time the average woman is diagnosed with Osteoporosis, 50 to 75% of her original bone mass has already been lost. Women need answers. Why is Osteoporosis so prevalent in the U.S., while it is almost unheard of in some cultures? What can a woman do to change her risk of getting this common disease without taking risky drugs?

Officials estimate that there are about 1.5 million fractures annually among osteoporosis patients and 300,000 of them die within six months of getting a fracture. Medical costs for osteoporosis treatment exceed $17 billion dollars annually in the U.S. and because of the increasing elderly population, the number is only expected to rise. The incidence of these bone fractures has doubled in the last 30 years, due mainly to nutritional and environmental factors.

Conventional medicine views osteoporosis as an irreversible process associated with aging and menopause rather than diet and lifestyle choices. The emphasis has been placed on slowing down the rate of bone loss by prescribing synthetic drugs that block bone loss, as well as high doses of calcium, increased amounts of dairy and regular exercise. While these therapies do slow the rate of bone loss in some, they do not stimulate bone rebuilding. The best they can do is to keep the already porous bones from losing any more bone density.

The good news is that Osteoporosis is preventable and reversible through diet, exercise, nutritional supplementation and natural bio-identical hormone replacement with plant based Estriol and Progesterone, and natural Growth Hormone precursors.

Dietary Treatment and Prevention of Osteoporosis

Observations of various populations worldwide show that the countries with the highest consumption of meat and dairy products have the highest incidence of Osteoporosis. Because of this observation, scientists posed this question: Is osteoporosis due to calcium deficiency or excess protein, or acid pH caused by too much protein and dairy?

A study published in the journal Nutrition in 1974, found that eating a low protein diet led to a positive calcium deposit of +31, while a high protein diet led to a calcium loss of -120. This means that at the end of the day, after taking 500 mg of calcium, the low protein diet group was shown to have increased its calcium level by +31. On the other hand, taking 500 mg of calcium while eating a high protein diet actually lowered the level of calcium in the bloodstream by -120.

Epidemiological studies from around the world have shown that in countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, etc, where the people generally eat no dairy at all and less than 50 grams of protein daily and get about 400 mg of calcium per day in their diet, have no osteoporosis; it’s virtually unheard of in those countries. However, if you look on the other extreme, Eskimos who daily consume about 2200 mg of calcium, have the highest incidence of osteoporosis of any population in the world, even though they’re getting 2200 mg of calcium daily. The difference is that they also daily consume 250 to 400 grams of protein in fish, walrus, or whale meats. That high protein content and the acid pH that results are the principal causes of osteoporosis. It’s not simply a deficiency of calcium. It’s the excessive amount of protein that stimulates a hormonal change in the body that causes the body to excrete calcium through the kidneys in the urine.

The average American consumes as much as 100 grams of protein per day and that amount stimulates the parathyroid gland to release a hormone called parathormone that pulls calcium out of the bones to be excreted in the urine. The most important consideration in the prevention of Osteoporosis is not overdoing protein. This can be accomplished by following the Department of Agriculture’s new food pyramid guide. Start at the bottom: eat 6-11 servings of whole grains, 3-5 servings of fresh, steamed, or microwaved vegetables, and 2-3 servings of fresh fruits daily. Meats and dairy should be eaten sparingly in smaller portions than the former foods that are lower in the pyramid. For optimal health you only need a maximum of 40-50 grams of protein daily.

Minerals and Vitamin Cofactors

Calcium is the major mineral in bones. However, you can get too much of a good thing. If you’re eating a high protein diet, even 2200 mg of calcium a day won’t help you. Too much calcium inhibits magnesium, which is essential to the production of the hormone calcitonin. This hormone helps tone down the calcium excretion and keeps calcium in the bones. Magnesium is also essential for the conversion of the active form of vitamin D, which is required for calcium absorption and its deposit into bone. Taking too much calcium actually blocks magnesium and therefore blocks the production of vitamin D in its active form, which prevents calcium from getting into the bone. Calcium should not be taken in excessive amounts.

There are several other nutrients that are very important in prevention and cure of osteoporosis. Three B-vitamins, vitamin B₆, folic acid, and vitamin B₁₂ are essential. These three vitamins are important in the conversion of the amino acid methionine into cysteine. If they are deficient, homocysteine increases. As homocysteine increases in the body it interferes with collagen cross-linking, leading to defective bone matrix. That means, if you don’t have these vitamins, then the bones can’t hold calcium in place in their normal meshwork. Therefore, even though you may be consuming enough calcium, it won’t be held in the bone.

Another vitamin that is often overlooked in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is vitamin K. This hormone-like vitamin is necessary for the production of the active form of osteocalcin which is the major noncollagen protein in the bone. Without sufficient vitamin K and its production of active osteocalcin, calcium will not be held within the bone in its place. Vitamin K is found in deep green leafy vegetables and is one of the most commonly deficient vitamins missing from our diet.

The trace mineral Boron also appears to be an essential factor in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. A study of postmenopausal women given 3 mg of boron daily was shown to reduce their urinary calcium loss by 44%. Apparently, boron is required to activate certain hormones including estrogen and vitamin D. Fruits and vegetables are the main sources of boron and diets that are deficient in these foods may also be deficient in boron.

Plant Cofactors

Certain bioflavonoids found in fruits have been shown to be very important in the prevention of osteoporosis. Certain polyphenol bioflavonoids, especially those extracted from grape seeds, have been shown to stabilize collagen structures. Since collagen is the major protein constituent in bone, stabilization of the integrity of the bone structure or the collagen will help to prevent calcium loss and osteoporosis. For optimal insurance against osteoporosis, I recommend taking a supplement that contains Leucoslect® Grape Seed Extract.

Drug Therapies

In July 2002, researchers at the National Institutes of Health abruptly halted the nation’s largest study on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), because the study found that the long-term use of synthetic estrogen and synthetic progesterone drugs increase a women’s risk of breast cancer by 26%, her risk of a heart attack by 29%, her risk of stroke by 41% and her risk of blood clots by 113%. (Source: JAMA. 2002;288:321-333).

Several other drugs are now being recommended for Osteoporosis, including the Biphosphanate drugs that include Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel. Tens of millions of women are currently taking Fosamax for Osteoporosis and millions of additional women take Boniva and Actonel, all of which share the same concern.

Evista, a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) is also being recommended to prevent and treat Osteoporosis. Evista is approved for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, but works by a different mechanism than the Biphosphanates. Evista stimulates the Estrogen Receptors and appears to prevent bone loss in a manner similar to other synthetic estrogens, like Premarin. Side effects include hot flashes, leg cramps and blood clots.

Natural Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement

The ovaries produce three different Estrogens: Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2) and Estriol (E3). The two most concentrated and most potent estrogens are Estrone (E1) and Estradiol (E2). These two are both now classified as carcinogens. You should test your estrogen levels to make certain these two are not too high. Even “Bio-Identical” Hormone Replacement Therapy that uses Estradiol or Estrone can and does cause cancer if it gets to high.

Dr. Hansen’s Natural Hormone Rx: Estriol, Progesterone and Growth Hormone

Estriol (E3) has been shown to be protective against cancer. It prevents bone loss, stops hot flashes, thinning of the skin and dryness of the vaginal membranes. It is 1000 times less stimulating to the breast tissue than Estradiol and does not cause harmful build-up of the uterine lining. Estriol inhibits osteoclasts in bone from breaking down and causing bone loss.

Unlike the estrogens, which only help prevent bone loss, taking natural Progesterone helps to increases bone mineral density by as much as 10-15% within 6 months and 20-25% in 3 years (Clinical Nutrition Review, 1990, 10:384-391). Progesterone stimulates osteoblasts in the bone to directly increase bone density.

Growth Hormone (GH) is necessary throughout life to keep your bone density high. GH has direct effects on bone cells known as chondrocytes. A deficiency of GH severely limits bone growth and hence the accumulation of bone mass. You can stimulate you own GH activity by exercising and by getting plenty of sleep. Additionally,

Dr. Hansen prescribes a plant based source of Estriol and Progesterone for the prevention and treatment of Osteoporosis. He also prescribes a nutritional and herbal supplement known as Secretropin to boost GH production by the body. These natural products are safe and effective alternatives to synthetic drugs, providing all of the benefits and more, without the negative side-effects.

