Deaths Halt Flu Vaccinations in Israel

[rman]

Deaths Halt Flu Vaccinations in Israel
October 22, 2006, 10:55 PM EDT
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ats-ap_health11oct22,0,3236646.story?coll=ny-leadhealthnews-headlines

JERUSALEM -- Israel's Health Ministry halted the administration of flu vaccines on Sunday after at least three people who were inoculated died, a spokeswoman said.

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The ministry was investigating whether the deaths are connected to the vaccines, said spokeswoman Inbal Jacobs.

Israel Radio reported the three people who died during the past few days were from the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Gat, and that all had previously suffered from illnesses.

"They were suffering from various illnesses, so that the team that has checked it so far has not found any connection between this tragedy and the vaccinations," said Heath Minister Yaakov Ben-Yizri.

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[ryanus]

1. Correlation does not imply causation...oh forget it

I think people are too quick to take jabs, too dismissive of questions raised about vaccines (flu and childhood), and too quick to dismiss complications developed from jabs. You've got to be informed, and careful.

[rman]

2. Be careful indeed, because

correlation can be due to causation.