More Outrage and Lies: H1N1 Vaccination Market Scheme: FAIL!

Well, well, well, let the lies continue. Stevie continues his disappearing acts. This time, I believe he's the lead of Bollywood's version of "Dancing with the Stars"


Remember how Butler-Jones and Agluquack promised, even when fumbling on "Question Period" over two weeks ago, that there would be enough vaccine to cover every Canadian by Christmas? Well, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop on that one and now, it has. It appears there won't be enough to vaccinate all Canadians before the year is out.


Well, let the outrage and panic and paranoia begin. Rightfully so, given our government has screwed this crisis up royally. Nobody learned from the SARS crisis in 2003 on how to better prepare for pandemics. They went about it all wrong and there is incompetence at every level.


Bottom line. They took the cheapest way out; let's do a mass vaccination, never mind the testing protocols. To make sure it won't cost them down the road, GSK and Harpercons are not implementing a no fault compensation for those injured as a result of the vaccine. Typical Harpercons!


Why should we be surprised? As Rick Salutin from the Globe and Mail pointed out: Steve will never own this pandemic crisis; they never even owned health care; he has no empathy. No shit! After the way his Harpercons heckled Carolyn Bennett during Question Period while she was airing her concerns over vaccine safety for pregnant women--- the fact that he goes off gallivanting with Prince Charles and Camilla rather than show leadership during the first weeks of screw ups;  and now doing Bollywood instead of being here where a PM should be during a crisis, is this any surprise? In reality, he doesn't care. After all, Canada as it is, is nothing more than a "second tier socialistic country" in the world according to Stevie.


This crisis could have been handled much differently. 


By all means, develop a vaccine for H1N1; but take the necessary time to implement all testing procedures. Don't rush it out without knowing not only the potential short term side effects but also the potential  long term consequences. Most importantly, don't count on one supplier only. Hell, Craig Oliver pointed out the stupidity of that strategy when interviewing Agluquack at the beginning of the month. She even had the nerve to blame the Liberals for signing some exclusive deal. Well, Leona, I thought this was a crisis situation? Who's in charge, anyway? Certainly not the Liberals. 


She continued (and still does to this day) to blame everyone else but herself (remind you of anyone, a certain writer of fiction, also from the north?) and her master. Instead of skulking around and trying to spin her way out of this crisis, a good health minister should come up with contingency plans. 


A few examples of contingency plans would be: 

• Quarantine (Yah, I know, takes away freedoms, but it is a crisis or supposed to be anyway and if it is crisis, certain concessions must made). Find where the largest concentration of H1N1 cases and implement strict quarantine rules: comings and goings extremely limited. Unfortunately, one of  the  best ways to control a communicable disease is to contain it.
• I'm not sure about the rest of Canada, but in Quebec, we have a few designated flu clinics so as not to congest walk-in clinics and hospital ERs: only the most serious cases would go to the hospitals.
• A lot more money to our health care system to handle the crisis (not likely to happen: I wouldn't put this past Stevie to use this crisis to further his agenda of bringing the American Health care system here)
• (More on provincial or municipal levels) Cancel sporting events, concerts anywhere there is the public all crowded together. Those events are a breeding ground for germs. Once again, fall under expensive as special provisions would have to be made for employees at such events such as concessions stands, maintenance, etc. while out of work.
• They could have cancelled the Olympics
• Have employers stagger the hours of their employees so public transit won't be so crowded.

Now with this vaccine shortage, I'm wondering if everybody will stop and think? Not only Agluquack and Butler-Jones with contingency plans to combat the crisis, but Canadian citizens as a whole too. Before running off half baked and cut your neighbours off at the pass rushing to a vaccine line-up nearest you, there are some things to consider. 


Health care professionals can't agree on the benefits or risks of this vaccine. at the clinic where I received my intervention, about half the nurses admitted to not getting vaccinated because they weren't confidant in the testing of it.


A friend of mine who has heart trouble told me his cardiologist recommended that he not get the vaccine; the doctor wasn't sure how his heart would withstand the vaccine.


I have heard of certain doctors preaching the sanctity of the vaccine in the media but I happen to know of at least one such doctor who, in private, wasn't nearly as gung-ho about the vaccine when a friend of mine consulted with him.


The southern hemisphere already passed their winter flu season. Australia's H1N1  fatalities were relatively low compared to regular flu in that country annually. This was not due to mass immunization.  They didn't have the vaccine up until September.  What was their secret? Was there any secret? Or this crisis didn't nearly prove the tragedy some predicted? 