Testing

DEXA Scan X-Ray

The top standard for measuring bone density is the DEXA Scan, which is an X-Ray of the spine and the hip bone. The measurements taken can be compared to the average for the total population and by age group. The main concern with this test is the fact that it exposes you to gamma radiation that is known to be cancer inducing. For this reason I prefer to recommend an NTX Urine Test for bone density.

N-Telopeptide (NTX) Bone Loss Testing

Approximately 90% of the meshwork or your bones consists of type I collagen that is cross-linked at the N-terminal, hence the name N-Telopeptide. This highly cross-linked collagen structure provides for the basic fabric and tensile strength of bone tissue. The collagen infrastructure of bone undergoes a continuous process of remodeling that involves osteoclast mediated bone breakdown and osteoblast mediated bone formation. Bone breakdown by osteoclasts results in the release of cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTX)of type I collagen. NTX is specific to bone and is found in urine as a stable end product of bone loss.

Levels of NTX correlate with the rate of bone loss. Bone loss rates exceeding bone formation results in a net loss of bone and ultimately osteopenia or osteoporosis. This test is the best way to detct active bone loss or bone building. It is relatively inexpensive compared to the DEXA Scan and free of radiation.

Hormone Testing

All three Estrogens can be measured in Saliva, which gives an accurate assessment of the active forms of the estrogens. Progesterone is also tested in the Saliva. The Estrogen to Progesterone ratio gives a good picture of the relative balance of these two synergistic hormones. Too much Estradiol and Estrone or too little Estriol can cause an increased risk of cancer. Too little Progesterone will inhibit the production of new bone.

Growth Hormone is tested by blood. Because GH is released in short pulsatile bursts in the bloodstream and has a very short lifespan in the blood it is not a good marker for GH activity. Instead, we use IGF-1 to assess the correct level of GH. Ideally, IGF-1 level should be 200-250.

Vitamin D3 (25-Hydroxycalciferol) should be tested in the blood serum. Many experts recommend that the optimal Vitamin D3 level for prevention of osteoporosis and protection against cancers is 50-65 ng/ml.

Recommended Bone Building Supplement: Peak Advantage High Potency Multi-Vita/Min

• Calcium Citrate: Calcium is the major mineral in bones. Calcium Citrate is 2.5 times better absorbed than Calcium Carbonate, even in individuals with low stomach acid. The U.S. RDA for calcium is based on 1968 data using Calcium Carbonate as the standard. According to more recent research published in The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in November 1999, by Howard J. Heller, MD and his colleagues found that Calcium Citrate is 2.5 times more bioavailable (easier for your body to use) than Calcium Carbonate as demonstrated by measuring the blood level of calcium after a single oral dose (500 mg) of calcium carbonate taken with a meal.

The RDA used to be 800mg of Calcium Carbonate daily for women, which would be equivalent to only mg 320mg of Calcium Citrate. Adequate intake (AI) recommendations published in August 1997 were set at 1000 milligrams for men and women aged 19 - 50 and 1200 milligrams for individuals older than age 50. To get the equivalent benefit from Calcium Citrate you only need to consume 400 to 480mg of Calcium Citrate respectively.

• Magnesium Aspartate: Magnesium is the determining factor of bone strength. 80-85% American women consume less than the RDA. Necessary for the formation of new calcium crystals and the active form of Vitamin D. Magnesium Aspartate is the most useable form.

• Boron: Necessary for the production of natural estrogen and testosterone. Significantly reduces loss of calcium and magnesium.

• Vitamin K: Required for the attraction of calcium to bones. Individuals with Osteoporosis have been found to have 35% less Vitamin K than age matched controls. Overuse of antibiotics kills healthful intestinal flora that produce Vitamin K. Supplementation reduces calcium loss by as much as 18-50%.

• Vitamin D increases calcium absorption, slows bone loss and boosts bone formation. One study on Vitamin D showed that participants who took vitamin D supplements had a 7 percent lower risk of death compared to those that did not. It is now known that virtually every cell in our body has receptors for vitamin D and that vitamin D is not just a vitamin. It also has very powerful hormonal activities and has protective effects noted against certain cancers (particularly breast and prostate), autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes, and heart disease. I recommend taking 5000 I.U.s once or twice daily. This is a quantity sufficient to raise your blood level of Vitamin D3 to between 60-100 ng/dl.

• Folic Acid: Decreases homocysteine levels which can cause osteoporosis. Alcohol and Birth Control Pills cause a deficiency. Pregnancy creates a higher demand.

• Silica: Found in high concentrations at calcification sites in growing bones.

• Betaine HCl: Source of hydrochloric acid that is essential for the absorption and assimilation of minerals.

• DigeZyme: Plant enzymes that digests phytates, found in grains that commonly bind to minerals and significantly reduce their availability for absorption.

• GSE Ultra 110: Leucoselect® Grape Seed Extract to stabilize collagen.

Summary

Osteoporosis is preventable and it is reversible. You can take charge of your own health. For optimal results you need to eat more vegetables and grains and less meat and dairy products. The greatest threat to your bones is the high protein diet consumed in the United States. The average American consumes 90 grams of protein daily. You need to cut that amount in half. Additionally, you need a good multi-vitamin and mineral formula, like Peak Advantage that provides the right amount of minerals, vitamins and plant cofactors to prevent or reverse osteoporosis. Finally, you need to test your Estradiol, Estrone, Estriol, Progesterone and IGF-1 levels. With this information you can then correct the hormone imbalances and prevent or reverse Osteoporosis for good.

Watch CBS News Videos Online
In late July, the CDC abruptly advised states to stop testing for H1N1 flu, and stopped counting individual cases. When CBS News asked the CDC what the tests had found before they stopped counting, the CDC would not return their calls.

So CBS News asked all 50 states for their statistics on state lab-confirmed H1N1 prior to the halt of individual testing and counting in July. The results were surprising.

The CBS News Study found that “the vast majority of cases were negative for H1N1 as well as seasonal flu, despite the fact that many states were specifically testing patients deemed to be most likely to have H1N1 flu, based on symptoms and risk factors, such as travel to Mexico.”

CBS News Study Conclusion: “If you’ve been diagnosed “probable” or “presumed” 2009 H1N1 or “swine flu” in recent months, you may be surprised to know this: odds are you didn’t have H1N1 flu.”

“Those who think they’ve had H1N1 flu – but haven’t – might mistakenly presume they’re immune. In fact, you probably didn’t have flu at all. That’s according to state-by-state test results obtained in a three-month-long CBS News investigation.”

With most cases of the H1N1 flu being diagnosed solely by associated symptoms of fever with a sore throat or a cough, the H1N1 flu epidemic is being made to appear much worse than it is.

Without lab testing, it’s impossible to know how many Americans have H1N1 flu. But the statistical trend discovered by CBS News indicates that only 2-17% of Americans actually had the H1N1 flu. That means that 83-98% of the suspected cases were some other flu or some other virus altogether.

The CDC did not respond to questions from CBS News for this report.

To read the CBS News Report, click here.

You would expect that vaccine manufacturers would thoroughly test the vaccines for safety and effectiveness before they inject millions of Americans with them. Unfortunately this is not the case. Read the actual package insert for Fluarix 2009-2010 Influenza Vaccine manufactured by Glaxo Smith-Kline, which admits that “No controlled trials demonstrating a decrease in influenza disease after vaccination with FLUARIX have been performed.”

FLUARIX^® Influenza Vaccine is typical of all Influenza Vaccines. Likewise, the Swine flu vaccines are all made in the same manner with the same excipients. Fluarix is made by Glaxo Smith-Kline (GSK), one of the six vaccine manufacturers making the 2009 H1N1 Swine flu vaccine.

The U.S. has purchased 250 million doses of the Swine flu vaccine for approximately $9 billion dollars. You would hope that the vaccines would be proven safe and effective before two-thirds of the entire U.S. population is pressured into taking them.

Influenza Vaccines Proven Toxic

More than half of the Swine Flu vaccine doses scheduled to be injected into 200 million Americans contain Thimerosal, a preservative and adjuvant that contains ethyl mercury, a known neurotoxin. The overwhelming preponderance of scientific evidence links Mercury with the cause of the dramatic rise in autism seen in children over the past decade.

