Fear Factor
Health Sciences Institute e-Alert
September 08, 2004
************************************************************
We hope you enjoy this free e-letter from the Health Sciences
Institute e-Alert. You have received this e-mail because you have
either signed up for our e-letter through a promotion on an affiliate
website, subscribed to one of Agora Health's print newsletters, or
visited our website and signed up there. If you're an existing
subscriber to the e-Alert, you should note it is now being sent from a
different server. Please make sure to add this new address to your
"friends" list or to "whitelist" it if necessary. If you wish to
permanently remove yourself from this mailing list, follow the
instructions at the bottom of this page.
************************************************************
Dear Reader,
"You've probably heard the news by now: Doctors are running low on flu
vaccines and are expected to run out completely before the flu season
winds down."
That was the opening of the e-Alert "Does This Smell Bad?" that I sent
you last December. Remember last year's flu vaccine crisis? Dire
predictions that we were in for "the worst flu season in 30 years" � a
possible pandemic! � arrived right alongside hand-wringing reports
that there weren't enough flu vaccines to go around.
And what actually happened? According to a recent Associated Press
(AP) article: "In the end, some vaccine was leftover, and the season
was no worse than usual."
Gee, the sky didn't fall or anything.
The AP piece also notes that there may be a big demand for the vaccine
this year because of "memories of shortages" and worries that are
circulating about new flu strains.
Worries circulating? I haven't heard any worries circulating. But you
can be certain that we will. Because officials for the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) National Immunization Program (NIP) have
developed a plan specifically designed to do one thing: circulate
worries about the flu season.
Yep � those are our tax dollars at work.
------------------------------------------------------------
Overcooking it
------------------------------------------------------------
Sherri J. Tenpenny, D.O., is an internationally known leader in
vaccine research. For many years, Dr. Tenpenny has cautioned consumers
about the dangers of blindly accepting flu, smallpox and other
vaccines, including the wide range of inoculations for children.
This week I came across a Red Flags Weekly article written by Dr.
Tenpenny in which she reports on a communiqu� from the NIP that
contains a "Seven-Step Recipe for Generating Interest in, and Demand
for, Flu (or any other) Vaccine."
Here are some of the recommendations in the "recipe":
* "Medical experts and public health authorities publicly (via media)
state concern and alarm (and predict dire outcomes) and urge influenza
vaccination."
* These actions are intended to result in, "significant media interest
and attention" by "framing of the flu season in terms that motivate
behavior (e.g., as 'very severe,' 'more severe than last or past
years,' 'deadly')."
* "Continued reports (from health officials and media) that influenza
is causing severe illness and/or affecting lots of people � helping
foster the perception that many people are susceptible to a bad case
of influenza."
* "References to, and discussions of, pandemic influenza � along with
continued reference to the importance of vaccination."
Obviously, the recipe for flu vaccination success calls for a large
portion of "alarm" to be blended with "dire outcomes" and then laid on
as thick as possible.
------------------------------------------------------------
Get out your calculators
------------------------------------------------------------
The CDC especially likes to bring up the possibility of a flu
pandemic. And the message is basic: This could be the year of the big
one, so you better get your flu shot.
Two weeks ago, the AP sounded the alarm that the U.S. might have to
close schools, restrict travel and ration scarce medications in the
event of a worldwide flu outbreak. And Dr. Julie Gerberding � the head
of the CDC � gave the report a dramatic flourish with this quote:
"We're all holding our breath."
It's been 36 years since the last pandemic. That's a long time to keep
up the amateur theatrics.
The August AP article noted that about 36,000 Americans die from the
flu every year. That number is a CDC estimate that was quoted again
and again last year, and it appears that we'll be seeing it often
again this year. There's just one little thing wrong with that number:
it's off the mark. In fact it's wildly off the mark.
How many American's died of the flu last year? Here's Dr. Tenpenny's
comment from the Red Flags article: "Less than 175 people actually
died from influenza in 2003."
Less than 175! Now THAT's good news! They expected 36,000 to die, and
we lost less than 175. That's wonderful!
But it's not wonderful if you're trying to sell flu vaccines. Where's
the fear in 175 deaths? That's only half the number of Americans who
die by drowning in bathtubs each year! You won't even get people off
the couch, much less down to their doctor's office with only 175 "dire
outcomes" hanging over their heads.
So the CDC is sticking with the much scarier 36,000 estimate.
------------------------------------------------------------
The rub
------------------------------------------------------------
All of this would simply be annoying, if it weren't for the fact that
the CDC and NIP are basically using taxpayer dollars to conduct a
marketing campaign for the three drug companies that produce flu
vaccines for the U.S.
And add to that the little wrinkle that just last spring CDC reps
announced their new recommendation that children aged 6 months to 23
months should now receive flu shots (which contain the mercury-based
preservative thimerosal, associated with a high risk of autism).
Annoying? How about infuriating?
