| Dr. Mercola's Comment:You may remember a the | | | | taught, is that the death rate for measles declined |
| article I posted a couple of months ago written by | | | | 97.7 percent during the first 60 years of the 20th |
| Dr. Donald Miller that provides a great overview on | | | | century. The mortality rate was 133 deaths per million |
| the toxicity of mercury from various sources. After | | | | people in the U.S. in 1900, and had dropped to 0.3 |
| his piece was posted, Dr. Miller received responses | | | | deaths per million by 1960. Measles caused less than |
| from parents wanting to know what vaccines, if any, | | | | 100 deaths a year in the U.S. before there was a |
| he would recommend children receive.His response is | | | | vaccine for this disease (in 1963).The same thing |
| a new piece that discusses the mindset behind the | | | | happened with diphtheria and pertussis. Mortality |
| vaccine madness and a different approach that | | | | rates dropped more than 90 percent in the early |
| differs greatly from "obediently following the | | | | 20th century before vaccines for these diseases |
| government's schedule."In Dr. Miller's view, and | | | | were introduced. This was due to better nutrition |
| grounded in good science, parents should consider a | | | | (with rapid delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables to |
| more "user-friendly" vaccination schedule, one that | | | | cities and refrigeration), cleaner water and improved |
| takes the best interests of the individual into | | | | sanitation (removing trash from the streets and |
| consideration rather than what the government | | | | better sewage systems), not to vaccines.The World |
| judges best for society.That's a far better approach | | | | Health Organization promotes mass vaccination, but |
| than the "one-size-fits-all" approach foisted on | | | | knowing these facts states, "The best vaccine |
| Americans that pushes the necessity of yearly flu | | | | against common infectious diseases is an adequate |
| vaccines although few people actually die from | | | | diet," fortified, one might add, with vitamin A.Since |
| influenza and an admission by the CDC last year | | | | the measles vaccine came into widespread use in this |
| these vaccines don't work anyway.By Donald W. | | | | country, this disease has virtually disappeared, and it |
| Miller, Jr., MDVaccination is a controversial subject, and | | | | has prevented 100 deaths a year. But now, instead, |
| many parents worry about subjecting their children to | | | | several thousand normally developing children become |
| them. Readers of my article, "Mercury on the Mind," | | | | autistic after receiving their MMR shot. Termed |
| about vaccines and dental amalgams, have asked | | | | "regressive autism," it accounts for about 30 percent |
| what vaccines I would recommend their children | | | | of the 10,000 to 20,000 children who are diagnosed |
| receive. This article addresses that question.In the | | | | with autism in this country each year.To put to rest |
| Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule put | | | | concerns that MMR vaccination might cause autism (in |
| out by the Centers for Disease Control and | | | | a small percentage of children), NEJM, in 2002, |
| Prevention (CDC), 12 vaccines are given to children | | | | published a population-based study from Denmark, |
| before they reach the age of two. Providers inject | | | | where its authors concluded, "This study provides |
| them against the following:* Hepatitis B* Diphtheria* | | | | strong evidence against the hypothesis that MMR |
| Tetanus (lockjaw)* Pertussis (whooping cough)* | | | | vaccination causes autism."The NEJM did not disclose |
| Polio* Pneumococcal infections* Hemophilus influenzae | | | | that the "Statens Serum Institut," where three of |
| type b infections* Measles* Mumps* Rubella (German | | | | the authors work, is a for-profit vaccine |
| measles)* Chickenpox* Influenza (the flu)Infectious | | | | manufacturer, Denmark's largest, or that four other |
| disease was the leading cause of death in children | | | | authors have financial ties to this company. Only one |
| 100 years ago, with diphtheria, measles, scarlet fever | | | | of the eight authors is not associated with this |
| and pertussis accounting for most them. Today, the | | | | institute, and the CDC employs him.The study |
| leading causes of death in children less than five | | | | compares the prevalence of autism in 440,000 MMR |
| years of age are accidents, genetic abnormalities, | | | | vaccinated and 97,000 unvaccinated children in |
| developmental disorders, sudden infant death | | | | Denmark born in the 1990s. A statistical slight-of-hand |
| syndrome and cancer. A basic tenet of modern | | | | in age adjustment makes the study show no causal |
| medicine is that vaccines are the reason. There is | | | | effect. But, when unmasked and reformatted, the |
| growing evidence that this is so, but perhaps not | | | | data actually shows a statistically significant |
