Problems with FluMist

“Does This Smell Bad?”

That was the question posed by last Wednesday’s e-Alert (12/10/03) about the way the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has embraced the use of the nasal flu vaccine FluMist in the wake of the shortages of the conventional vaccine.

In response to that e-Alert I received an e-mail from an HSI member named Franco who asked, “Why are you so negative?” And: “What is your basis for criticizing attenuated vaccines? Have you any credible study to outlaw that method?”

Franco makes an excellent point. No one has any credible study that indicates that FluMist is unsafe for most of those in the approved user group. There ARE, however, studies that show FluMist is unsafe for children under five and adults over 49, which is why the FDA has not approved this vaccine type for people in those age groups.

Furthermore, the Baltimore Sun reports that, according to the FDA, common FluMist side effects include “nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and cough.” Clearly, those are indications of a compromised immune system. So you have to ask: Is this the safest way to protect yourself from the flu?

There are also no studies that demonstrate what we can expect when people who are infected with FluMist’s weakened flu strains come into contact with a population on the verge of a flu epidemic. In fact, people who receive the FluMist vaccine are advised to stay away from people at risk of infection for at least one week.

So my primary question with FluMist is this: Given all of these unknowns, and given the fact that FluMist is only approved for those who essentially need it the least (healthy people between the ages of 6 and 49), is it really wise for the CDC to press people to get this alternate vaccine?

Early last week we heard reports that supplies of the conventional flu vaccine had run out. All of it had been shipped. Then late last week – wait a minute! – the Associated Press reported as many as 400,000 doses of the vaccine may be available from England, and that 250,000 doses of the flu shot had been “set aside” at the request of the CDC “when it became clear that shortages might develop.”

Might develop? It was reported far and wide that the shortages were a reality – not that they “might” develop. Meanwhile, FluMist enjoyed a nice boost of free publicity, courtesy of the CDC.

To return to Franco’s original question – “Why are you so negative?” – I don’t think it’s the least bit negative to point out the potential problems that may affect our health. If these problems aren’t highlighted, all we’ll hear are the bright, candy-coated reassurances from the mainstream medical establishment that their vaccines and medicines pose no real dangers.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

Sources:
“Killer Flu and Echinacea” Jon Barron, Baseline of Health newsletter, 12/8/03, jonbarron.org
“Flu Spreads to All 50 States” Associated Press, 12/12/03, msnbc.com