Natural News continues to spread misinformation about
vaccines to readers. In a recent post, writer Mike Adams declares that most people with the flu are those that
received the flu vaccine.
Using the very unscientific method of “…making phone calls
to a large network of friends and professional contacts…” has led Natural News
to state that two-thirds of people vaccinated against the flu, have the
flu. Natural News uses this “data”
to deduce that the flu shot makes people more susceptible to the flu.
Natural News continues that vaccinated people are acting
irresponsibly, and that drug companies have zero ethics and are trying to make
people sick. Natural News urges
readers to prevent the flu through Vitamin D supplements.
Using the article in Natural News as a source, World Truth
TV published a similar article.
World Truth TV stated that the study by the Lancet that is used to
determine effectiveness is being misinterpreted by world health
organizations. World Truth TV
failed to note the final sentence of the Lancet study, which states: “New vaccines with improved clinical
efficacy and effectiveness are needed to further reduce influenza-related
morbidity and mortality.”
In yet another article, Health Impact News Daily blasts the
flu shot as only 10% effective while causing harm to the heart, infant and
fetus. Vaccine Watch checked the
sources linked to the article and found that some of the scientific articles
being referenced were published as far back as 1975, while others were from
foreign countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has
reported that this year’s vaccine is 62% effective. Widespread illness reached
47 states, partly due to a lack of vaccination. As of
early January, twenty children had died from the flu epidemic. Adults aged 65 and older have been
hardest hit by the flu this season. The flu virus changes quickly and is
therefore difficult to create a 100% effective vaccine for.
According to CDC researchers: "…these early [vaccine effectiveness] estimates
underscore that some vaccinated persons will become infected with
influenza. Therefore, antiviral
medications should be used as recommended for treatment in patients, regardless
of vaccination status."
Blatant misreporting like the articles on Natural News,
World Truth TV, and Health Impact News Daily serve no purpose except to scare
people and create an atmosphere of fear and mistrust. Epidemics like the 2011 measles
outbreak are caused by fear-based propaganda leading to a lack of
vaccination. Sound research has
proven that vaccinations are effective.
