Dark side to shots

My eleven year old son died of Meningitis almost 4 years ago which was before Menactra was approved and being recommended by the CDC. It was difficult for me to read your letter and think that because "only" 5-15 school age children die of this disease annually that it is not worth requiring a vaccination.

I assume you would feel safe in sending your child out in a lightning storm also? That is another one in a million chance of dying from a lightning strike...

My daughter and I have elected not to immunise my granddaughter because we too weighed up the risks of the disease/illness as oposed to the risks of the vaccine and found the vaccine risk far greater.

My granddaughter is nearly three - she has never had cause to visist any medical service, she abounds in health and despite attendance of a nursery where she encounters many children regularly - she remains an incredible picture of health, happiness and intellect.

I realise all children are different and as such, should be considered for their individual needs - BUT the vaccine manufacturers DO NOT believe this. All doses are the same size - yet all children differ. This, combined with the clear profit factor involved made me suspicious enough to have researched this subject continuously for nearly three years. I have volumes to support our decision and nothing but defensive behaviour and huge profits saying we are wrong.

I believe it is a parental responsibility to be certain you are doing the best for your child and that you can only be sure of this if you trust the information you have. I have no reason to trust profit driven pharmaceutical companies that have got it wrong and tried to deny it on many occassions.

Namaste,

Tina Louise

My beautiful 20-year old son died within 16 hours of contracting meningitis. If only I had known about the vaccine, Eddy might have been protected when he went off to college. He had rec'd every mandated vaccine. The death of my son has changed me forever and my family too. I wish this on no one. I hope parents will vaccinate their children because this disease kills within hours. It mimics the flu so individuals are tricked into thinking they just have the flu, then hours later, we are burying them. It can also be an excruciating death. The naysayers to vaccination have not lost a child or their own life to this disease. Side effects to Menactra are a simple rash in a few users and that's it. May you never lose a child like we did. When Eddy died, a lot of family members and friends had a big piece of their heart die too. Please educate and vaccinate. Gail Bailey

My most sincere condolences to Julie & Gail, I am so very sorry to hear of your sad losses. I cannot begin to imagine your position, but I do understand that you don't want to see other needless deaths, your letters reflect your compassion for other parents.

But with regard to your similar stance on vaccines; for many of us, we have heard and learnt differently -- we are working with other knowledge. Neither you nor I know for certain, which of us is right, but we research and we read and we do the best for our children. We all act from love.

When we took the decision not to vaccinate, it was not taken lightly and is the hardest decision I have ever made. But for me, I found information that worried me and made me dig deeper. Just recently there was a survey:

The survey, commissioned by Generation Rescue, compared vaccinated and unvaccinated children in nine counties in Oregon and California. Among more than 9,000 boys age 4-17, the survey found vaccinated boys were two and a half times (155%) more likely to have neurological disorders compared to their unvaccinated peers. Vaccinated boys were 224% more likely to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and 61% more likely to have autism.

For older vaccinated boys in the 11-17 age bracket, the results were even more pronounced. Vaccinated boys were 158% more likely to have a neurological disorder, 317% more likely to have ADHD, and 112% more likely to have autism. Complete survey results are available at www.GenerationRescue.org.

And this, an excerpt from the 'Mercury in Medicine' report from the Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives:

"Mercury is hazardous to humans. Its use in medicinal products is undesirable, unnecessary and should be minimized or eliminated entirely. Manufacturers of vaccines and thimerosal, (an ethlymercury compound used in vaccines), have never conducted adequate testing on the safety of thimerosal. The FDA has never required manufacturers to conduct adequate safety testing on thimerosal and ethlymercury compounds. Thimerosal, used as a preservative in vaccines is likely related to the autism epidemic. This epidemic in all probability may have been prevented or curtailed had the FDA not been asleep at the switch regarding injected thimerosal and the sharp rise of infant exposure to this known neurotoxin. Our public health agencies' failure to act is indicative of institutional malfeasance for self-protection and misplaced protectionism of the pharmaceutical industry".

