> "I am a doctor,..."
Which only proves that doctors and science don't have to mix. Or as the old joke says, what do you call a medical student who graduates at the bottom of their class...
First time I am referred to as the bottom of class type of guy. I would never have mentioned my background if it was not because of a comment in the message I replied to. I am a doctor, I do talk with specialists, and I do put together my own opinion which may or may not be aligned with the mainstream.
"But the vaccine itself has also been more aggressive, and normal safety checks and clinical studies were bypassed.."
Wrong. The side effects, or lack thereof, were also tracked very closely.
My statement was that some new techniques and adjuvants were used in the manufacturing of some of these vaccines, and that the market launch and broad use of them were initiated without some of the precautions that are usually taken.
The risk may have been acceptable, but has to be considered as part of the global assessment.
It's not normal to have ICU's full of people from the flu.
Wow, I have never heard of this happening. Any references?
Vaccines are one of medicines greatest contributions to world health.
The greatest contribution to human health has been improved sanitation. Vaccination against small pox, DiTePer, Tuberculosis, etc has also been a real leap forward.
But as you probably know, when it comes to measles, mumps, chicken pox, and flu (outside of specific target populations), the benefit remains debated in the scientific community - especially when it comes to long term effects on the population or following generation.
The fact that you would refuse a safe vaccine and put patients at risk pretty much says it all.
I am not in contact with patients; this said, I do not consider that personnel who refused the vaccine (2/3 of them in some areas) are unethical: transmission is primarily prevented by hygiene measures (hand washing...), and by taking a leave(and/or mask etc) once getting symptomatic.
Nice strawman. Pharma does not get rich on vaccines. If they did not receive subsidies they would probably stop producing them. It's the reason they haven't modernized production-it's not cost effective.
Wow talking about fallacies... Are you suggesting that the H1N1 vaccine has not been a profitable venture for their manufacturers? Have you not seen how shares of H1N1 vaccine-making companies were influenced by related news reports?
You sound like: "Pharma companies only care for you. You need them. Watch more TV."
My key point remains that, in this case like in others, there are real unknowns - still today, even if less than a few months ago.
We can only wish that political decisions would always be fact-based and objectively weighed. The truth is that they are not, as history and lobbying has often proven.
When there are uncertainties, and a powerful group benefits from a given decision, I simply advice everyone who is able to think in his own mind to think critically.
My family and myself (3 to 70 years old) have chosen to not be vaccinated, and I believe like many that money has been squandered in this H1N1 "pandemic" affair.
This is a neutral and uninterested opinion, from someone who has some understanding of medical issues and risk management in general. I have no love or hate for pharma companies, and have absolutely no conflict of interest.
Kind regards,
Ivan