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Even the mainstream media is noticing the swine flu scams that are cropping up all over the internet. I wrote about some of these and some things that DO work over on my City Brights column in SFGate here. But some of the new scams are truly breathtaking in their absolute uselessness. I particularly liked the photon machine and its energy waves. Ionic silver was a pretty neat one too. Is this made from old, leftover photo processing chemicals that are not needed anymore in this digital age?
The bottom line of course is that standard health practices in any flu season should be fine and if you feel extra worry, the H1N1 vaccine is in fact completely safe. Something that the Canadian government is apparently having trouble getting across to people. The same common myth – that the vaccine will in fact give you the flu – is common here in the US. It is, of course, not true.
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Hi Doc,
Thanks for the great articles! With the flu, since its a bacterial infection that kills, why aren’t you (medical experts) recommending that high risk people take antibiotics as soon as they get the flu? Couldn’t that prevent, like most or all, of the deaths?
John,
thanks for the comment. Flu is a viral infection, not a bacterial infection, so antibiotics are ineffective. In addition, the overprescription of antibiotics for things like the flu is one of the factors leading to the increase in antibiotic resistant germs.
Yes, I understand about the problem of antibiotic resistance and overprescription and that the flu is a virus and antibiotics don’t work against virus…..none of that was my question.
My question was that since the flu virus isn’t the actual killer with H1N1 (or any flu), but the after effects, namely that your immune system is weakened to the point that bacterial infections take hold and do the actual killing. In that case, why not prescribe antibiotics to all high risk people who come down with the flu to prevent the bacterial infection from ever taking hold?
After scouring the web for information a plethora of scam material or pendulum swinging fringe statements are ripe. So, why is it so frickin’ hard to get some unbiased information–all in one space an not peppered with misinformation? The CDC has an interesting numbers game that doesn’t even check out and that is supposed to be our resource here. Daunting as that is, every call placed to our GP about the vaccine (the one thing that isn’t supposed to be a scam), results in a giant “I don’t know.” They don’t know when, how much or which kind they are getting. Yet, we are told we needed to have it yesterday.
Also, I have an ex who is a pharmacist who says that he goes through a years worth (40 boxes) of Tamiflu a night and has run out of adult strength that they were compounding for the kiddies. (Since that has been cleared out for weeks). He states, get the vaccine and get it asap. The risks aren’t there, it is safe, no matter on if it is the single dose or batch. Not that I don’t trust his opinion or other Pharm D.’s/M.D.; can you ever really trust someone you have seen drink a half bottle of wine from a wine luge? Seems to be most people’s issue, too. WHO do we trust? Science and fact should be leading the way and it is dwarfed by a big pharma grassy knoll.
Considering that I find myself reasonable but cautious; I have serious concerns about both the h1n1 flu AND the vaccine. Two asthmatics and a toddler in tow, should I work harder to find it and get all 4 shots for us? The neurological risks are my main concern. Breathing would be the priority.
Scam aside, are you seeing this flu more and more in your practice and will this vaccine be effective if this flu morphs into grippe extraordinaire death star?
Thank you for your posts. They are valued and heeded. My 8 year old LOVES the cod liver oil lemon capsules. Nightly, it sits next to the salad on her plate, staring at her until she finally gets it down before her dessert. Haven’t had the heart to tell her it isn’t the rancid olive oil she thinks it is.
It is always the case that there will be those who seize on opportunities such as these to advance their personal interests, whether it be political of financial in nature. Unfortunately, in some cases, as with the concept of the vaccine giving the flu, if something is repeated enough times, “it must be true.”