It hasn't been a month yet and 36 cases of alleged (in all fairness, they have to perform tests)  reactions to the vaccine. Butler-Jones says this is less than the reactions to regular flu shot, but Butler-Jones, the season is still early. I have funny feeling more will be coming and it will be a lot harder to get the truth. 


An example of a potential cover up from hospital officials is happening in Virginia. A 14 year old boy came down with Guillain Barre's Syndrome not even 24 hours after receiving his H1N1 vaccine. Yah, I know what they say, rare case. Probably won't happen again.  The CDC alleges that this boy's case is probably just coincidental. In the words of the blogger from Facing Autism in New Brunswick: 'yeah, sure'. Assuming that this was a coincidence, why are officials at the hospital where this young man is being treated are not being so forthcoming with the information? This boy's parents already gave their permission to release their son's info.


Some things to think about before you inject. Remember, we shouldn't submit to being guinea pigs for big Pharma or any government. Remember, big pharma only cares about its' profit margins and governments (particulary Harpercons) will take the cheapest way out of a crisis. Remember, you get what you pay for.


Also, be careful. Use common sense. We'll have to rely on ourselves here. 

• Stay away from crowded places as much as possible
• Eat and drink healthy
• Eat at home
• Don't leave home unless absolutely necessary, like work or errands

Another thing to remember is the first wave from last May. There was no vaccine and no sign of one coming out. The media had a much different mood as did public health officials. They underlined the deaths of H1N1 victims that occurred were in those with underlying conditions which compromised their immune systems. They gave usual advice: wash your hands, drink fluids and stay home if you're sick. Sure enough, that news died down as quickly. 


If they are really short of vaccine, I'm sure that Public health and the Media will take the same tone they did last May.


After this debacle, the Harpercons certainly won't learn any lessons, neither will any of the public health agencies. There won't even be regrets. They are just going to continue running away from the whole thing.


There is one way of putting this; if the Harpercons cared and they stood behind their vaccine; their logo would be stamped all over it, no doubt.

I Almost Drank the Kool-Aid

Yep, I did indeed. I was lucky though, somebody intervened. 


I wasn't going to get the H1N1 shot. I'm not convinced it was tested enough. Evil things like Guillain Barre or other equally or worse diseases and ailments can take place only years after the vaccine. For those who claim that it is safe, how do you know? I find the business practises of Pharma companies irreprehensible for the most part, but I also know that they spend more than 5 months testing a drug and a government agency to give the ok before unleashing it to the population at large. 


Another reason I was not going to get it was because I was (still am) terrified of how I will react to it. Yah! Yah! Yah! Chances are minute; maybe a sore arm for a few days and a little fever, blah! Blah! Blah! The problem is, it's not reassuring to me. When it comes to many types of pharmaceuticals, especially the injected kind, I have always been part of that minority who will have worse side-effects. It will take me longer to recuperate from them than most. I never get the regular flu shot because I don't want to be down with yet another side-effect and  I believe one's anti-bodies need to be given chance to boost themselves naturally.


I also know what happened in 1976 when that H1N1 was pushed on to the American public so quickly following an epidemic at Fort Dix, New Jersey (I posted a brief synopsis of my research).  I wonder if we learned our lessons from that time in history? 


I work in health & social services for the Quebec Government, so I fell onto the early schedule and tomorrow is the last day for such employees. However, my job is not with the public. I have zero contact with clients. I work in an IT and Telecom department in my own private office.  Most of my job related communications are done through email and the telephone. My biggest contact with the population at large is the commute to and from work. I don't have a choice, I don't drive. However, I am careful these days to try not to get on a bus or a metro car that is crowded like a can of sardines.


I have had flu when I was a kid, but not that often. I catch colds and sometimes some doozies where it would take me a week to get rid of the worst of it. I haven't had flu during my adult life. I never worried about dying from the flu or even about H1N1 this year.


Not long ago,  a lot of Canadians were not going to get the H1N1 vaccine for pretty much the same reasons I wasn't: never get the flu shot, allow our anti-bodies to work, afraid of the side-effects, etc. etc. The only deaths we heard about were those who had underlying conditions.


Let fear mongering begin!  The media sensationalizes even further and scares more people to the unknown.  Disorganization at every level. Conflicting views from the Harpercons, GSK, Public Health and the provinces to some degree. Carolyn Bennett, a doctor herself expresses concerns about the safety of the vaccine for pregnant women during question period and gets heckled by the Harpercons (video is here).  A federal health minister who seems to know absolutely nothing except to blame the provinces and GSK and can't answer reporter's questions. 


