For the level-headed, well thought out and amply referenced response. This site seems a bit heavy on the establishment line, rather than a balanced look at the facts.

I have loved, bought and read Rodale publications since the early 70s, but this may change here and now, with this poorly-researched article. This is a terrible disservice to your readers, who look to you for real information that we can use for our benefit; not for the benefit of a government and health care system seeking to benefit at our expense and to our great detriment.

Yes, vaccines can be of benefit - both the polio and the tuberculosis vaccines saved many lives. But this is not, and never has been, the case with the flu vaccine.

Here is an excellent article from this month's issue of The Atlantic, debunking both the potentially deadly flu shot and the failure to adequately test it and prove its efficacy prior to bringing it to market:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200911/brownlee-h1n1

I have taken two flu vaccines in my life; in both cases, I came down with the worst cases of flu I have EVER had, one of which was truly life-threatening.

I am NOT an isolated case. The flu vaccine not only does not work to prevent the flu, but can cause a far more virulent case than if you take no flu shot at all, and the shot itself is very toxic and harmful to the immune system, particularly for children and pregnant women. Even the companies who produce the vaccines must print on the vials (which you and I never see) that the flu vaccine has NOT been shown to prevent or lessen the severity of influenza. So, since the vaccine is known to contain numerous harmful toxins, AND is not effective in preventing the flu, why is the CDC suggesting that even infants and pregnant women - who by definition should stay as far away from these shots as humanly possible - should be the first in line?

Greed and profits. Plain and simple.

In addition, despite the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal being banned in most civilized countries, here in the U.S. we still have to contend with it, despite clear evidence linking it to increased rates of autism and other devastating autoimmune diseases such as lupus, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis.

The H1N1 swine flu is a non-issue: New Zealand and Australia recently finished their flu seasons, and it wasn't even as bad as usual, with most cases reportedly mild. The majority of cases in Europe and the United States have also been mild, with Finland calling off the "pandemic" altogether. Further, four preliminary Canadian studies recently concluded that taking the seasonal flu shot makes you more susceptible to H1N1, not less, so the advice to get both shots is irresponsible at best.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/09/23/flu-shots-h1n1-seasonal.html

Now, as more and more evidence mounts that the "pandemic" is a complete fabrication by the World Health Organization and world governments for the enrichment of drug companies and themselves, the former health minister of Finland has come out publicly to state that the "pandemic" is rubbish, even stating that one of the reasons for the ongoing push for the vaccines may be to reduce our exploding human population.

Per an email from Dr. Carolyn Dean:

"It's not the swine flu that's dangerous," says Doctor Rauni Kild, Finland's retired minister of Health, "it's the injections."

You can see her 6-minute interview (with Spanish subtitles) at...

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=5yUTG&m=1eOfmtla.hI_Ni&b=qifvJWIfo7YpTM...

She points out that you can go to any country in the world and
plainly see that we are NOT experiencing a pandemic (thousands
dead, body bags, etc.). In her opinion, the W.H.O. is using scary
propaganda so that governments can enforce a life-threatening
vaccine.

When asked why they would do this she says the "elite" have two
purposes:

1) To reduce the population to a more manageable size.

2) To make money.

"But I think they have calculated wrong, this time," Dr. Kild says referring to divisions amongst the elite over this extreme approach to population control.

"I hope nobody does [take the injection]," she adds. "Especially
not children. And especially not pregnant women."

Dr. Carolyn Dean mentioned population reduction as a remote possibility in her own list of possible reasons why the government would continue to push such a dangerous vaccine.

http://drcarolyndean.com/2009/07/16/six-possible-reasons-why-the-governm...

In addition to evidence that the figures on flu-related deaths are grossly exaggerated, there is also mounting evidence that many pulmonary deaths related to the flu, H1N1 and otherwise, are actually due to overuse of aspirin, and not due to the virus itself. This may have happened in the 1918 flu pandemic as well.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/24/Too-Much-A...

The whole “pandemic” has been vastly over-hyped to create fear so that people won't question the "mandatory" vaccinations.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/24/CBS-Reveal...

http://swineflu.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/21/Special-Sw...

