Save Our Bones Bulletin: CDC Pushes Flu Shot Amid Declining Participation, FDA Bans Triclosan Soap, Merck Ditches Odanacatib, And More!

Today we’re celebrating Halloween, and in the spirit of the season, health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are trying to frighten us into getting the flu shot. This is happening as a reaction to their report that shows a marked decrease in compliance.

Now for the good news: even the FDA can’t continue to ignore triclosan’s harmful effects, and has banned it from soaps. Triclosan is a controversial chemical found in anti-bacterial soaps, toothpaste, hand sanitizers, and more.

Also, due to the dangerous side effects of the osteoporosis drug odanacatib, Merck has announced that its development will be halted.

So this Halloween, make sure you don’t fall for the fear tactics of the CDC… Now let’s get started with the latest news!

1. CDC Cites Scary Stats To Encourage Flu Shot

The CDC has doubled down on its efforts to promote the flu vaccine.

Relevant Excerpt:

“Health officials are urging Americans not to delay getting their flu shot after vaccination rates fell by 1.5 percentage points from 2014 to 2015. …

While 79 percent of health care personnel were vaccinated against the flu last year— a 1.7 percentage point increase from 2014— fewer adults overall got the flu shot in 2015 than in 2014. In 2015, 45.6 percent of adults got vaccinated, a 1.5 percentage point decrease from the previous year. Older people ages 50 to 64 saw the biggest drop in flu shot rates: a 3.3 percentage point decrease to 63.4 percent in 2015, according to the NFID.”¹

This begs two questions: why did vaccination rates decrease, and why does the CDC push the vaccine so adamantly?

The first question can be answered by the simple fact that true information about the flu vaccine is becoming more prevalent. Last year, for example, we reported on the CDC’s admission as to the inefficacy of the flu shot. And it’s no secret that more and more people are aware of its dangerous side effects, despite the Establishment’s efforts to downplay them.

And here at the Save Institute, we’ve been informing you from the get-go as to the bone-damaging effects of the flu shot and the toxins it contains, and you’ve undoubtedly read about the tragic cases of severe side effects that, while rare, reveal alarming truths about the dangerous nature of this vaccine.

As this knowledge gets disseminated, the increase in people opting out of getting the vaccine is not surprising. The answer to the second question is a bit more sinister: the CDC seems to support Big Pharma’s financial goals. And the numbers are big: for the 2016-2017 season, flu shot manufacturers estimate that they will distribute 157 to 168 million doses in the U.S. alone.²

Shamefully, the CDC is resorting to scare tactics not unlike those your doctor might use when trying to convince you to take a prescription for osteoporosis drugs, such as exaggerating the nature of the condition, inflating statistics, or painting a gloomy picture of the future if you refuse to take the drugs.

In essence, what Mainstream Medicine does, whether it’s with regard to osteoporosis drugs or the flu shot, is “trick” you into believing you have a dreadful condition (or the potential to contract one) and “treat” you with prescription drugs, which they present as the only answer. This is one “trick or treat” that knowledgeable Savers should avoid!

2. FDA Bans Endocrine-Disrupting Triclosan

It’s always interesting when major government entities like the FDA make belated declarations as to the dangers of previously-approved substances, and when they procrastinate the approval process to such a degree and in such a way that the substance enters the market anyway. Triclosan is a perfect example.

Relevant Excerpt:

“Antibacterial soaps were banned from the US market on Friday in a final ruling by the Food and Drug Administration, which said that manufacturers had failed to prove the cleansers were safe or more effective than normal products.

Dr Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s center for evaluation and research, said that certain antimicrobial soaps may not actually serve any health benefits at all.

‘Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water,’ she said in a statement. ‘In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long term.’”³

I’d like to point out a key phrase in the above excerpt: “manufacturers had failed to prove the cleansers were safe or more effective than normal products.”

But wait. Shouldn’t manufacturers have to prove a product’s or substance’s safety and effectiveness before it goes on the market? It looks like upside-down science once again.

Multiple scientific studies have confirmed the dangers of triclosan; it’s an endocrine disruptor that’s been linked to cancer and liver damage, which can ultimately damage bones, given the importance of liver health in reversing osteoporosis.

In addition, triclosan’s ubiquitous use over the last four decades has released tons of this chemical into the environment, where it has contributed to the alarming problem of antibiotic-resistant microbes.

Along these same lines, another corporate entity, this time a major pharmaceutical manufacturer has decided to revoke one of its osteoporosis drugs.

3. Merck Gives Up On Odanacatib

In light of research revealing increased risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation, Merck, the maker of the blockbuster osteoporosis drug Fosamax, has decided to abandon its efforts to push this drug to approval.

