Do homework before being vaccinated

Most of us were taught at an early age to look both ways before we crossed the street. This same concept should apply to other aspects of our lives as well... including vaccinations.

A lot of hype about the dangers of H1N1, also known as the swine flu has been trickling down from government and the media. If you recall only a few years ago, the crisis of the day was Avian or "bird flu," its prophesied dangers built up as something more than it was in an attempt to create a pseudo calamity.

And here we are again. But before anyone bares their arms or backsides to the needle for H1N1, it would be wise to look both ways instead of reacting to the scare.

The current Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has publicly gone on record stating that the adverse effects of this vaccine, "...are minimal. ... We know it's safe and secure. ... This definitely is a safe vaccine for people to get." However, in direct contradiction to this statement, confidential information was leaked from The Health Protection Agency in the United Kingdom informing senior neurologists that this vaccination has been linked to a serious and sometimes fatal nerve disease, Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz also disagrees with HHS secretary. He had this to say in regards to more than half of surveyed health workers in Hong Kong refusing the H1N1 vaccine due to side effects, doubts of safety and efficacy:

"The truth is that vaccines aren't effective, generally carry dangerous side effects, and in many cases actually fuel the spread of pandemics. The fact is that most healthcare workers know this, and they don't trust that any swine flu vaccine will do anything but cause more problems and potential harm to the patients they care for."

"In April, 2009, the swine flu scare placed the world at high alert thanks to gads of suspicious publicity. Anglo-American officials and Reuters News Service first claimed this was a rapidly spreading combination of the world's scariest flu's - swine, avian and Spanish flu viruses. They were all said to be rolled up in this never-before-seen Mexican pathogen.

The scare, however, seemed to have less substance than volume, as the thousands of U.S. deaths that were predicted never happened"

With a Masters in public administration, HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius has zero education in the medical field. On the other hand, Dr. Horowitz is an internationally known authority in the overlapping fields of public health, behavioral science, emerging diseases, and natural healing and is also a Harvard University trained medical researcher and expert in public health. Unlike Sebelius, when it comes to H1N1, Dr. Horowitz has nothing to gain or lose politically.

A few facts for you to keep in mind when weighing out the pros and cons on this vaccination:

In 1976, the vaccine killed more people than the swine flu itself.

According to the CDC, the seasonal flu averages approximately 36,000 deaths per year in the United States. The swine flu death count in the US is at 600 with 4,100 cases worldwide. Hardly a pandemic.

For now the choice is yours whether or not to receive this vaccination. Before you make it, do yourself a favor and do the research.

Julie Momyer

Wauseon, OH