Twenty-five micrograms of Mercury are included in the preservative Thimerosal in every dose of the multi-dose vials of all the injectible H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccines. There are a few vaccines that are made without mercury for use in young children. However, there are still others that say they are “Preservative Free” yet actually contains ≤1 mcg mercury per dose, which is still enough to cause neurotoxicity and autism.

Even this trace amount of ≤1 mcg of mercury can be very damaging to the nervous system, especially in young children. (1 mcg mercury = 2000  parts per billion [ppb]) As little as 20 ppb will destroy nerve fibers in the brain similar to the pattern seen in autistic children.

Click here to see which Seasonal and H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccines contain Thimerosal (Mercury) according to the CDC.

What Other Toxins are in the Influenza Vaccines?

Each 0.5-mL dose also contains the detergent octoxynol-10 (TRITON^® X-100) ≤0.120 mg, α-tocopheryl hydrogen succinate ≤0.1 mg, and polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) ≤0.380 mg. This oil is an adjuvant that boosts the immune reaction, it has been linked to miscarriage and infertility and according to Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 95, Number 6, December 2005 , pp. 593-599(7), “it is of current relevance as a ‘hidden’ inductor of anaphylactoid reactions.”

Each dose of Fluarix may also contain residual amounts of hydrocortisone (a steroid) ≤0.0016 mcg, gentamicin sulfate (an antibiotic) ≤0.15 mcg, ovalbumin (egg protein) ≤1 mcg, formaldehyde ≤50 mcg (In 1995, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen. In June 2004, after evaluating all existing data, the IARC reclassified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen) [International Agency for Research on Cancer (June 2004). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans Volume 88 (2006): Formaldehyde, 2-Butoxyethanol and 1-tert-Butoxypropan-2-ol.] and sodium deoxycholate ≤50 mcg (detergent / bile salt used to break virus cell membranes).

Influenza Vaccines Not Proven Very Effective!

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Here is an  exact quote from all five of the injectible Swine Flu Vaccine package inserts:  “Specific levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titer post-vaccination with inactivated influenza virus vaccines have not been correlated with protection from influenza illness but the HI antibody titers have been used as a measure of vaccine activity.”

In plain english, this means that after a person gets the flu shot, antibodies against the flu virus have not been shown to be correlated with protection against the flu, nevertheless, the antibody levels have been used anyway as the only measure of vaccine effectiveness.

They base their claim on the fact that “in some human challenge studies, HI antibody titers of ≥1:40 have been associated with protection from influenza illness in up to 50% of subjects.^{” 1,2}

This means that only a few human studies have shown a positive antibody response and that the best result seen was an antibody level of 1:40, which is not very high. This antibody level is associated with a dismal protection from the influenza virus of less than 50% of the individuals vaccinated. This does not inspire a great deal of confidence in the vaccine since a placebo is typically 40% effective.

Even though the antibody levels have not been correlated with protection from influenza illness, they are used as the measure to claim effectiveness and are considered adequate when a seroconversion rate of 40% is achieved or when 70% of the vaccinated individuals produce an antibody level of ≥1:40. The bottom line is this statement from Glaxo Smith-Kline regarding the flu Vaccine:

“No controlled trials demonstrating a decrease in influenza disease after vaccination with FLUARIX have been performed.”

Influenza Vaccine No Better than Placebo

According to the 2006 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 51 separate studies concluded the flu vaccine worked no better than a placebo in 294,000 children ranging in age from six months to 23 months.

The review authors found that in children over the age of two, the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine nasal spray made from weakened influenza viruses, was better at preventing illness caused by the influenza virus (82% of illnesses were prevented) than injected vaccines made from the killed virus (59%).

Neither type was particularly good at preventing ‘flu-like illness’ caused by other types of viruses (33% and 36% respectively). Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD004879. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004879.pub3. first published online: January 25. 2006

Vaccinated Children Have 3 Times Higher Risk Of Hospitalization

The inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) does not appear to be effective in preventing influenza-related hospitalizations in children, especially the ones with asthma.

In fact, children who get the flu vaccine are at 3 times higher risk for hospitalization than their peers who do not get the vaccine, according to new research that was presented on May 19, 2009, at the 105th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society.

The study found that in asthmatic children, there was a significantly higher risk of hospitalization in those children who had received the Vaccine as compared to those who did not.

Influenza Vaccine Does Not Prevent the Flu in the Elderly

In a review of 64 studies over 98 flu seasons of elderly living in nursing homes, flu shots were non-significant for preventing the flu. For elderly living in the community, vaccines were not (significantly) effective against influenza, ILI or pneumonia. Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3 (2006).

A randomised trial showed the effectiveness of vaccination against laboratory confirmed clinical influenza to be 58%. (JAMA. 1994;272(21):1661-1665)

Flu vaccine Only Reduces Risk of Flu by 6% in Healthy Adults

In a review of 48 reports (more than 66,000 adults), “Vaccination of healthy adults only reduced risk of influenza by 6% and reduced the number of missed work days by less than one day (0.16) days. It did not change the number of people needing to go to hospital or take time off work.” Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 1 (2006).

Are Pregnant Women at Greater Risk?

Reports that pregnant women are at increased risk of complications and death due to influenza are concerning. The basis of these data come from a January 2008 Lancet Review article, which predominantly bases its conclusions on Tennessee Medicaid data from 1974-1993.

In the Tennessee Medicaid study 4,369 women with influenza were compared to 21,845 population controls. Women in their first trimester and women during the post-partum period had virtually the same rate of hospital admissions as healthy non-pregnant women. However, women in their second trimester had a 3 times higher rate of hospital admissions than healthy non-pregnant women, while women in their third trimester had a 5 times higher rate than healthy non-pregnant women. The authors conclusion states:

“The data suggest that, out of every 10,000 women in their third trimester  without other identified risk factors who experience an averge influenza season of 2.5 months, 25 will be hospitalized with influenza-related morbidity.” (Am J Epidemiol 1998; 148:1094-102). That’s 25/10,000 or 0.25 percent.

There are approximately 1.5 million pregnant women in their third trimester in the U.S. Therefore, if we use the above calculation we would expect that the flu might send an extra 3,750 pregnant women to the hospital.

However, The Lancet study then summarized a larger and more accurate study which was calculated by similar methods in a 1990-2002 population of 134,188 pregnant women from Nova Scotia. This study excluded hospital admissions for asthma attacks that were not associated with the flu. The influenza-attributable rates of hospital admissions in this study were virtually identical to those of healthy non-pregnant women. (Canadian Medical Association Journal 2007;176:463-68)

Is the Influenza Vaccine Safe for Pregnant Women?

Because safety studies with vaccines cannot be done on pregnant women, data on influenza vaccine safety for the mother and the baby cannot be known. The FluMist Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women because it contains live virus. Most of the injected flu vaccine currently available in the U.S. contains 25 micrograms (mcg) of mercury in the form of Thimerosal (ethylmercury thiosalicylate).

The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level for Mercury in drinking water is 2parts per billion (ppb). Each 25 mcg dose of mercury equals 25,000 ppb Mercury. Even the so called “Preservative Free” vaccines contains 1 microgram (mcg) of Mercury, which equals 2000 ppb injected directly into the blood stream.

According to the EPA, the maximum acceptable daily risk level is 0.1 mcg/kg body weight. The current Thimerosal containing flu vaccine will inject the average child with 12-17 times the EPA maximum level of mercury and the average adult with 3.5 times the maximum amount. However, most concerning is the fact that the vaccine will expose the unborn fetus of a pregnant women to 250 times the maximum allowable exposure level of mercury.

Does the Influenza Vaccine Protect Pregnant Women?

According to the authors of the January 2008 Lancet Review article, “The few serological studies on pregnant women suggest that antibody response to influenza vaccine is similar in pregnant and non-pregnant women.” (J Infect Dis 1993; 168: 647–56; J Clin Microbiol 1979; 10: 184–87).

Does the Influenza Vaccine Protect Anyone?

The available research indicates that at best the Influenza Vaccine produces a four fold boost in antibodies  to approximately 70% of those  vaccinated and is “associated with protection from influenza illness in less than 50% of those vaccinated. It works best for healthy adults with a mature immune system. It does not work very well for children under 10 or adults over the age of 60 years.

