I find myself becoming more and more like one of those old people that is afraid to give out their social security number. I’m afraid of the future and short of arming myself with a gun and waiting in a closet for the bad men to take me out, I don’t know what to do.
I was in a staff meeting today and we were discussing the impact that the upcoming flu season might have on our department (I work for Infection Control in a hospital). Flu vaccine is always provided to health care providers free of charge because we’re supposed to treat the sick, not become sick ourselves. It’s a great policy for those who have no fear of what the vaccine could do to them and aren’t suspicious about the necessity of the vaccine in the first place. However, I am no longer one of those people.
I must admit, most of my suspicions have grown from listening to No Agenda (a podcast full of conspiracy theories) while I work. It was initially of form of mindless entertainment, but I soon realized that they were making too much sense. One story mentioned on the podcast had to do with the pharmaceutical company Baxter International packaging live bird flu in flu vaccines shipped to eighteen countries. With the safeguards that should be in place to prevent these type “mistakes” from occurring and the fact that bird flu strain and the current flu strain have zero similarities as flu strains, it’s hard to believe this was an accident.
Thursday, No Agenda unearthed another gem. The National Vaccine Information Center would like to let you know that you will do whatever the fuck they say when it comes to getting vaccinated for swine flu. This PSA on YouTube features some wonderful information such as fast tracking vaccine with minimal testing to the public, requiring health care providers to administer the vaccines, forced entry into homes / quarantine of individuals, and the banning of free assembly of citizens. And while I’m not sold on the idea of forced vaccination yet, i can’t deny that the possibility is there.
I’m not crazy. I can rationalize all of this. Rapid vaccines clear red tape when there is a deadly epidemic that needs addressing; forcing health care facilities to provide and administer vaccines insures its availability to the public; quarantine of some individuals is effective an effective way to prevent the spread of infection; and banning public assembly would reduce the risk of a mass outbreak. Yes, it makes sense except that there is no evidence that there is any need for these extreme measures. The Center for Disease Control has declared swine flu an epidemic for no reason other than their ability to determine that it has spread globally. We are on red alert for a flu that has killed FEWER people than the standard flu kills every year. The swine flu strain is more mild than the regular flu, yet the government is going crazy. Why? Could it be that pharmaceutical companies have stockpiles of vaccine that were going unused and this is the way to unload inventory and make money? There is some speculation that swine flu is a genetically engineered strain. It makes business sense to me to create a virus and a cure at the same time. It’s easy money and only a few hundred people die in the process.
Unfortunately for me, my vaccine skepticism and my future Hawaiian travel plans don’t sit well with my department. “Airplanes are a petri dish for infections.” It may be a fight worth fighting though. If winning holds off that inevitable 1984 scenario, then it will be worth it.
I think it’s a pretty safe bet that no matter what’s going on in the world, money has something to do with it – from CNN calling Michael Jackson’s will wishes a “Power Grab” when, in fact, it’s nothing of the sort to something like what you’re describing, somebody is making money off of it. I also think you’re on to something when you talk about a virus and cure at the same time – perhaps this whole swine flu thing will be what gives that horrible idea to somebody that has the authority to order something like this out of monetary greed after seeing how people do freak out, and how much money there is to be made. And when a vaccine is fast-tracked with minimal testing and turns out dangerous, they then will have to make a cure for that, darn – more money. You know this will be the case, because even a very helpful drug is sold for premium money and patented for a while, making a generic, cheaper version that could help those who don’t have the means to buy the full-priced version illegal to produce until the patent expires. They’re already putting money before well-being.
It’s a sad state of affairs, however, when you can’t trust those who legislate this sort of thing, and even worse when you can’t trust those who have at some point taken an oath to protect life at all costs – I suppose “costs” doesn’t refer to anything monetary, though.
I’m not referring to doctors and medical staff, though – I honestly believe most medical staff are in that line of work for the right reasons – it’s just the suits that control everything else who are the bastards that don’t care who suffers.
Good thoughts, Chris. Thanks.
well we’ve seen the engineered flu thing in books and hollywood before. that whole idea had to come from somewhere. i would hope that it’s never been truth. but hey, the US government gave native americans disease ridden blankets didn’t they? americans have been playing dirty from the start.
pharmaceutical companies have greed spelled all over them.
and wtf why is my avatar a square with eyes. =(