Folks,
I sent the following letter (below) to the editor of the American Family Physician Journal. I wrote the letter after reading an article about the shingles vaccine. “Do I need the shingles vaccine,” is one of the most common questions I receive in my practice. I hope this letter will help you decide on whether to get the shingles vaccine. I have reprinted the letter that I sent to the editor. This letter was rejected by the American Family Physician Journal.
Original article: Prevention of Herpes Zoster in Older Adults by Jared Kocher published on November 1, 2013
The author wanted to answer the question, “In older adults, is vaccination against herpes zoster effective and safe? The author summarized the Cochrane Review and stated that, “The herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine has demonstrated effectiveness in preventing shingles in older adults.”
However, reading the section titled Practice Pointers presented a different picture. In this section, the author states that, over a median surveillance period of 3.12 years, with over 52,000 participants, there was a 51% relative risk reduction in confirmed cases of herpes zoster in those that received the vaccine. Furthermore, the author stated that among those aged 60-69, the number needed to treat to prevent one case of shingles was 50. Among those 70 years and older, the number needed to treat was 100.
These numbers show that, in those aged 60-69, the shingles vaccine was ineffective for 98% (forty-nine out of fifty) of those studied. For those aged 70 and older, the vaccine was 99% ineffective, since 99 out of 100 received no benefit.
I am incredulous that anyone looking at this data could proclaim that the shingles vaccine was effective. In fact, it wasn’t. According to this data, the shingles vaccine was a 98-99% failure. Assuming the cost of the vaccine is $200 (a generous assumption), we would have to vaccinate 50 subjects aged 60-69 years to prevent two cases of shingles at a cost of $10,000 per case. For those over 70 years, 100 patients need to be vaccinated to prevent one case of shingles at a cost of $20,000. Clearly, this vaccine is not cost effective in these tough economic times.
Finally, the author summarized the adverse effect risk of the shingles vaccine. The number needed to harm from the vaccine was 2.8. That means for every 2.8 vaccines given, one patient was harmed. Furthermore, for every one hundred subjects vaccinated, one had a severe adverse reaction such as rash, fever, or hospitalization.
At the end of the article, the author states, “Overall, the herpes zoster vaccine is safe, effective, and well tolerated…” I can’t understand where that statement came from. The numbers don’t lie. The concluding statement should have read, ”Overall, the herpes zoster (Shingles) vaccine is neither safe, effective or well tolerated.”
David Brownstein, M.D.
5821 W. Maple Rd. Ste. 192
West Bloomfield, MI 48323
I have no conflict of interest.
Thank you Doctor Brownstein for all the work that you do. I get shingles several times a year, when I am stress or my immune system is down. Taking L-lysine and a B Complex has helped so much.
Great article thank you Dr. B! Efficacy is key, its so important to know the effectiveness of a vaccine and weigh it against the side affects. This information needs to be researched long before you are sitting in your doctors office because most Drs. are not aware (unless you have a Dr. like Dr. B). I fell for the scare tactics from our former pediatrician and had my kids vaccinated. I now know that many vaccines are ineffective but the side affects are real…
I read Dr. B’s Iodine book back in April. I’m 54 and had shingles when I was 23. I’ve done some topical application of the 5% Lugol’s Solution which has helped diminish the muscle spasming that still occurs at that nerve root along my ribs. I expect it to eventually be gone. The location is awkward and requires additional help in the application of the Lugol’s.
Please get this info to Dr. Mement Oz. He just put out big ignorant promo show for the shingles vaccine. He generally provides useful information, but I agree with you and he might be willing to listen to statistics. Like you said $200 (if you are lucky) is a lot to pay for something unlikely to help. When you see big ads on television promoting some scare tactic medicine, it’s not good for anybody but big pharma. Victoza is another big promo’d killer. The stuff is dangerous for the elderly diabetic with impair kidney function. Please do blog about it too.
Thank you very much for this analysis.