Holistic doctor Dr. Carolyn Dean suggests that, if faced with a doctor who insists on giving you or your child a vaccination, simply demand that he/she first sign a letter stating that he/she will take full financial responsibility for any health repercussions that result from the shot. Since the side effects are many, and often very severe, no doctor will sign it.

http://drcarolyndean.com/2009/07/17/how-to-deal-with-an-h1n1-vaccine-pus...

Happily, a New York Supreme Court judge recently issued a restraining order to protect New York health care workers from forced vaccinations. If only our national Supreme Court were so wise - and ethical.

http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/mandatory.h1n1.vaccine.2.1252672.html

There is also a pending lawsuit against the FDA for approving the H1N1 vaccines illegally, without properly testing them first and proving their efficacy, as is required by law in the case of any vaccination. The lawsuit is attempting to get the H1N1 vaccine pulled completely, so that it cannot be distributed to the American people, thereby forcing the manufacturers to do the required testing prior to bringing it to market again.

http://www.naturalnews.com/027205_vaccines_swine_flu_the_FDA.html

The government is also using strong arm tactics to crack down on holistic doctors and the alternative health care community in general. It is certainly not the first time they have attempted to shut down purveyors of natural remedies in favor of the mega-pharmaceutical companies. Profit is the clear motive here.

As an example, Dr. Andrew Weil received a letter of warning recently from the government, regarding the sale of his Immune Support Formula:

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm186837.htm

Here is more info on the possible link between thimerosal and growing rates of autism in children:

http://www.naturalnews.com/027178_vaccines_autism_NaturalPedia.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/027239_vaccines_flu_vaccine_.html

What it basically comes down to is that if we take care of ourselves and do what we can to bolster our immune systems, we will have a far better chance of not catching the flu, or if we do, to relegate it to a mild case. My own preferred antivirals include garlic and a syrup I make from my back yard elderberries.

Flu shots are not the answer, do not work, and have the potential to cause irreparable harm, particularly for infants and children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

In short, we as intelligent consumers have few if any reasons to trust this vaccine, and many reasons to distrust it and avoid it like the plague.

I sincerely hope that the writers and publishers at Rodale have not completely given up their journalistic integrity.

Time will tell.

I'm reading a book called "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics - Autism, ADHD, Asthma, & Allergies". There is a clear link to these diseases and toxin overload such as Mercury and Aluminum. What better way to get these toxins than putting your kids through 40 or more vaccines? I've talked to two of my kids' doctors and both of them were against flu vaccinations. Children are not allowed to get a healthy immune system if they don't get exposed to these minor illnesses. To me, the vaccinations are a far greater risk than getting the flu itself. It's not hard to find loads of scientific reasons why not to get the flu vaccine even on youtube.

Vaccines have saved millions of lives. But there is misleading information in this article. Per my child's pediatrician, a child only needs a flu booster the very first time he/she ever gets a flu vaccine. Once your child has had that booster, then he/she only needs one dose of regular flu vaccine annually, just like everyone else, regardless of age. But, the pediatrician is advising a booster for swine flu just the same. The booster shot is not simply a second H1N1 dose. It's a little different. So, if you do get your child vaccinated for H1N1 or regular flu, don't simply go back to the flu shot clinic and get the same shot all over again a few weeks later. Make sure it is the booster shot intended for children. Check with your child's pediatrician for more specific details pertaining to your child's health information.

Poison? Really? So we should not vaccinate children against polio, and let that disease come back? Vaccines are PROVEN effective through tons of research, and wouldn't be offered if they would do harm....seriously, come on.

I agree w/ Claudia. What gives Rodale?

There was a similar post written yesterday on this site. I posted a comment in reply to that one that there are numerous, readily available, natural anti-virals that are inexpensive and effective against the flu.

If you're interested in learning more, just google "natural anti-virals" and do your own research. For starters, something as simple as raw, crushed garlic cloves (grow garlic in your own backyard--plant it now!) is a natural anti-viral that anyone could use. Consume within one hour of crushing.

Why would a green site be promoting somthing as non-green as vaccines? I am a bit confused. It is poison. I just don't get it.