There are a couple of other flu issues "going around" right now. And
since this is the time of year when I start to receive requests for
advice on whether or not to get a flu shot, I'll fill you in on those
issues in upcoming e-Alerts. In the meantime, it will be interesting
to watch news reports over the next two or three months to see just
how easily the media can be led into rubber stamping CDC-approved
"information" (especially attention-grabbing SCARY information) and
passing it along without question.
************************************************************
FLEXANOL IS CHANGING LIVES!
Help your body build new cartilage--promote joint flexibility and
mobility... WITH NO SIDE EFFECTS!
This all natural breakthrough leaves old standbys in the dust.
Find out how you too can relieve and support your
* Aching BACK
* Stiff HIPS
* Creaky KNEES
* Throbbing ANKLES
* Frozen NECK
* "Trick" ELBOW
* Burning KNUCKLES
* Or any other JOINT complaint...
http://www.youreletters.com/t/56423/3786805/645956/0/
************************************************************
To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit:
http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopy.html
Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive
their own copy of the HSI e-Alert.
************************************************************
...and another thing
Pink M&M's is a clever idea. But I've got a better one.
You may have heard that M&M's is (are?) observing National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month (October) with a special promotion. Whenever
you purchase specially marked bags of M&M's throughout September,
October and November, 50 cents will be donated to the Susan B. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation.
Although I don't agree with the Komen Foundation's blanket
recommendation on the subject of mammography (see the e-Alert "Easy as
1...2...3" 8/5/03), this is a worthwhile organization, dedicated to
fighting breast cancer through research, grants and education.
But... M&M's?
Just last week I told you about a Harvard study that revealed how
carbohydrate intake raises the risk of breast cancer ("Positions of
Power" 8/31/04). But more specifically, the elevated risk was
associated with the highest intake of the worst type of carbs: refined
simple carbohydrates (such as pastry, soft drinks, cookies, etc.).
A 3.14 oz bag of M&M's contains 31 grams of sugar, and 34 grams of
carbohydrates. That's three times as much sugar and a third more carbs
than you'll find in a single Krispy Kreme doughnut. So, nutritionally
speaking... 'nuff said.
M&M's has pledged a minimum donation of $250,000 to the Komen
Foundation, and my hat's off to both of those cute little M&M cartoon
characters. But rather than purchase a bag of M&M's, which, let's face
it, SOMEONE will end up eating, here's my idea: Go to komen.org, find
"Support the Cause," and read about how you can contribute directly to
their organization or volunteer for breast cancer awareness
activities.
Because 31 grams of sugar and 34 grams of carbs won't do anyone any
good. Especially women.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
************************************************************
The 43-Year-Old Gambling SECRET
That Could Triple Your Money on Wall Street!
Tip Wall Street�s odds in your favor! For decades smart gamblers have
used a special technique to break the bank in Las Vegas. Now you can
use a similar trick on Wall Street -- with less risk and a chance for
even bigger profits. Last year this system produced an incredible 72%
win rate... and this year could be even better. Discover how you could
turn a proven gambling secret into reliable investment profits!
http://www.youreletters.com/t/56423/3786805/645957/0/
************************************************************
To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit:
http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopya.html
Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive
their own copy of the HSI e-Alert.
************************************************************
Sources:
"The Flu Season Campaign Begins" Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, Red Flags
Weekly, 8/30/04, redflagsweekly.com
"Planning for the 2004-05 Influenza Vaccination Season � A
Communication Analysis" Glen Nowak, Ph.D., ama-assn.org
"Government Preparing for World's Next Big Flu Outbreak" The
Associated Press, 8/25/04, usatoday.com
Copyright (c)1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may
not be posted on commercial sites without written permission.
************************************************************
Before you hit reply to send us a question or request, please visit
here http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/questions.html
************************************************************
If you'd like to participate in the HSI Forum, search past e-Alerts
and products or you're an HSI member and would like to search past
articles, visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com
************************************************************
To learn more about HSI, call (203) 699-4416 or visit,
http://www.youreletters.com/t/56423/3786805/297/0/
************************************************************
If you want to end your HSI e-Alert subscription or you need to change
your e-mail address, please follow theinstructions below. Your changes
will be effective immediately. However, if you do not follow the
instructions below and simply hit reply instead, we may not receive
your request and cannot assure you that it will be completed.
************************************************************
Please note: We sent this e-mail to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
because you or someone using your e-mail address subscribed to this
service.
Want to cancel? Click on this link...or copy and paste it into your
browser window:
http://www.youreletters.com/u?id=3786805J&u=http://www.hsibaltimore.com&l=ealert
Address Change? Click on this link...or copy and paste it into your
browser window:
http://www.agoramail.net/changeEmail.cfm?id=3786805
To cancel by mail or for any other subscription issues,
write us at:
Order Processing Center
Attn: Customer Service
P.O. Box 925
Frederick, MD 21705 USA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/BCfwlB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kumpulan/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