At a time of National crisis, where is Stevie again? Oh yeah! He's gallavanting with Prince Charles and his 'wife'. Why should any of us be surprised really? He fucks off UN climate talks in favour of din-din with Mayor Bloomberg, He fucks off Pres. Obama's speech at UN in favour of donuts at Timmy's! Why should this be any different? 


I hate that this insanity has caused otherwise sane and rational people who normally wouldn't buy a car without test driving it first but will play guinea pig and have a largely untested vaccine injected into their system without thinking of the long term consequences. Hell, I almost did it tonight!


I know we are not obligated to get vaccinated and legally, no one can force us to. Even the notices at work specified that vaccination was voluntary. However, as usual, I always read between the lines, I analyze and yes, I do think outside the box. I can't help but get the feeling that we will be judged as very irresponsible callous people if we don't get vaccinated. This is the feeling I get from most people I know, be it friends; be it co workers. I made the mistake of airing my concerns about the safety of the vaccine solely because I don't want to see anyone getting hurt, especially by rushing into something without giving it much thought or research. Clever ain't it? GSK can't stand by it's product, so then they flog the story of young Evan Frustaglio.  That don't work, its' market by guilt and depending who you talk to: coercion.


The most common remark I got hardly makes any sense at all, when I mention I don't want to get the vaccine: 'when (not if) you get sick, stay away from me!' It's like some foregone conclusion I will get sick automatically.  What's even less logical about that statement is if they're so sure that vaccine is going to protect them, why should they worry about me going near them if I get sick?


I think I've been having a psychosomatic cold this week. I don't have fever, sinus issue, cough and the usual, but I feel not quite myself since Monday when the vaccination schedule began. I had been wondering if the fact I hadn't been 100% could exempt me from the shot.  I was going to wait to make a decision after the appointment with the neurologist today.  I finally caved in, in spite of not feeling all that well, due to peer pressure and those who originally told me they were not going to get the shot finally caved in and did.


I had my husband accompany me to the clinic to get my shot. I felt like I was walking into the unknown; that there would be no turning back. They called my number, I filled out the form. Then, last stop, the table with the nurses. I was trembling like a leaf. I sat in the chair and had a panic attack. I had difficulty talking to the nurses.  They saw that I was a wreck. They asked me about my history of drug reactions and I told them each reaction to each drug. They asked me if I want to be vaccinated. I told them to hurry it up. They decided not to vaccinate me and either way, the other folks waiting after me would have a longer wait: they had run out of vaccine and were waiting for a delivery of more from another clinic. They reassured me that I could get vaccinated anytime with the rest of the population until mid-December should I change my mind. I had even heard whisperings around the clinic of some nurses not getting the shot. Maybe I will get it on a Friday when I know the next two days my husband isn't working. Maybe not. 


As for the world condemning folks like myself for not getting the shot. I am not being irresponsible or wreckless. I am going to do what I always do: take cod liver oil, up the vitamin D and C consumptions as well as oregano oil. I believe that will be fine. I will continue to stay away from crowded places. Should I catch a cold, I will stay home from work or anyplace else, something I never used to do; neither did the rest of the world before the pandemonium began.


Yes, I admit, I have been sniffing around the kool-aid due to the sensationalist media hype. H1N1 does make me nervous. However, the vaccine makes me more nervous. I will observe those folks I know who got the shot and see how they are. Maybe some folks are just saying they they got the shot to get folks off their backs when in reality, they didn't. I will never know. No one can.


It is each individual's decision whether or not to get vaccinated and no one: not the media, not any public health organization, not your employer, not your coworkers can or should decide for you. No one should pressure you or try to guilt you into it. It is only you and your family doctor who knows your medical history. Only you can weigh the chances of flu  vs side effects from this vaccine. Only you can decide what you're prepared to live with. I only hope that before you drink that kool-aid, as hard as it may be, research 1976 yourselves. Do more research. Don't just read what the media spoon feeds you. Research more obscure sources. Think outside the box.


I almost drank the kool-aid, now I hope that public health, Steve, Agluquack and the rest of the Harpercons choke on it. Who knows? I may become thirsty again a few weeks from now. 

Two-Tiered H1N1 Vaccines?

Never mind that we've been lied to by the Federal Government as to whether or not there would be enough vaccines for all Canadians. Never mind that Agluquack and Butler-Jones have proven themselves incompetent when it comes to communication and the roll-out of the vaccines. Never mind that the only honorable thing for those two to do is resign.

