It is very frustrating how statistics can be manipulated.

Take the flu vaccine for example. The CDC states the flu vaccine is 60% effective.  To most people that should mean for every 100 people to get the flu shot, 60 will not get the flu and 40 will.  But here’s really what that means:

1. The flu vaccine only works on the Influenza type A and B strains. However, research shows that 80% of flu symptoms are related to viruses other than Influenza such as rotovirus, coronavirus, rhinovirus or even some bacteria. Also, it is reported in the literature from John Hopkin’s University that only 2.7% of the population who has flu like symptoms, is confirmed to have Influenza type A or B. This means that the flu vaccine can only work for 2.7 out of every 100 people!

2. Here’s where the 60% can be very misleading. First off, 60% implies 60 out of 100 people will not get the flu if they get vaccinated. If only 2.7 in 100 people get the flu from influenza A or B, how can the vaccine prevent the flu in 60 out of 100 like they said? This is where statisticians have manipulated statistics for years and can fool you:

• In the study, 2.7 people got the Influenza type A or B flu. Out of those that were vaccinated, 1.2 out of 100 did not get the flu. This means that the flu vaccine is effective for 1.5 out of 100 people.
• The actual numbers for math’s sake are 1.18 and 2.73. Now they take the actual numbers 1.18 and divide it into 2.73 to get 0.43 or 43%. In other words, 1.18 is 43% of 2.73. Therefore, the vaccine lowered the rate by 43%.  Now they can say it is 57% effective because 100 – the effectiveness (43) = 57%.
• Then, the extra 3% is then added in from other studies.  60% sounds a lot better than 57%. . The CDC includes other data in order to make 60%. This extra percentage come from studies which show the vaccine is more effective in children.

See what we did there?  I took the real numbers, the vaccine is effective in 1.5/100 people and turned it into 60/100!

3. Research also states, “There are no randomized controlled trials showing efficacy of TIV (the flu vaccine) in people aged 2–17 years or adults aged 65 years or older.” Here are my thoughts:

• How can the flu vaccine be effective if they haven’t done any randomized controlled trials?
• Isn’t that the gold standard for research? According to Doctors, Chiropractic isn’t valid because there are not enough randomized controlled trials.
• In the introduction of the article, the author states the ACIP Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices supports the idea, “Inclusion of individuals at high-risk of influenza in placebo-controlled trails would be unethical.”  So why are they pushing the vaccine for the young and the old, if they haven’t or they won’t do gold standard research on it?

Here are the closing statements from the study. “Influenza vaccines can provide moderate protection against virologically confirmed influenza, but such protection is greatly reduced or absent in some seasons. Evidence for protection in adults aged 65 years or older is lacking.”

All I am saying is educate yourself, and ask questions. Not everything you hear or read is the truth!

Not to mention, the flu vaccine still contains thiomersal or mercury.  If you would like information on the harmful chemicals in vaccines, I will be coming out with a post early next year. All the information is available online, I will be just condensing it to make it understandable.

 

Here’s a link to the abstract of the study. If you want to sort through all the statistics message me for the full version:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2811%2970295-X/abstract

 

See my other blog posts, which give tips on preventing the flu. It starts with boosting your immune system!

 

 

 

Resources:

Click to access Lancet-Infect-Dis-MA-AC-Vacuna.pdf

http://www.naturalnews.com/033998_influenza_vaccines_effectiveness.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/26/media-deceive-facts-regarding-flu-vaccine.aspx