| quite in the way conventional medical wisdom would | | | | association between MMR vaccine and autism (as |
| have it.The Conventional ScheduleA 15-member | | | | Carol Stott and her coauthors make clear in "MMR |
| Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at | | | | and Autism in Perspective: The Denmark Story," in |
| the CDC decides which vaccines should be on the | | | | the Fall 2004 Journal of American Physicians and |
| Childhood Immunization Schedule. It calls for one | | | | Surgeons, posted online).Pediatrics and the Journal of |
| vaccine, against hepatitis B, to be given on the day | | | | the American Medical Association also have published |
| of birth; seven vaccines at two months; 6 more | | | | studies like this supporting U.S. vaccine policy, written |
| (including booster shots) at four months; and as | | | | by authors with similar, undisclosed conflicts of |
| many as eight vaccines on the six-month well-baby | | | | interest.Looking elsewhere, however, one comes |
| visit.Before a child reaches the age of two, he or she | | | | across a number of disquieting facts about vaccines.1. |
| will have received 32 vaccinations on this schedule, | | | | Investigators have found, for example, live measles |
| including four doses each of vaccines for Hemophilus | | | | virus in the cerebral spinal fluid in children who |
| influenzae type b infections, diphtheria, tetanus and | | | | become autistic after MMR vaccinations.2. Antibodies |
| pertussis -- all of them given during the first 12 | | | | to measles virus are elevated in children with autism |
| months of life. Seven vaccines injected into a | | | | but not in normal kids, suggesting that virus-induced |
| 13-pound, two-month old infant are equivalent to 70 | | | | autoimmunity may play a causal role.3. A study |
| doses in a 130-pound adult.The schedule states, "Your | | | | published in Neurology this year implicates hepatitis B |
| child can safely receive all vaccines recommended for | | | | vaccine as a causative factor in multiple sclerosis.One |
| a particular age during one visit." Public health officials, | | | | For AllA communitarian ethic increasingly governs |
| however, have not proven that it is indeed safe to | | | | health care in the U.S. It places a greater value on |
| inject this many vaccines into infants. What's more, | | | | the health of the community, on society as a whole, |
| they cannot explain why, concurrent with an | | | | than on the health of particular individuals. Public health |
| increasing number of vaccinations, there has been an | | | | officials have put together a vaccination schedule |
| explosion of neurologic and immune system disorders | | | | designed to eliminate infectious diseases to which the |
| in our nation's children.Fifty years ago, when the | | | | population is prey.Officials recognize that these |
| immunization schedule contained only four vaccines | | | | vaccines will harm a small percentage of (genetically |
| (for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and smallpox), | | | | susceptible) individuals, but it is for the common good. |
| autism was virtually unknown. First discovered in | | | | The communitarian code posits that it is morally |
| 1943, this most devastating malady, in what is now a | | | | acceptable, if necessary, to sacrifice a few for the |
| spectrum of pervasive developmental disorders, | | | | good of the many. Or as one observer more bluntly |
| afflicted less than 1 in 10,000 children.Today, one in | | | | puts it, "Individual sheep can be sheared and |
| every 68 American families has an autistic child. | | | | slaughtered if it is for the welfare of their flock."In |
| Other, less severe developmental disorders, rarely | | | | this framework, health care providers become agents |
| seen before the vaccine era, have also reached | | | | of the state charged with injecting vaccines into |
| epidemic proportions. Four million American children | | | | people that the central planners deem necessary. |
| have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). | | | | Physicians who remain true to their Hippocratic Oath |
| One in six American children are now classified as | | | | and place the interests of their patient above that of |
| "Learning Disabled."Our children are also experiencing | | | | the herd are considered to be out of step with the |
| an epidemic of autoimmune disorders: Type I | | | | times, if not an anachronism.Like central planners |
| diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and bowel | | | | everywhere, the CDC's Advisory Committee on |
| disorders. There has been a 17-fold increase in Type | | | | Immunization Practices (ACIP) promulgates a |
| I diabetes, from 1 in 7,100 children in the 1950s to 1 in | | | | self-serving, one-size-fits-all vaccine policy. Members |
| 400 now. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis afflicts 300,000 | | | | of this committee have ties to vaccine makers, such |