Vaccination is not immunization – when people were still routinely still going through the commonly-referred-to childhood illnesses (such as chicken pox), enough live virus was circulating in the general population to provide ongoing passive exposure to small doses of the viruses – little “booster shots” – to remind the body of the true immunization that it had already developed having had the illnesses. Now that through massive vaccination policy these illnesses are out of circulation, their secondary manifestations (i.e. shingles) are more prone to develop. Adulterate one part of a natural cycle and watch the rest of it spiral out of control.
Read the recent book, “Which Poison Will Change Your Life?” for a comprehensive and accurate explanation of not only why vaccines are dangerous but also of the behind-the-scenes political machinations that allow them onto the market in the first place.
This quote rings in my mind yet again in regards to ‘the experts’ saying you should get the shingles shot:
“It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine.”
(Marcia Angell, MD, “Drug Companies and Doctors: A story of Corruption.” NY Review of Books, Jan. 15, 2009.)
And, I think I got it at 45.
I wouldn’t risk my life with a shot to try an avoid it.
But, that’s just me.
Statistics….numbers! Goodness! I can only speak from experience and what I know of others who have had shingles. It’s a really bad virus affecting those who get it for months and sometimes YEARS! Thanks for those statistics, but I am glad I got the preventative vaccine.
It’s total statistical ploys when they claim 50% for these minuscule gains. I actually would call it straight up lies. If the general public was aware how they get to these numbers no one would willingly pay money for this junk medicine.
I do not claim to be an expert in statistics, but I do know that the number needed to treat to prevent a case of shingles, does NOT translate into a percentage of effectiveness. Just because you have to treat 100 people to prevent one case, doesn’t mean that the other 99 people got the shingles. Keep in mind that statistics can easily be misrepresented to try and prove a point.
Michelle,
I am not an expert either. As for your comment, you are correct. I never said that the other 99 would get shingles. I said that the other 99 received no benefit from the vaccine, according to that study.
Look at it this way: If you treat 100 patients who have strep throat with penicillin, 99 will be cured. I feel that this therapy is effective. Compare that to the shingles vaccine. Why do we–as both patients and physicians–accept substandard therapy that costs too much and does not work very well for the majority. That doesn’t even address the adverse effects associated with these therapies.
Like it or not, much of conventional medicine is based on faulty statistics and ineffective drug therapies that are bankrupting the country.
DrB
Unreal!
Is journal paid by the makers of the vaccine?
Isn’t the first rule of medicine “first, do no harm”!?
Care to share with us the reasons the American Family Physician Journal gave for rejecting your letter, Dr. Brownstein? I suspect there are reasons in that letter that might help us understand this disagreement much better.
Thank you so much
Chuck Larlham
Chuck,
I do not know why they rejected the letter. I just received a short note saying my letter was rejected.
DrB
I took the vaccine when I was 64. Got my first care of shingles when I was 66 and a second when I was 67. They were “mild cases” but this may be because I recognized the situation and got immediate attention. The first time was on meds within 18 hours of the outbreak; the second time started meds IMMEDIATELY.
I (63) got the vaccine since it was free. Developed serious rash, fever, swelling and a lump on my arm. Had to go back for steroid shot. Wish I had seen this article before hand. Another gov’t boondoggle.
It happens in my specialty also. I see many dental studies that conclude with statements that leave me confused and amazed. The balance is always tipped towards an outcome that is financially beneficial for product or professional gain. This is a hard pill to swallow for honest physicians – to think science is tainted by greed and commerce.
I was just asking my doctor last week about this “vaccine”. I think I’ll pass on it now.
hmm. have to wonder what if any affiliation Kocher has with the vaccine manufacturer. How else could a scientist write a conclusion that is clearly against what their article’s data shows. sad state of medical/politics/profits here in the U.S. of A.
No vaccine is necessary or helpful and only brings on pandemics. Did you read this great article? Some groups should be sending this article viral and get our gov’t to back down and finally tell the truth: http://healthfreedoms.org/2013/08/24/the-vaccine-hoax-is-over-documents-from-uk-reveal-30-years-of-coverup/#comment-1495871