Don’t Fall for the Bird Flu Hype: Let’s Look at the Facts

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about bird flu and vaccines, fueled by an article from The Post Millennial about so-called health experts warning us against the rise in Bird Flu. These “health experts” also encourage Biden’s FDA to authorize vaccines for vulnerable people. Huh, where have we heard that before – vulnerable people? But before you let the headline stir up panic, let’s dig into the details and sort out the facts from the hype.

And remember, Dr. Deborah Birx is the same woman who served on the White House COVID-19 response coordinator – UNDER DONALD TRUMP. She stood up there pushing lies.

Dr. Deborah Birx served up a bombshell revelation about the efficacy of the COVID vaccines during an interview on Your World with Neil Cavuto. Birx, the former White House COVID-19 response coordinator and one of the two most recognizable spokespeople during the pandemic, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci, claimed the vaccines were overplayed and that she knew they didn’t work. While this is shocking in and of itself, it is especially tragic given how many people had their employment terminated because they refused to get an ineffective and “overplayed” vaccine. – Washington Examiner

So she and her comrades can go jump off a cliff for all I care. And yes, I have a hard time with Donald Trump over this whole COVID scam, too.

Dr. Deborah Birx is on CNN fear-mongering about the Bird Flu.

CNN fails to disclose the fact that Birx is now the CEO of Armata Pharmaceuticals.

Armata Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company “focused on the development of high-purity, pathogen-specific… https://t.co/7QCGTWdtJZ pic.twitter.com/Rt5owh2ybJ

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) December 28, 2024

As far as the FDA? Like many government agencies, it has faced significant criticism for its decisions and ties to powerful industries. If you’ve seen Dopesick, you know how the opioid crisis exposed serious flaws in the system, from regulatory oversight to industry influence. Incidents like these make it hard to trust the FDA, regardless of which administration is in charge. Accountability and reform are long overdue to restore public confidence.

What’s the Big Deal?

The Post Millennial article brings in health experts like Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Leana Wen to sound the alarm about the bird flu (H5N1). They’re pushing for more testing and vaccines, especially for farm workers and vulnerable groups. Dr. Birx warns that without enough testing, the virus could be more widespread than we realize, while Dr. Wen wants vaccines and rapid tests on standby in case things escalate.

On the surface, this might seem reasonable. But is this a big deal right now? Spoiler: Not so much. We’ve heard this kind of thing before. Does Dr. Birx seriously think the American people will again fall for the same playbook?

The Real Risk Is Pretty Low

First off, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk of bird flu to the general public is still very low. Yes, there have been a few cases of people getting sick, but these are mostly folks who’ve had close contact with infected birds. There’s no evidence that the virus is spreading from person to person.

So, while it’s wise to keep an eye on things, this isn’t the kind of crisis that calls for widespread panic or dramatic measures, the article suggests.

Of course, the media loves to create a panic – together, the media and the government are dangerous to the American people.

Vaccines Already Exist

Here’s another thing the article gets wrong: acting like we don’t have vaccines for bird flu. They do have one. A vaccine called AUDENZ is approved for people at higher risk of exposure, like farm workers. The government has been stockpiling these vaccines for years, just in case. (FDA, Wired)

It’s not just health experts keeping an eye on bird flu—the agriculture industry is heavily involved, too. Farmers and poultry producers use biosecurity measures and vaccinate birds to stop the virus from spreading. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) claims to ensure that poultry vaccines are effective, but can we trust them when protecting trade often takes priority over public health? Everyone has an angle. It’s terrifying to think about what the government is pumping into our food supply. But that’s a different blog post for another time.

The Bottom Line

Sure, bird flu is a threat, but is it as big a threat as some are making it out to be? The risk to most people seems pretty low, and vaccines are already available. However, can we trust these so-called vaccines after everything we’ve seen with past rollouts? I don’t. I won’t trust anything a government agency says ever again, led by a Republican or not.

And if I hear one single whisper of lockdowns or mandates, I will lose my shit.

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