The Swine Flu Vaccine: Too Little, Too Late

The vaccine manufacturers are having difficulty producing sufficient quantities of the Swine flu vaccine. The virus is grown in chicken eggs, and vaccine companies are getting 30% fewer doses per egg than the normal yield for regular winter flu vaccine, according to the FDA’s Dr. Jerry Weir.

The U.S. government has purchased 250 million doses of the Swine Flu vaccine for $9 Billion dollars. Approximately only 45 million doses will be available by the end of October. The six pharmaceutical companies making the vaccines for the US hope that they will be able to collectively provide an additional 20 million doses per week from mid October through December. This would deliver approximately 240 million doses, enough for about 200 million Americans or tow-thirds of the population since two shots will be required for children under 10 year of age.

Any possible immunity from the vaccine is not expected to occur for approximately 30 days after the  vaccine dose. This would make it the end of November before the first Americans vaccinated can expect any possible immune protection from the vaccine.

Researchers from Purdue University are now saying that current trends of the H1N1 pandemic indicate that 8% of the U.S. population will be infected during the last week of October and 63% of the population will have been infected by the end of 2009. They also estimate that due to the mildness of the H1N1 flu, although 63% of Americans will be infected, only about 25% will experience symptoms.

What Can You Do to Boost Your Immunity Naturally?

Your best defense against the flu is your own immune system. Even in the worst pandemics of the world, only 25-30% of the population becomes ill and only 1% or less of that group dies. The typical seasonal flu infects only 5-20% of the population (15-60 million Americans). That means that 80-95% of the population escapes untouched (240 to 285 million Americans) every year.

The take home message is that there is no need to panic. Your own immune system is the key to preventing the flu. That is why although 63% of the U.S. population might be infected only 25% will get sick. Although the 2009 H1N1 flu is a novel flu and very contagious it is not very virulent and most will recover within in one week without serious consequences.

The mass vaccination program may have started with good intentions, but the vaccine contains many toxic substances that can cause serious long-term consequences and chronic illness. The most important question to ask is, “Are the risks worth taking for this flu?”

Parents need to be given all of the information about all of the contents of the vaccines, as well as the full disclosure of the safety and efficacy studies, as well as the risks vs the benefits so that they can make a rational and intelligent decision about whether or not to get a vaccine.

Additionally, parents would benefit from learning about alternate ways to boost their immune system and that of their children. There are safe and effective natural herbal alternatives that work like Tamiflu to prevent the spread of the flu virus, as well as oral homeopathic immunizations that boost the immune system without injecting mercury, formaldehyde, or other toxins into the body.

Dr Hansen says “There are safer more natural ways of preventing the flu that every parent can implement, for themselves and their families, without any fear of dangerous side effects.”

To learn more about active steps you can take to boost your immunity to prevent the flu or to insure a rapid and full recovery read Dr. Hansen’s article: The Top Ten Natural Treatment Alternatives for the Flu,

Additional Resources:

To read Dr. Hansen’s article: Should You Get the Swine Flu Vaccine? click here.

Click here to read the entire Glaxo Smith-Kline Fluarix package insert for yourself.

Click here to read the Sanofi Pasteur Fluzone / H1N1 Vaccine insert.

Click here to read the Novartis Fluvirin / H1N1 Vaccine insert.

To read the National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet about Formaldehyde and Cancer, click here.

From “Spins of Omission”     by Deirdre     Posted January 16, 2008

Since 1999, when the whole vaccine/autism controversy came to light, the CDC’s primary concern has been protecting the immunization program and denying there was a problem. Protecting the kids seems to be a secondary consideration. To this end, the agency has funded and assisted in numerous epidemiological studies that found “no association” between mercury-containing vaccines. All of them seriously flawed authored by researchers with serious conflicts of interest.

When it comes to vaccinations, the mainstream media and the CDC share the same agenda. Protect “the program.” You are not going to find critical analysis from the press on this issue. And you are not going to see public health officials telling the truth about vaccine safety studies. Doing so could be a career killer.

Dr. David Graham, the FDA epidemiologist that came forward to be the Vioxx whistleblower, understands this mentality. He told USA Today, “When you live in a climate of fear, retaliation and intimidation, no decision that one makes is entirely voluntary.” In the same article, Dr. Graham also said those who have vaccine safety concerns, are “reluctant to come forward. They are absolutely afraid for their jobs”.

This is the climate in which research is conducted today…a climate of fear. In a way, the media has become “enablers” of the dissemination of information aimed at promoting and protecting vaccines. Accuracy, skepticism and just plain common sense don’t quite fit into the overall business strategy of the press or public health agencies. (Reuters/Glaxo)

When it comes to protecting children’s health there are no sacred cows as far as I am concerned. Kids today are just too sick not to take seriously concerns about toxins in vaccines or any other product. Children have been ill served by the media’s “cherry picking” of vaccine studies and their failure to maintain a skeptical view of the conflicts of interest of the parties involved.

Like the other epidemiological studies finding “no link” between vaccines and autism, there are apparent conflicts of interest with the California study (Continuing increases in autism reported to California’s developmental services system: mercury in retrograde. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008 Jan;65(1):19-24); the authors work for the department of health’s immunization division.

Talk about trusting the fox to keep inventory over the hen house. Aside from the obvious, this study is fundamentally flawed because it failed to take into account a key aspect in its methodology. The decreasing amounts of mercury on which the authors based their conclusion didn’t actually decrease. Just a small detail that might be a factor in the final analysis and one that you would think any medical reporter with any integrity would point out.

In assessing the removal of thimerosal from children’s vaccines in California, the authors incorrectly state, “By 2000, new lots of all Hib and hepatitis B virus vaccines in the United States contained at most trace amounts of thimerosal. By March 2001, all vaccines in the recommended infant immunization schedule for the United States became available with at most trace amounts of thimerosal.”

This is very clever words-man-ship, perhaps clever enough to fool the average medical reporter but not so clever to fool your average mom.

“Available” does not mean administered. Existing stocks of mercury-containing vaccines were not recalled and they remained on clinic shelves. In response to a letter from congress, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms many mercury-containing vaccines were still available with late 2002 expiration dates. The letter also states, “Thimerosal-containing presentations are all still licensed in the U.S.”

In May 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began recommending the influenza vaccine for infants and pregnant woman. This recommendation reintroduced significant amounts of mercury exposure in utero and again at 6 and 7 months of age.

Like lead, there is no safe level of mercury. It is particularly toxic to the developing fetus, infants and young children. Numerous studies have found even very small amounts of mercury to be a potent developmental neurotoxin. Research has shown that at very low levels, 0.5 parts per billion (ppb) mercury, far lower than the amount found in even one mercury-containing vaccine, thimerosal kills human neuroblastoma cells. (Parran et al. Toxicol Sci 2005; 86: 132-140).

One adult influenza vaccine administered to a pregnant woman contains 25 micrograms of thimerosal (50,000 ppb mercury). Each of the infant influenza vaccines contained 12.5 micrograms each. In addition, “trace” amounts of thimerosal remain in several routine vaccines injected into children adding to the overall body burden. According to the FDA, “trace” amounts can be as much as 2,000 ppb mercury, and shown to be highly toxic. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers anything exceeding 200 ppb mercury liquid hazardous waste.

A 2001 study found Neurite membrane structure destroyed at 20 ppb (Leong et al.,Neuroreport 2001; 12: 733-37).

The 2004 California law that would ban the use of mercury-containing vaccines for pregnant women and children under the age of three did not go into effect until December of 2006. It is clear that pregnant women and infants continued to receive mercury-containing vaccines until this time.

Lost in this debate is the fact that no one knows precisely how much mercury really remains in children’s vaccines today. Neither the FDA nor the CDC performs any oversight testing to confirm the amount of mercury in vaccines. We rely on the vaccine manufacturers to report the amount of mercury in vaccines but there is no independent confirmation of those amounts. Again, talk about asking the fox to keep watch over the hen house.

