My niece, Tori, who I babysit during the summers, and I have been spending this summer trying to find the perfect pool. Since I also have MaryJane, it's got to be a pool that offers fun things for Tori to do, plus nice shaded areas for MaryJane and I to hang out in that are close to the 'action' so I can keep an eye on Tori. Tori loves slides, which, thankfully, most pools now have so that's also a plus. So here's my brief reviews of the pools we've visited this summer:
Premier Athletic Club - Upper Arlington/Dublin area, Sawmill Road
$$$ - attendence with membership to club only
Premier offers three pools; two outdoor and one indoor, plus a two small kiddie pools. The main pool outdoors that is kid-friendly features a small curvy slide and a mushroom waterfall. All and all, it's just ok. Tori really enjoys it but I think that's because it's not that crowded.
Big Splash - Grove City, Southwest Blvd.
$ - $16 for the three of us
Big Splash has a nice kiddie area with a zero-depth entry into the main pool (which I love, since I'm carrying a baby around) and two nice size slides. There is a lot of shade to sit in, although it's not set up very well to keep an eye on kids in the pool. I usually end up walking around in order to watch Tori. All in all, it's a good value for the money.
Hilliard City Pool West - Veterans Memorial Drive
$$ $18 for the three of us
This pool was my favorite. Four large pools: one with a diving board, one with two slides, a lap pool, a huge kiddie pool/area with a setup that rivals the old Wyandotte Lake Christopher's Island area, plus there's even a lazy river. There are several grassy areas to sit surrounding each pool, and free use of rafts and life vests. The only problem was if Tori got bored of one pool and wanted to go to a different one, we had to relocate all of our stuff so I could keep an eye on her. I finally had to tell her to just pick one pool to play in. Overall, not a bad value for the money.
Reed Rd Water Park - Upper Arlington, Reed Rd
$$$ $20 for the three of us
Extremely expensive for what you get, in my opinion. There are two really nice slides, though, and a lazy river. There's a large kiddie play area with a zero-entry pool, and a diving board with a deep pool although all the pools are linked together so it's really just one big area. There is a 'lazy river' as well, but it's just a glorified circle. One thing that I thought was really cool, though, was the community aspect of this pool. Quite a few times, people offered up benches for me (since I was carrying the baby around, watching Tori slide down the slides) and during the rest periods, all of the men lifeguards would line up at the diving boards while the kids would sit on the edge of the opposite end of the pool, chanting "Get Us Soaked!" "We Want Splashed!" "Can-non-ball!" etc. The boys would try to get the biggest splash they could and soak the kids. It was quite hilarious to watch. If I had someone else to go with, this would probably be my favorite pool because it's not too big, there are good seating areas, and lots of stuff for the kids to do.
Hopefully all of this pool-hopping will give me a good idea of which pool to get a membership to next summer!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Yet Another Testament of His Love...
The Lord is truly my strength. He has helped me in ways I still can't wrap my mind around. However one of the most powerful and clear ways that He has shown His willingness to provide happened yesterday afternoon.
I took MaryJane to a lactation consultant yesterday because we were having some breastfeeding issues. As it turns out, there is a physical reason why she is having trouble nursing, which in turn has caused my milk supply to decrease dramatically. So, while I build it back up, the consultant told me that I have to supplement her at each feeding. While I have the option of using formula to supplement, that is personally not a route I feel is appropriate for us. Therefore, the only other option was to supplement with donor breast milk. This, however, meant that I had to FIND donor breast milk. Not an easy task, although not impossible either. However, the friends I contacted had either used up the milk they had saved, only had a little to give, or needed time to get milk for me. By yesterday afternoon, we were able to find enough to get us through until the next day but it was going to be tight.
Then, I received a phone call. My good friend, who had already generously began a milk donation for us, was looking out of her window at her neighbor's yard, where the neighbors were outside playing. This neighbor is a friend of hers, and someone she knew would probably have some milk to donate as well. She walked over and explained my situation to this person, and asked if she might be able to help out. The friend said that she did, in fact, have milk she could donate. Not only did she have milk, she had a LOT of milk, milk that she had just decided that day that she was going to throw out since she wasn't going to be able use it all. She packed it all up in a bag and gave it to my friend, who then let me know what had happened. I was able to pick the milk up yesterday afternoon; there is enough milk for weeks and weeks of supplementing- probably more than I will even need!
