Patients have been emailing me about the safety of the H1N1 vaccine. The concern is that it is the first vaccine made for the civilian population to contain an adjuvant called "Squaline".
There is not a lot of information on the effect of Squaline on OVID - but the "independent" research appears to be quite chilling.
As a result - I am not comfortable recommending the H1N1 vaccine until this issue is more fully answered.
Does anybody out there have any additional wisdom to add? Read on:
Because there is no listing on the safety or efficacy of squaline on OVID, I have conducted an online literature review on the subject - which is surprisingly interesting. The bottom line is that the Swine Flu vaccine is the first to have Squaline included as an ingredient. Only three other vaccines for civilian use have been developed that contain this molecule - and two of them did not earn FDA approval in the U.S.
If you need to get immunized against the Swine Flu, it is possible that a better alternative will be the vaccination with the AstraZeneca nasal vaccine "MedImmune" - which more closely mimics a natural "real life" inoculation that does not use squaline.
Bottom line is that this is, I believe, the first time a vaccine has been allowed to escape proper FDA approval processes. It is interesting to note that "official published studies in prestigious medical journals have revealed that Squaline is safe in humans". The "studies", however, were published by the "makers" of the vaccine - a new conglomerate of Novartis and Chiron. This is in DIRECT contrast to "profound and lasting autoimmune effects" of Squaline found by independent researchers.
Experience has revealed in abundance that Drug Companies do not necessarily provide unbiased data to the public and to Doctors (remember Viox, Baycol, Naprosyn, Tequin, etc., etc.).
That being the case - I don't believe that I can recommend the H1N1 vaccine to anybody until a repository of reliable information has become available. The Cochrane review people are great resource that does exactly that - and they haven't entirely caught up to the safety of H1N1 vaccine yet. Their official statement about H1N1 flu vaccination is in the following:
Some public-health officials have described flu vaccines as “highly effective,” but the internationally recognized Cochrane Collaboration (which accepts no money from the pharmaceutical industry) did a systematic review of all high-quality randomized trials (25 in all) studying influenza vaccination. They concluded that “the evidence does not support universal immunization of healthy adults.” Period.
An interesting and reasonably referenced article without special interest ties is listed here:
http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Opinion/Comments/180720090846_squalene_the_swine_flu_vaccine_s_dirty_little_secre.html
and here:
http://www.newsmax.com/health/vaccine_swine_flu/2009/07/07/232717.html
Hope this helps somebody.....
I'm between a rock and a hard place. If I recommend the H1N1 vaccine - I could be sentencing patients to significant morbidity as a result of potential dangers from Squaline. If I don't recommend the vaccine, I could be sentencing people to morbidity or mortality from H1N1 infection. This is a tough position to be in - and the old Hippocratic oath of "Doing no Harm" is a seemingly impossible challenge in the absence of good and reliable information.
Do I believe, so called, "Officials"? I know that my Professional knowledge of the issues with this vaccine vastly surpasses that of most "Officials". Also - as a Professional, I've learned to trust my caution when it comes to advice from "Officials". I still remember Tequin, Vioxx and Baycol being bandied about in my office by a small army of Drug Reps that assured me (with less than half of my education and knowledge on the subjects) that all of these drugs were effective, safe and "properly studied".
None of that turned out to be the case.....but then if we had applied the same amount of rigorous concern to ASA - it never would have won FDA approval! The wisdom of the ages has taught us how to handle and recommend the use of ASA. It certainly has its risks and benefits.....but the information gleaned from dozens of years of experience with the H1N1 vaccine is simply not available to us.
So - we are left with inadequate and suspect data.....and patients literally entrust their lives and well beings to my advice!
So - for now, I'm saying "no" to H1N1 vaccinations until I can get better and better referenced, unbiased and properly questioned information.
ps: another good synopsis is at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/280927
Bottom line: Wait for unadjuvinated H1N1 vaccine that is devoid of Thioresal (Mercury).
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