GBS and Swine Flu vaccination discussed on Early Show

If there is a 1-3 in 100,000 chance in the normal population, add something that is KNOWN to cause GBS and has done so in the past (and the rate was a heck of a lot higher than 1-3 in 100,000!) 1 in a million seems way way off. Not buying it and will continue to wash my hands and take precautions and hope for the best. I know some people have to take an extra amount of caution for health reasons and i hope this helps them.

I agree with Fairly Odd Mother 100%. The doctor makeing that insane statement more than likley doesn’t know what GBS is. In 1976 when the last swine flus shots were made more died from the shot than everyone in the US from the flu.
I also heard that the Swine flu shot is not made from eggs. Well someone lied because tonight on the news I saw the swine flu vacine being made from eggs.
Older people really do not need the swine flu shot as we have over the years built up protection against it. Remember WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN. (Lakoda)

Hi everyone. I’m with fairly odd mother and the rest of you. I had GBS in July of 2007 and am not taking any chances. I worked for a local health
department here in Ky for nearly 14 years. Every year we would give several thousand flu shots, mostly to the elderly. It was clearly stated on the vaccine information statement we handed out to each person that GBS was linked to influenza vaccinations, not just the swine flu vaccines in 1976. Below is a excerpt taken directly from the CDC info statement on flu vaccines:
(This is from the regular flu vaccine statement, not the H1N1)

Some people should not get inactivated influenza vaccine or
should wait before getting it.
• Tell your doctor if you have any severe (life-threatening)
allergies. Allergic reactions to influenza vaccine are rare.
– Influenza vaccine virus is grown in eggs. People with a
severe egg allergy should not get the vaccine.
– A severe allergy to any vaccine component is also a reason
to not get the vaccine.
– If you have had a severe reaction after a previous dose of
influenza vaccine, tell your doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome
(a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS). You may be
able to get the vaccine, but your doctor should help you
make the decision.

To my knowledge, all flu vaccines and possible other vaccines are cultured in eggs. Not long ago, I also read something on the CDC site that there were reports of GBS occurring with the new cervical vaccine as well as tetanus vaccinations. I’m not trying to scare anyone, but it does make you think twice before getting any vaccinations.

P.S. I just found another warning on their site regarding the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine and GBS! Good Grief!!

you are very right kytruckerwife…lots of these vaccs are linked to GBS. In fact, I posted on another thread that the cervical cancer shot is also linked to juvenile ALS!! Very very scary.

Their numbers are wrong.
Lots of cases aren’t properly diagnosed; and I’m sure that some of the complications that develop that cause injury and death are misdiagnosed too. I’ve been researching all of this for almost 2 years now, and have read numerous stories of people who have fallen through the cracks because the doctors or hospitals just sent them away with their symptoms, and they are dealing with them alone.
Also, it is common practice for hospitals and health professionals to not disclose information and statistics, so whatever they know, they’re not telling the rest of us.
Finally, if these vaccines are so safe, why is it that some health professionals refuse to take them? I personally know of 3 nurses who will not take any of these vaccines.
IMO, if the health pros want these vaccines to be tested, they should not use the public to test them by creating a public scare or panic. They should test these vaccines on themselves. And that way if something goes wrong, people would be attended to immediately and properly.

My doctor says not to go near the swine flu vaccine, since I have had GBS. Also, I noticed on the web that 2 days ago the British equivalent of the CDC alerted British doctors to be on the look out for an increase in GBS due to the new vaccine, and report all cases so that they could document a cause/effect relationship, if one shows up in Britain. So someone is watching this vaccine!

I’ve been reading on the web that by taking vitamin D3 it helps keep your immune system up, especially in the wintertime because it is the sunshine vitamin. They recommended D3 and not just D, and to get it in the 2000 strength. Wal Mart is the cheapest place for it. I started using it a month ago, even though I average 3 hours of sun every day, to see if I had any side effects from it and to get adjusted for this winter.
As for the swine flu shot, several of my semi radical web sites are saying that the government is going to force everyone to take it wether you have had GBS or are afraid of getting it, with the only option is to get bussed to a detention camp to be quarentined. They just put up a new fence around the camp nearest me, but they also just opened up a new casino nearby, so I’m hoping they will sectionalize off part of the casino and let the detainees visit once in a while.
Had GBS in spring 2006, went all the way down, have come back 95%, and still have the nightmares about once a month.

Deciding whether to get the swine flu shot is one of the toughest decisions. I was thinking no way, abd reading your posts suggests the majority vote no way as well. I don’t want to face the beginning of GBS ever again. My days of excruciating pain are gone and I don’t want them back. I have accepted my residuals and I am making great progress with learning to walk. But, I spoke to my neuro last week and he said he thought it would be a good idea to get the shot. He said the flu would have a much harder toll on me. He wants to research it some more. I agree that I have a higher probability of getting the flu, but I also know GBS is not so hard to get either. What is it about vaccines that causes GBS to rear its ugly head. Does anyone know?
I hope you all have many moments of peace today. Life is good.
Shie

[QUOTE=shie] But, I spoke to my neuro last week and he said he thought it would be a good idea to get the shot. He said the flu would have a much harder toll on me.