I can't even begin to say how thankful I am to my friends, to this person that I don't even know who so generously gave her milk, and to God for providing for my daughter at a time when I am not able to. It's wonderful to know that our Father is providing for us in all of the ways that we need.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
She is Love
As my precious MaryJane turns two weeks old today, it already seems like she's been in my life forever. I can't imagine a day without her, or what my life was like before she was here. It's been the hardest but most rewarding experience so far and I have already learned so much! I lose hours of the day because I can't stop staring at her and studying her little face. She makes so many expressions and she just loves to gesticulate with those hands! I understand now why people say that you don't know love until you have a child.
The cloth diapers are going so well, I honestly find them to be easier than the disposables I used the first few days until she passed all of her meconium. The breastfeeding has been more of a challenge, but we are getting the hang of it more and more each day.
I heard this song the other day and it made me sob because it's so sweet and tender and it makes me think of the love I have for my little girl.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
MaryJane's Waterbirth Story
On Monday. March 2 I was eating lunch when I started having mild contractions. I lay down to nap before work and when I awoke an hour later, I was still having contractions, but not strong or consistent. I decided to go ahead and go to work, but as the afternoon progressed, my discomfort increased. I ended up leaving work early, and went back to bed when I got home. The contractions ended up stopping shortly after. I didn't think much about it, as I had been having Braxton Hicks for a few days on and off and knew they could go for weeks before labor began.
The next morning, Tuesday March 3, I awoke a little before 8:00 am and I already had the feeling that today could be the day. I went into the bathroom to take a shower and while standing waiting for the water to warm up I felt a distinct "pop" followed by a little gush of water. I instantly knew my water had broken. I ran to get my phone and then returned to the bathroom where I could stand on some towels and I tried to decide who to call first. I called my mom, who decided to go ahead and leave work and come home, and then I called my midwife, Amy, followed by my doula, Amanda. Amy had some appointments to take, but said she'd be by later to check on me. She warned that my labor would be a bit more intense since my water had broken but to take it easy, rest and eat lightly and drink as much water as I could. Amanda stopped by right after my mom arrived home, around 9:00 am, to check on me since she was in the area. My contractions had just begun and weren't bad at all, so she returned home to take care of some things with the instructions to call when I was ready.
My mom made me a light breakfast of toast and eggs, and then we decided to begin setting up the birthing pool. Looking back now, I think we both intuitively knew to do this first thing. During this time my contractions began to intensify quickly, and were about five minutes apart by 10:00 am. My mom began to realize that my labor was progressing much faster than we had anticipated, so she decided to call Amy back. Amy decided to turn around and come back over just to check me, that way she could decide what to do from there about the rest of her appointments. We also called Amanda and had her go ahead and come over when she was ready.
Once Amy and Amanda arrived, around 10:15 - 10:30, Amy checked me and found I was at 3 cm dialted and 90% effaced. She also noticed that the head that she was supposed to be feeling felt more like a butt, and although it was still early and too hard to tell for sure, she did want to call Kathy, my other midwife, and let her know. She must have also told Kathy to start heading over to my house at that point, because my labor was progressing much faster than anyone had guessed. During this time, Amanda and my mom were helping me through my contractions by rubbing my back and putting cool towels on my forehead and neck. It made so much of a difference to have them there helping me. It also felt great to sit on the birthing ball and to lean against someone while I was breathing through the contractions. They were intense and it seemed like they were coming so close together, sometimes with one beginning right after another had just ended. However all of the love and support in the room made me feel empowered and I just took them one at a time.
Things begin to get blurry time-wise after this point, but I know my sister showed up with the video camera and Kathy was not far behind her. This must have been around 12:00 noon or so. Kathy checked me and found I had dialated to 8, almost 9 cm by that point! She also confirmed our fears: baby MJ was breech, with her butt presenting instead of her head. We decided to take a few minutes to pray about what to do, as if I had decided to transfer to the hospital I would have definitely had a Cesarean section. I was in so much pain with the contractions that for a moment the thought of having pain medication and not having to go through any more labor was quite tempting. However, I knew that it was not the birth that I had wanted, and I also knew that I did not want my baby to have to go through such a traumatic experience in her first moments out of the womb. Both Kathy and Amy were very encouraging and supportive, but were also honest about what we needed to be expect and made sure that I knew all of the risks of birthing a breech baby so I could make an informed decision. After Amanda and I prayed together, I decided to stay at home and birth my baby the way we had planned.
