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://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020107/phm022_1.html
Monday January 7, 11:13 am Eastern Time
SOURCE: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/
-- From the moment of birth, infants are capable of responding to numerous
challenges to the immune system, including multiple vaccines, according to a
new report published in the January issue of Pediatrics. The report, authored
by Paul A. Offit, M.D., chief of Infectious Diseases and director of the
Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and
colleagues, reviews current research on the effects of vaccines on the immune
system and the capacity of the infant immune system to respond safely to
multiple simultaneous immunizations.
``The number of recommended childhood vaccines has increased substantially
over the past several decades. Twenty years ago, children received 7 vaccines
routinely and up to 5 shots by 2 years of age. Today, children receive 11
vaccines routinely and as many as 20 shots by age two,'' explains Dr. Offit. As
a possible consequence of these trends, recent national surveys have found that
an increasing number of parents are concerned that infants receive too many
vaccines. Implicit in this concern is the idea that an infant's immune system
is inadequately developed to handle vaccines safely or that multiple vaccines
may weaken, overwhelm or deplete the immune system.
``The infant immune system has an enormous capacity to respond safely and
effectively to immune system challenges from vaccines,'' says Dr. Offit. ``Our
report offers reassurance to parents that far from weakening an infant's immune
system, vaccines actually strengthen an infant's defenses against serious and
potentially fatal infections.''
The report, entitled ``Addressing Parents' Concerns: Do Multiple Vaccines Overwhelm
or Weaken the Infant Immune System?'' highlights the following important
findings:
Newborns commonly encounter a host of challenges to their immune system at
the same time
Newborns are capable of generating protective immune responses to bacteria
and viruses, as well as vaccines, from the moment of birth. This capability is
necessary for them to meet the tremendous number of environmental challenges
they will encounter in the first few hours and days of life.
``Babies emerge from the relatively sterile environment of the womb into a
world teeming with bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, and their immune
systems are designed to stand up to these challenges from the start,'' explains
Dr. Offit. ``Newborns have billions of immunologic cells that are capable of
responding to millions of different microorganisms. By quickly making an immune
response to bacteria that live on the surface of their intestines, for example,
babies are able to keep those bacteria from invading their bloodstream and causing
serious disease.''
Current research shows that young infants are fully capable of generating
protective immune responses to multiple vaccines given simultaneously. ``Our
analysis shows that infants have the theoretical capacity to respond to about
10,000 vaccines at once. Currently, the most vaccines that children receive at
one time is five,'' says Dr. Offit. ``Using this estimate, we could predict
that even if all 11 of the routinely recommended vaccinations were given to
infants at one time, only about .01 percent of the immune system would be
used.''
Infants today actually receive fewer substances in vaccines that stimulate
an immune response than they did 40 or 100 years ago
While there has been a substantial increase in the number of routine
childhood vaccines over the past several decades, ``Parents who are concerned
about the growing number of vaccinations recommended for their children may
take comfort in knowing that children are actually exposed to fewer antigens --
proteins that stimulate an immune response -- in the vaccines they receive
today than in the past,'' says Dr. Offit. ``Vaccine formulations have been
refined and simplified over the years. Although we currently give children more
vaccines than in the past, the actual number of antigens they receive has
declined significantly. Whereas previously one vaccine, smallpox, contained
about 200 antigens, now the 11 routinely recommended childhood vaccines contain
fewer than 130 antigens combined.''
Mild to moderate illness does not affect an infant's ability to generate
protective immune responses to vaccines
Some parents worry that vaccinating children who have minor illnesses makes
it less likely that they will develop a protective immune response and more
likely that they will develop an adverse reaction to the vaccine than healthy
children. However, says Dr. Offit, data do not support this fear. ``Studies
have found that the presence of a minor to moderate illness such as an upper
respiratory tract infection, ear infection, skin infection, fever or diarrhea
does not compromise a child's ability to respond to vaccines or increase the
risk of an adverse vaccine reaction.
``Because of the success of our immunization program, incidences of many
vaccine-preventable diseases in this country are at an all-time low. This in
turn has led some parents to question whether vaccines are really still
necessary for their child,'' says Dr. Offit. ``It is important to realize,
however, that these vaccine-preventable diseases have not been eliminated.
Some, like measles, mumps and rubella, continue to circulate at low levels in
our population. Other, like diphtheria and polio, continue to cause outbreaks
in other parts of the world and remain only a plane ride away. History tells us
that if immunization rates were to drop, even by as little as 10 - 15 percent,
we would soon face a resurgence of these diseases and the devastating effects
associated with them.
``Immunizations are extremely safe and highly effective at preventing
disease and death, and are one of the most important steps parents can take to
protect their children,'' says Dr. Offit. ``Our report can offer parents
reassurance that by immunizing their infants, they are affording them maximum
protection against serious infectious diseases with minimum risk, helping their
immune systems to become stronger, and giving them the healthiest possible
start in life.''
Co-authors of the report with Dr. Offit are Jessica Quarles, Michael A.
Gerber, M.D., Charles J. Hackett, Ph.D., and Sarah Landry from the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Edgar K. Marcuse, M.D., and
Tobias R. Kollman, M.D., from the University of Washington School of Medicine,
and Bruce Gellin, M.D. from Vanderbilt Medical College.
About the Expert:
Paul A. Offit, M.D., is the director of the Vaccine Education Center and
chief of Infectious Diseases at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. An
internationally recognized expert in virology, immunology and vaccine safety,
he is a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to publishing more than
90 peer-reviewed scientific papers, Dr. Offit is co-author of the book
``Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know.'' He frequently lectures to national
and international healthcare organizations about vaccine safety and efficacy.
Under the direction of Dr. Offit, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
established The Vaccine Education Center in October 2000 to respond to the
rapidly growing need for accurate, up-to-date, science-based information about
vaccines and the diseases they prevent. The Center is a nationally recognized
educational resource for healthcare professionals and parents, providing
information on the full spectrum of vaccine-related topics. Approximately 400
people per day visit the Center's comprehensive Web site (vaccine.chop.edu).
The Center has developed and distributed 1.5 million educational information
sheets, ``The Facts about Childhood Vaccines,'' to pediatricians, family
practitioners and nurses nationwide.
The Vaccine Education Center has also created a first-of-its-kind
educational video, ``Vaccines: Separating Fact from Fear,'' for parents and
healthcare professionals. To date, more than 20,000 copies of the video have
been distributed to doctors' offices and health clinics across the country.
Center staff members have presented findings at numerous scientific meetings,
and conduct national speaker programs and educational symposia designed to help
healthcare professionals address specific vaccine concerns.
Founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital, The Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia is ranked today as the best pediatric hospital in the
nation by a comprehensive Child magazine survey. Through its long-standing
commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of
pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives,
Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children
worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country,
ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its
unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the
381-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents
from before birth through age 19.
CONTACT: Rebecca Baumgold of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,
+1-215-590-4172, or baumgold@email.chop.edu.
SOURCE: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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.