From: Andrew Johnson
Date: 2009-09-28 18:57:19
www.checktheevidence… Official UK Health Organisations Respond to Swine Flu Questions by Andrew Johnson, Sep 28 2009 Having studied some of the information which had been circulating regarding the supposed Swine Flu Pandemic. which was either in progress or imminent, I decided to ask some specific questions of UK Health Organisations which have been involved in officially responding to the current scenario. On 26th June I wrote to Derbyshire Health Authority (also known as Derbyshire PCT Primary Care Trust). This is a local, county-based organisation, responsible for the Health of about 1 million people who live in Derby and Derbyshire. Their responses to some questions indicated I should pose the same questions to the national health organisation of the UK the Department of Health. Below, I have listed the questions I asked, followed by the organisations response. In footnotes, I have included a commentary on their answers. Finally, I include copies of my letters to them (without the list of questions as they are shown earlier on), and the replies I have already sent. Please make up your own mind as to what might be going on here, but the bottom line as I see it is this: there has been massive spending and planning for something (i.e. a pandemic) about which there is little or no evidence is real or a real threat. Viewed in this way, it is reminiscent of how the terrorism act was passed in the UK in year 2000 and then 9/11 “conveniently” happened in 2001. For those reading this that think 9/11 happened as we were told and as a result of previously assessed threats, I would strongly suggest you study the diverse evidence that will prove that it was the result of something far, far more sophisticated than a plot involving a rich Arabian family member and 19 disaffected Muslim fundamentalists. I think what we are seeing might be preparations for a false-flag health terrorism attack in the next 12-18 months so I am hoping that naming and mapping out this possibility may take away its power. Additionally, I advise you to study the alternative science behind the use of vaccines. Why don’t you write to your local/country’s health organisations and ask these questions, or similar ones? Derbyshire Health Authority Response Received 19th Aug 2009 Dear Mr Johnson, Please find the answers to the questions that you posed about swine flu. Regards, Joanne Chick Communications Assistant Babington Hospital Swine Flu response 1. Are you aware that an Austrian Journalist, Jane Burgermeister (who has previously written for the UK Guardian Newspaper) has filed criminal charges (in Austria and the USA) against Baxter Pharmaceuticals (and others) for Bioterrorism for distributing live avian flu materials to 18 countries? No, we are not aware of this matter. 2. Are you aware that this same journalist has filed criminal charges against a WHO official related to this incident? (These charges are included in a document which is over 100 pages long.) No, we are not aware of this matter. 3. Are you aware that this same journalist has filed criminal charges against the Austrian Health Minister? No, we are not aware of this matter. The Swine Flu Threat 4. Can you state clearly why Swine Flu is perceived as being so threatening – when so far no symptoms other than those of normal flu seem to have been reported? The UK has been preparing for a possible flu pandemic for the last three to four years. This has been on the basis that historical patterns of infection suggested that a pandemic would emerge in this generation [1]. These preparations were predicated on the potential threat posed by Avian Flu (Influenza type H5N1) [2]. In the event Swine Flu (Influenza type H1N1) emerged which, while reaching pandemic proportions (pandemic referring to the geographic spread of an infection, not its virulence), has so far proved to be a milder infection in normally healthy people[3]. We cannot comment on perceptions, but the Chief Medical Officer, the Health Secretary (and his predecessor) and other Government officials have been consistent in their commentary that this infection is so far mild in most cases. Equally, in Derbyshire, our communications work has stressed that this is so far proving to be a mild infection in most cases [4]. 5. Are you concerned at the extremely alarmist and mis-representative media coverage which Swine flu is being subject to? (Do you have an intention or policy to deal with this?) For example, repeated cases of death have been reported, but in the next statement it has stated the person already had underlying health problems. Local media have acted very responsibly and followed Derbyshire County PCTs current guidance that this is a mild infection in healthy people[5]. The vast majority of national media correspondents have also been responsible in supporting this message, which aims to alert people to the potential for infection but reinforcing the very simple measures, such as good hand hygiene and the Catch It, Bin It, Kill It message. We do not have a written policy on this matter, but we are employing our normal approach to such public health messages, which is to provide advice and reassurance, proportionate to the threat posed by any infectious disease, including Swine Flu. We cannot comment on the reporting of deaths from Swine Flu as at the time of writing we have been fortunate to have no deaths in Derbyshire so have not been involved in any such announcements. 6. Can you explain why many thousands or even millions of UK houses were leafleted regarding Swine flu when it seems to be no worse than normal flu? As per the answer at question 4, the UK has been preparing for a flu pandemic for a number of years. Part of the national planning was to issue a leaflet to all UK households once WHO Alert Phase 4 was declared and this part of the plan was put into action in May 2009 [6]. At this point, the potential virulence of the Influenza Type H1N1 was not fully understood, nor is it at the time of writing, so it was responsible of the UK Government to issue this advice to the public. Had the infection proved more virulent, the UK public services would have been very quickly criticised for not providing enough information to the public, so this was a measured response[7]. Questions about the Vaccine and Tamiflu/Relenza 7. Can you advise whether you have sourced doses of Swine Flu vaccine yet, or if and when you plan to do so? The UK Government has arrangements in place with the pharmaceutical industry for the sourcing of vaccine for Influenza Type H1N1, once this has been prepared and tested[8]. This process is well underway. Derbyshire County PCT will receive a proportionate allocation of this vaccine once it starts to become available, likely to be in September 2009. I refer you the Department of Health who may be able to answer your question in more detail. 