Once that had been decided, Kathy told me that once I dialated to 10 cm, I would have to wait one hour before pushing. This was to ensure that the cervix had fully opened so that the baby's head would be able to pass quickly through once I began pushing. I got into the pool and it immediately helped to ease the pain of the contractions. Amanda poured water on my back as I leaned against the side and that really helped too. I drank tons of water and just tried to focus on getting through each contraction. Finally, my body decided it was time to push, but I was not dialated enough to do so yet, so I had to breathe through it. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. The pain was incredible, and trying to keep my body from pushing was almost impossible, but everyone just kept encouraging me that I could do it. Without that encouragement, I would not have been able to make it through that pain. Each contraction that came over me was more intense than the last, and it seemed like they went on forever. I knew I had an hour of this breathing to go through before I could push and it seemed like an eternity. Amanda reminded me, one contraction at a time. I kept telling her I couldn't do it, and she would look me right in the eyes and say, "Yes, you can do this Laura." It gave me the confidence I needed to stay strong and on top of the pain. My mom, after each one, would say "You did it! Great job!" and it really made me feel like I was progressing. I really can't stress enough how much love and support I had in that room, because I couldn't have done it without each one of those people being there for me.
I remember at some point my dad came home from work, it must have been around 1:30 pm, and my mom inviting him down into the room. I didn't think he would want to be there for the birth, but I'm so glad he ended up staying because it was so wonderful to have my mom, dad and my sister there for it. I think they all took something away from the experience that was more than they expected.
After about forty minutes of breathing through the pushy contractions, Kathy checked me again and told me it was OK to start pushing. I said "Thank you!" and almost cried from the relief I felt at knowing I could work with my body and finally get to see my baby! On the next contraction, I pushed and it was the worst and best pain I have ever felt. The contractions had slowed way down, which Amy told me later was a sign that my body was getting ready for the delivery, so I just rested in between so that I would have the energy to push as hard as I could at the end, since she was breech and I knew I had to get her out fast. I pushed for a few contractions in the pool, and then Kathy, Amy, Amanda and I went to the bathroom where I sat on the toilet and pushed a few times. This really seemed to help, and after about four or so pushes, we went back to the pool. That was really hard because the baby had moved down so much from the pushing and I thought I wouldn't be able to walk! Once I got back into the pool, I had about three more contractions and on the last one, I pushed with everything I had. I heard my mom saying something about "There's the baby! Laura, she's coming!" and that was all it took for me to just give it my all and push her out. She came out so fast and then I was holding her in my arms in a matter of seconds! I couldn't believe it! I felt so relieved and so happy and emotional all at the same time. I could not believe I was holding my beautiful baby girl in my arms after only less than seven hours of labor. She was born at 3:03 pm on 3/03. How amazing!
It's hard to express just how fully I felt the Lord's presence at MaryJane's birth. Not only in the miracle of my daughter being born, but in the love I felt from and for the people who were there with me, and the peaceful, beautiful nature of the birth. I trusted fully in Him to provide, and He did. I could not have imagined a more incredible experience.
ETA: I can't believe I forgot to add that it was my midwife, Amy's birthday too! How amazing is that?!?
MaryJane Kathryn
born 3:03 pm on 3/03
6 lbs. 14 oz.
19 1/2"
The next morning, Tuesday March 3, I awoke a little before 8:00 am and I already had the feeling that today could be the day. I went into the bathroom to take a shower and while standing waiting for the water to warm up I felt a distinct "pop" followed by a little gush of water. I instantly knew my water had broken. I ran to get my phone and then returned to the bathroom where I could stand on some towels and I tried to decide who to call first. I called my mom, who decided to go ahead and leave work and come home, and then I called my midwife, Amy, followed by my doula, Amanda. Amy had some appointments to take, but said she'd be by later to check on me. She warned that my labor would be a bit more intense since my water had broken but to take it easy, rest and eat lightly and drink as much water as I could. Amanda stopped by right after my mom arrived home, around 9:00 am, to check on me since she was in the area. My contractions had just begun and weren't bad at all, so she returned home to take care of some things with the instructions to call when I was ready.