| American children. Twenty-five years ago, this | | | | that the CDC must grant them waivers from |
| disease was so rare that public health officials did not | | | | statutory conflict of interest rules. Even so, and with |
| keep any statistics on it. There has been a four-fold | | | | little evidence to show that it is safe to subject |
| increase in asthma, and bowel disorders in children are | | | | young children to the ACIP's crowded immunization |
| much more common now than they were 50 years | | | | schedule, states nevertheless dutifully make its |
| ago.The Deteriorating Health of ChildrenHealth officials | | | | vaccine recommendations compulsory.All 50 states |
| consider a vaccine to be safe if no bad reactions -- | | | | require children to be immunized against measles, |
| like seizures, intestinal obstruction or anaphylaxis -- | | | | diphtheria, Hemophilus influenzae type b, polio, and |
| occur acutely. The CDC has not done any studies to | | | | rubella in order to enroll in day care and/or public |
| assess the long-term effects of its immunization | | | | school. Forty-nine states also require vaccination |
| schedule. To do that, one must conduct a | | | | against tetanus; 47, against hepatitis B and mumps; |
| randomized controlled trial, the lynchpin of | | | | and 43 states now require vaccination against |
| evidenced-based medicine, where one group of | | | | chickenpox.In order to shield themselves from any |
| children is vaccinated on the CDC's schedule and a | | | | liability for making vaccinations compulsory, all states |
| control group is not vaccinated.Investigators then | | | | provide a medical exemption and 47, a religious |
| follow the two groups for a number of years (not | | | | exemption. Nineteen states allow a philosophical |
| just three to four weeks, as has been done in | | | | exemption. Some require only a letter from a parent |
| vaccine safety studies). Concerns that vaccinations in | | | | and others, from a physician or church leader. (To |
| infants cause chronic neurologic and immune system | | | | see the exemptions allowed in your state, their |
| disorders would be put to rest, and their safety | | | | wording and requirements, [ here.) Parents, of |
| certified, if the number of children who develop these | | | | course, can refuse vaccinations, but if they want to |
| diseases is the same in both groups.No such studies | | | | enroll their child in public school they will need to |
| have been done, so vaccine proponents cannot say | | | | obtain one of these exemptions.Doctors who |
| that vaccines are indeed as safe as they think they | | | | conclude that the risks of the government's |
| are. (One proponent, interviewed by Dan Rather on | | | | immunization schedule outweigh its benefits are |
| 60 Minutes, who has financial ties to the vaccine | | | | placed in a difficult position. If they counsel parents |
| industry that he did not disclose, claims that vaccines | | | | not to have their children follow it, health care plans, |
| "have a better safety record than vitamins." He | | | | which track vaccine compliance as a measure of |
| neglected to mention that the U.S. government has | | | | "quality," will find them wanting.Weighing The |
| paid out more than $1.5 billion in its Vaccine Injury | | | | RisksAnd if their patient should contract and develop |
| Compensation Program to families of children who | | | | complications from the disease the vaccine would |
| have been injured or killed by vaccines.)There is a | | | | have prevented, they may find themselves |
| growing body of evidence that implicates vaccines as | | | | confronting a lawsuit. If a child becomes autistic |
| a causative factor in the deteriorating health of | | | | following a vaccination, however, the doctor is |
| children. The hypothesis that vaccines cause | | | | protected from any liability because the government |
| neurologic and immune system disorders is a | | | | requires it and the child's parents, if they had chosen |
| legitimate one -- vaccines given in multiple doses, | | | | to do so, could have obtained an exemption. |
| close together, to very young children following the | | | | (Anti-vaccine advocates call developing autism, |
| CDC's Immunization Schedule. This hypothesis should | | | | asthma and Type I diabetes after vaccinations |
| be tested by a large-scale, long-term randomized | | | | "vaccination roulette.")Parents should have the |
| controlled trial.Rather than obediently following the | | | | freedom to select whatever vaccination schedule |
| government's schedule, there is now sufficient | | | | they want their children to follow, especially since |
| evidence, grounded in good science, to justify | | | | health care providers and the government (except |
| adopting a more user-friendly vaccination schedule. | | | | via its Vaccine Injury Compensation Program) cannot |
| One which is in the best interests of the individual as | | | | be held accountable for any adverse outcomes that |