8. If you have sources vaccine doses, can you state which company or companies will have manufactured the vaccines to be used? N/a. I refer you the Department of Health who may be able to answer your question in more detail. 9. If a vaccine becomes available will, you advise GPs, nurses and those taking the vaccine of a detailed list of ingredients in the vaccine doses? As with all vaccinations and other medications, health professionals and patients will have access to information about the chemical contents of drugs and other treatments[9]. 10. Will you list the possible side effects of taking the vaccine, and their likelihood of manifestation? (Please consider carefully what happened in the USA following the 1976 Swine Flu Scare). As with all vaccinations and other medications, health professionals and patients will have access to information about related side effects[10]. 11. What efforts will you be undertaking to inform the public of the serious side effects reported by some of those who took tamiflu/releanza? We have no specific plans to inform the public of the side effects of any individual medication[11]. This information is readily available for patients in consultation with their GP and is contained as part of general information leaflets contained within all medications. We should point out that every medication has many reported side effects and it is a requirement of maintaining a licence in the UK that all drugs make this information available to patients. Equally, it is inevitable that any given medication may prompt an adverse reaction in a very small minority of patients[12]. 12. Are drug companies in the UK immune (no pun intended) from prosecution by those people that experience any serious or debilitating side effects after having the vaccine? (As happened in 1976.) I refer you the Department of Health may be able to provide a response to this question. Plans for Administering of Vaccine 13. What are the plans for administering the vaccine e.g. is a policy in place to issue letters through GPs? Derbyshire County PCT are currently still in the process of planning vaccinations and are not in a position to answer this yet[13]. 14. What is the policy or plan for administering the vaccine in schools? (Is there a plan and under what circumstances would this plan be activated?) As above, we are currently still in the process of planning vaccinations and are not in a position to answer this yet. Role of the World Health Organisation (WHO) In a WHO document checklist for influenza pandemic preparedness planning, it is stated in Section 1.5.1 Legal and ethical issues (http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/influenza/FluCheck6web.pdf) ‘During a pandemic, it may be necessary to overrule existing legislation or (individual) human rights. Examples are the enforcement of quarantine (overruling individual freedom of movement), use of privately owned buildings for hospitals, off-license use of drugs, compulsory vaccination or implementation of emergency shifts in essential services. These decisions need a legal framework to ensure transparent assessment and justification of the measures that are being considered, and to ensure coherence with international legislation (International Health Regulations). Hence: 15. Is Britain a signatory to this checklist or is EU, UK or other legislation in place which would mean that this checklist can be applied to UK citizens? I refer you the Department of Health who may be able to provide a response to this question. NHS Swine Flu Leaflet 16. Are you concerned that there is inaccurate and alarmist information in the leaflet distributed to millions of UK homes? For example: Because its a new virus, no one will have immunity to it and everyone could be at risk of catching it. This includes healthy adults as well as older people, young children and those with existing medical conditions. This is essentially false, because there are always some people that are immune to new infections (perhaps because of their general level of fitness and their choice of nutrition etc, which can affect the strength of their immune response). General fitness and good health does not provide immunity to new infections, but may promote a faster recovery period[14]. Influenza Type H1N1 is a new strain of flu which people in younger age groups will not have experienced previously and will therefore not have immunity[15]. It is set of circumstances which lead to the development of a pandemic and accounts for the fact that people in older age groups who may have experienced a H1 strain of flu in the past are not presenting as frequently with symptoms at this stage[16]. While the current situation is serious 17. What makes a situation serious? Should we stop people from driving cars and stop them drinking alcohol? These result in far more deaths every day. The point you make is rhetorical. There is considerable activity across public services to tackle dangerous driving and to reduce the level of alcohol intake among certain population groups. A pandemic presents a serious challenge to public life, although as I have said previously and as the leaflet also points out, those who have been infected so far are generally experiencing mild symptoms and are recovering well[17]. 18. Why didnt the leaflet include information on nutrition and taking vitamins for example vitamin D which can boost the bodys immune response? Good hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent to spread of infection[18]. Clearly being in general good health and by following a balanced healthy diet provides a better response from the immune system when fighting infection[19]. I should refer you to the Department of Health for a fuller response to your question about the content of the leaflet. Department of Health Response Received 23rd Sep 2009 Our ref: DE00000440236 Dear Mr Johnson, Thank you for your email of 24 August about swine flu. I have been asked to reply. As you ask so many questions on a variety of aspects of swine flu, I will answer them using the numbers used in your email. I have sought advice from policy officials on several of the issues that you have raised. 