My mom made me a light breakfast of toast and eggs, and then we decided to begin setting up the birthing pool. Looking back now, I think we both intuitively knew to do this first thing. During this time my contractions began to intensify quickly, and were about five minutes apart by 10:00 am. My mom began to realize that my labor was progressing much faster than we had anticipated, so she decided to call Amy back. Amy decided to turn around and come back over just to check me, that way she could decide what to do from there about the rest of her appointments. We also called Amanda and had her go ahead and come over when she was ready.
Once Amy and Amanda arrived, around 10:15 - 10:30, Amy checked me and found I was at 3 cm dialted and 90% effaced. She also noticed that the head that she was supposed to be feeling felt more like a butt, and although it was still early and too hard to tell for sure, she did want to call Kathy, my other midwife, and let her know. She must have also told Kathy to start heading over to my house at that point, because my labor was progressing much faster than anyone had guessed. During this time, Amanda and my mom were helping me through my contractions by rubbing my back and putting cool towels on my forehead and neck. It made so much of a difference to have them there helping me. It also felt great to sit on the birthing ball and to lean against someone while I was breathing through the contractions. They were intense and it seemed like they were coming so close together, sometimes with one beginning right after another had just ended. However all of the love and support in the room made me feel empowered and I just took them one at a time.
Things begin to get blurry time-wise after this point, but I know my sister showed up with the video camera and Kathy was not far behind her. This must have been around 12:00 noon or so. Kathy checked me and found I had dialated to 8, almost 9 cm by that point! She also confirmed our fears: baby MJ was breech, with her butt presenting instead of her head. We decided to take a few minutes to pray about what to do, as if I had decided to transfer to the hospital I would have definitely had a Cesarean section. I was in so much pain with the contractions that for a moment the thought of having pain medication and not having to go through any more labor was quite tempting. However, I knew that it was not the birth that I had wanted, and I also knew that I did not want my baby to have to go through such a traumatic experience in her first moments out of the womb. Both Kathy and Amy were very encouraging and supportive, but were also honest about what we needed to be expect and made sure that I knew all of the risks of birthing a breech baby so I could make an informed decision. After Amanda and I prayed together, I decided to stay at home and birth my baby the way we had planned.
Once that had been decided, Kathy told me that once I dialated to 10 cm, I would have to wait one hour before pushing. This was to ensure that the cervix had fully opened so that the baby's head would be able to pass quickly through once I began pushing. I got into the pool and it immediately helped to ease the pain of the contractions. Amanda poured water on my back as I leaned against the side and that really helped too. I drank tons of water and just tried to focus on getting through each contraction. Finally, my body decided it was time to push, but I was not dialated enough to do so yet, so I had to breathe through it. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. The pain was incredible, and trying to keep my body from pushing was almost impossible, but everyone just kept encouraging me that I could do it. Without that encouragement, I would not have been able to make it through that pain. Each contraction that came over me was more intense than the last, and it seemed like they went on forever. I knew I had an hour of this breathing to go through before I could push and it seemed like an eternity. Amanda reminded me, one contraction at a time. I kept telling her I couldn't do it, and she would look me right in the eyes and say, "Yes, you can do this Laura." It gave me the confidence I needed to stay strong and on top of the pain. My mom, after each one, would say "You did it! Great job!" and it really made me feel like I was progressing. I really can't stress enough how much love and support I had in that room, because I couldn't have done it without each one of those people being there for me.
I remember at some point my dad came home from work, it must have been around 1:30 pm, and my mom inviting him down into the room. I didn't think he would want to be there for the birth, but I'm so glad he ended up staying because it was so wonderful to have my mom, dad and my sister there for it. I think they all took something away from the experience that was more than they expected.
