from Dana F(MacP):

Lasqueti Health Clinic

I have written a bit of a missive on H1N1 for the Lasqueti news.  I wrote it when I was tired after four days of vaccinating people on Lasqueti and in Parksville and Qualicum Beach.  I think I was also a bit angry too.  My apologies for the tone of the article, but I really wanted to stress the seriousness of this virus and the value of the vaccine. 

Since then I have been thinking that we can defend ourselves from the virus on three fronts.  First, we can generally boost our immune system with healthy food choices, rest and natural supplements.  Secondly, we can socially protect ourselves and our friends and family by staying home if we are sick, washing our hands and coughing into our elbows, etc.  Thirdly, we can protect ourselves and loved ones specifically with the vaccine providing both personal protection and herd protection.  Only the third one is specific.  The first two tactics seem to be "no brainers" for most people; the third one seems to cause a lot of problems.  In my mind, it is disproportionate to the real problem, that healthy young people are getting sick and dying.  This is my bias, normally I can remain pretty neutral but this debate about the safety and efficacy of vaccines is wearing down my neutral resolve.  Peter's last email had some good submissions on this debate.   I hope that the internal voice of reason prevails.

One last thing, the debate about thimerosal.  I have written about this before.  There have been studies done on humans around the world since the early nineties looking for adverse effects from thimerosal.  The claim made by one small study involving about 30 patients in the nineties that was studying another issue commented that thimerosal might possibly be linked to autism in children was resolved a year or two later.  It began only as an aside comment in the summary of this study; a general comment that perhaps there might be a connection.  This prompted two reactions.  One, that numerous studies began to track children who had received vaccines containing thimerosal.  And two, that the Canadian government voluntarily chose to remove all thimerosal from children's vaccines.  They did this to allay the fears, not because it was based on any scientific fact.  Twenty years and several hundred studies from many countries have found no connection to autism.  

H1N1 and thimerosal:

Yes, it is in both adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted versions.  It is a preservative and in such small amounts that you will find more mercury in a can of tuna.  The adjuvanted does need as much preservative and contains five times less thimerosal as the non-adjuvanted.  While the adjuvanted does carry more normal side effects - 90% have sore, red, swollen arms for 2-3 days, muscle aches and headaches are also common - it is 97-100% effective.  The non-adjuvant is gentler but it has more thimerosal and is only 85% effective.  There are more facts available at the clinic.

Thimerosal controversy can be likened to the question, "Have you stopped beating your wife?"  If you say yes, this means that your were beating her.  If you say no, then it means that you are still beating her.  

Final answer: The decision is yours. 

I will bring over to the clinic 20 doses of H1N1 vaccine and 10 doses of seasonal flu on Friday November 6.  Hope to see you there.

Blessed be,
Dana Fetherstonhaugh
250-752-4355
250-240-2047
danamacp@canada.com