Relevant Excerpt:

“Merck ($MRK) is giving up on its delayed and long-troubled bone drug odanacatib after it became apparent the safety risk from using the experimental med was just too high.

Two years ago the Big Pharma announced it was to delay a filing with the FDA after Phase III results showed that while the drug could reduce fractures, it also increased the risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke.

It had hoped for a 2015 U.S. approval but was forced to hold fire on the safety concerns. Today, finally, Merck has officially said it will bury the program. Odanacatib works by inhibiting cathepsin K, an enzyme that plays a key role in bone resorption.
It had once been touted as a major blockbuster potential for Merck, making this a big setback for the company, which will need to rely a little harder on its Keytruda sales.”⁴

As the article states, odanacatib inhibits the enzyme cathepsin K, which breaks down bone tissue during healthy bone remodeling. This may be a newer pathway, but the effect is the same as with other osteoporosis drugs: the disruption of normal bone remodeling, so that fewer old bone cells are shed.

The problem is not the normal process of bone remodeling; this is essential for healthy bone tissue to rejuvenate and renew itself. The disruption of this process causes great damage to bones, especially in the long run.

This Is Yet More Proof That No Osteoporosis Drug Can Ever Be Trusted

It’s tempting to think that this is a fluke, and that since Merck abandoned odanacatib, there’s no danger that harmful drugs will be allowed on the market. It would be nice if this were true; but it simply isn’t. The all-too-common process is for drugs to get approved without adequate proof of safety or efficacy, consumers suffer side effects, warning labels get printed, and sometimes the FDA reneges on its approval.

Take, for example, the FDA’s recantation of calcitonin salmon, the synthetic version of a naturally-occurring hormone that was found to cause cancer. If you haven’t read up on this debacle, you can do so at this link:

• Oops! FDA Admits Huge Osteoporosis Drug Mistake

Another pattern that osteoporosis drugs tend to follow is the discovery of “new” side effects that continue to crop up the longer the drug is on the market. This is still happening with the oldest type of osteoporosis drug, bisphosphonates.

Reclast (zoledronic acid) is one of these. Approved in 2007 for the treatment of osteoporosis, Reclast continued to surprise the public with new and horrible side effects, as discussed in the following posts:

• Negative Side Effects Of Reclast
• ALERT: New Life-Threatening Reclast Side Effects
• ALERT: Reclast And Kidney Failure

There are others, too. Fosamax, another bisphosphonate, has been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw, atypical femur fracture, and the “usual” side effects, including heartburn, nausea, constipation, poor vision, joint pain and swelling, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, and headache.

Then recent research revealed that Fosamax promotes infections from Clostridium difficile bacteria. If you haven’t read last month’s Bulletin, I encourage you to do so, as it covers this latest side effect in detail:

• Save Our Bones Bulletin: Antidepressant Prescriptions At An All-Time High, Fosamax Promotes Bacterial Infection, Doctors Amazed By Study Results Of Popular Low-Dairy Diet, And More!

Aren’t You Glad You Can Take The Road Less Traveled?

It’s undeniable that more and more people are becoming aware that no drug is ever 100% safe, even if it’s “approved” by the FDA.

There’s simply no need to gamble as to whether you’re getting a “trick” or a “treat” with conventional osteoporosis management. If you follow the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, you’re in for a treat, not a trick!

You’ll discover delicious foods that contain key Foundation Supplements to build your bones from the inside out. You’ll learn about the incredible benefits of exercise, natural ways to reduce stress and bone-damaging cortisol, and most importantly, you’ll discover scientifically-backed truths about osteoporosis.

The Program covers all of this and much more. It may be unconventional, but don’t let that scare you. Instead, let go of the fear and step confidently in to a time-honored, healthful, holistic, drug-free approach to rejuvenating your bones.

Happy Halloween!

References:

¹ “CDC urges adults to get the flu shot amid declining vaccination rates.” Fox 9. September 29, 2016. Web. October 28, 2016. https://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/09/29/cdc-urges-adults-to-get-flu-shot-amid-declining-vaccination-rates.html

² https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vaccinesupply.htm

³ “Antibacterial soaps banned in the US amid claims they do ‘more harm than good.’” The Guardian. September 2, 2016. Web. October 28, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/sep/02/antibacterial-soaps-banned-us-fda

⁴ Adams, Ben. “Merck finally ditches osteoporosis drug odanacatib after stroke risk.” Fierce Biotech. September 2, 2016. Web. October 28, 2016. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/merck-finally-ditches-osteoporosis-drug-odanacatib-after-stroke-risk