| opposed to what planners judge best for society as | | | | might occur. But if parents elect to not follow the |
| a whole.New knowledge in neuroimmunology (the | | | | CDC's immunization schedule, delaying some |
| study of how the brain's immune system works) | | | | vaccinations, refusing others, or avoiding them |
| raises serious questions about the wisdom of | | | | altogether, then they must accept the risk that their |
| injecting vaccines in children less than 2 years of | | | | child might contract the disease that the vaccine |
| age.A Child's Best Time TableThe brain has its own | | | | against it most likely would have prevented.One |
| specialized immune system, separate from that of | | | | consideration, which vaccine proponents do not |
| the rest of the body. When a person is vaccinated, | | | | address, is this: Could contracting childhood diseases |
| its specialized immune cells, the microglia, become | | | | like measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox play a |
| activated (the blood-brain barrier notwithstanding). | | | | constructive role in the maturation of a person's |
| Multiple vaccinations spaced close together | | | | immune system? Or, to put it another way, does |
| over-stimulate the microglia, causing them to release | | | | removing natural infection from human experience |
| a variety of toxic elements -- cytokines, chemokines, | | | | have any adverse consequences?Our species' |
| excitotoxins, proteases, complement, free radicals -- | | | | immune system -- a one-trillion-cell army that patrols |
| that damage brain cells and their synaptic | | | | our (100-trillion-cell) body -- serves two main |
| connections. Researchers call the damage caused by | | | | purposes:* It destroys foreign invaders -- viruses, |
| these toxic substances "bystander | | | | bacteria, and other pathogens.* And it destroys |
| injury."(Pediatricians and other professional colleagues | | | | aberrant cells in the body that run amuck and cause |
| who question this should read these two reviews by | | | | cancer.Our Natural Defense SystemBehind the |
| the neurosurgeon Russell L. Blaylock: "Interaction of | | | | barricades of skin and mucosa, our innate immune |
| Cytokines, Excitotoxins, Reactive Nitrogen and | | | | system (composed of phagocytes, natural killer cells |
| Oxygen Species in Autism Spectrum Disorders," in | | | | and the 20-protein complement system), which all |
| the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association | | | | animals have, is the body's first line of defense. It |
| [JANA 2003;6(4):21 -- 35], with 167 references. And | | | | reacts to invaders lightening fast and indiscriminately, |
| "Chronic Microglial Activation and Excitotoxicity | | | | but it is not very good at eliminating viruses and |
| Secondary to Excessive Immune Stimulation: Possible | | | | cancerous cells.Vertebrates have evolved a second |
| Factors in Gulf War Syndrome and Autism," in the | | | | line of defense: The adaptive immune system. It |
| Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons [JAPS | | | | targets specific viruses and bacteria and has better |
| 2004;9(2):46 -- 52], posted online, with 54 | | | | artillery for eliminating cancerous cells. This system |
| references.)In humans, the most rapid period of brain | | | | matures during childhood, and it has a cellular (Th1) |
| development begins in the third trimester and | | | | and humoral (Th2) component (Th = helper T |
| continues over the first two years of extra uterine | | | | cell).The viruses that cause measles, mumps and |
| life. (By then, brain development is 80 percent | | | | chickenpox have infected countless generations of |
| complete.) Until randomized controlled trials | | | | humans, akin to a rite of passage for each member |
| demonstrate the safety of giving vaccines during this | | | | of our species. Contracting these diseases |
| time of life, it would be prudent not to give any | | | | strengthens both parts of the adaptive immune |
| vaccinations to children until they are 2-years-old.From | | | | system (Th1 and Th2). Mothers who have had |
| a risk-benefit perspective, there is growing evidence | | | | measles, mumps and chickenpox transfer antibodies |
| that the risk of neurologic and autoimmune diseases | | | | against them to their babies in utero, which protect |
| from vaccinations outweigh the benefits of avoiding | | | | them during the first year of life from contracting |
| the childhood infections that they prevent. An | | | | these infections.Vaccinations do not have the same |
| exception is hepatitis B vaccine for infants whose | | | | effect on the immune system as naturally acquired |
| mothers test positive for this disease.A user-friendly | | | | diseases do. They stimulate predominantly the Th2 |
| vaccination schedule prohibits any vaccines that | | | | part of this system and not Th1. (Over-stimulation of |
| contain thimerosal, which is 50 percent mercury. Flu | | | | Th2 causes autoimmune diseases.) The cellular Th1 |
