The Vaccination Debate Goes Mainstream

A couple of weeks ago, two of the most prominent medical journals in the world, The British Medical Journal (BMJ) and The Lancet, each published 'Letters to the Editor' which call into question one of the most sacred and hitherto "untouchable" subjects - universal childhood vaccination.

This was significant because it signals that maybe there is a new willingness of mainstream medicine to discuss and openly debate the issue.

The first letter in the BMJ was from Nikki Lee of the Center for Breastfeeding, Sandwich, MA and was entitled "Breastfeeding Should be Promoted." Some of the main points in her letter:

·         Four months after the CDC recommended that all babies should receive 3 doses of the rotavirus vaccine, the use of this vaccine was being indefinitely suspended after reports of over 100 cases of intussusception and two deaths resulting from its use. The manufacturer voluntarily withdrew the vaccine.

·         Babies who receive the 15 recommended vaccines in the first six months of their lives have a cumulative mercury exposure that exceeds limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

·         She asks what the impact may be when, by the age of 5 years, children have received over two dozen doses of vaccines containing mercury and other toxins?

·         In July 1999 the US Public Health Service and the American Academy of Pediatrics asked vaccine manufacturers to eliminate the preservative mercury from vaccines because of concern about its cumulative effects.

·         Some scientists say that the massive polio immunisation campaign in Zaire and other African countries in the 1950s accelerated the spread of HIV. The aerosol vaccine was grown in monkey kidney tissue; that same species of monkey carries a simian immune deficiency virus (SIV), the virus from which HIV is widely believed to derive from. The places where the vaccine was administered are the epicentre of the AIDS epidemic.

·         She cites many instances in the past where important information about safety has been hidden to protect profit, and questions whether vaccination will one day also be seen in the same light. Some examples she cites are the use of DES and Thalidomide on pregnant women,

·         She states that "It costs millions to develop, research, and market a vaccine. Wouldn't it make more sense to spend that money to protect, promote, and support breast feeding for every baby? There is much evidence that breast feeding reduces the incidence and severity of rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and otitis media, without side effects."

Another letter in the BMJ was from Peter Morrell, who is an honorary research associate of the history of medicine at Staffordshire University in Britain. Some of the points in his letter:

·         The existing evidence does not conclusively show that vaccination caused the decline of infectious diseases.

·         Diphtheria, tuberculosis, and pertussis were virtually extinct before vaccines were introduced.

·         More likely causes are improved water supply, sanitation, adequate food supply, and birth control.

·         Martin Miles, a London homoeopath, believes that vaccination causes cancer, meningitis, arthritis, constitutional weaknesses and neurological damage, and increases the level of mucus in the body.

·         Harris Coulter, a historian, blames vaccination for mental illness, crime, and social deviance.

·         A prominent Dutch homoeopath describes "post vaccination syndrome," and he claims that potentised vaccines can cure this syndrome and act prophylactically against many infections. This claim was confirmed by Margery Grace Blackie, the Queen of England's former physician.

It is interesting to note that the authors of the 2 letters mentioned above have no declared competing interests, while the authors of 2 letters published on the other side of the issue have financial interests in the pharmaceutical and vaccine industry.

Letters were also published in The Lancet, in response to an editorial published earlier this year entitled "Measles, MMR, and autism: the confusion continues." One of these was from Dr. James H. Roger, of Livedata (UK) Ltd, a independent statistical consulting company, which specializes in medical and pharmaceutical applications. Some of his points:

·         The authors of the editorial "perpetuated the myth that good scientific evidence rejects a link between MMR vaccination and autism."

·         He states that the correct interpretation of the statistical data from currently published studies show that the data is consistent with an appreciable number of autism cases being triggered by MMR vaccination.

·         The authors of a 1999 study in the Lancet used the wrong study design to attempt to detect an association between immunisation and a disease with chronic onset, such as autism.

·         The gastrointestinal model for autism, described by Dr. Wakefield and others in a 1998 study in the Lancet, would suggest a variable delay for perhaps several months between immunisation and first symptoms of autism.

·         It is unlikely that any true association could be spotted when looking at quite short intervals after immunisation, typically 6 months.

·         The current epidemiological evidence does not refute MMR immunisation possibly triggering the onset of autism

Another letter was from Ray Gallup, president of the Autism Autoimmunity Project, in New Jersey. Some of his points:

·         There is a dire need for more studies on the possible immunological aspects of autism.

·         At the recent US congressional hearings on the subject, the author of a pro-vaccine study would not agree to turn over his data for an independent review.

·         Three authors of studies showing links between the MMR and autism all agreed to turn over their data for independent review.

·         Mr. Gallup's autistic son tested was tested with an immune panel blood test and had raised measles titres, as well as inflammation of the colon. Many parents report the same results with their autistic children.

COMMENT: It is great to see critics of routine vaccination being published in pretigious medical journals. I have been writing about the dangers of vaccination for years (see links below).

If you are really interested in the vaccination debate there is a great national conference coming up September 8-10, in Washington DC, sponsored by the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), that will include many prominent speakers. I am going to try to attend it myself. For more information see their website.

Related Articles:

Vaccine Links

Vaccines and Immune Suppression

Link Between Autism Increase And Vaccination

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