In response to the California study, a man who knows quite a bit about toxicology in general and mercury specifically, Dr. Boyd Haley, Professor of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, wrote a critical analysis of the author’s findings:

“The alarming concern is that these authors seem more involved in providing material saying thimerosal is safe than they are concerned with the obvious facts, openly presented in their own data on autism rates, which strongly indicate that increased rates of autism started with the CDC mandated vaccine program…Most [scientists] agree that a genetic predisposition is likely (like those that lead to low glutathione levels), but that a toxic exposure is absolutely needed…that this increased toxic exposure would have had to occur in all 50 states at about the same time as all states have reported similar increases in autism rates. Only something like the government recommended vaccine program fits this need for a time dependent, uniform exposure of a toxin throughout all the states.”

In spite of all these criticisms the California study confirms the nation is in the midst of a public health crisis for which we have been given no credible explanation.

Arthur Schopenauer, a world famous philosopher once said, “All truth passes through three phases. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident”.

The bottom line remains, the California study does not change the fact that thimerosal is mercury and, as the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated, “Mercury in all its forms is toxic.” No amount of epidemiological bookkeeping can replace sound clinical and toxicological research, with one exception; a comprehensive study on vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated populations.

Again quoting Dr. Haley, “Common sense would lead most to attack finding the cause of autism instead of trying to prove something besides thimerosal is causal. The major question is ‘are our vaccines causing autism’ -only comparing the non-vaccinated to the vaccinated will answer this question.”

Public health officials are rapidly losing the public’s trust. The California study will not bring it back. An independent study, by authors with no ties to industry or public health activities is the only way to settle the debate.

To read the full story click here.

Most of the 120 million doses of the 2009-2010 Seasonal Flu Vaccine, as well as most of the 250 million doses of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 Swine flu vaccine contain toxic levels of Mercury.

Mercury is used as a preservative in vaccines, known as Thimerosal, eventhough the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, including the FDA, the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and vaccine manufacturers agreed in July 1999 that Thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from all vaccines as soon as possible.

Most injected flu vaccine currently available contains 25 micrograms (mcg) of mercury in the form of Thimerosal (ethylmercury thiosalicylate). Children first receive one-half of the adult dose, or 12.5 micrograms of mercury, followed within a four week period by a second dose of 12.5 micrograms of mercury, for a total of 25 micrograms.

According to the EPA, the maximum acceptable daily risk level is 0.1 mcg/kg. The current vaccine will inject the average child with 12-17 times the maximum daily amount of mercury recommended by the EPA and the average adult with 3.5 times the maximum amount. However, most concerning is the fact that the vaccines will expose the unborn fetus of a pregnant women to 250 times the maximum recommended dose of mercury.

The EPA guidelines are only recommendations for consumption of methyl-mercury typically consumed in fish. There are no guidelines for the more dangerous practice of “injecting” the more toxic ethyl-mercury directly into the human bloodstream.

Mercury is a known neurotoxin that crosses the blood-brain barrier and is especially dangerous to infants and a developing fetus. Mercury has been causally linked to the dramatically increasing incidence of autism and other neurological diseases. Cases of autism in the U.S. have increased by 1,500 per cent since 1991, which is when vaccines for children doubled, and the number of immunizations is only increasing. Just one in 2,500 children were diagnosed with autism before 1991, whereas one in 150 children now have the disease.

Even Trace Amounts of Mercury in the so called “Thimerosal-Free” Vaccines are Toxic

Some Vaccine Manufacturers claim that they provide “Thimerosal-Free” vaccine in single dose syringes. However, the truth is that even the “Thimerosal-Free” doses contain toxic amounts of Mercury. Thimerosal is used in the early stages of vaccine manufacture and is subsequently removed by purification steps to what is called “a trace amount.” The “trace amount” equals 1 microgram of Mercury or less per 0.5 mL dose.

1 microgram (mcg) of Mercury per 0.5mL vaccine dose is equivalent to 2000 mcg per liter, which equals 2000 parts per billion (2000 ppb).

2 ppb mercury is the U.S. EPA limit for drinking water (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants /index.html#mcls).

20 ppb mercury destroys neurite membranes (nerve tissue in the brain) (Leong et al., Neuroreport 2001; 12:733-7). An amount thought to be sufficient to cause Autism.

200 ppb mercury is the level in liquid that the EPA classifies as hazardous waste (http://www.epa.gov/ epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/ regs.htm#hazwaste).

25,000 ppb mercury is equivalent to 25 mcg, which is the concentration of mercury in each dose dispensed from the multi-dose vials of both the seasonal influenza vaccine as well as the pandemic H1N1 flu vaccine in the U.S.

References:

EPA: Safewater Contaminants Index

Blood Levels of Mercury Are Related to Diagnosis of Autism

CDC Vaccine Safety Updates: Thimerosal FAQs

CDC: H1N1 flu Vaccination and Thimerosal

Mercury in Vaccines Linked to Autism: Medical Research

Vacciness/Mercury/Autism: CDC’s Conflict of Interest

Here are the facts. Click on the links below to get all of the facts. Parents should not feel pressured into getting the Swine Flu Shot. Get all of the facts first and then you can make an intelligent decision for yourself and your family. Start here

AP Poll: Third of Parents Oppose H1N1 Vaccine

Swine Flu Vaccine Fears:What Questions Must Be Answered?

Swine Flu Flyer: Summary of all Key Issues and Concerns about the Swine Flu Vaccine

Should You Get the Swine Flu Vaccine?

Mercury in Vaccines Exceed EPA Maximum

Mercury in Vaccines Linked to Autism

Recommended Vaccines 2009-2010: Manufacturers with Age Indicaton and which vaccines contain Thimerosal (Mercury)

Vaccine Ingredients List: Find Out What’s In each of the Vaccines

German health expert’s swine flu warning: Does virus vaccine increase the risk of cancer?

The 2009 H1N1 Vaccine is not the only way to boost your immune system to fight the flu. You need to know that there are safe and effective alternatives for the flu. To learn what else you can do click here.

Natural Treatment Alternatives for the Flu

Lesson we apparently didn’t learn from the Swine Flu Fiasco of 1976

This “60-Minutes”video from 1979 is a video you must watch. The 2009 H1N1Swine Flu Vaccine is being rushed through production so fast that it will not be tested by sufficient numbers or given sufficient time to determine whether or not the vaccine is even safe or effective. This new vaccine could kill more people than the Swine Flu itself, just like the Swine Flu fiasco of 1976, in which the Swine Flu only killed 1 person, but the vaccine killed or injured thousands of Americans and led to billions of dollars in claims of damages for Guillain-Barré syndrome, a  paralyzing neuromuscular disorders that left thousands injured or paralyzed for life.

What Questions Need to be Answered Before Anyone gets Vaccinated?

How severe is the 2009 H1N1 Swine Flu compared to the typical seasonal flu? It may be very contagious but may not be very harmful. How virulent is this Swine Flu?

What’s in the Vaccine?  Is the Vaccine safe?

Does the vaccine contain mercury (Thimerosal)? How much mercury does it contain? What other toxic chemicals are in the vaccine? Does it contain formaldehyde, formalin, antibiotics, egg proteins, green monkey kidney cells, insect cell culture remnants, adjuvants like squalene that have been linked to the Gulf War Syndrome from the Anthrax vaccine?

How long does it take for neruological damage or Guillain-Barré syndrome to show up after the vaccine?

Does the Vaccine work? The clinical trials were specifically limited to a very small (100+) number of patients per group for a very short time. Were these studies sufficient to prove safety and effectiveness?

Which will cause a higher percentage of serious harm: the vaccine or the Swine flu?

We Deserve to Know these Answers

What was disturbing in 1976 and today is the speed by which the H1N1 vaccine was developed and rushed to market. The lack of a detailed public explanation is not inspiring confidence. As a result a Consumer Reports poll shows that only 35% will surely get the H1N1 flu shot.

The Food and Drug Administration has formally approved all of the 250 million doses of the Swine flu vaccine purchased by the U.S. Government before studies required to prove their safety or effectiveness have been completed under the cover of The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act).

What are the Results of the Clinical Trials of the Vaccines?

So far, top U.S. health officials have given only vague details about the results of the clinical trials underway to test the safety and effectiveness of the Swine flu vaccine. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is giving only guarded answers.

Vague explanations like the following should make us all ask a lot more questions.

“A single dose of vaccine could be enough to immunize adults against swine flu, Fauci said.”