1., 2. and 3. [I have inserted the questions here for reference] 1) Are you aware that an Austrian Journalist, Jane Burgermeister (who has previously written for the UK Guardian Newspaper) has filed criminal charges (in Austria and the USA) against Baxter Pharmaceuticals (and others) for Bioterrorism for distributing live avian flu materials to 18 countries? 2) Are you aware that this same journalist has filed criminal charges against a WHO official related to this incident? (These charges are included in a document which is over 100 pages long.) 3) Are you aware that this same journalist has filed criminal charges against the Austrian Health Minister? I can confirm that the Department of Health has received a copy of a document entitled ‘Criminal charges regarding flu pandemic as a biological weapon with Intent to produce genocide’, attributed to Jane Burgermeister. This document states that Ms Burgermeister, as a Citizen of the United States, would like to file criminal charges against, amongst others, Baxter Pharmaceuticals and the World Health Organization (WHO). It does not list the Austrian Health Minister, Maria Rauch-Kallat, in the charges, although she is referred to. The version of the document that the Department has received is unsigned and does not have a submission date. Therefore, it is unclear whether these charges were actually filed[20]. 4) Can you state clearly why Swine Flu is perceived as being so threatening – when so far no symptoms other than those of normal flu seem to have been reported? Swine flu poses a threat because is a new type of flu virus that few, if any, people have full resistance to[21]. In most cases the virus has proved relatively mild, as you suggest. However, around the world, thousands of people have died and it is not yet clear how big a risk the virus is[22]. For this reason, and because all viruses can mutate to become more potent, scientists are advising a cautious approach[23]. 5) Are you concerned at the extremely alarmist and mis-representative media coverage which Swine flu is being subject to? (Do you have an intention or policy to deal with this?) For example, repeated cases of death have been reported, but in the next statement it has stated the person already had underlying health problems. The Government has made available up-to-date information and guidance on swine flu in a variety of ways. An information leaflet was delivered to the majority of UK households in May[24]. The Swine Flu Information Line (0800 1 513 513) holds useful recorded advice on the virus and its treatment. Regularly updated information can also be found on various government websites, such as www.direct.gov.uk and www.nhs.uk. I hope you will agree that the Department has an effective communications strategy for handling swine flu, and that it would be inappropriate for it to intervene in independent media[25]. 6) Can you explain why many thousands or even millions of UK houses were leafleted regarding Swine flu when it seems to be no worse than normal flu? Please see the answer to question 4[26]. 7) Can you advise whether you have sourced doses of Swine Flu vaccine yet, or if and when you plan to do so? I can confirm that the Government has ordered enough swine flu vaccine for the whole UK population[27]. 8) If you have sources vaccine doses, can you state which company or companies will have manufactured the vaccines to be used? The Government has contracts with two companies to supply the swine flu vaccine. They are Baxter Healthcare Ltd and GlaxoSmithKline[28]. 9) If a vaccine becomes available will, you advise GPs, nurses and those taking the vaccine of a detailed list of ingredients in the vaccine doses? All ingredients will be listed in the licensed product information that will be made available when the vaccines are licensed. 10) Will you list the possible side effects of taking the vaccine, and their likelihood of manifestation? (Please consider carefully what happened in the USA following the 1976 Swine Flu Scare). All possible side effects will be listed in the licensed product information that will be made available when the vaccines are licensed[29]. 11) What efforts will you be undertaking to inform the public of the serious side effects reported by some of those who took tamiflu/releanza? The Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency (MHRA) is responsible for monitoring drug side effects. Although there have been individual reports of side effects from antiviral treatment, no pattern has emerged. Therefore, the MHRA has not issued an alert or warning of specific serious side effects from antiviral treatment. With every supply of antiviral drugs there is a patient information leaflet which lists the side effects[30]. 12) Are drug companies in the UK immune (no pun intended) from prosecution by those people that experience any serious or debilitating side effects after having the vaccine? (As happened in 1976.) The Government signed the advance purchase agreements for the vaccines in June 2007 and accepted liability for their safety as a contingency. All governments signing up to an advance purchase agreement were expected to provide an indemnity for the vaccine, and neither manufacturer would sign the contracts without it. The Government’s decision was based on the best procurement and legal advice. Accepting liability in this way is in line with Government accounting rules, and was cleared by the Public Accounts Committee at the time[31]. 13) What are the plans for administering the vaccine e.g. is a policy in place to issue letters through GPs? Detailed plans for the implementation of the programme are currently being developed. GPs surgeries will be given £5.25 per dose of vaccine given[32]. It will pay for the extra staff and non-staff resources that practices will need to vaccinate their at-risk patients. At the same time it will ensure other services provided by the practices do not suffer while practices are vaccinating large numbers of patients[33]. 14) What is the policy or plan for administering the vaccine in schools? (Is there a plan and under what circumstances would this plan be activ
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