….so these are just a tiny fraction of the reasons I do not automatically trust the government/agency directives on what to put into those I love and am responsible for. I do not trust those who profit from vaccines to act for my child - I am responsible for learning all I can as our children rely on us to be their voice.

Namaste,

Tina Louise

Weighing the risks and benefits of immunizations?

As with many aspects of pediatric medicine there are always risks and benefits to treatment. My opinion is that the benefits of immunizations tremendously outweigh any of the risks. I have included some information from the CDC in hopes to provide an informed decision in regard to immunizations.

There is no conspiracy theory; however there is a lot of mis-information on the Internet and several groups against immunizations don't have all the facts correct. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, part of my job, as a pediatrician is to provide education.

Immunization is recognized as one of the greatest 20th century achievements in the prevention of death and disease in children all over the world.

Vaccinations work.

I have had the privilege to care for pediatric patients from birth to age 21 since 1993 after graduating from medical school, and finishing my internship and residency at St. Louis Children's Hospital at Washington University. Having cared for children with pertussis on ventilators with apnea whom stopped breathing and were considered "near-SIDS"; patients with chickenpox whom contracted bacteremia from over 500 skin lesions and needed IV therapy and close monitoring from flesh eating strep in the intensive care unit; witnessed the neurological complications and amputation from bacterial Neisseria Meningitis; cared for a patient with tetanus after playing in a dirt pile whom his parents refused to vaccinate secondary to religious beliefs of Christian Scientist . Watching this child contort with muscle contractions and locking his jaw unable to swallow or open his mouth requiring a tracheotomy to ventilate was difficult, knowing this was a vaccine preventable disease. Thankfully, they all survived and the parents of the boy with tetanus after his recovery chose to complete all of his immunizations and his siblings despite their religious beliefs. Tetanus can be found in soil and other sources and is one of the vaccines that are important to note immunization status with any dirty open wound. We now have combined this with DTaP or TdaP (acellular pertussis), which will provide a booster for pertussis safely without the complications seen with DTP (whole cell pertussis). TdaP should be used as a tetanus booster for all patients 11 and up.

Choosing natural immunity is risky! Chickenpox kills children in the U.S. every year. Parents having "chickenpox parties" are irresponsible, and done out of ignorance and disrespect for the severe complications that can occur. Before a chickenpox vaccine was licensed, almost 7,000 children per year were hospitalized for serious complications of varicella (chicken pox) like encephalitis, hepatitis, flesh-eating strep, and toxic shock syndrome. While a full-blown case of chickenpox can make a child immune to the disease in the future, up to 5% of children who have had chickenpox can get it again, 2 or more mild cases of it. Chickenpox puts children at risk for shingles, a painful nerve inflammation striking 300,000 people a year. The chickenpox vaccination can lessen the chances of getting shingles. Shingles are caused by a reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the dorsal root ganglion. Vaccination helps produce antibodies to prevent disease and invasion of the dorsal root ganglion. Some question the longevity; Japan has used the vaccine much longer than the U.S. and has demonstrated excellent immunity. However, the current vaccination of Varivax is now recommended by AFP, AAP, and ACIP to give 2 doses to prevent break-through cases, and provide better herd immunity.

Prior to Prevnar vaccine for Strep Pneumoniae, for patients under age 2, I averaged 5 patients a year with bacteremia, meningitis, or pneumonia requiring IV antibiotic therapy. A resistant strain of Strep Pneumoniae had emerged and sadly taken the life of one of our patients while I was practicing in Orlando, Florida.

I have witnessed the long-term sequelae from polio that my mother contracted at 18 months of age.

Polio, caused by a virus, was once America's most feared disease, causing paralysis, muscle weakness, and death. The most famous victim was President Franklin D. Roosevelt. From 1951-1954 paralytic polio strikes nearly 20,000 Americans every year, killing nearly 1,900. In 1955, the first live polio vaccine is licensed (OPV). Today there are no reports of polio in the United States recently contracted, but the disease still exists in some parts of the world. Because the disease has not been eradicated we continue to immunize with four doses of inactivated 'killed' vaccine (IPV) by age 5. Some cases of polio occurred from the live vaccine, and since there has not been a case of polio naturally acquired since 1979, only the inactivated 'killed' vaccine is recommended in the U.S. eliminating the risk of contraction from the vaccine.