What is it about vaccines that causes GBS to rear its ugly head. Does anyone know?
Shie[/QUOTE]

I contracted GBS in the early fall 2007. From my own experience I have never been able to attribute it to anything. I had no prior symptoms of any kind and had not taken a flu shot. I took the flu shot about a month after GBS’s onset following the same reasoning as your neurologist. I again took the flu shot in 2008 and will probably take them again this year.

I am not suggesting that anyone take the shots. That is a personal decision. I have however seen no concrete evidence that anything specific has been pinned down as a cause of GBS. The only explanation I have heard is that our immune system starts chasing some virus and confuses the nerve coverings with that virus. Where that virus originates is a mystery.

Live virus, eggs, we won’t do it. But it is a personal choice. At the Fall symposium in Chicago last year, about half of the neuros said they get vaccinated, some of which said they had no choice as their institution mandated it. the other half (about) said they do not get vaccines. I have to wonder how much of the 70’s swine flu vaccine that caused many at the pig plant to get gbs/cidp is being copied for this new vaccine????!!!!! Good luck, I too am facing having to get my non cidp son the tetanus shot. I think I am going to hold off untill the need faces us, such as stitches or injury.
Dawn Kevies mom

Okay, 10 to 20 people per million normally get GBS, and in 1976, the number of people who got GBS from the swine flu vaccine was 8 to 10 times higher per million! Where did this doctor get this number? In the U.K. doctors have already been told to watch out for a substantial increase in GBS cases.

Flu shots use live viruses, so when you get the shot you are getting the virus in hopes that your body will build immunity to it and you will not get the full blown flu. Because GBS is often triggered by viruses, any live virus shot can trigger GBS. Eggs really have nothing to do with it, it is the live virus that is the problem. I don’t get the shots and have received conflicting views from doctors over the years, but most vaccines list GBS as a possible side effect and advise caution in anyone who has had GBS.

boomerbabe

[quote=luv2sail]My doctor says not to go near the swine flu vaccine, since I have had GBS. Also, I noticed on the web that 2 days ago the British equivalent of the CDC alerted British doctors to be on the look out for an increase in GBS due to the new vaccine, and report all cases so that they could document a cause/effect relationship, if one shows up in Britain. So someone is watching this vaccine![/quote]
I have heard from people that live in Isle of Man that increesing GBS pathient after the flu shot.
The doc here in Iceland that is over the antisepsis, says that GBS is very common illness, and not live threating..hmmm I thougt wooo, when I got it we was 4 in whole year that got it and they said it was lot becouse there was many years since last case of GBS had been in hospital here.
So getting flu shot is safe here in Iceland, what a crap. I know that Im on a list to get this shot, becouse of my diebet. I dont know what to do, I know it is live threating for me to get this flu but who say´s Im going to get it.
xoxoxoxoxo Helga

tofraljos,

Not life threatening? I don’t know what kind of healthcare system you have in Iceland, but for any doctor to say that GBS is not life threatening is scary. Not only is it life threatening, it is often debilitating. As most of us on this board can testify to, it changes your life. Also, GBS is considered a rare disorder. Most doctors have never seen a case of it.

OH BOOMERBABE you are so right. It seems some who have had GBS or CIDP still belives alot of miss informed doctors. I got my GBS from the shot and try to share with others to help them from going through what I and many have.
I have seen new members come here and they know it all and we are just fear spreaders.Look around where are all the old ones who were here last year. Just like you and I standing in the shadows letting the so call know it alls say how wrong we are. You know and I and others know how dangerous the shot is but if they want to play russian roulett then go for it with my blessings (Lakoda)

No flu shots here…………Brandy has been thru GBS twice, both with no known reason why. Certainly not going to have her take a shot that has been linked to and caused the largest outbreak of GBS in 1976 after the swine flu vacine.
In order to enter college, Brandy required the mennigitis vaccine (all of her doctors said they would give her a medical note opting out of the shot), but because we had seen mennigitis first hand and watched a child Brandy’s age loose her fight with mennigitis while in the hospital with GBS we elected to have her receive the shot. The health department was so leary of giving her the vaccine that they made me sign 3 times in front of three different doctors before they would give her the shot. Not a very comforting feeling.

I have to throw another wrench in the pit–its not the flu that could cause the problems–its the pneumonia that comes as the second round to the flu that will cause more problems! will you get the flu vacc and the pneumonia vacc knowing this year its not just the flu or round one that will cause problems but in fact its the second round the pneumonia that will be the bomb?
I haven’t had the flu since coming down with my 1st paralysis event Aug 05, I have had pneumonia 2 months after my 1st event-Oct 05, it started another paralysis event. Strangely enough it was the 1st time I was treated with ivig and had menigitis that time also. I survived-wasn’t pretty but I made it and don’t ever want to go through that again-but I will not put myself at risk by getting a vacc that has not been proven, is being fastracked through all testing and has the past rep that swineflu vacc has and is a proven bad past.
Just last friday I received a notice that my kids will be getting the h1n1 vacc through school when it is available next month. We as parents have to sign for or against our child getting this vacc but it is highly recommended it be given. Highly recommened by who-drug companies head the list. Sorry not good enough for my kids or me. Daily cleaning is doing a good job, and there is no proven case of gbs gotten from hand soap and water.:)

If parents would keep sick kids home or stay home when they themselves are sick, it would be alot easier to stop the spread of viruses!!!