about 1976 and GBS

[MinorityView]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/27/AR2009112703248.html?hpid=topnews

picked up from Vaccination News

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Unlike today's bug, the 1976 virus never took off from where it originated at an army base in New Jersey. With nothing to be gained from vaccination, the widespread campaign was halted after less than three months.


since when is a campaign halted becasue there was nothing to gain?

That is utter crap.



Nachamkin had access to a few unopened vials of the 1976 vaccine, which he tested for the presence of Campylobacter bacteria. He found none, putting to rest the theory that the 1976 GBS cases were the consequence of contaminated vaccine. He then injected the vaccine into mice. All developed antibodies against GM1, a form of ganglioside.

"We were just as surprised as anyone when we found this," Nachamkin said. "The real question is: Is it relevant to Guillain-Barré syndrome?"


question. Does the flu INFECTION create antibodies gainst GM1 in mice? If not, why would anyone think that developing gangliosides is a good idea, or "irrelevant"?


As of last week, six cases of GBS in people who had gotten the H1N1 vaccine had been reported to the federal government's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. (Four more are under investigation.) The six people with confirmed cases live in Maryland, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Florida and Illinois.


In each case, the person came down with neurological symptoms within two days being vaccinated -- almost certainly too soon to be a consequence of the vaccine.

Too soon? how so? If I died immediately after a vaccine, would that be too soon as well?

given how little they know about GBS, how can they state with surity, any time frame, given that people all react differently to disease...

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Even if there were to be a slight increase in GBS, some public health officials believe it would still be worth getting vaccinated.

Define "slight" and just whose choice should that 'risk' be taken by?