“Preliminary data from our trials indicate that a single 15-microgram dose of … vaccine is well tolerated and induces an immune response in most healthy adults, said Fauci.”

Among children 10 to 17 years old, 76 percent had a “robust” immune response to the vaccine. For children 3 to 9 years old, 36 percent had a robust response. Among children 6 months to 36 months, the immune response rate was 25 percent, Fauci said.

Results of NIH-sponsored clinical trials which began last month showed that a swine flu vaccine produced by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur produced “a robust immune response” in 96 percent of adults aged 18 to 64 after “the rather short time point of eight to 10 days after vaccination,” Fauci said.

This is all only “preliminary data.” How many individuals were involved in the “preliminary” clinical trials? Only about 100 per study.  When will we get the proven final data? The formal clinical trials will not be completed until sometime next year between March and October of 2010.

What is a “robust immune response?” This is intentionally vague and not quantifiable. No one really knows or at least know one is willing to tell the American public. The preliminary clinical trials have not been published and the top U.S. officials are not being frank or forthcoming.

What s “well tolerated mean?”

We Need More Answers!

Fortunately for now the Swine Flu vaccine is not mandatory. However, a declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization gives them the authority to make the vaccines manditory and to declare marshal law to enforce them at any time.

Why are the Vaccine Manufacturers Immune from Liability Lawsuits?

Vaccine makers and all federal officials have been granted total legal immunity from any and all lawsuits that may result from the new swine flu vaccine, under a document signed by U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Kathleen Sebelius, in June 2009.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, has granted vaccine makers total legal immunity from any and all lawsuits that may result from any new swine flu vaccine, because if the governement did not grant them this immunity they would not have made the vaccines.

It turns out that DHHS Secretary Sibelius has not only given immunity to the manufactures of swine flu vaccines, but also the makers of Tamiflu and Relenza for injuries stemming from their use against swine flu. She also granted immunity to future swine flu vaccines and “any associated adjuvants.” The order was published in the June 25, 2009 Federal Register.

Since the 1980s, the government has protected vaccine makers against lawsuits over the use of childhood vaccines. A federal court handles all vaccine injury claims and decides who will be paid from a special fund. Thousands of parents whose otherwise perfectly healthy children developed autism after getting a vaccine are still waiting for compensation. Most have been frankly denied.

The document signed by Secretary Sebelius grants immunity to federal officials and drug manufacturers under the provisions of The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREPA), a 2006 law for public health emergencies.

Vaccine Rush Sacrifices Safety for Profits of Vaccine Manufactures

“Here is the problem,” according to Dr. Meryl Nass, M.D., vaccine expert and board member of the Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP):

“Once the PREP Act is invoked to shield manufacturers from liability, the pharmaceutical firms have no financial incentive to make the safest product, and have a negative incentive to test it for safety. As long as they do not deliberately harm consumers of the product, they will not be liable for damages.

Are you following this argument closely? In order to avoid having prior knowledge of possible harm to users of the product, for which they could be found liable, it is in the manufacturers’ best interest to know as little as possible about adverse reactions caused by their product.

Thus manufacturers can be expected to perform minimal testing, as they have been incentivized by PREPA to avoid learning of potential harms related to their product. Thus the speed at which the product will be distributed serves two purposes: it provides the needed excuse to avoid adequate testing, as well as providing rapid vaccine availability.”

Will There Be Enough Vaccine Soon Enough for Everyone?

The vaccine manufacturers are having difficulty producing sufficient quantities of the Swine flu vaccine.

The U.S. government has purchased 250 million doses of the Swine Flu vaccine for $10 Billion dollars. Approximately only 45 million doses will be available by the middle of October. The five pharmaceutical companies making the vaccine for the US hope that they will be able to collectively provide an additional 20 million doses per week from mid October through December. This would deliver approximately 240 million doses.

Since two shots will be required for all of the approximately 20 million children ages 6 months to 9 years, that leaves only 200 million doses for the remaining 285 million Americans. Any possible immunity from the vaccine is not expected to occur for 30 days after the vaccine This would make it the middle of November before the first Americans vaccinated can expect any possible immune protection from the vaccine. If the virus comes a little early, any vaccine may be too late.

Are There Safer Alternatives That Can Protect Us Now?

To read Dr. Hansen’s article: The Top Ten Natural Alternatives to the Flu, click here.

Clinical trials among young children indicate that they will need two swine flu shots in order to develop adequate antibody levels to fend off the flu, according to public-health experts data released on Monday, September, 21, 2009.

The government Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is recommending that all children ages 6 months through age 9 be given two vaccine shots at 21 days apart.

However, older children between the ages of 10 and 17 appear to have a “robust immune response” after one shot, meaning they only need to get the vaccine once, according to officials with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Preliminary results from the small clinical trial has shown that a single dose of swine flu vaccine produces an immune response in 76% of 10- to 17-year-olds 8-10 days after they get their shot.

But antibodies to the swine flu virus were found in only 36% of children ages3 to 9 after the first shot and only 25 percent of infants and toddlers between 6 and 35 months.

That means that infants and toddlers facing their first-ever vaccinations will need 4 shots: 2 for seasonal flu and 2 for the 2009-H1N1 swine flu.

Is the Vaccine Worth the Risk?

That’s a lot of immune and nervous system stress, including high doses of ethyl mercury in Thimeosal, the vaccine’s preservative, within a very short period of time. Is the vaccine worth the risk of serious neruological damage?

So far this year, Arizona has recorded only 1,480 lab-confirmed cases of the Swine flu, which includes 297 cases that led to hospitalization and 22 deaths that included 4 children.

Arizona has designated infants and young children, kids with chronic health infections and pregnant women as the highest priority for receiving the H1N1 vaccine. Next in line will be school-age students and adults who care for newborns or have chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

There are roughly 1 million children in the state of Arizona who fall between 6 months and 9 years of age, according to Will Humble, the interim director of the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The state expects to receive between about 1 million doses of the swine flu vaccine in mid-October, with more to come weekly throughout the remainder of the flu season.

To read Dr. Hansen’s article: Should You Get the Swine Flu Vaccine? click here.

To see Dr. Hansen’s Natural Treatment Alternatives for the Flu, click here.

This year the CDC is recommending that just about everyone get the regular seasonal flu vaccine as well as the 2 doses of Swine flu vaccine. Can your body handle 3 vaccines this fall? Did you know that most of this year’s seasonal flu vaccine, as well as the Swine flu vaccine will contain a toxic dose of mercury linked to autism? Additionally, the Swine flu vaccine may contain other toxins like the adjuvant squalene, which is added to boost the immune response, but has been blamed for causing Gulf War Syndrome. Are the risks worth any possible benefits?

The 2009-H1N1 Swine flu is unpredictable and could mutate from its mild form at any time to become more virulent. So far however, it has not mutated during the winter flu season in the Southern Hemisphere which is now ending, said Dr. Nancy Cox, head of the Center for Disease Control Influenza Division. Nevertheless, since they know of nothing else to do to prevent the flu the CDC is recommending that half of all Americans get vaccinated, including health care workers, pregnant women, children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years old.

Recollections from the Swine Flu Fiasco of 1976

To keep ahead of the virus, the Swine Flu Vaccine is being rushed through production so fast that it may not be given sufficient time for testing to determine whether or not the vaccine is even safe or effective. This is the thing to fear. The truth is that this vaccine could kill more people than the Swine Flu itself, just like the Swine Flu fiasco of 1976, in which the Swine Flu only killed 1 person, but the vaccine killed 25 and caused more than 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralyzing neuromuscular disorder.

The Swine Flu Vaccine: Too Little, Too Late

The vaccine manufacturers are having difficulty producing sufficient quantities of the Swine flu vaccine. The virus is grown in chicken eggs, and vaccine companies are getting 30% fewer doses per egg than the normal yield for regular winter flu vaccine, according to the FDA’s Dr. Jerry Weir.

The U.S. government has purchased 195 million doses of the Swine Flu vaccine for $7 Billion dollars. Approximately only 45 million doses will be available by the middle of October. The five pharmaceutical companies making the vaccine for the US hope that they will be able to collectively provide an additional 20 million doses per week from mid October through December. This would deliver approximately 240 million doses, enough for 120 million Americans.

