The Final Call

Questions about swine flu vaccine won't go away

By Jesse Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Oct 29, 2009 - 1:51:25 PM

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(FinalCall.com) - Top officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the United States has exceeded 1,000 deaths from the declared swine influenza pandemic and has witnessed “many millions of cases” since the virus first emerged six months ago.

“We have seen, since the beginning of the pandemic in April and May, more than 1,000 deaths from pandemic influenza and more than 20,000 hospitalizations in this country,”said Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, in a news briefing.

“We have had, up until now, many millions of cases of pandemic influenza in the U.S., and the numbers continue to increase,” said Mr. Frieden.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4,735 people have died globally from swine flu infections since the H1N1 virus was first reported in Mexico. The seasonal flu causes an estimated 36,000 deaths yearly according to the CDC.

Plans of mass vaccinations by the government are now underway and originally included an estimated 50 million vaccine doses slated to be disseminated to every state's health center. As of mid-October, just 11 million doses have been sent out and over 16 million are ready for shipping, according to the CDC.

Mr. Friedman admitted, “We are nowhere near where we thought we'd be by now.”

The shortage in doses has mothers standing in long lines at clinics for hours and still not receiving the vaccines for their children.

WHO has declared a Level 6 global pandemic of swine influenza. A pandemic is something prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; an epidemic is over a large area.

“I really don't know what to believe. Every day it seems like we are being frightened by the media coverage,” said Veronica Wallace, a mother of five children.

Social networking sites were recently stirred with the circulation of an Inside Edition interview with 25-year-old Desiree Jennings of Ashburn, Virginia. She is claiming her recent flu shot caused her to suffer from a neurological disorder called dystonia, for which there is no known cure.

Prior to getting the shot, Ms. Jennings was a healthy and trying out to be cheerleader for the Washington Redskins. Ten days after getting the shot, she could only walk smoothly going backwards and talks with a severe slur when she's standing still. Oddly she can run forward without problems and her speech is clear while running also.

“After watching that video, I am 1,000 percent sure I will not be taking any vaccinations,” said Robert Washington of Houston. “Some people think the video is a hoax but I believe otherwise. I think it is message to us as Americans to wake up,” said the 29-year-old.

“I am instructing my children to just practice cleanliness. I don't really see a need for them to get vaccines,” said Ms. Wallace. Her children range from 5 to 19 years of age.

“Many critics, including myself, have spoken out against the widespread use of an inadequately tested, ‘fast-tracked' vaccine,” said Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad, Nation of Islam minister of health.

Pediatrician Jason Terk disagrees with that opinion. “This H1N1 vaccine is being produced just like any regular seasonal flu vaccine. It is not being rushed but there is a sense of urgency because of the potential impact of this second wave of those getting infected.”

Dr. Terk, based in Keller, Texas, is also an executive board member for the Texas Pediatric Society. He said there is a great need for concern with an estimated 40 percent of the American people expected to be infected with the swine flu.

“That puts millions of people at risk. People should get a vaccination that will prime their immune system to not be at risk,” Dr. Terk told The Final Call.

Washington, D.C.-based journalist Wayne Madsen said, “Even scientists who helped develop vaccines for small pox are saying that they are not going to take the vaccine (H1N1) and urging their family and friends not to take the vaccine either.”

“The U.S. government's swine flu mass vaccination plan is going full steam,” said Kevin Muhammad, a researcher who is advising people not to take the vaccines.

“This will cause huge injuries and fatalities because these ‘secretive' vaccines contain active viral material, mercury, aluminum and other lethal chemicals,” said Kevin Muhammad.

Kevin Muhammad, who authored the book “Against Compulsory Vaccination,” also says “the vaccines have not been properly tested, which makes them experimental—thereby, making each citizen an ‘experimental subject.'”

Mr. Muhammad launched an anti-swine flu mobilization campaign with an official Website (antivaccinationcampaign.net), national educational seminars and informational door hangers warning about the possible dangers of the vaccination, its ingredients and the needs for preventive measures in personal health care.

“As the evil-doers plan their swine flu vaccination campaign to maim, injure and kill us, we have launched our anti-vaccination campaign to counter and defeat their efforts,” he said.

Respected lung specialist Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, who also chairs the health committee in the German Parliament and European Council, has expressed his concerns over the risk of administering the H1N1 vaccine.

“The nutrient solution for the vaccine consists of cancerous cells from animals and we do not know if there could be an allergic reaction,” said Dr. Wodarg.

Governmental officials from the United Kingdom have warned neurologists that an increase in a deadly brain disorder, called Guillain-Barre Syndrome, could increase from the mass vaccinations. Dr. Wodarg also notes that by injecting people's cells it could “increase the risk of cancer.”

“I am really concerned about this vaccine. At first I thought it was a good idea to protect me and my family,” says Brenda Jones of Dallas, a mother of two toddlers.

“But now that I am hearing the possible side effects, I am going to hold off because if the doctors who made this won't take it, then it would be crazy for me and others to do it. That's just common sense,” said Ms. Jones.