http://www.eaglefoundation.net/Press%20Release%2026%20March.htm
Three Winnipeg Groups Advise 'Caution' for announced Vaccine Program
The
recent Meningitis 'outbreak' does not warrant a very costly mass vaccination
program. This expenditure places an unnecessary burden on our precious and
limited health care budget. It also subjects our children to possible serious
adverse reactions to the vaccine.
Encouraging
awareness of preventive health measures and basic hygiene amongst teens could
prove to be highly effective in increasing immune resistance to disease. For
example, discourage shared cigarettes or drinking cups as this can transmitt
disease. Teens and college age students suffer high stress levels caused by
school pressures, peer pressure, cigarette smoke, alocohol consumption, late
nights, inadequate sleep and poor nutrition - all of which lower immune
resistance to infectious diseases. Increase immunity by reducing these
stresses, improving nutrition, eliminating denatured junk foods, highly sugared
and starchy foods.
The
use of our schools to administer this vaccine increases the risk of adverse
reactions. All medical procedures are best performed by a professional having
intimate knowledge of the patient's medical history. The incentive of offering
free vaccines only in school is prejudicial to parents wishing to exercise
greater caution by having the vaccine administered at their personal
physician's office. The vaccine done at the MD's office will cost parents over
$50. This is unacceptable.
The
health authorities have, in the past, been unable to provide adequate
information on vaccines. Therefore, parents cannot give true and informed
consent. This is contrary to medical and legal ethics. The health department's fact sheet is
inadequate. It does not contain important information found on the product
monograph. It does not mention the absence of long term safety studies, nor
does it warn of the recently banned
mercury compound Thimerosal used in this vaccine. It has become known to our
groups that 15, 16, & 17 year olds will be allowed to give consent without
their parents input. This is
unacceptable! Legal age is still 18 in
this province.
There
is heightened concern in the scientific community that the mass use of the
meningitis (polysaccharide) vaccines will stimulate rapid "serogroup
switching" causing more people to be susceptible to type B meningitis.
"Without lowering the incidence of meningococcal disease in the long run,
such programs may rapidly increase the incidence of serogroup B meningococcal
disease, for which no vaccine is available."(1) " The appearance of
serogroup B:ET15 was related to mass
immunization campaigns designed to control serogroup C."(2)
It
is misleading to suggest that the vaccine campaign can protect individuals from
meningitis when, in fact, it confers no protection against the most common form
of meningitis affecting the most at risk groups. Vaccinating our teenagers
could increase the risk of type B disease in the more vulnerable younger
children and infants."
This
vaccine does not protect against the numerous other forms of meningitis such as
aseptic or viral meningitis. Nor does it protect against Hib meningitis.
This
vaccine has not undergone testing as to its potential for causing cancer,
impairment of fertility or mutagenic potentials. It has not been tested for safety in pregnancy.
Parents
are cautioned to take the time to study and explore all aspects of this issue
with their competent healthcare providers. They should also seek alternative
health care advice. For further
information please check the following web sites:
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CONTACT:
1.
Eagle
Foundation: Dr. Gerry Bohemier D.C., Founder and President (204-233-3060)
2.
Vaccine
Risk Awareness Network Inc.: Mr. Frank
Luschak, Director (204-633-8277)
3.
Association
For Vaccine Damaged Children (Manitoba): Mary James (204-895-9192) Leona Rew (204-896-0971)
References
1.
The
New England Journal of Medicine - January 20, 2000 - Vol. 342, No.3 -
"Rapid Serogroup Switching in Neisseria meningitidis."
2.
The
Journal of Infectious Diseases- June 1998; Vol.177, No. 6- "Serogroup B,
electrophoretic type 15 Neisseria meningititis in Canada"