FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October, 2003

GIVE US A SHOT OF TRUTH SAYS VACCINE GROUP

October 27, 2003 – Winlaw, B.C., Vaccination Risk Awareness Network Inc (VRAN) is warning Canadians they are being fed distortions to encourage their acceptance of flu shots. Misleading statistics and statements regarding flu deaths, incidence and the effectiveness of the shots are being disseminated by health authorities, ministries of health, the media and pharmacies.

For those who get influenza-like illness (ILI) once or twice a year, chances are slim that it’s influenza. Canadian labs consistently show that only about 10% of all ILI reported each year is actually caused by influenza virus; 7% influenza was recorded for 2002/2003. The vast majority of flu like illnesses are caused by other viruses against which the vaccine is completely ineffective. Unless the viruses in the vaccine closely match those circulating, the vaccine is useless. Even with a good match, only healthy individuals can hope for the "70-90%" efficacy commonly claimed. These facts are being suppressed. By any measure, the squandering of tens of millions of scarce health care dollars each year on a minority virus cannot be justified.

The public is being scared with combined influenza/pneumonia death figures which undoubtedly include all pneumonia deaths. Records preceding 2002 from BC Vital Statistics Agency disclose an annual average of 59 deaths directly due to influenza, 2 to 3 indirectly. Considering this, Health Canada’s declared "500 to 1500" direct and indirect flu deaths per year for the whole country seems a touch high. For years, the BC Centre for Disease Control has fudged the stats, using 1,400 as the death total for BC alone. In a lock step of deceit, the BC Interior and Vancouver Island Health Authorities blame influenza by itself for "about 7000" and "up to 4500" annual deaths across Canada.

VRAN is Canada’s premier group to advocate for informed choice in making vaccination decisions. Formed in 1992, it was born of the committee that ten years previous won an exemption of conscience from vaccines required by the Ontario ‘Immunization of School Pupils Act’. VRAN recommends consumers beware of flu shot propaganda; we hold individuals and organizations accountable for misleading information about influenza and its vaccine.

Contact:

Edda West – VRAN Co-ordinator, (250)-355-2525, email: info@vran.org

www.vran.org