HIB Meningitis, epiglottis and bacterial blood infections were extremely common prior to vaccination. Haemophilus influenza (HIB) disease usually strikes children under 5. Before vaccination of HIB occurred in 1985, an estimated 20,000 children contracted disease each year, with 600 deaths. That is why we now immunize against HIB with Comvax at 2 mos, 4 mos, and 12 mos, combined with the Hepatitis B vaccine.

Menactra is a promising vaccine for Neisseria Meningitis. The natural habitat of meningococci is the human throat. Transmission from person to person is through inhalation of respiratory droplets of infected oropharyngeal secretions. Kissing does not produce it. Colonization only rarely proceeds to disease, because specific antibodies and complement lyse the organisms as they enter the bloodstream and thereby provide an effective barrier to dissemination. In one study 95% of military recruits demonstrated carrier states, however only 1% went on to develop fulminant disease. It is impossible to pick who will develop the disease from its carrier state, therefore effective immunization is hopeful. The prevalence of meningococcal infection is subject to seasonal variance higher in winter and spring. Epidemic disease receives the greatest public attention as a focal outbreak in a demographically discrete population in which a strain of a single serotype emerges from endemic strains. This disease can affect any age group, case to case transmission is rare; carriers, not patients, are the foci from which disease is spread. 1 in 100,000 contract the disease annually, 10-14 % are fatal, and 11-19% may have a permanent disability such as deafness, and amputation. Not all serotypes are covered with the Menactra vaccine, however A, C, Y, W-135 which are the most prevalent in older children and adults are covered. Over 2.5 million doses have been given and the FDA issued a warning to monitor for Guillain Barre Sydrome (a temporary syndrome of muscle weakness) as five cases have been seen and it is unknown if these cases may be coincidence, that is even, without vaccination. The FDA and CDC are encouraging reporting of any known association after vaccination with GBS by contacting VAERS. This is part of the post licensure surveillance.

From 1958-1962 500,000 U.S. cases of measles were reported. 432 measles-related deaths occurred each year. By 2000, only 81 cases were reported in the U.S. Last year outbreaks of measles occurred and were linked to international travel of unvaccinated children from endemic areas during adoption proceedings to the U.S. MMR is indicated at age 12-18 months of age, and again at age 4-6 years.

Autism and MMR via independent studies have found no link between the two. Some parents and others have expressed concern about a possible link between the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and autism because MMR is given between 12-18 months, and the first signs of autism (poor social interaction, repetitive behaviors and speech) often present as regression of developmental milestones between ages 12-18 months. This is not a cause and effect relationship, rather a coincidence in timing of diagnosis and timing of vaccination. A U.S. study by Dr. Loring Dales showed that the number of autism cases in young children increased even when the number of MMR vaccines decreased over the same time period. A British study by Dr. Brent Taylor showed that the number of diagnosed autism cases did not increase after the MMR vaccine was introduced in 1988. If a link existed between the MMR vaccine and autism, one would expect the number of autism cases to increase or decrease over time as the number of children immunized with MMR increase or decrease over the same time. No study has shown this trend.

Additional well-designed studies using the scientific method in the U.S. and Europe have found no association between the MMR vaccination and autism. You can be certain that monitoring in the U.S. continues. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) organized a panel of independent scientists to study MMR and autism. An IOM report issued in May 2004 concluded that childhood vaccines are not associated with autism. Despite studies and reviews of thousands of cases, MMR vaccine has not been scientifically linked to autism. Autism research and monitoring will continue to be high priorities at CDC to help answer important questions about this condition.

Thimerosal is a preservative that contains a form of mercury (ethyl mercury) and was used in small amounts for over 50 years as a preservative in some vaccines. Thimerosal was originally added to multi-dose vials of vaccines to prevent bacterial contamination. Mercury can have toxic effects in large amounts. However, there is no evidence that the tiny amounts of thimersol in vaccines, has ever caused problems for infants receiving these vaccines. Today, with the exception of some flu vaccines, none of the U.S. vaccines contain thimerosal as a preservative. Even though there was no association of medical harm the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in June 2000, issued a statement saying thimerosal should be removed from all vaccines to reduce the amount of mercury exposure as it is no longer necessary as preservative.

