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CANBERRA The inventor of the flu vaccination, which is given to 15 million Britons each year, said that he feared a severe outbreak of the virus and that he had never been very impressed with its efficacy.
Dr Graeme Laver, former Professor of Biochemistry at the Australian National University in Canberra, said: “It is better to do nothing, and I wouldn’t want to advise people not to take it, but you can’t rely on it doing any good.”
Instead, Dr Laver said the best way to protect public health was to make drugs that fight the virus after infection — such as Tamiflu and Relenza, — available over the counter. He said that as they are available only by prescription, valuable time is lost as people wait to see their GPs.
Dr Laver, who receives royalties from the sale of Relenza, told the Daily Mail: “You could have a severe epidemic. Thousands will be ill and many will die. Doesn’t anyone care? The safe and effective anti-flu drugs could, if used correctly, avoid much of this distress.”
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As per usual it's about money and not health. Toxic vaccines and the other drug company crap does nothing but mask symptoms. Let us have real health and health education. Many in the medical industry would be unemplyed so I guess governments anywhere in the world are not going to support that. Mess with nature and pay the price - it's that simple!
Stephanie, Brisbane, Australia
i find it rather amusing when i read comments by people who think they know better that professionals. It is no good to say "there is a study that shows" and take it as gospel - not much critical appraisal going on there andrew! and debra - antibiotics really only work for bacterial infections. unless you want to get C Diff. yes thats right, you get C diff from antibiotic use not unclean hospitals.
John Canterbury, oxford,
Personally i would rather have the Flu than risk the vaccination or the Antivirals. There is a study to show that a natural elderberry extract is a far more potent antiviral than the chemical drugs and with no side effects.
Andrew, Stourbridge, West Mids
seems to me this man is scare mongering he has had many years to say this drug is not efective but now he might make a lot of money from another drug wowe we need more protection.
Jan, Rye, East sussex
Sounds like he's pushing his product to me. The flu jab is a mind game anyway. Illnesses, of any kind, are related to beliefs in the mind. Especially where money is involved.
Michael, Birmingham, England
I,m not sure doctors do care.I was really ill with an infection that left me weak and very ill for at least six weeks.Doctors thought I had a bad cold and told me just to rest with paracetomol,but I knew it wasnt just a cold and I had vivid dreams like hullucinations.I knew I needed antibiotics and reluctantly I was given them after suuferring for a week after I felt constantly sick,constantly having a headache and not being able to eat or sleep for at least a week.I know the precautions with antibiotics and I realise some people think they need them when they don,t,but I was very ill and nobody gave me anything until I almost had to beg for something stronger.
debra bloomfield, herts, britain