Letter to the Editor

Vaccines and you: Behind the controversy

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Over the past few years, parents have become concerned about the safety of immunizations and the possible link between vaccines and autism. Complicating matters is the fact that good information is scarce within the barrage of commercials about autism and personal stories circulated in the public sphere. So much conflicting information has been presented that many people aren't sure where to turn for real truth. Indeed, a person has to look no further for evidence of the confusion than the original 1998 Lancet article. The highly regarded British journal retracted the study in February 2010 due to concerns that its author, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, had been dishonest and unethical in his practices. In addition, Dr. Wakefield has since had his medical license revoked by the U.K. General Medical Counsel for ethical reasons, inspiring him to move to Texas despite the lack of a license to practice there either.

What has been done so far to address this question? Actually, quite a bit. Researchers have been thoroughly reviewing all parts of vaccines and the non-vaccine components of injections. A multitude of scientific studies have been conducted, and have shown no consistent relationship between vaccines and autism. Some authorities were concerned that thiomersal, a preservative formerly used in many vaccines, could be at fault. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration-mandated review found no evidence that the presence of thiomersal was harmful. Despite these reassuring findings, this ingredient has been removed from all vaccines.

The evidence for vaccines causing harm is simply not borne out in reality. What the scientific literature does show is that the benefit of immunizing children far outweighs potential harms. Decreasing rates of immunization as a result of this controversy have been associated with increases in the rates of diseases they were designed to prevent, along with the complications of those diseases. Measles can cause pneumonia, blindness, and infection of the brain with permanent damage. Pertussis, or whooping cough, has noticeably increased in prevalence due to insufficient childhood immunization rates. This has led to the addition of the pertussis vaccine to the adult tetanus vaccination, since adults can carry the disease as well.

In short, if you want your children to be healthy, immunize them. The Center for Disease Control develops vaccine schedules carefully to protect both the child and the population as a whole. Adults need immunizations, too. People over 60 should consider getting the Zoster vaccine to prevent shingles, and older adults at risk for pneumonia should receive the pneumococcal vaccine as well. All adults should receive the tetanus vaccine every 10 years, and it is particularly beneficial now that pertussis has been added. Adults receiving the updated tetanus vaccine (Tdap) will be helping to protect children from the disease as well as protecting themselves.

So please, do the young, old, and everyone in between a favor, and next time you see the doctor ask if it's time to get vaccinated.

-- Michael J. Carter is a third year medical student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and will graduate in May 2012. He hopes to specialize in radiology and practice in the state of Nebraska. Michael is the son of Robin L. Carter, of Stratton, and Peg A. Andrews, of McCook, and the grandson of Joe and Beth Augustyn and Lee and Marjorie Carter, all of McCook.

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