Are flu shots worth the danger of possibly contracting Guillain-Barré syndrome like Richard Ryan, 44, did? Ryan, a Canadian, got his flu shot last year. A few weeks later he was in so much intense pain he sought treatment at a hospital emergency room. The doctor there knew what he had as soon as the words, “flu shot” were mentioned.

Richard Ryan was hospitalized for ten weeks and spent three of those weeks in intensive care, paralyzed.

I’ve often wondered if it might be worthwhile to get flu shots, but so far, have avoided them. Last winter I discussed this with a co-worker at a restaurant I was then working at.

Cook: “I’ve never had one. One winter someone working here got one and was sick all winter, and I never got sick.”

Me: “I’ve never had one either. I wonder what they put in those shots.”

Cook: “They’re having the flu shot clinic tomorrow. It’s a drive-by clinic. You don’t even have to get out of your car.”

Me: “No thanks. I didn’t get sick at all last winter either. I take precautions like washing my hands a lot. And if I start to feel under the weather, I take a couple Golden Seal capsules. Works every time.”

Cook: “Golden Seal? What’s that?”

Me: “It’s a herb with mild antibiotic qualities. I usually take some Golden Seal, Vitamin C, and orange juice. Not all at one time of course - I like to space things out.”

Cook: “And it really works?”

Me: “For me it does. Just be careful not to take too much. Read the directions.”

Two other employees were feeling sick and the cook told them I recommended Golden Seal. One recovered almost immediately after using Golden Seal extract; the other didn’t. [Note: I don't know how much she took; it may have been minimal as it was the one who actually purchased the Golden Seal that recovered.]

Meanwhile, back in Canada, Richard Ryan has never fully recovered from the effects of his flu shot. The Guillain-Barré syndrome symptoms are in remission, but it could return at any time. Ryan’s illness turned into CIDP - Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. He still uses medication, can’t work, and has developed memory loss.

Source: B.C. man paralyzed after flu shot warns of risks published in CDC News on October 22, 2008.

One more thing: You can learn a lot by reading the 100+ reader comments on the article I referenced.

Twenty percent of UK parents are refusing to allow their daughters to be immunized for cervical cancer, according to an article published on April 25, 2008 in the Guardian. The article concludes with a quote from Professor Jo Waller and Dr. Jane Wardle - both from the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London. They say, “work needs to be done to restore public confidence in immunisation.” (That’s the British spelling of immunization.)

They have a hard-sell ahead of them because the word is out - immunizations are dangerous! Who among us really knows what drug companies put in those immunizations these days? Tens of thousands of parents are deeply concerned about this issue.

Another recent article about the link between Autism Spectrum Disorders and immunizations starts by saying, “In 1976, children received 10 vaccines before attending school. Today they will receive over 36 injections.”

Here in the USA, parents can refuse injections, but most don’t know that. When I enrolled my daughter in school a few years ago I informed the school personnel that they should make available a form for parents to sign refusing the immunizations. The school staff didn’t even know the form existed. I noted the medical records form they gave me was a photocopy and so I downloaded the correct form which contains a place to sign refusing immunizations. I got that from the state department of education’s website.

Actually, my children all had all the prescribed childhood immunizations, but that was because at the time I gave birth to them I wasn’t fully aware of the laws or consequences of immunization. I did have one child who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is on the Autism Spectrum. I wouldn’t wish that on any parent, but it is becoming more common these days and the evidence points to immunizations as a cause.

That 20% of parents in the UK are refusing cervical cancer immunizations gives me hope. This indicates that more young people are thinking of what’s best for their families, doing needed research, and standing firm on their convictions. The truth is that we cannot trust drug companies to always do what is best for us rather than what is best for their own prosperity.

Sources:

1 in 5 parents refuse daughters’ cervical cancer jab by Sarah Boseley, published April 25, 2008 in The Guardian.

The Case For A Link To Autism Spectrum Disorders by Russell L. Blaylock, MD, published on April 25, 2008 at Rense.Com.