| vaccines contain thimerosal, which is reason enough | | | | side thwarts cancer, and if it does not become fully |
| to avoid them.One should also avoid vaccines that | | | | developed in childhood, a person can be more prone |
| contain live viruses. This includes the combined | | | | to have cancer as an adult.Women who had mumps |
| measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine; | | | | during childhood, for example, are found to be less |
| chickenpox (varicella) vaccine; and the live-virus polio | | | | likely to have ovarian cancer than women who did |
| (Sabin) vaccine. This stricture would not apply to the | | | | not have this infection. (This study was published in |
| smallpox vaccine (also a live-virus one), if a | | | | Cancer.) Could the fact that cancer has become a |
| terrorist-instigated outbreak of smallpox should | | | | leading cause of death in children be a result of |
| occur.Finally, a user-friendly vaccination schedule | | | | vaccinations? Only a randomized controlled trial can |
| requires that vaccinations, after the age of two, be | | | | conclusively answer this question.With rare exception, |
| given no more than once every six months, one at a | | | | a well-nourished child who contracts measles will |
| time, in order to allow the immune system sufficient | | | | recover smoothly from the infection. Fifty years ago, |
| time to recover and stabilize between shots.Which | | | | almost all children in the U.S. had measles. And after |
| vaccines should be put on this schedule (among | | | | contracting this disease, one has a life-long immunity |
| those that do not contain live viruses or thimerosal) is | | | | to it.The protection provided by vaccination is |
| not entirely clear. The top four would be:* Pertussis | | | | temporary. Adults who contract measles (when the |
| (acelluar -- aP -- not whole cell) vaccine.* Diphtheria | | | | protective effects of the vaccine wears off) are |
| (D) vaccine.* Tetanus (T) vaccine (the first three on | | | | much more likely to have neurological, testicular and |
| this list are to be given separately, not together, as is | | | | ovarian complications. Likewise, rubella is a benign |
| usually the case).* The Salk polio vaccine, with an | | | | disease in children, but if a woman acquires it during |
| inactivated (dead) virus, one that is cultured in human | | | | pregnancy, fetal malformations may develop.One can |
| cells, not monkey kidney cells.Perhaps, it should only | | | | argue, heretical as such an argument may be, that it |
| contain these four vaccines. A good case can be | | | | would be better to let children have measles, at an |
| made for avoiding the three other newer vaccines on | | | | age when the infection helps the adaptive immune |
| the CDC's schedule: The hepatitis B, pneumococcal | | | | system mature in a balanced Th1/Th2 fashion and |
| conjugate (PCV7) and Hemophilus influenzae type b | | | | complications from this disease are minimal, rather |
| (Hib) vaccines.Your Doctor Won't Like ThisYour | | | | than vaccinate them against this disease (especially |
| pediatrician will not like this schedule. They are taught | | | | considering the risks of vaccination).Pertussis and |
| in medical school and residency training that childhood | | | | Diphtheria are a different matter. These diseases are |
| immunizations are essential to public health. As one | | | | more virulent. Children who contract whooping cough |
| pediatrician puts it, "Achieving adequate and timely | | | | (pertussis) can be incapacitated for more than a |
| vaccination of young children is the single most | | | | month. Polio can be devastating in susceptible |
| valuable thing a doctor can do for a patient." They do | | | | individuals. And no one wants to get tetanus |
| not question what their professors teach them, nor | | | | (lockjaw). A user-friendly vaccination schedule would |
| are they inclined to critically examine studies in | | | | include vaccines against these diseases.Whatever |
| Pediatrics and the New England Journal of Medicine | | | | vaccination schedule one chooses, mothers should |
| (NEJM) that tell them vaccines are safe.There were | | | | breast-feed their child for as long as possible -- a |
| 482,000 cases of measles in the U.S in 1962, the | | | | year or more. Failing that, add Omega-3 fatty acids, |
| year before a vaccine for this disease became | | | | especially DHA (docosahexanoic acid), to the child's |
| available. Now, with all 50 states requiring that children | | | | formula.-------------------Dr. Joseph MercolaAuthor of |
| be vaccinated against measles in order to attend | | | | Total Health |
| school, there were only 56 cases of measles in a | | | | ProgramFounder of the renowned Optimal Wellness |
| population of 290 million people in 2003.These facts | | | | Center - The #1 Natural Health Site on |
| are well known and proudly cited by vaccine | | | | the |
| proponents. What is less known, and doctors are not | | | | Internet! |