Since two shots will be required per person, 45 million doses of the Swine flu vaccine will only cover 22.5 million Americans, who will need a second dose 21 days later. Any possible immunity from the vaccine is not expected to occur for another 30 days after the second vaccine dose. This would make it the middle of December before the first Americans vaccinated can expect any possible immune protection from the vaccine. If the virus comes a little early, any vaccine may be too late.

Three Vaccines in Succession: Too Many, Too Toxic

The CDC is recommending that everyone get the Seasonal Flu vaccine immediately, although there are only 120 million doses available right now. Then, as soon as it is available the CDC also wants you to get two shots of the Swine Flu vaccine. That’s 3 shots within 6 weeks. That’s too many for me to recommend. No studies will be conducted to determine whether or not the injection of 3 shots in a row of 4 different influenza virus strains will have immediate or long term harmful effects. So, if you volunteer to get the shots, you are volunteering to be a part of one very large clinical trial.

The Hippocratic Oath’s first and foremost guiding principal is

First Do No Harm! As a physician, I cannot recommend any vaccine and be true to the Hippocratic Oath.”     Clark Hansen, N.M.D.

Toxic levels of Mercury in most doses of Vaccine

Most of the 120 million doses of the 2009-2010 Seasonal Flu Vaccine, as well as most of the 195 million doses of the 2009 Swine flu vaccine will contain toxic levels of mercury.

Mercury is used as a preservative, known as Thimerosal, eventhough the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, including the FDA, the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and vaccine manufacturers agreed in July 1999 that Thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from all vaccines as soon as possible.

Most injected flu vaccine currently available contains 25 micrograms of mercury in the form of Thimerosal (ethylmercury thiosalicylate). Children first receive one-half of the adult dose, or 12.5 micrograms of mercury, followed within a four week period by a second dose of 12.5 micrograms of mercury, for a total of 25 micrograms.

According to the EPA, the maximum acceptable daily risk level is 0.1 mcg/kg. The current vaccine will inject the average child with 12-17 times the maximum daily amount of mercury recommended by the EPA and the average adult with 3.5 times the maximum amount. However, most concerning is the fact that the vaccines will expose the unborn fetus of a pregnant women to 250 times the maximum recommended dose of mercury.

The EPA guidelines are only recommendations for consumption of methyl-mercury typically consumed in fish. There are no guidelines for the more dangerous practice of “injecting” the more toxic ethyl-mercury directly into the human bloodstream.

Mercury is a known neurotoxin that crosses the blood-brain barrier and is especially dangerous to infants and a developing fetus. Mercury has been causally linked to the dramatically increasing incidence of autism and other neurological diseases. Cases of autism in the U.S. have increased by 1,500 per cent since 1991, which is when vaccines for children doubled, and the number of immunizations is only increasing. Just one in 2,500 children were diagnosed with autism before 1991, whereas one in 166 children now have the disease.

To learn more Mercury Toxicity and Symptoms, click here.

Adjuvant in Swine flu Vaccine More Dangerous than the Virus

Unfortunately the production output of this vaccine is one-third the typical output and the manufactures are racing against the clock to make it available before the virus has already peaked this fall.

If the additive free vaccine doesn’t provide a strong enough immune reaction or there isn’t enough supply to go around, manufacturers could be permitted add immune-system boosters called adjuvants. The U.S. Health and Human Services Department has already contracted for 120 million doses of adjuvant, just in case, even though there’s little information on their safety in children and pregnant women and there will not be time to find out if the vaccines are to be administered in this fall.

According to Meryl Nass, M.D., an authority on the anthrax vaccine,

“A novel feature of the two H1N1 vaccines being developed by companies Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline is the addition of squalene-containing adjuvants to boost immunogenicity and dramatically reduce the amount of viral antigen needed. This translates to much faster production of desired vaccine quantities.”

These adjuvants may be more toxic than Mercury. Squalene, is an oil from shark liver. Squalene was found in the Anthrax vaccine given to Gulf War soldiers and is thought to be associated with causing Gulf War Syndrome. (See Congressional Testimony Record)

According to Dr. Viera Scheibner, Ph.D., a retired principle research scientist for the government of Australia:

“… this adjuvant [squalene] contributed to the cascade of reactions called “Gulf War Syndrome,” documented in the soldiers involved in the Gulf War.

The symptoms they developed included arthritis, fibromyalgia, lymphadenopathy, rashes, photosensitive rashes, malar rashes, chronic fatigue, chronic headaches, abnormal body hair loss, non-healing skin lesions, aphthous ulcers, dizziness, weakness, memory loss, seizures, mood changes, neuropsychiatric problems, anti-thyroid effects, anaemia, elevated ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Raynaud’s phenomenon, Sjorgren’s syndrome, chronic diarrhoea, night sweats and low-grade fevers.”

Life-threatening Allergic Reactions are very rare but do occur. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. These reactions are more likely to occur among persons with a severe allergy to eggs, because the viruses used in the influenza vaccine are grown in hens’ eggs. People who have had a severe reaction to eggs or to a flu shot in the past should not get a flu shot.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome
(GBS) is an illness characterized by fever, nerve damage, and muscle weakness. In 1976 the annual vaccination was associated with moreh than 500 cases of GBS. Several studies have been done to evaluate if other flu vaccines since 1976 were associated with GBS. Only one of the studies showed an association. That study suggested that one person out of 1 million vaccinated persons may be at risk of GBS associated with the vaccine. That means that this year as many as 240 persons may develop GBS from the Flu vaccine.

To read Flu Vaccine adverse events reported to the FDA click here.

Should You Get a Rx for the Anit-Viral Drugs
Tamiflu or Relenza?

Tamiflu and Relenza, both appear to work against the 2009-H1N1 Swine flu. However, the supply of these flu drugs is already depleted and will likely be reserved for hospitalized cases and distributed by the State Health Departments of the states with active cases.

Roche’s Tamiflu is the most effective known drug against Influenza Type A infections and the most frequently prescribed in America. It inhibits the enzyme neuraminidase that stops the virus from spreading, but must be taken within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms. The US has stockpiled 12 million doses of Tamiflu, which is just enough for 4% of the U.S. population.

Tamiflu is generally well tolerated but can cause side-effects inlcuding mild-to-moderate nausea or vomiting in 10% of the population. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, headache and fatigue. Other side-effects include delirium, psychosis and hallucinations, especially in children and young adults. Less common side effects may include bronchitis, sleeplessness and vertigo.

Vaccine Manufacturers Immune from Liability Lawsuits

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, has granted vaccine makers total legal immunity from any lawsuits that may result from any new swine flu vaccine. And some states may make the vaccination mandatory by law.

Vaccine makers and all federal officials have been granted total legal immunity from lawsuits that result from any new swine flu vaccine, under a document signed by U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Kathleen Sebelius, in June 2009.

It turns out that DHHS Secretary Sibelius has not only given immunity to the manufactures of swine flu vaccines, but also the makers of Tamiflu and Relenza for injuries stemming from their use against swine flu. She also granted immunity to future swine flu vaccines and “any associated adjuvants.” The order was published in the June 25, 2009 Federal Register.

Since the 1980s, the government has protected vaccine makers against lawsuits over the use of childhood vaccines. A federal court handles all vaccine injury claims and decides who will be paid from a special fund.

The document signed by Secretary Sebelius grants immunity to federal officials and drug manufacturers under the provisions of The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREPA), a 2006 law for public health emergencies.

Vaccine Rush Sacrifices Safety for Benefit of Manufactures

“Here is the problem,” according to Dr. Meryl Nass, M.D., vaccine expert and board member of the Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP):

“Once the PREP Act is invoked to shield manufacturers from liability, the pharmaceutical firms have no financial incentive to make the safest product, and have a negative incentive to test it for safety. As long as they do not deliberately harm consumers of the product, they will not be liable for damages.

Are you following this argument closely? In order to avoid having prior knowledge of possible harm to users of the product, for which they could be found liable, it is in the manufacturers’ best interest to know as little as possible about adverse reactions caused by their product.

Thus manufacturers can be expected to perform minimal testing, as they have been incentivized by PREPA to avoid learning of potential harms related to their product. Thus the speed at which the product will be distributed serves two purposes: it provides the needed excuse to avoid adequate testing, as well as providing rapid vaccine availability.”