After about forty minutes of breathing through the pushy contractions, Kathy checked me again and told me it was OK to start pushing. I said "Thank you!" and almost cried from the relief I felt at knowing I could work with my body and finally get to see my baby! On the next contraction, I pushed and it was the worst and best pain I have ever felt. The contractions had slowed way down, which Amy told me later was a sign that my body was getting ready for the delivery, so I just rested in between so that I would have the energy to push as hard as I could at the end, since she was breech and I knew I had to get her out fast. I pushed for a few contractions in the pool, and then Kathy, Amy, Amanda and I went to the bathroom where I sat on the toilet and pushed a few times. This really seemed to help, and after about four or so pushes, we went back to the pool. That was really hard because the baby had moved down so much from the pushing and I thought I wouldn't be able to walk! Once I got back into the pool, I had about three more contractions and on the last one, I pushed with everything I had. I heard my mom saying something about "There's the baby! Laura, she's coming!" and that was all it took for me to just give it my all and push her out. She came out so fast and then I was holding her in my arms in a matter of seconds! I couldn't believe it! I felt so relieved and so happy and emotional all at the same time. I could not believe I was holding my beautiful baby girl in my arms after only less than seven hours of labor. She was born at 3:03 pm on 3/03. How amazing!
It's hard to express just how fully I felt the Lord's presence at MaryJane's birth. Not only in the miracle of my daughter being born, but in the love I felt from and for the people who were there with me, and the peaceful, beautiful nature of the birth. I trusted fully in Him to provide, and He did. I could not have imagined a more incredible experience.
ETA: I can't believe I forgot to add that it was my midwife, Amy's birthday too! How amazing is that?!?
MaryJane Kathryn
born 3:03 pm on 3/03
6 lbs. 14 oz.
19 1/2"
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What they don't tell you about being pregnant...
I write this list in a very lighthearted manner, because despite some of the harder days I have thoroughly enjoyed my pregnancy and been blessed to have a healthy eight months, so far. However, here are some of the things that they don't tell you about being pregnant.
1. Morning sickness is not just in the morning. It's all day long. And it can strike at a moment's notice, with absolutely no warning.
2. I honestly have no idea that I'm acting crazy and hormonal. To me I seem perfectly normal.
3. Everyone has a different theory of what you can and can't eat, drink, be around, etc. If you took everyone's advice, you'd never get to eat, drink or do anything.
4. Getting kicked/punched repeatedly in the bladder... it's never-ending. Not to mention that you always, and I mean ALWAYS have to pee, so it doesn't help matters any.
5. People -even complete strangers- have no problem telling you if they think you are too small, too big, carrying low or high, or expressing any other opinion on the way your pregnant self looks without being asked.
6. The dreams! Every night the bizarreness tops the night before.
7. When you need a donut (or a hamburger, or a pickle dipped in icing), it's not just a 'craving'; you will literally obsess about it until you have one.
8. While the baby's movements feel weird at first, you get used to them. The hiccups the baby gets, however, are definitely the strangest feeling.
9. Advertisers prey on your fears and emotions as a pregnant woman in order to convince you that you need every brand new expensive thing on the market or else you're going to be a bad mom.
10. You are more loved and supported than you ever imagined, and your friends and family will go out of their way to help you in any way they can!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Invitations
I made my own baby shower invitations for my family shower (but you already knew I would, right?), because I love to take on way more than I have the time or energy for. It's a really crappy picture, but you get the idea. I've already made matching birth announcements so that I'll just have to add the picture and they're ready to go...
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Vaccines?
A few friends of mine have expressed interest in reading the paper I wrote for my English class last quarter. So, I decided to just post it here so anyone who wanted to read it, could. I've actually included two papers, as I had to rewrite it (see explanation at the end).
Infant and Childhood Vaccines:
Preventing an Epidemic, or Creating One?
“Vaccine: a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, it’s products or its synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease. (Oxford American Dictionary).” In this standard definition, you can find a few key phrases that remind us of the original purpose for vaccinating infants and children, such as “provide immunity” and “act as an antigen without inducing the disease.” It’s interesting to me, then, that more and more vaccine research shows us that these vaccines really aren’t doing what they are supposed to be doing, yet our pediatricians and M.D.’s are encouraging us to vaccinate our little ones more than ever before.
THE HISTORY OF VACCINES, AND A LOOK AT HOW THEY WORK
The idea of vaccines was developed sometime around 1796 by a British physician, Edward Jenner, who “believed that dairy maids who had caught cowpox could not catch smallpox (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective?, p. 13).” Jenner infected a young boy with cowpox and after the boy caught the disease, Jenner injected him with smallpox, with no effect. This was the first recorded vaccination. In the years following, Jenner met with criticism from other physicians as they debated the efficacy and safety of using an animal disease to treat humans, so it was clear another approach was needed. “During that time, [Louis] Pasteur [who developed a rabies vaccine for humans in 1885] enhanced the concept of attenuation, which is the use of a weakened form of a virus to provide immunity. Pasteur found that a weakened form of chicken cholera (an attenuated form) was highly effective in preventing disease. Attenuated vaccines are widely used today. (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p.13).”