Today, international travel takes millions of Americans to foreign countries where vaccine-preventable diseases like polio or measles may be present. Some countries have serious infectious diseases that we don't routinely vaccinate against, as it may not be prevalent in the U.S. When traveling abroad check with your physician before traveling. Phone the CDC's Travelers' Hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747).

Children and adults whom are immune are protected from disease. They can't get the disease, and they can't give the disease. If enough children and adults are vaccinated against a disease then the disease cannot spread into their community. This is known as herd immunity. The only vaccine eradicated disease thus far is smallpox, thanks to international efforts of the CDC and World Health Organization.

Some parents choose not to have their children immunized for philosophical or religious reasons. These unprotected children can be a source of infection to others, whom, for health reasons (HIV, cancer, transplantation) may temporarily not be able to be immunized secondary to a weakened immune system. A vaccinated child can help prevent disease from spreading. This is known as herd immunity. There is a selfish mentality of herd immunity hoping other children's vaccinations will protect their children. Some people feel the risks of immunization outweigh the benefits, and claim that their children are totally healthy, they can thank others whom are immunized for that. This is why it is very important for as many children as possible to stay fully vaccinated. If too many people go unvaccinated, rare diseases become common again.

Some people believe that it is better to get the disease naturally than to be vaccinated against it. This is wrong. Why? What is in the vaccine is just strong enough to promote the body's immune response to make antibodies, but much weaker than the viruses or bacteria in their natural or 'wild' states. If you haven't been vaccinated, the body doesn't have antibodies to protect you, the virus or bacteria are seen as new, and this overwhelms the immune system causing serious illness and even death.

The body has an immunologic memory, which is the body's ability to respond to viruses or bacteria following infection or immunization and is retained often for several years. Booster vaccines are given to prolong and restore this immunologic memory. When given a vaccine the body creates antibodies just as it does when fighting off the virus or bacteria, without the side effects and sequelae of the disease. Some vaccines "immunologic memory" lasts longer than others, therefore re-vaccination is required to maintain protection.

Vaccines help your body prepare to fight off disease. How? Once you are immunized, your body develops antibodies, which are special body proteins that fight viruses and bacteria. Once antibodies are produced in response to a vaccine, they become a permanent part of the body's immune system. If you become exposed to the natural or 'wild' bacteria or viral illness, your immune system will recognize it triggering antibodies to fight off the infection. Vaccines contain weakened or killed versions of the viruses or bacteria. When a vaccine gets into your body, you make antibodies that fight the infection. Vaccines give your body a 'memory' of the disease-after you're vaccinated; you'll fight the disease if exposed.

How do we know vaccines are safe? Creating vaccines safety and effectiveness go hand and hand. The process includes: going through pre-clinical studies (conducted on animals), and clinical trials (human studies done in three phase trials to test safety, doses, and effectiveness of vaccine), as well as biologics license (approval of the vaccine in addition to the manufacturing plant where the vaccine is made). Vaccine safety continues with Post-Licensure Monitoring (FDA tracking of a vaccine and any adverse effects after it is approved and each vaccine has a vaccine lot (each separate manufacturing run of a vaccine which must provide a sample to the FDA to test each lot for safety, potency, and purity to assure uniformity in every dose of vaccine given) and VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System) which is a federal process that compiles reports from up to 200,000 healthcare providers and members of the public annually.