Don’t be a part of the Vaccination Experiment!

So far, only two of the six manufacturers have clinical trials underway to test the safety and effectiveness of the Swine flu vaccine. Unfortunately, the results of these clinical trials will not be available until the middle of October at the same time that the vaccine is scheduled to be released to the public.

The Food and Drug Administration may formally approve all of the 195 million doses of the Swine flu vaccine before studies required to prove its safety or how well it works are completed under the guise of urgency and provisions of The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act). Don’t be part of the experiment!

To read Dr. Hansen’s article: The Top Ten Natural Alternatives to the Flu, click here.

To read Dr. Hansen’s article: Swine Flu Fears: Genuine or Hogwash? click here.

The Flu season is here again. The flu typically begins in November and peaks in February; however, it can peak anywhere from late November through March and last until May. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending the flu vaccine for nearly everyone this year because the vaccine supply is plentiful. Dr. Hansen says “Don’t get the Flu Shot, until you have weighed the risks vs the benefits and considered the natural alternatives you can take instead of the Flu Shot.”

To see what Dr. Hansen Recommends, click here.

How many people get sick or die from the Flu every year?

Each Flu season is unique, but it is estimated that, on average, approximately 5-20% of U.S. residents (15-60 million people) get the flu, and more than 200,000 are hospitalized for Flu-related complications each year. The National Vital Statistics Report lists an average of 1076 deaths due to Inlfuenza annually. For some reason however, the CDC claims that that about 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of Flu. This over reporting of Flu deaths may be intended to scare more Americans into getting the Flu shot each year. The CDC chooses to lump the 1076 Influenza deaths with the 62,000 Pneumonia deaths annually. More than 90% of flu-related deaths are in people aged 65 years or older because they have weaker immune resistance.

What are the Side-effects of the Flu Shot?

Flu shot side effects can include fever, chills, headache or a general sense of malaise, that last one to two days. These symptoms occur in 9-44% of the people who get the Flu shot. That means that this year 13 to 66 million Americans could get flu symptoms from the Flu shot, about the same as the number who will get the flu. For as many as 1000 others who get the Flu shot, serious adverse reactions will occur that could be life threatening.

Most Flu Vaccines Contain Mercury – a Nervous System Poison

Approximately 66% (96 million doses of 146 million) of this year’s influenza vaccines to be distributed in the United States will contain mercury, a known nervous system toxin. Mercury is used as a preservative, known as Thimerosal, eventhough the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, including the FDA, the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and vaccine manufacturers agreed in July 1999 that Thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from all vaccines as soon as possible. Most problems occur from the Live Attenuated Vaccine in multidose vials that contain mercury (Thimerosal) as the preservative.

To learn more Mercury Toxicity and Symptoms, click here.

Vaccines can cause life-threatening reactions

Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare but do occur. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. These reactions are more likely to occur among persons with a severe allergy to eggs, because the viruses used in the influenza vaccine are grown in hens’ eggs. People who have had a severe reaction to eggs or to a flu shot in the past should not get a flu shot.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an illness characterized by fever, nerve damage, and muscle weakness. In 1976 the annual vaccination was associated with multiple cases of GBS. Several studies have been done to evaluate if other flu vaccines since 1976 were associated with GBS. Only one of the studies showed an association. That study suggested that one person out of 1 million vaccinated persons may be at risk of GBS associated with the vaccine. That means that this year approximately 146 persons will develop GBS from the Flu vaccine.

To read Flu Vaccine adverse events reported to the FDA click here.

Can you prevent the Flu naturally?

The best way to prevent the flu is to keep your immune system strong. Remember that only 5-20% of Americans get the Flu, which means that 80-95% of Americans do NOT get the Flu every year. You can help your body do its job by keeping it well hydrated, eating healthy foods, avoiding sugary foods and getting lots of sleep. Avoid white flour and white sugar because as little as 100 grams of sugar can reduce your immune resistance by as much as 50% and last for 5 hours. Eat more immune boosting foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, garlic and onions. Getting less than 7½ hours of sleep weakens your immune system too, so make sure you get plenty of sleep during the winter months.

Last year’s Flu Shot not effective

Last year’s Flu Vaccine did not protect against the viral strains that caused most of the flu cases. Additionally, the CDC reported that only 11% of the 95,000 suspected flu cases reported in the 2007-2008 flu season were actually caused by the flu. The other 89% were caused by the common cold virus.

What does Dr. Hansen Recommend?

Because you can’t always know what you’re fighting, Dr. Hansen recommends PHYTOBIOTIC^TM to treat the symptoms of the Flu, colds, coughs, and sore throats.* This broad spectrum herbal anti-biotic is exceptionally effective. It contains a standardized extract of Elderberry (Sambucus nigra), which has been found to be effective against multiple strains of Influenza A and B viruses. Elderberry is a neuraminidase inhibitor, like the prescription drug Oseltamivir (Tamiflu). It works by blocking the release and spread of the influenza virus within the body.

PHYTOBIOTIC^TM also contains Echinacea, which has been shown to possess antiviral activity against several viruses including influenza; Andrographis, which has been shown in a double blind placebo controlled study to significantly reduce symptoms of the common cold and sinusitis, as well as time off work; Ashwaghanda for its immune enhancing properties and Goldenseal, for its potent broad spectrum anti-bacterial activity. This formulation is phenomenal. My patients love it because it works. They keep plenty of PHYTOBIOTIC^TM on hand for the whole family to take during the winter and when they have to fly on planes.

Clinically shown to work fast!
In a double blind clinical trial on patients infected with the influenza virus, 90% of the group taking Elderberry extract recovered completely from the fever, chills, body aches, and cough twice as fast as the group receiving the placebo (within 3 days rather than 7).

Elderberry disarms viruses by binding to them and preventing them from getting into the body. Flavonoids found in the berries are thought to coat the virus and inhibit the action of an enzyme called neuraminidase that otherwise would break down the cell wall membrane and allow the virus to spread. Elderberry also enhances immunity by increasing the production of special white blood cells that fight viruses and acts as a potent antioxidant.

Sources: J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40.Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections; J Altern Complement Med. 1995 Winter;1(4):361-9. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama.

Isn’t there something safer than the Flu Shot?

Dr. Hansen recommends an oral homeopathic flu remedy called Influenzinum™ instead of the Flu Shot. This homeopathic medicine is prepared according to the standards of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, containing a dilution of the same three main viral strains as the conventional vaccine. However, the homeopathic preparation dilutes these strains to 1 part per billion. This homeopathic method of preparing the vaccine greatly reduces the risk of side effects. Plus the homeopathic flu remedy is dissolved in the mouth so no mercury containing shots are required.

In 1998 the French Society of Homeopathy conducted a survey of 23 homeopathic doctors concerning their use of Influenzinum for the prevention of the flu (Coulamy, 1998). The survey included use of Influenzinum over a 10 year period (1987-1998) in 453 patients. Results of the survey were remarkable. In approximately 90 percent of the cases no instances of the flu occurred when Influenzinum was used preventively for all ages 2 and older. In the survey, no side effects were noted in 97% of the cases, while 3% experienced mild nasal discharge. Influenzinum has been used throughout the world by millions of people for decades.

What should you do if you get the Flu in spite of these preventive measures?

If you should get the flu, Dr. Hansen recommends taking Oscillococcinum (os-sill-o-cox-see-num) the homeopathic medicine developed in France more than 60 years ago for the treatment of flu symptoms. Oscillococcinum is the number one over-the-counter flu medication in France. It has been used by more than 10 million people worldwide without any side-effects. It helps stop the fever, chills, body aches and pain of the Flu within a few short hours. I have used it with dramatic results in my practice for more than 20 years.

Natural Remedies For Young Children: For children who cannot swallow pills, Dr. Hansen recommends the homeopathic flu remedy known as Oscillococcinum (os-sill-o-cox-see-num) and 3 ml of liquid Elderberry + Echinacea, or Elderberry + Wild Cherry bark, if they have a cough, 4 times daily.

Who does the CDC recommend get the Flu Shot?

Over the last few years the number of companies making the Flu Vaccine and the amount of vaccine produced has steadily increased. This year there are 146 million doses of the Flu Vaccine, enough for approximately half of all Americans. Is this a good thing?