Most vaccines today contain some form of the virus it is vaccinating against. This is because “The main purpose of a vaccine is to stimulate the formation of antibodies at a concentration high enough to stop the pathogen in its tracks... as long as you maintain a certain concentration for a specific disease, you have immunity (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 7).” However, how does the vaccine include the virus? What other ingredients are used in these vaccines to help the body react appropriately to them?
First, before we answer those questions, let’s look at how vaccines work in the immune system so that we can then understand why they formulate vaccines the way they do. Vaccines, essentially “trick” the immune system. A form of the virus is manipulated and mixed with other ingredients, and then injected into the person. The body creates antibodies against the disease that basically live inside the body and are ready to attack the virus should you ever come in contact with it. “A vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to create antibodies and immune cells that recognize the pathogen and are thus prepared to battle it when it presents itself at the portals of the body (Allen, Arthur. Vaccine p. 14-15).” It makes perfect sense that a vaccine would be effective in an adult’s body, then, but consider the way an infant or child’s immune system may react. The immune system strengthens as we grow by responding to natural challenges in the environment. “When the vaccine virus is injected directly into the child’s bloodstream, it gains access to all of the major tissues and organs of the body without the body’s normal advantage of a total immune response. (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? p. 89).” The child’s immune system has not had time to develop and thus does not work the same as an adult’s does. If this immature immune system is injected with a barrage of vaccinations, rather than passing through the natural immune defenses, the immune system is not able to process it correctly and thus the defenses are overwhelmed. This could mean the vaccines are actually harming the child’s immune system, causing future issues with it’s ability to protect the child later in life.
HOW MANY VACCINES DO CHILDREN NEED, AND WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF, ANYWAY?
Today, most pediatricians along with the US government recommend a vaccine schedule that includes more than thirty-one doses before they even reach kindergarten age, with the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine given at birth.
“Approximately 100 years ago, children were on the receiving end of one vaccine, smallpox. Approximately 40 years ago there were five vaccines being promoted: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and smallpox. Usually the child received eight shots of one kind or another by age two. A detailed count reveals that kids now get 52 vaccines via 15 shots by age 16 months, if parents stand still for the shots recommended by AMA medicine (http://www.tuberose.com/Vaccinations.html).” If you take into account the underdeveloped immunity level of children, as mentioned earlier, the fact that our children are being injected with fifty-two different vaccines at such a young age is just scary.
Even scarier, however, are the ingredients in the vaccines. First, obviously, is a form of the virus. The virus is usually incubated or harvested in an animal or human medium such as chick embryo, pig pancreas tissue, monkey kidney tissue or even aborted human fetal tissue. Then, the additives, preservatives and anti-bacterial agents consisting of formaldehyde, dangerous metals like mercury and aluminum, MSG, antifreeze (although this ingredient is debated, depending on the resource), and cancer-causing agents such as Polysorbate 80 and Beta-propiolactone are included.
THE LINK BETWEEN MERCURY AND AUTISM, AND OTHER DANGERS
Obviously, you could look at each of these ingredients and see why they might be dangerous to the human body. However, let’s just focus on just one of these ingredients: mercury. It is well known that mercury, in the form of thimerosal, a preservative, has been used in common vaccines for many years. In the Hepatitis B vaccine alone, there is “12.5 micrograms of mercury (thimerosal), which is more than twenty-five times the EPA ‘safe level’ of 0.1 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 62).” By the time the child has been given the suggested doses of Hep B, plus the Hib and DTP vaccines at six months of age, they had received 187.5 mcg of mercury, which could not be filtered out of the body as bile production does not begin until after six months of age.
