READ ALL SO-CALLED “STUDIES” WITH A GRAIN OF SALT…..
“At our April 6 autism hearing, Dr. Paul Offit disclosed
that he holds a patent on a rotavirus vaccine and receives grant money from
Merck to develop this vaccine. He also
disclosed that he is paid by the pharmaceutical industry to travel around the
country and teach doctors that vaccines are safe. Dr. Offit is a member of the CDC’s advisory committee and voted
on three rotavirus issues – including making the recommendation of adding the
rotavirus vaccine to the Vaccines for Children’s program. “
From the Opening Statement
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20020107/sc/health_vaccines_dc_1.html
|
Monday
January 7 12:03 AM ET
By Michael Conlon
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Today's children, who receive as many as 11 vaccinations
routinely, are not in danger of having their immune system overwhelmed,
according to a study published on Monday.
``Current studies do not support the hypothesis that multiple vaccines
overwhelm, weaken, or 'use up' the immune system,'' said the report from
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and several other institutions.
``On the contrary, young infants have an enormous capacity to respond to
multiple vaccines, as well as to the many other challenges present in the
environment,'' it added.
``By providing protection against a number of bacterial and viral pathogens,
vaccines prevent the 'weakening' of the immune system and consequent secondary
bacterial infections occasionally caused by natural infection,'' it added.
The report was published in this month's issue of ''Pediatrics,'' the
journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The authors said they
investigated the subject because recent surveys in the United States indicated
that about a quarter of all parents were concerned about the possible negative
impacts of multiple vaccinations.
A century ago, the study said, children received only one vaccination, for
smallpox. Forty years ago four others came into common use -- for polio,
diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. Today children in developed countries
receive 11 vaccines routinely and will have had as many as 20 completion shots
by age two, the report added.
CAPACITY TO COPE WITH 10,000 VACCINES
By a conservative estimate infants have the theoretical capacity to respond
to as many as 10,000 vaccines, it said.
``Parents who are worried about the increasing number of recommended
vaccines may take comfort in knowing that children are exposed to fewer
antigens (proteins and polysaccharides) in vaccines today than in the past,''
the report said.
``Although we now give children more vaccines, the actual number of antigens
they receive has declined. Whereas previously one vaccine, smallpox, contained
about 200 proteins, now the 11 routinely recommended vaccines contain fewer
than 130 proteins in total,'' it added.
``Two factors account for this decline: First, the worldwide eradication of
smallpox obviated the need for that vaccine, and second, advances in protein
chemistry have resulted in vaccines containing fewer antigens ...''
In a related development, the academy in the same issue published its annual
recommendation for immunizations, saying there were no major changes to
suggested timetables except one involving pneumococcal vaccine. Because there
is a shortage of that vaccine, it said, healthy children should receive only
the first three doses and doctors should defer the fourth or booster shot until
the shortage eases.
The vaccine wards off pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections. The
U.S. manufacturer of the vaccine has reported it has been unable to keep up
with demand.
ALL
INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE
KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED
AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO
VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU
ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.