It takes a long time to develop a single vaccine-usually ten years or more. Why? Vaccines must be proven safe and effective before ever reaching the public. Adverse reactions are recorded. Common adverse reactions may include low-grade fever, swelling or redness over the injection site. It is important to notify your health care provider if you are experiencing any other side effects. Some patients may be allergic to a component in the vaccine, and may not know it at the time of immunization. All public and private health clinics are prepared for this rare event and why immunizations are given at medical facilities. Every vaccine has an insert, which lists every known adverse reaction ever reported, no matter how minor. If you wonder just what's in a vaccine, or are worried about allergic reactions, ask your health care provider for a copy of the insert. As always if you have any other questions or concerns discuss this with your physician. If a patient has a reaction, it is important to report individually or have your physician contact VAERS. Anyone can report to VAERS. More than 200,000 healthcare providers get reporting forms from VAERS to remind them to note reactions and enter them into the system. You can get information about VAERS and submit VAERS reports at this website: www.fda.gov/cber/vaers/vaers.htm

In 1990, the CDC and eight large health maintenance organizations to jointly monitor vaccine safety formed Vaccine Safety Data link. Since 1990, Vaccine Safety Data link has collected safety statistics on more than 7 million people who have received vaccines. These statistics are a powerful tool for assuring vaccine safety. In 2001, the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Centers (CISA) was started. These Centers serve as an expert resource on vaccine adverse events for parents, patients, and healthcare providers. CISA works together with the CDC to systematically assess individual cases that have been reported to VAERS.

How do we know what dose to give? This is based on research studies during the clinical phase trials. Children and adults do not receive the same amount of vaccine dosages. Older vaccines such as DTP had a much larger antigen load, than all of the current vaccinations together. I anticipate more combination vaccinations will be licensed to lessen the amount of injections given, but this must be done safely and studied thoroughly which takes time.

"Natural immunity" simply isn't a safe alternative for children or adults. Childhood diseases can have serious, potentially deadly consequences. No child has to go without immunizations. If your insurance does not cover vaccinations or you cannot afford to pay for vaccinations there is a federal program called VFC, Vaccines for Children at your local medical clinic and local health department. Red Willow County Health Department can be reached at (308) 345-1790 for the immunization clinic schedule.

In my opinion, it is easier and safer to vaccinate a child than to treat a disease. There are no diseases or health conditions related to vaccines. I believe in preventative medicine, do not prescribe any medicine unless necessary, and am hopeful of our future in vaccine development.

In summary, accurate medical information is key to making healthcare decisions regarding yourself and family. It is important that one develops a rapport with the healthcare provider to guide, educate, and inform as scientific advancements and technology evolve.

Sincerely,

Kathleen V. Farrell M.D., F.A.A.P.

Pediatrician, McCook Clinic

Board Certified, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Becky Werner, age 20, also died from bacterial meningitis here in Wisconsin. She was a beautiful young woman, and her life was taken by this horrible disease. Erik Spindler, age 20, died the day before my Eddy died, from bacterial meningitis. He was a student at UW River Falls. Kristen Marx, age 20, died while in college in Minnesota; her parents live in Madison, Wisconsin. Sara Gornick, a college student at UW in Madison, and a member of the rowing team died from bacterial meningitis while in college also. Dustin Raley, age 20, who lived in Madison also died from this horrible disease, bacterial meningitis. Amber Krenz, age 20, died while a student at UW Eau Claire. The list goes on and on but many in the medical field state how "rare" this disease is. It's not rare to my family. Also, don't forget that if a child does have ADHD or autism, they are still ALIVE. I would give my own life if it meant Eddy could have his life back. He was on the cusp of adulthood and was so gentle and loving and kind and smart as a whip. This disease has decimated so many families here in Wisconsin, and I just hope parents will teach their children to keep their immune systems strong, to not share drinks, and to read, study and learn about this horrible killing disease. I just met a family this fall from Colorado. Their precious son survived bacterial meningitis, but he lost both his arms and both of his legs. The pain this disease can bring is unfathomable, and I just hope parents can be proactive so they never have to deal with the results of this disease. It takes more than just the life of the victim of the disease, but the life of the family members too. Gail Bailey, Eddy's Mom

Clearly issues of our children's health are the most important we face and we all have our choices to make and live with. I am replying only to make reference to the Doctor's CDC mention...I have read Freedom of Information documents that clearly show the CDC as far from unbiased.

