Don't worry PeterMac, I know what you are talking about

For me there is no conspiracy theory in this, just straight old marketing using big dollars as you would expect from any company with profits being the determining factor in their future success.
This is obviously not only pharmaceutical company specific. We all know of instances where marketing of a product that is not good for ensures the product gets swallowed up. Look at McDonalds, Coke and Mars Bars.
The difference with pharmaceutical marketing is that it plays on our worst fears and makes us particularly susceptible. Swine flu has been a classic example, a year ago there were some clowns walking around with face masks on.
I take a slightly different view to you in that I do not get vaccinated against it because I think it is a con job, not because it would be bad from me.