Thank you for your response. I cannot recall from my reading of the E-Mail
at this address the medical status of your daughter. Is she currently
diagnosed with TM, and if so what is her current physical condition? What
if any causation was attributed to her TM?
Based on my current understanding of the possible causes of TM, I believe
Cathy Morris' explanation of T-cell reactions to virus stimulation in her
June 2, 1997 E-mail is currently well accepted in the medical community.
This being the case, I am focused on a theory that it is possible that flu
vaccines, which are specifically designed to produce immune reactions,
cause stimulation of T-cells that may produce antibodies that attack the
myelin sheath thus causing TM.
I became interested in this theory when I reviewed the literature that
basically confirmed the causal relationship between flu shots and
Guillian-Barre. Guillian-Barre has some medical similarity to TM. I also
read an old diagnostic text book that indicated about one third of TM cases
appear to be associated with viral infections or vaccine injections. The
most relevant aspect of my research is why some people appear to have an
episode of TM from a vaccination, while others do not.
As of late many members of this group have been concerned about medical
care insurance. The purpose of my research relates to those individuals
that may be eligible for financial assistance through the federal Vaccine
Injury Act and its related National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.
Generally, the impact of TM is financially devastating. Currently TM is not
listed as a specific compensable diagnosis, and flu shots are not listed as
one of the vaccines for which compensation is available if a medical injury
occurs. I believe both the Tri-Valent Flu Vaccine and TM need to be added
to the list.
Currently only DTP, MMR and Polio Vaccines are on the list, and as I said
before, TM is not specifically listed as a compensable illness if it
results from one of these vaccines. I believe the federal act needs to
expand its coverage for those person who cooperate with mandated vaccine
programs (schools in particular) or respond to the general public campaign
staged by the medical community every flu season, and then end up with TM.
Before I can tackle a change in the legislation, I need to compile the data
that will make the medical community at large accept the diagnosis of
vaccine induce TM.
My hope in joining this group was to here from those person that may have a
physician that believes in the causal diagnosis of vaccine induced TM or
from persons that have developed TM in close proximity to receiving a flu
shot. I find your comments very interesting and very relevant. I am eager
to here your answers to my initial questions, as they may add a new
dimension to my research.
Sincerely,
Gary
PS
I would also like to thank the rest of you who have contacted me. I have
been remiss in replying to your responses, and I apologize. This is the
first time I have had read the mail since I made my inquiry. I will be
contacting all of you for more information.
----------
> From: Joseph M. Chavez <jchavez(AT)mato.com>
> To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
> Subject: Re: Tri valent flu vaccine
> Date: Tuesday, June 10, 1997 12:57 PM
>
> Gary,
> I don't have any medical literature on flu shots and tm but I do know
that
> my daughter would not survive a winter without one. She gets one every
> winter along with the rest of my family and this winter she got two
because
> of the predicted bad flu season.
> Tami
>
> ----------
> > From: Gary G. Linkous <linkous(AT)mornet.com>
> > To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
> > Subject: Tri valent flu vaccine
> > Date: Wednesday, May 14, 1997 7:03 PM
> >
> > I have been researching the causal relationship between flu shots and
> > transverse myelitis. I have found a number of suspect cases. I would
> > appreciate hearing from anyone with information or with knowledge of
> > medical literature on this topic.
> >
> > Thanks linkous(AT)mornet.com
> >