Under “Mercury Poisoning” Wikipedia.com describes, “Symptoms typically include sensory impairment (vision, hearing, speech), disturbed sensation and a lack of coordination (wikipedia.com). Other symptoms include verbal or physical ‘tics’, obsessive-compulsive behavior, sound sensitivity and many, many others. “Yet it was not until 1997 that the FDA reviewed whether exposure to thimerosal from vaccines was dangerous (Bookchin, Debbie and Schumacher, Jim. The Virus and the Vaccine. p. 282).” This investigation only began because parents started noticing and reporting their children’s symptoms, which seemed to correlate with mercury poisoning. It’s interesting to note that the symptoms of autism are almost identical to those of mercury poisoning. Coincidence?
In the early 1980’s the autism rate was about 1 in 10,000. In the late 1990’s, it was 1 in 500. In 2000 it had increased to 1 in 250 and in 2004 it was 1 in 166. It’s steadily risen to current rate of 1 in 150. Why? Some parents and medical professionals feel it’s because over the last fifty years the number of vaccines recommended for children has increased and these children can’t process the high levels of mercury, causing autism or autism-like symptoms.
As of now, vaccine manufacturers are removing the thimerosal from their products in response to this public outcry, however, this is just one of many harmful ingredients that should be removed. There has just not been enough research to determine all of the possible effects of the ingredients in these vaccines. “In fact, research focusing on possible correlations between vaccines, autoimmune diseases, and neurologically-based disorders (i.e., multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, cancer and AIDS) is just beginning (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? p. 89).”
POLIO VACCINES: CAUSING CANCER AND AIDS?
In 1916, the country was hit with a huge polio epidemic that began in the immigrant sections of New York City. By then end of that year, polio had spread across the country and more than 27,000 cases of paraylis were confirmed and people were in a panic. It was clear that something needed to be done.
Jonas Salk and other researchers who developed the Polio vaccine decided to use monkey kidneys to culture the disease for use in the vaccines, mostly because of the large supply of monkeys already “on hand” in researcher’s labs and because the kidneys were easy to obtain from the animals, as opposed to hearts or lungs. The problem? “Remove a kidney from a monkey and you reap with all of the offal circulating through the monkey’s blood – parasites, bacteria, unknown viruses- plus whatever microorganisms are actually living in the kidney itself. (Bookchin, Debbie and Schumacher, Jim. The Virus and the Vaccine. p. 32).” In 1959, it was discovered that these vaccines contained an infectious agent that caused cancer, SV-40.
SV-40 has been found to be a catalyst for many types of cancer. Cancer research has found SV-40 in brain tumors, leukemia, bone cancers, and a deadly form of lung cancer called mesothelioma. Further, a study in 1998 found higher rates of these types of cancer were found in people who were exposed to SV-40.
There are even more dangers associated with using monkey kidney cultures. The diseases monkeys carry may not always be known, and they can even mutate in the human body, creating new diseases. “Evidently, some viruses can live inside monkeys without causing harm. But if these viruses were to somehow cross species and enter the human population, new diseases could occur. (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? p. 22).” By the 1980’s, as vaccine research was growing substantially more sophisticated, researchers found another shocking discovery. A virus called SIV, found in over half of the primates used in these vaccines, is a close relative to the HIV virus. In fact, some AIDS researchers believe it is the same virus, mutated into human form. AIDS expert Robert Gallo has said, “The monkey virus is the human virus. There are monkey viruses as close to isolates of HIV-2 as HIV-2 isolates are to each other.”
VACCINES AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS
In the United States, the incidence of autoimmune disorders – disorders where the immune system produces antibodies against natural presences in the body- are higher than they have ever been in history. Why? Some speculate that the huge number of vaccines given to children before their immune system has fully developed is changing or damaging their immune systems. Further, it’s possible that the new ‘combined’ vaccines could be creating reactions never seen before. “There are a rising numbers of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile diaetes, pediatric asthma, pediatric Chrohn’s disease, and Guillain-Barre syndrom (progressive muscle weakness). Behind cancer and heart disease, autoimmune disease is now the third leading cause of illness in the United States (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 79-80)…”
The immune system is designed to find and attack ‘enemy’ germs and organisms. However, when you inject these foreign cells into an otherwise healthy body, rather than letting them enter naturally as in contracting an illness, the alien cells can fuse with the healthy cells instead and then the immune system can no longer differentiate between them. This confusion of the immune system can cause it to “either invade its own cells (cancer), or ignore danger signs altogether, leaving the organism vulnerable to any number of autoimmune diseases (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? p. 90).”
