Alternative to the sting of a failed flu vaccine

by Donald E. Harte, D.C., member of the World Chiropractic Alliance Board of International Governors

(Note: the following article was printed in the San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 27, 2004 and is reprinted with permission of the author)

This year's flu season has been hyped by the medical profession and its governmental minions more than the "Lord of the Rings" and the Iowa caucuses put together. They mean to cause frenzied demand for the flu vaccine, now and in the future ‑‑ especially the future.

Is demand for the flu vaccine, to the point of panic, being artificially created? Within one month last year, at least three stories forced the issue: In Science magazine, we saw "Are we ready for pandemic influenza?" (Nov. 28). Then, USA Today ran "Next flu pandemic could wreak global havoc, scientists warn" (Dec. 4). And AOL News lead with "Western flu outbreak is the worst in 30 years" (Dec. 17).

Let's go back a few years. Besides disco, the '70s can be remembered for the swine flu catastrophe. This was the first big push by the medical profession, through the media, for the flu vaccine. We were warned of dire consequences if mass vaccination was not achieved from this "killer strain." If you are older than 40, you might remember the television coverage of President Gerald Ford rolling up his sleeve for his flu shot.

At the same time, a survey of practicing physicians showed that, without exception, every doctor surveyed stated that they would not administer the swine flu shot to their own children. The result? Claims totaling in excess of $1.3 billion were filed with the U.S. Department of Justice because of injury or death due to these shots. The suits claimed that the shots caused 517 Americans to become afflicted with Guillain‑BarrÈ syndrome (an auto‑immune disease that can cause severe weakness and pain and paralysis of the limbs and face), of whom at least 23 died.

Because of the method of manufacture, every year, by its very nature, the flu vaccine is out of date before it is even released. It can only offer partial protection for flu strains that happen to be closely related to last year's favorites that have been selected. When public health officials warn of a "killer flu" or a "possible pandemic," they expect a significant genetic shift in flu strain, and this is when they insist most strongly on people rolling up their sleeves for the vaccine. The trouble is, in these cases of "transgenic shift," the vaccine of the far‑removed flu strain becomes near useless. According to Barbara Loe Fisher, of the National Vaccine Information Center, "Public officials knew last spring that it was highly unlikely that the A/Panama strain in the current vaccine was not going to protect against the mutated, more dangerous A/Fujian strain (of this year)."

Evidence of the vaccine's ineffectiveness abounds. A 1999 Dutch study, for instance, reported on a home for seniors, where 49 percent suffered from a severe flu, though two‑thirds were vaccinated. Meanwhile, 48 percent of the nonvaccinated population got the disease, whereas 50 percent of those who were vaccinated got it.

A former chief vaccine control officer of the FDA, J. Anthony Morris, has said: "There is no evidence that any influenza vaccine thus far developed is effective in preventing or mitigating any attack of influenza. The producers of these vaccines know that they are worthless, but they go on selling them anyway."

Is the flu vaccine safe? The strains of influenza within the vaccine are inactivated with formaldehyde and preserved with Thimerosal, a mercury compound. Aside from possible danger from the active biological agents, isn't it biological common sense not to put poisons such as formaldehyde and mercury into your veins? The world's leading immunogeneticist, Hugh Fudenberg, stated that if an individual has five consecutive flu shots, instead of two, one or no shots, his/her chances of getting Alzheimer's disease are 10 times higher. He said that the causative agents in the flu shots were aluminum and mercury, with a gradual buildup resulting in cognitive dysfunction. In the "Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs," adverse effects for the flu vaccine include anaphylactic shock, Guillain‑BarrÈ syndrome, pericarditis (inflammation of the covering of the heart) and kidney damage.

The immune system protects us from the flu, as well as any other infectious disease, and strives to get us well again when we do fall ill. That immune system, like every other system in the body, is coordinated and controlled by the nervous system.

Chiropractic allows a better‑running, healthier nervous system. Ample literature supports the successes of chiropractic with infectious disease. For instance, a study published in 2000, from the Anglo‑European College of Chiropractic, showed chiropractic adjustments leading to increased serum IgM levels, an indicator of immune function.

The Great Flu Pandemic of 1918 was the greatest plague of modern times. It is estimated to have killed between 25 million and 40 million people worldwide, about half a million in this country. History shows us that those under chiropractic care during the flu pandemic had a far better chance of survival. One example: medical doctors in Davenport, Iowa, treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths ‑‑ in other words, 1 out of 15 under medical care succumbed to the flu. At the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, 1,635 flu cases were adjusted, with only one fatality. Outside of Davenport, chiropractors adjusted 4,735 flu cases, with only six deaths ‑‑ 1 out of 866. In 1919, Palmer published "The Flu and You." The ratio of flu cases cared for versus deaths were as follows: Medical care: 1 out of 17 died. Osteopathic care: 1 out of 36 died. Chiropractic care: 1 out of 886.

Christopher Kent, president of the Council on Chiropractic Practice, sums up the issue nicely: "Flu shots seem to be more a product of cultural superstition than science. Think twice before rolling up your sleeve." Good advice? You, too, can be smarter than President Ford!

(Donald E. Harte, a doctor of chiropractic in Corte Madera, is a governor of the World Chiropractic Alliance. He was the August, 2003 CLA "Doctor of the Month@ and, 1996 ran for the California State Senate as "The Candidate with Backbone." He has published numerous chiropractic pieces in the media, including Omni Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle and local publications. He also publishes a weekly, philosophy-to-action e-mail newsletter, "The Harte of Chiropractic." For more information, call 415-460-6527 or e-mail him at dhartedc@aol.com. Special offer to Chiropractic Journal readers: The next 27 annual subscribers will receive an extra month of service, plus his infamous "Sitting Thoughts." Deadline is March 31, 2004.)