CDC Pushes Fear over Reassurance

By KELLY O’MEARA

Special to the Journal

Atlanta-based family physician Alan Clark has heard patients tell him one too many times: “Every time I get a flu shot I get sick. ’That’s not surprising, he said, considering thimerosal (mercury) is used as a preservative in the influenza vaccine, which knocks out the immune system.

“Many people come down with the first virus or bacteria that invades their system,” he said. “There are better ways to prevent and treat the flu, which brings up the idea of prescription medications that the CDC is aware of and, more importantly, why aren’t these known to the public?”

In fact, for years public health officials have been aware of the Food and Drug Administration approved antiviral drugs for the prevention and treatment of the influenza virus, but still it took nearly two weeks into this year’s vaccine shortage hysteria before the antiviral drugs were quietly recommended by officials tasked with protecting the public health.

When The Journal asked why the CDC wasn’t pushing the antiviral medications, CDC spokeswoman Christine Pearson insisted public health officials had made the information available and blamed the media for dropping the ball.

“I believe, Dr. (CDC Director Julie) Gerberding has mentioned (antivirals) in nearly all the press conferences she’s had in the last few weeks,” Pearson said. She further insisted, “I know that it has been talked about by either Dr. Gerberding or Secretary Thompson (Department of Health and Human Services) in many of the press conferences that have happened. I don’t know why the media was just interested in the supply (vaccine) issue. I can’t speculate on why the media does what it does.”

And, in an effort to better clarify the CDC’s position on making the public aware of the use of antiviral medications, CDC spokesman Von Roebuck explained that it is not fair to say something is “pushed” by the CDC.

“The CDC makes recommendations based on scientific research and consultation.  Those recommendations often become the standard practice by clinicians and state health departments,” he said.

While it may be true that the media appears to be fixated on this year’s vaccine shortage, the missed opportunities to explore prevention and treatment alternatives surely can be traced to the lack of interest in, and information provided by public health officials about the antiviral drugs.

In fact, none of the information handed out by both Montgomery and Prince George’s County officials to schools and the media contained information about antiviral medications.

Furthermore, a review of press releases and briefings by public health officials clearly demonstrate that information about antiviral drug use for prevention and treatment of influenza has taken a backseat to the vaccine.

For example, on Oct. 5 public health officials announced the contamination of half of the expected influenza vaccine but, it wasn’t until one full week later, on Oct. 12, that Gerberding mentioned in a press briefing that they have a stockpile of Tamiflu, which is one drug used to treat influenza or to prevent it, and she noted, “we are in the process of purchasing a second drug, Rimantadine, to also have in the stockpile. We are hoping to purchase up to five million treatment courses of that drug.”

Then, on Oct. 15, 10 days after first notice of the vaccine shortage, a CDC press release advised that pharmaceutical giant Aventis Pasteur will provide an additional 2 million doses of the vaccine, but Gerberding makes no mention about the antiviral drugs.

Rather than taking the opportunity to aggressively reassure the public that there are antiviral prevention and treatment alternatives available, Gerberding again raises the vaccine shortage fear factor and explains “this shortage is frightening to people and they’re rushing out and standing in long lines thinking they need the vaccine right now before it s all gone. We want them to know that more is coming, so as hard as it may be, please try and be patient and check with your provider ahead of time for availability of vaccine in your area.”

On Oct. 18, two weeks into the vaccine shortage saga, the CDC posted on its web site “Guidelines and Recommendations for Influenza Antiviral Medications”. And the following day, Oct. 19, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson in a press release announced the availability of “antiviral medicines to help keep you safe from the flu.”

If CDC spokeswoman Pearson is correct and public health officials have communicated often about the benefits of antiviral drugs for the treatment and prevention of influenza, why does the latest Oct. 22 CDC Public Health Announcement focus on the limited supply of vaccine and omit any mention of antiviral medications?

Gerberding declined requests to be interviewed.

Despite the brief and sporadic mentions by public health officials about the availability of antiviral drugs and, in light of both the shortage of the vaccine and the questions surrounding its efficacy, the benefits of these FDA approved alternatives to the influenza vaccine physicians state cannot be overstated.

There are four antiviral medication alternatives to the influenza vaccine, including one that, unlike the vaccine, will prevent and treat any strain of Influenza virus A or B.

Public knowledge of this medication could have been especially helpful during last year’s flu season when the influenza vaccine did not match the circulating virus and CDC officials admitted that the vaccine actually had “no or low effectiveness.”

Kelly O’Meara is a veteran investigative reporter who holds journalistic awards for articles in the medical field.