This is a brief excerpt from a respected site:

www.PutChildrenFirst.org

"... the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, is covering-up the relationship between a near-tripling of vaccinations for our children in the 1990s and the epidemic of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders that began at exactly the same time.

In 1999, the world was made aware through a joint statement by the AAP and Federal health authorities that our children were receiving dangerous levels of mercury through vaccines as part of the Childhood Immunization Schedule. Soon thereafter, the CDC's own internal analysis showed a startling correlation between autism and injected mercury.

For the next 7 years, the CDC has manipulated data, hidden results, purchased studies, and deceived parents, pediatricians, and politicians in a blatant act of self-preservation and pharmaceutical industry protectionism. When the mercury-autism connection could not be disproven using our own American data, the CDC shopped the world for studies to try and refute any correlation, finally finding support from a Danish vaccine manufacturer. Our proof comes through the very words of the people responsible for this cover-up. The Freedom of Information Act, which many of the perpetrators did not realize applied to them, has allowed us to unearth dozens of documents never before seen by the public. We invite you to see for yourself...."

Perhaps on this, just respecting eachother's right to choose what they are sure is best for their families. We will each encounter different views.

Namaste,

Tina Louise

There is a dark side here, "what would they be? " My guess would be this article.

Lets talk about a sad commentary, in fact, the one I just read here, is probably the saddest one I have ever read. In fact I think, I may vomit.

I am a mother who lost her only child to vaccine preventable meningococcal meningitis. He was beautiful, healthy, intelligent, a gifted golfer and guess what he was fully immunized except against meningitis.

Had I known a vaccine such as this existed and could have saved his life he would have had it too.

I am appalled at this statement, "This means about one person in one million will die from meningitis. Only 5-15 college students nationwide die from this disease annually -- which is usually spread by kissing and mixing saliva from an infected person to one who is healthy. Are 15 college students dying in the US from meningitis considered an epidemic needing vaccinations? -- of course not."

I think if one of these were your child sir you would feel different.

You failed to mention many of those who survive bacterial meningitis suffer severe brain damage, kidney failure, neurological diseases, digestive problems, blindness, deafness, emotional problems, severe learning disabilities, joint diseases, secondary infections, behavioral disorders, migraine headaches, severe back problems, incontinence, social out casting, horrific scaring, severe seizure disorders, immune problems and anemia. The list goes on. Oh! and by the way we (CAN PROVE) menignitis did this, it is not just speculation. Lets talk about the unbelievable financial drain on not only the family but the health care and educational system after meningitis for just one child? How about the high rate of divorce and suicide among families after meningitis? How about the babies still dying with Pertussis in the US?

How about the devastation of never holding your child, hearing their voice, seeing their smile again because they no longer live. But then, what I get, according to you, this is not such a big deal.

Lets do talk about the decline in children's health in the last quarter century. Gee!!! Could it be parental smoking, recreational drug and alcohol abuse, lack of proper nutrition and rest, obesity because children are often locked in a house in front of a TV with little or no exercised eating junk food. Wow could it be due to the environment, pesticides, food additives and let us not forget chemically man made foods.

Vaccines have been on the market for over 60 years. Long ago epidemics of diseases are now eradicated in the US because of vaccines but rage in third world countries today because of lack of vaccines. Africa is the meningitis belt of the world. Epidemics are a plane ride away, if not for vaccines.

One simply has to walk around an old cemetery to see the value of vaccines. I simply have to walk down the hallway that post photos of my only and dead child. Even worse feel the pain in my heart every day of my life and see the devastation in my husbands face.

The author of this article proudly tells parents they can exempt from immunizations. Have you heard the TRUE fact, a few years ago a private school, in the Eastern US, refused immunizations and as a result several children in the school and community died from measles.

You talk about responsibility. Where does the responsibility lie when a parent declines immunizations for their children because of your views and recommendations and their child contracts a vaccine preventable disease and dies or is left debilitated? Wow!

To the grandmother who boast her grand daughter has never had vaccines and is healthy. Gosh, ever heard of herd immunity? Guess what! this is because the majority of us vaccinate our children.

Immunizations are not a matter of personal choice. They are a matter of public heath and well being.