U.S. health authorities could be blocking Americans from obtaining the radiation-fighting drug potassium iodide, even as the threat of a radioactive cloud from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant affecting the United States prompts panic buying, which has led to stocks of the drug running out across the country.

High strength potassium iodide is a once-a-day-pill than protects the thyroid gland from radiation and cancer caused by radioactive iodine. There are also weaker liquid forms of the drug that provide less protection, but supplies of these are also running low.

A caller to The Alex Jones Show today related how he tried to obtain potassium iodide via prescription from his doctor having failed to buy it over the counter due to stocks being completely exhausted.

“Yesterday afternoon (roughly 1400PST), the Urgent Care in Ventura, California, denied me a prescription for KI (potassium iodide): an over the counter, salt,” writes Michael (surname withheld). “The reason for denying me a prescription was predicated upon the Doctors conversation, with both CDC and DHSC representatives, whom discouraged it. After asking her if she took government orders, she replied, “No, but I do take their recommendations.”

“As KI is unavailable in Ventura right now and I was unable to get a prescription, which the pharmacy required, I am still without a supply of KI,” adds Michael.

The U.S. government has so far refused to stockpile supplies of the drug despite the threat of a nuclear disaster nearing the scale of Chernobyl.

“The federal government has never purchased enough to meet that standard,” reports CNN. “There is currently only enough of the medication available for populations living within 10 miles of nuclear reactors in the United States, according to U.S. officials.”

We are also receiving other unconfirmed reports that certain chemists and health stores that do have small amounts of the drug are refusing to sell it to customers, citing the excuse that it could be used for the production of methamphetamine.

As we documented in our earlier article, stocks of the drug are all but exhausted across the United States, with packets of 14 tablets selling for around $300 dollars on eBay. We have received scores of emails and calls from Alex Jones Show listeners who cannot find potassium iodide anywhere.

The massive surge in sales of the drug has been driven by the worsening nuclear crisis in Japan and reports that the radiation cloud now starting to affect Tokyo and other areas could reach the west coast of the United States within a week.

Meanwhile, the panic buying that has gripped online health retailers as well as stores across America has prompted Amazon.com to issue an email to every customer who tries to purchase potassium iodide, noting how the situation in Japan has, “rightfully unnerved the masses,” in America.

“We have been inundated with thousands of orders for Potassium Iodide, from all corners of the world. The warehouse stock and the manufacturer’s warehouse were emptied on the weekend. The manufacturer is trying to make more of these tablets to meet demand but our waiting period is expected to be at least one month at this stage,” states the email.

Amazon is encouraging its customers to purchase Thyroshield, a liquid form of Potassium Iodide, instead of the stronger potassium iodide. Only potassium iodide at a minimum strength of 130 mg is guaranteed to completely protect against radioactive fallout, although weaker liquid forms will go some way to offering protection against low doses of radiation.

It is important to stress that high-strength potassium iodide of the 130 mg or above variety should only be taken in a nuclear fallout emergency and not under any other circumstances.

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Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a regular fill-in host for The Alex Jones Show.

Panic Buying: Stocks Of Potassium Iodide Exhausted In U.S.

Health websites sold out, readers struggle to find radiation-fighting pills anywhere

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

UPDATE: U.S. Government Blocking Americans From Obtaining Potassium Iodide?

We are getting numerous reports from readers that stocks of potassium iodide, which is used to protect the body against the effects of nuclear fallout, are completely sold out across the United States. Checks of health supplement websites in the U.S. also confirmed that stocks are completely exhausted.

With the threat of radioactive particles from the stricken Fukushima nuclear reactor complex drifting towards the United States on prevailing easterly winds, many Americans are attempting to protect themselves by acquiring potassium iodide, which protects the thyroid gland from radiation and cancer caused by radioactive iodine.

U.S. manufacturers of potassium iodide have been swamped with demand, reports CNN. One Williamsburg, Virginia-based company “Has received hundreds, if not thousands, of calls from potential buyers in Asia as well as repeat U.S. customers suddenly seeking to replenish their stockpiles of the drug.”

The U.S. government has said that it will not stockpile any further supplies of potassium iodide, which has only increased demand from Americans who are struggling to find it anywhere.

“The federal government has never purchased enough to meet that standard. There is currently only enough of the medication available for populations living within 10 miles of nuclear reactors in the United States, according to U.S. officials,” an amount Alan Morris, president of Anbex Inc, slams as being completely insufficient.

Morris points to the fact that the fallout from the April 1986 Chernobyl disaster, which was spread all around the northern hemisphere, led to over a million deaths because of radiation poisoning according to some estimates, causing thyroid cancer in children living in surrounding countries.

“U.S. drug stores are reporting a sudden increase in sales of over-the-counter anti-radiation pills, despite assurances from health officials that Americans are not at risk from Japanese nuclear reactors,” reports Fox News.

Some less than ethical private retailers are exploiting the shortages to charge nearly $300 for one pack of tablets, which normally retail at around the $15 level.

It is important to stress that high-strength potassium iodide of the 130 mg variety shown in the image above should only be taken in a nuclear fallout emergency and not under any other circumstances.

Watch a video simulation of how the Chernobyl radiation cloud affected the whole of Europe, causing governments to severely restrict cattle movements and food safety standards as far away as England and Wales.