They printed my rebuttal though:

A rebuttal to E Swanson’s letter entitled No one guesses what strain of vaccine to use.

Dear Editor,

We thought that we had better answer a few of E M Swanson’s accusations and her closing question to us.

Quote: ”I find it interesting that the Stouffers' have so little knowledge about the vaccine for influenza.”

We find it interesting that nurses and doctors still use the same old tactics to push vaccination. They claim their detractors have “little knowledge” (they don’t like us little people, without impressive letters behind our names, thinking for ourselves). Then there is the fear tactic of bringing up the 1918 flu pandemic where 40,000 people died in North America. That is less than half the number of people that die in North America EVERY YEAR from non-error negative effects of drugs. 106,000 people die EVERY YEAR (not just 1918) from non-error negative effects of drugs, including vaccines. And even someone with “little knowledge” can check out that FACT because it was reported in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association, which is the most widely circulated medical periodical in the world. (JAMA July 26,2000 Vol.284, 483-485 authored by Dr. Barbara Starfield of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health).

So I think I’ll take my chances with the flu, thank you.

Quote: “There are side effects to this medication as there are to every other medication but not every person experiences these side effects.”

Yes, that is true. But can you, E Swanson, tell which person that you give the shot to is about to have a bad reaction?

Do you know the effects of giving an elderly person on six different medications a flu shot? No one has done studies on giving the elderly multiple medications let alone a flu shot on top of these. One drug is studied, not the combined effects of six or more drugs AND a flu shot. And some people are on more than six. (Chemical cocktail, anyone?)

Quote: I would like to know if the Stouffer's have any idea what the side effects are of coffee or for that matter of driving a car? Neither of which are side effect free. Do they insist on not driving or not drinking coffee?

(Are these trick questions? …..I shouldn’t answer these, but I will.)

For one thing our tax dollars don’t go toward coercing us into drinking coffee or driving a car. And, we stay well INFORMED on the side effects of coffee consumption and driving cars, neither of which is an adequate comparison to vaccine side effects. As for coffee, which we rarely drink, let alone have it directly injected into our bloodstream, we can choose not to drink it. Especially if coffee caused Guillain-Barre syndrome such as the flu shot has caused in some people. (The Globe and Mail: “Flu shot left executive paralyzed”, by Andre Picard, Public Health Reporter November 18, 2002 edition).

Quote: “As for the ingredients of the vaccine and the supposed effects of those ingredients well anyone with any medical knowledge goes to the source and does not rely on old wives tales.”

First, you say we have “little knowledge” and now we seem to be lacking “medical knowledge” (and impressive letters behind my name).

Our sources are the vaccine manufacturer’s package insert, the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association, as well as a host of MD’s who question the effectiveness of the flu vaccine and believe that people deserve to have INFORMED CHOICE.

The vaccine ingredients and side effects that we listed are correct. People can and should ask their doctor for the FULL list of side effects and possible adverse reactions, not the short public relations version. It is in the package insert the doctor gets to see, not usually shown to the general public. We have taken the time to read various package inserts from the various vaccine manufacturers. The side effects we listed are few in comparison to what they have listed. Instead of the full list you might hear “Very few people have a serious adverse event, or die, and compared to the dreaded flu … don’t you know what happened in 1918?!!!” (Some of you may have a serious adverse event, or die, but it’s a risk they’re willing to make).

Quote: “I sincerely pray that no one has listened with any seriousness to the Stouffer's and their campaign to try to kill their fellow Canadians.”

Those are pretty strong words coming from the establishment that a JAMA article says is responsible for the deaths of 106,000 people every year from non-error negative effects of drugs in North America. That number does not include: 12,000 deaths from unnecessary surgery; 7,000 deaths from medication errors in hospitals; 20,000 deaths from other errors in hospitals; and 80,000 deaths from infections in hospitals. So who is killing whom?

Quote: “One last question for the Stouffers', are you willing to pay all your own medical, diagnostic and hospital expenses when you become ill with influenza?”

The answer to that is YES MA’AM, we are willing. We pay for our own medical expenses. We have done this by only going to the doctor twice in the last six years, once for a life threatening emergency, and the other for an examination. (I am sure the taxes we paid over those six years have paid for those two visits and a round or two of “free” flu shots for a few others). We also visited a Naturapathic Doctor and paid from my pocket, not in tax dollars. We do not use prescription or over the counter drugs at all. We also avoid medical expenses by eating as healthy as possible, using natural foods and herbs, and taking some nutritional supplements. If and when we get sick, we look after ourselves by building up our bodies with nutrition and getting plenty of rest, not by running to the doctor.

In closing, while I compliment the medical establishment on doing what they do best, such as emergency procedures and diagnostics, I believe it is best for people to do research, stay informed, and be responsible for their own health.

The Stouffer Family (actual names witheld for privacy reasons)