My daughter (8 years old) has asthma and a peanut allergy. I am trying to make an informed decision about whether she should get the H1N1 vaccine. She has always gotten a regular flu vaccine, along with all the other childhood vaccines, so I am comfortable that she doesn't have an issue with the normal vaccine components. However, with her peanut allergy, the presence of squalene concerns me.
The CDC and government flu websites (http://www.flu.gov/myths/index.html) specifically state that there is no squalene in the H1N1 vaccine, contradicting information you are giving out in your articles. Honestly, i don't know who to trust here, I feel like it's a really important decision given her asthma, and I'm so frustrated at not being sure what the correct information is.
Is squalene in the H1N1 vaccine? Both the nasal mist and injection? How can I be sure?
Thanks, Cassi
VERY GOOD QUESTION! I am a physician trying to get similar information. As far as I can tell from the actual product insert from the company producing the vaccine there is NO adjuvant and no mention of squalene. My understanding is that squalene would be used as an adjuvant so it should be mentioned there if it was in the vaccine.
I am disappointed if mercola is posting incorrect information and would greatly appreciate actual sources if there truly is squalene.
As far as your daughter is concerned- it seems wise to me that you are considering the vaccine. The "anti-vaccine" groups are all saying No for everyone, and the "pro-vaccine folks" are all saying Yes for everyone. I believe the choice is unique for each individual and the scare tactics coming from both side are equally harmful.
As at the CDC website, http://www.flu.gov/myths/index.html, there has been a recent article in the Denver Post saying that there is no squalene, nor is there aluminum in the H1N1 vaccine in the United States, but there is mercury in these vaccines. I have been telling family and friends to avoid the vaccine due to these adjuvants, so need to know what the truth is. Dr. Mercola, please give us an update on this!
Thank you!
Fran
Dr. Mercola, Thank you for your article clarifying that squalene will not be in the 2009 H1N1 vaccine in your article found at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/05/Swine-Flu-Vaccine-Ingredients.aspx. This was very helpful. However, I would have loved to hear how you were led to assert that this vaccination did contain this adjuvant in your earlier articles. Knowing the history of your mistake would likely help make you more trustworthy as a source. Also, I have another suggestion: Your work would be infinitely more credible if you were to document the sources of your information. Or in the case of the information in the above mentioned article about the US government stockpiliing $400 million worth of the squalene-based adjuvant in case of an Emergency Use Authorizaion, document better sources. The link you used for this information was a blog with no information on the author. The link on the blog was a press release by HHS, which did not state the specific adjuvant that they purchased in bulk, so I called the press office to find out. Then I was referred to the HHS dept. that was responsible for the purchase, but believe it or not, they did not know the specific adjuvant! So I went to the webiste of GlaxoSmithKline, as they suggested, and it was indeed ASO3 which is squalene-based. But the point is that better documentation would make your articles more credible and you more trustworthy in the public eye, and would prevent people like me from having to wade through these labyrinths!
Thank you for your work,