Folks who are healthy and not in the high risk category are showing up and taking the place of someone who is high risk and on schedule for their vaccine. Pandemonium and disorganization everywhere.  Funny how folks rush in a panic to inject something untested into them and will wait in a crowded line not realizing they could catch this flu just by being in such cramped quarters for a long period of time.

One example of this disorganization was an elderly disabled man called the Tommy Schnurmacher show on CJAD last week saying the folks at the clinic suggested he buy a chair or get a walker with a bench so he could sit down in line.

Remember how he always dreamed of the American Health care system in Canada? Also remember how he said once upon a time: 

"I know this is a dangerous subject. My advisors say don't talk about it, but the fact is sometimes provinces have allowed in the past few years, they've brought in private services covered by public health insurance... Why do I care and why do we care as a federal government how they're managed? What we care about is whether people can access them. This is just an ideological agenda."

He pretty much repeated reiterated the above statement on the ABC's Jake Tapper show, when mentioning that he leaves health care to provinces to take care of. More like passing the buck as we watch Stelmach and Duckett turn Alberta's health care system into the American system by slashing all kinds of health care services. 

After watching Agluquack  being interviewed by Craig Oliver on Question Period this morning, regarding what has been going wrong with the roll-out of the H1N1 vaccine,  she parroted Master Stevie's old line; distribution is a provincial responsibility. It was uncanny, no matter what Oliver asked or how would phrase the same question in more than one way, she gave that same response, including when he asked her if she thought it was fair for Med-Can, a private for profit Toronto clinic where one pays 2000$ to become a member. A clinic where only Toronto and surrounding area's most affluent can go. She really seemed callous about that. Master Stevie would be proud.

Even Jane "Harper can do no wrong" Taber told Butler-Jones that it was not fair for Med-Can or any other private clinic for that matter to be issuing the vaccine and he, of course, passed the buck onto the provinces.

Why should we care about this? Well, high risk folks who can't afford the hefty membership dues suffer due to the affluence of those  who are low risk to jump the queue.  Smacks like the beginnings of the American Health care system sneaking through here; priorities given based on socio-economic class rather than urgency and/or level of risk.  Medcan is the only private clinic I can find that has been doing this. Canada does have other private for profit clinics. Are they giving out the vaccine to those who wish to jump the queue for a price?

We should care because this is not fair. 

In spite of what the Harpercons said about having enough vaccine for all Canadians, we know this is not true. Clinics have closed. People are turned away. Announcements of a shortage this week. Agluquack, still not taking responsibility, blames the needs for pregnant women to have the unadjuvented vaccine as well as blaming GKS. It looks more and more like there will not be enough vaccine for all Canadians after all. It must be taken into account that there are many Canadians like myself who are opting to not get the vaccine and yet, still shortages? 

This makes me wonder if the vaccines are being rationed for more  lucrative purposes.

Also, what's next? Could this be the push of the American private for profit type of health care system to expand? 

Today's Toronto Star now says that Medcan is now going to start vaccinating non-members of their clinic. No doubt due to the bad publicity. However, the fact that they were giving the vaccine to its' rich well-healed members the vaccine first (with no line-up and even valet parking to boot!) place is not sitting well with Counsellor and member of the Board of Health, Janet Davis. 

"I don't believe you should be able to get greater access to the vaccine because you can afford to be a member of a private health clinic," Davis said. "It's a kind of two-tier medical service most Canadians just don't accept. Personally, I would have preferred the vaccine was given out by public health."

Deb Matthews, the Ontario Health Minister says that the decision to supply private clinics will be under review after the pandemic passes. Cold comfort. Why not do something about it now? The health of all Ontarians, not just the rich,  is her responsibility.

Agluquack and Butler-Jones should have set better guidelines to the provinces in how the vaccine should be distributed. To not distribute to private for profit clinics unless they follow the same rules as the public system.

Stevie and GSK: Either Stand by your Product Or Shut Up!

In my posting about the H1N1 vaccination, I found out the disturbing thing about Glaxo Kline Smith and Stevie and his Harpercons: none of them wish to put out a no-fault compensation program should folks be injured by this untested vaccine.


I got lambasted for it by alot of folks. Been called greedy. No, I'm not greedy. Most of us need to work for a living. If we develop something debilitating such as Guillain Barre's Syndrome or anything just as bad or worse, how will we be able to support ourselves?


A friend of mine has written the insurance carrier and pay and benefits administrator at his job to ask if he would be eligible for salary disability insurance should he get injured by this vaccine. I hope he doesn't get fired for asking.


