CommittedtoFitness
Cathlete
There's a lot of misinformation on the Internet about the efficacy and safety of influenza and other vaccines, and the article by Mike Adams of Natural News is an example of one with misleading information. He starts by saying that the influenza vaccine content is based on educated guessing and this is true but he then suggests that it is not based on science, although it is. The educated guessing is needed because the influenza viruses mutate rapidly (this is why annual revaccination is needed). The vaccine strains chosen for any given year are based on epidemiologic data from preceding seasons, which are predictive of the upcoming season. Influenza immunization may not prevent influenza but it has been shown to reduce the severity of illness. The tiny amounts of additives to vaccines are needed to maintain stability and sterility, and they are extensively tested for safety. Adams has exaggerated the risks in a sensational manner based on much larger amounts than those found in vaccines. When deciding whether to get immunized, it is important to seek information from an authoritative, unbiased source, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Food and Drug Administration (U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page), and Immunization Action Coalition (Immunization Action Coalition (IAC): Vaccine Information for Health Care Professionals). Vaccines were developed to prevent or reduce human suffering, and it saddens me to hear about people refusing immunization and needlessly becoming ill or dying because of unfounded fears.
