Friday, 4 April 2014

CAND - Flu Vaccine

Before I shift to individual clinics, I'd like to draw attention to the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND).

It may be helpful to know what the association is, and what they do. From the association website:
"The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) has been the national voice of the Canadian naturopathic profession since 1955. The CAND membership consists of over 2,000 Canadian naturopathic doctors and naturopathic medical students. All are graduates of, or students in, an accredited four-year, post-graduate level, naturopathic medical program.

The CAND is instrumental in positioning naturopathic medicine at the forefront of Canadian health care. It promotes naturopathic medicine to the public, corporations, insurance companies and the federal government. It also facilitates communication within the profession and represents the interests of qualified naturopathic doctors throughout Canada.

The CAND is a not-for-profit professional association. Its membership consists of naturopathic doctors, naturopathic medical students, suppliers of natural health products for professional use, and supporting members. The CAND works collaboratively with all the provincial naturopathic associations in Canada."
So, what does this "national voice of the Canadian naturopathic profession" have to say about the flu vaccine? Read their official position paper on the vaccine here:

Under the heading "Information on the 'Flu' Vaccine" it says:
"Children are at the greatest risk of side effects including: fever, body aches, allergic reactions and potentially a severe paralytic illness."
This statement is an exaggeration, and a cruel one for vaccine anxious parents. Children under 2 years of age are most at risk of flu complications, including death. Far more children die from flu than from vaccination. To discourage vaccination is unethical. The paralytic reaction to the vaccine occurs in no more than one out of one million vaccinated persons, and can occur when contracting the flu 'naturally'.

Also stated in the position paper under the heading "Reported concerns and contraindications to the flu vaccine":
"Thimerosal, a mercury-containing compound, is commonly used as a preservative in flu vaccines."
This is an alarming statement for vaccine anxious parents to read, when no further explanation is provided. Yes, there is mercury in the vaccine. It is there to keep dangerous microbes from growing in the vaccine. The amount is less than what your child would receive from eating a tuna sandwich. I'd give my child a tuna sandwich once per year if it would increase their chance of seeing their next birthday. I am willing to risk the mercury to keep my child from feeling miserable for a week or more, hospitalized, or dying. Once a year I have a lobster feast, a moderate mercury food, and I really go to town with that lobster feast. It's once a year, and I don't bat an eyelash, so why on earth would I worry about the flu shot over a wee bit of mercury?

Under the heading "Points to consider before making a decision on flu prevention":
"Vaccinations prevent the body from naturally responding to external pathogens like viruses and bacteria. Individuals who regularly maintain a strong healthy immune system will protect themselves from any adverse effects of the flu, will build permanent immunity and will decrease the potential for developing unknown side effects from long term exposure to vaccinations."
Once again this position paper paints an inaccurate picture of the flu and the vaccine. Young healthy adults are hit hard by H1N1. Hospitalized individuals are not all people with compromised immune systems. Telling readers that maintaining a healthy immune system will protect them from adverse effects of the flu, in my view, is fraudulent. Printing a line that reads "....potential for developing unknown side effects from long term exposure to vaccination" will undoubtably feed the anxiety of parents worried about vaccine exposure.

In the last paragraph of page 2, you will find:
"The flu vaccination was developed by the allopathic health care system to decrease the risk of contracting the influenza virus. However, the best way of preventing any flu or complications from any flu is through prevention. The main focus of prevention needs to be on daily healthy habits that ensure an optimum immune system and overall health. A strong immune system is the most effective prevention strategy against the flu or any other virus. If you have additional questions or concerns, please discuss these with your naturopathic doctor or other health practitioner."
The flu vaccine was developed because flu prevention without a vaccine wasn't going well. Darn those allopathic medical professionals for interfering by creating something that saves people's lives. I agree that a healthy diet and exercise lower a person's risk of developing diseases like cancer and heart disease, but they don't do a whole lot for protecting that same person from contracting a virus they aren't immune to. If I eat my kale chips, go for a run, and then someone with the flu sneezes in my face on the way home, guess what? I've got the flu. My 3 year old said it well when she was sick with a sore throat recently. She said grumpily, "[my] throat is sore, but I ate my carrots!!". Flu prevention without a vaccine can only go so far.

That last line of page 2 worries me greatly:
"If you have additional questions or concerns, please discuss these with your naturopathic doctor or other health practitioner"
The CAND, whether directly or indirectly, is suggesting with that statement that your naturopathic doctor should be your first point of contact for medical information on the flu. Given the number of inaccurate points in this position paper, that is scary. A vaccine anxious person is not going to read this position paper and feel at ease about vaccines.


  1. With new strains of flu building up constantly, medicinal science does not guarantee that getting immunized against known flu composes will ensure your security - yet flu shots are frequently prescribed for diminishing your danger of coming down with these infections. This season's flu virus inoculations offered by your nearby facility or wellbeing focus will be uncommonly intended to battle the most widely recognized strains of flu at present available for use, or that are anticipated to be shrunk by more individuals amid the winter season.I find a very good website for the Health Conditions, If you want you can visit this site.