In the video below, Carolyn Bennett attempts to express her concerns for the effects of adjuvent or non-adjuvent vaccine on pregnant women. In true Harpercon fashion, instead of addressing her concerns (not to mention, the concerns of many others), they laugh and heckle at her. Great! Clearly, they have the attention span of six year olds. Of course, she has yet to receive an apology for Harpercon immaturity and incivility.



At Antonia Z.'s page, she demonstrates the irony of neo-con pro-lifers. 


Another irony, they go off in a huff when there are protestors around.  However, incivility on their part is perfectly acceptable, particularly when women speak.


Harpercons yelling, "You're the only one confused, Carolyn,"  


No Ass-holes!! The Canadian population at large is confused and scared. You attempt to scare all of us into submitting to be guinea pigs for this untested vaccine, when that fails, it's marketing by guilt: the ol' don't do it for yourself ; do it for someone you love; do it to be responsible. Either stand by your product or Shut up!!

To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate Against H1N1

I don't even believe in the regular seasonal flu shot. Why on earth would I take chances getting a vaccine, I'm not convinced was tested enough? The media certainly causes confusion and frankly doesn't help us in making an informed decision on whether or not we get this vaccine. Depending what you read, side-effects tend to range from minor ailments, like pain, fatigue and flu like symptoms to paralysis, anaphylactic shock and death. According to birdflupandemic.com, the H1N1 vaccine inserts in the packages warn about the serious nasty potential side-effects mentioned above.


Are fears of side effects a bigger concern than the H1N1 itself? One expert seems to think so. According to a July article from Canada.com, this expert is calling for a no fault compensation program for those who get injured from this vaccine. There is certainly a precedent.


In 1976, when a swine flu outbreak hit the Fort Dix Army base in New Jersey, an emergency vaccine came out. Manufacturers of this vaccine requested legal protection from vaccine related injury claims, so Congress enacted legislation allowing those injured by the vaccine to sue the Federal Government. Clearly evidence of pushing something too fast before pondering the consequences. 45 million Americans did get vaccinated and sure enough, higher cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome, a neurological disorder which causes temporary paralysis were reported. Thirty deaths related to that vaccine were also reported. 5000 sued the American Government and as a result, in the 1980s, they introduced no-fault compensations for all vaccines.


As of July, :"the Public Health Agency of Canada has no plans to compensate people who may be injured by an H1N1 vaccine." Only Quebec has a no-fault compensation program. According to my research there is no such compensation plan in place in the event of a life-altering injury due to this vaccine. GSK, the manufacturing company that produced the vaccine did have to circumvent the normal testing procedures  due to the perceived necessity to get it out in the shortest amount of time.


The very fact that some are squabbling over who will compensate and how will those injured from the vaccine is troubling indeed. There are definitely things the Canadian Government and the Pharmaceutical company doesn't want you to know. 


I never even got the regular flu shot. I don't believe in it. It never covers all strains. There are some studies that say it saves lives. This N.H.S. study in 2005 says otherwise; they say that it wasn't as effective in preventing flu related deaths amongst the elderly. 


Other reasons why I don't believe in it is for the same reason we shouldn't rely so heavily on anti-biotics and penicillin. Our immune systems become dependent, thus making us even more subject to infections and illness. 


The rest is anecdotal. My father told me a story years ago about a flu epidemic at the boarding school he taught at. As a result, there was a quarantine. The only ones who didn't get sick were my father and a  few staff members who opted to not be vaccinated.


I also know of a woman in her 80s who got sick anyway inspite of receiving the flu shot. One year, she decided not to listen to her doctor and didn't get vaccinated. She didn't get sick that year. Not even a cold.


It seems that anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu, have been over prescribed in the U.S. Also, side-effects in children taking Tamilflu tend to be of a psychiatric nature like hearing voices and hallucinations as this pediatrician from Utah describes in the following video. 




Research on the subject proves to be difficult. Every health report, pharmaceutical company study, government and media outlets give differing stories. No wonder folks are confused and scared.


Before making the decision whether or not to vaccinate, remember, there is no better cure than our own natural anti-bodies.  Big pharmaceutical makes billions every year due to folks getting sick. The very fact this vaccine was pushed out so quickly without all the necessary tests and protocols is proof of this. 


The following list is those who should not receive the regular flu shot. Perhaps this should be included for the H1N1 vaccine: 
* People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
* People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
* People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
* Children less than 6 months of age. 


I will be doing what I always do to prevent flu and colds every winter. Take echinacea at the first sign of any symptom, lots of green tea and alter the times I take public transportation to work.