Vaccination-An Analysis of the Health Risks Pt1-Townsend

94 Vaccination: An Analysis of the Health Risks -Part II by Gary Null, PhD, and Martin Feldman, MD In Part 1 of this series, we discussed the reasons why we should challenge our assumptions that vaccines are safe and effective. These reasons include the adverse effects associated with vaccines, the unsound principles on which they are based, questions about whether immunization really eliminates disease, the toxic ingredients used in vaccines, and vaccine failures. In Part 1 we a lso began to look at the effects of s pecific vaccines with a discussion of the diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine; we continue that process in Part 2 with a look at the polio, chickenpox, hepatitis B, and measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Polio Vaccine Three types of polio vaccines have been used throughout the world: 1) the OPV, or oral polio vaccine (Sabin vaccine), consisting of live, attenuated poliovirus; 2) the IPV, or inactivated polio vaccine (Salk vaccine), consisting of killed poliovirus and given by injection; and 3 ) the eiPV, an enhanced potency inactivated polio vaccine, consisting of killed poliovirus with high viral antigen content. Today, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends exclusive use of the IPV for routine childhood polio vaccination in the U.S. (the enhanced-potency version is the only IPV in use in the US). The ACIP changed its polio vaccine recommendation to the aii-IPV schedule, effective January 2000, to eliminate the risk for vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP), the condition caused by the previously recommended oral polio vaccine.1 Until 1996, all children in the US, except those with a compromised immune system and their close contacts, were immunized with the live attenuated OPV vaccine. However, the vaccine actually caused polio in a small percentage of people. According to the CDC, the overall risk for VAPP is approximately one case in 2.4 million OPV doses distributed, while the first-dose risk is one case in 750,000 doses distributed. In fact, the only indigenous cases of polio reported in the U.S. since 1979 have been associated with the use of OPV. Between 1980 and 1998, 144 cases ofVAPP were reported.2 Despite these occurrences, the ACIP recommended the use of OPV in the US because it believed the benefits of the oral vaccine outweighed the risk for VAPP. In 1996, the ACIP recommended a sequential schedule of IPV and OPV to “decrease t he risk for VAPP but maintain the benefits of OPV.” It then recommended the aii-IPV schedule as of January 2000, citing several reasons: the substantia ll y reduced likelihood of poliovirus being imported into the US due to rapid progress made in the global polio e radication initiative; the acceptance of the sequential schedule; and the lack of declines in childhood immunization coverage.3 Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Polio Vaccine. Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a disease that involves the nervous system and is characterized by muscle weakness, numbness, loss of reflexes, and paralysis. In Finland in 1985 there was an increase in the incidence ofGuillain-Barre syndrome that followed by a few weeks the implementation of a nationwide oral poliovirus vaccine campaign.4·5 And in Brazil, analysis of 38 cases of paralysis diagnosed as GBS led in all cases to the isolation of the vaccine strains of the poliovirus. All patients had been vaccinated with the oral polio vaccine months or years before the onset of symptoms.6 Furthermore, vaccine viruses also have been isolated from patients with paralysis diagnosed as transverse myelitis (TM), and in patients with facial paralysis (FPJ.7 Most individuals with TM and FP had received the oral polio vaccine months or years prior to the onset of disease, indicating that t he virus may remain latent and revert to virulence later in time. It is noteworthy too that in Brazil, cases of wild-type poliomyelitis have not been reported s ince 1989, while vaccine-associated paralysis is still occurring.8 The Cancer Connection to the Polio Vaccine. In 1960 it was discovered that both the Salk and Sabin vaccines, which had been administered to millions of people, were contaminated with SV40 (simian virus 40), derived from the monkey kidney cells used to grow the vaccine viruses. The SV40 survived inactivation with formaldehyde, the method used to kill the poliovirus, and was therefore injected with the vaccine into 98 million people in the US9 and hundreds of millions worldwide. These individuals today have SV40 sequences integrated into their genetic code. Animal studies have demonstrated the ability of SV40 to integrate its DNA into that of the hos t cell and to induce malignancy. Unfortunately, a growing number of studies are showing that the virus retains these same properties in humans as well as in animals. Integration and replication of SV40 has been documented in 13% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, 10 16% of Hodgkin’s lymphomas,11 11% to 90% of different types of brain tumors, 12.J5 83% of mesotheliomas (malignant tumors of the lining of the lungs),16 30% of bronchopulmonary carcinomas, 17 50% of osteosarcomas, 18 and more than 33% of other types of bone tumors. 19•20 Chickenpox Vaccine In 1995 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the ACIP recommended universal chickenpox (varicella) vaccination of children aged 12 to 18 months. They also recommended that the vaccine be given to children aged 18 months to 12 years who have not been vaccinated or who lack a reliable history of the disease. The fact is that in the vast majority of cases, chickenpox is a benign, self-limiting disease in children. Natural immunity, derived from contracting the disease, is permanent. Vaccine-induced immunity, on the other hand, is only temporary, lasting an estimated six to 10 years. The temporary nature of vaccine-induced immunity can create a more dangerous situation by postponing the child’s vulnerability until adulthood, when death from the disease is 30 times more likely. The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), Vienna, Virginia, advises parents to seriously consider not using the chickenpox vaccine on healthy children. Barbara Loe Fisher, cofounder and president of the NVIC, elaborates: “Our organization is questioning the recommendation … that all healthy children be vaccinated with the chickenpox vaccine …. ” … In children, chickenpox is, by and large, a very mild disease. The case/ fatality ratio in healthy children is 1 death per 100,000 children. In adults it rises to 31 deaths per 100,000. So it basically is an experiment. That is really what happens with most of these vaccines that they bring out. They really don’t know what the long-term effect is going to be. “The other thing about the chickenpox vaccine is that the vaccine virus could lie dormant in vaccinated individuals, and then reactivate later in life in the form of herpes zoster, which is also known as TOWNSEND LETTER for DOCTORS & PATIENTS-NOVEMBER 2003 shingles, or perhaps [in the f orm of] other immune syste m disorder s . . . . ” Fisher is not the only one to question the appropria t eness of the official recommendations concerning this vaccination. According t o the results of one survey, 58% of pediatric i a n s inter viewed did not recommend varicella vaccination of all infants.21 Discounting the numerous concerns of doctors, resear chers, and parents, in F ebrua r y 1999 the CDC expanded its guideline s for varicell a va ccination and required tha t all children entering child care cente r s and e lementa r y and middle sch ool s r e ce ive varicella vaccination unless they have evidence ofimmunity.22 In t he meantime, 6,580 adve rse events -including 14 deaths -were reported t o the Vaccine Adverse E vents Reporting System in association with varicella vaccination bet ween March 17, 1995 and July 25, 1998.23 The actua l number could be at leas t 10 times higher, if we take into consideration the proven fact that only 10% of advers e events are commonly reported. Anothe r concern regards pregnant women. Normally, 90% of adult women are immune to varicella and transfer this immunity to t heir fetus during pregnancy. But the immunity induced by vaccination, which las ts only five t o 10 yea t·s , may be gone by the time a woman enters her r eproductive s t age, leaving pregnant women at ris k of contracting the infection and transmitting it to the fetus . Fetal varicella syndrome is characterized by multiple congenital ma lforma tions and is ofte n fatal for the fetus.2·’ Thus, we need life long immunity from n atura l infection. In addition, childre n born from women whos e vaccine-induced immunity has faded are unprot ect ed during their first year oflife, when their immune system is still developing, and may suffer fatal complications should they be exposed to the infection. I s the Chickenpox Vaccine Effective? If the effective ness of the vaccine is m ea sured by its ability to prevent the disease from occulTing, the a ns wer is simply no. As we read in an a rt icle publish e d in Pediatrics, “In 1998, three years afte r vaccine licens ure , child care center s in Los Angeles County continue d to report varicella outbreaks .” These outbrea k s occurred in child care center s with hig h vaccine coverage a s well as in those with low coverage, meaning t h a t th e infection sprea d regardles s of child vaccination st atus .25 An interesting a t·ticle clea rly shows how questionable ar e data claiming r eductions of dis eases following immunization campaigns . This is what often h appens: Reporting of a specific disease is encouraged until the start of a vaccination program. Thus, the di sease appears to be present at certain r ates. Then, after the vaccine enters the market, reporting is no longer required and therefore not done, and the rates of the disease seem to drop. But in reality the drop results from changes in reporting requirements and practices, not from an actual decline in the number of cases. Vaccination against chickenpox will not prevent a child from contracting the disease. Rates of infection in vaccinated individuals – so-calle d “breakthrough varicella” -range from 20 to 34% in the 10 y ears following immunization. 26·28 Furthermore, even if vaccination reduces the number of skin lesions, the duration of the infection, and the occurrence of fever in individuals who develop breakthrough disease, it does not reduce the rate of constitutional complaints and that of complicat ions.29 One study found that 18.6% of children who responded to varicella vaccination developed breakthrough disease after exposure to the infection in the five to 10 years following immunization.30 Another study showed that 20-30% of vaccinees developed varicella in the 10 years following immunization.31 In a third study, 34% of Vaccination individuals vaccinate d against chickenpox developed breakthrough di sease in the seven to 10 years following immunization.32 Further Readings: Articles discuss the potential downside to the mass us e of the chickenpox vaccine and r ea ctions a s sociated with it.33·35 Hepatitis B Vaccine The hepatitis B vaccine, c ommercially a vailable in the United St ates since 1982, was supposed to be given to every American child within 12 hours of birth. In spite of this measure, “the incidence of acute hepatitis Bin this country has risen from 55 per 100,000 in 1981 to 63 per 100,000 in 1987,” according to the New England J ournal of Medicine .36 Additionally, strong side effects have been r eported following the use of this vaccine. In 1990, the Journal of Pedia tric Child Health had this to say on the subject: “There have … been reported s ix serious illnesses in a series of 200,000 hepatitis vaccinations, including a septic meningitis, g r and mal seizure, and possible transverse myelitis, as well as 56 ~ UGOTTA GO?” “With BetterWOMAN, I can hold it like a normal person again!”-Jackie BetterWOMAN™ Improves Bladder Control Naturally. Clinically Tested. 80% Success Rate within 60 Days. • Reduces Urinary Urgency* • Reduces Urinary Frequency* • Reduces Urinary Leakage* • Increases Energy Levels • All Natural. No Side Effects • Featured on WebMD 866-564-0317 www.BetterWOMANnow.com For his frequent urination and sexual function issues, check BenerMAN* at BenerMANnow.com. 11 BaltfrCIOQiu ME. Hsu K. EI-Sakka A. Sievert KO, l1n CS. lue TF. Joum61 of Urology 2000 Nov, 164(51: 1198-801 ~ caJ 21 Wish now P. rownsend Lerrer tor Doctors & Ptwents. Nov. 2001: 70-H Jntercelitl i!J.S.’ ” lt1ase statements have not ~>een evaluated by \he Food 1rxf Drug Admimstrat•on. Thrs prodiJCt •S not •nteoded to dragnose. treat, cure, or prevent any d1S&ase TOWNSEND LETTER lor DOCTORS & PATIENTS-NOVEMBER 2003 95