Some researchers relate this vaccine reaction to the way the human body has responded to antibiotics. Over the years as antibiotics have been developed to destroy disease causing bacteria, the bacteria has learned to mutate, therefore we find diseases that are no longer responding to antibiotics. It’s possible that messing with the body’s natural reaction via the immune system could actually be hurting the body, confusing it and even causing it to turn on itself.
WHY YOU ARE BEING PRESSURED TO VACCINATE, YOUR RIGHTS, AND THE FUTURE OF VACCINES
There are many studies now that show that rates of disease were steadily decreasing before the corresponding vaccine was ever introduced. There are even studies that show that, with some illnesses, the rate increased again after the vaccine began being used, indicating that they were actually infecting people with these vaccines rather than building their immunity against these diseases. “The oral [Polio] vaccine…has been shown to cause polio – about ten cases per year – and so after January 1, 2000 it was no longer recommended for use in the United States except in limited circumstances (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 167).”
Photos: http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/index.htm#5
While not all experts agree with these studies, the underlying issue is that these vaccines are still being marketed as completely safe and effective in spite of the varying research out there. Drug companies and some doctors are not being straightforward with parents about the possible risks of vaccinating. To consider another point, if we assume 90% of children are receiving the recommended vaccination schedule before entering school, why would anyone be against allowing the admittance of the 10% of children who are not vaccinated? Obviously, if these unvaccinated children contract any of the diseases, the vaccinated children would be safe, right? So what’s the real concern?
The real concern, in my opinion, is the money the drug companies are not getting from those that choose not to vaccinate. Vaccine manufacturers fund non-profit programs like Every Child By Two (which promotes the passage of laws designed to require children to be vaccinated before entering school) and the CDC (which is trying to enforce mass vaccinations). Also, physicians who use the vaccinations in their offices receive numerous perks from these companies. Many of the scientists who are creating and working on vaccines are receiving money from these drug companies, and they are the same scientists who are advising the federal government on decisions regarding making some vaccines mandatory.
New vaccines are being developed every day. It is rumored that the new cervical cancer vaccine will eventually be added to the recommended vaccine schedule for female children. There is also a diarrhea vaccine that has just been developed and released, making it the most expensive vaccine on the market today. This is another vaccine that could be added to the recommended schedule of vaccinations for children, even though it was developed mainly for the disease I which mainly affects lower-income countries such as parts of Africa and only has about 20-40 reported cases in America each year. It will cost the consumer over $300 per dose, per child.
If you are, or hope one day to become, a parent, you do have rights. You can choose to delay vaccinations, have them separated into single doses, or even choose not to vaccinate at all. In most states, you can file an exemption with your child’s school, citing either personal or religious reasons for not vaccinating. “Even though all states require children to receive specific vaccines before they can attend school, every state also allows at least one exemption, and many offer two and even three to that mandate. (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 251). It’s important to check with the state’s health department to find out the regulations in your state, if you choose not to vaccinate your child(ren) as recommended.
It’s true and wonderful that vaccines have been helpful through our country’s history to save hundreds of thousands of lives and eliminate widespread disease. In some instances, vaccines are still very beneficial and should be considered as an option. However, we should take a good look at the amount, frequency and appropriateness of the vaccines that are recommended for our children today. We should also look deeper into the way these vaccine ingredients are affecting children who have been immunized. If we don’t, it’s possible we could be creating new and more dangerous diseases that these vaccines are actually responsible for. We should remember that the body has it’s own, natural way of fighting disease and perhaps we should give our bodies a chance to work the way they were meant to work before relying on synthetic means. We need to encourage each other to be responsible in doing our research, to ask questions of our doctors and our government, and to stand up for the health and safety of our children.
Laura Caudill
123 Main Street
Anytown, OH 12345
American Medical Association
515 N. State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Dear Medical Professionals:
As a soon-to-be parent, I have begun research into my child’s medical future, in order to be well prepared and informed once she has arrived. One of the things I have learned is that there is a recommended schedule of vaccinations for infants and children. While I understand the theory behind vaccinating, I am concerned with a few things regarding the federal recommendations for vaccinating in this country.
First, I find that the number of doses in the schedule is very large. Is it truly necessary to inject children with this many different types of vaccines? How can this be healthy for a young child whose immune system is still developing? I realize that your organization deems these vaccinations safe for children, however it just seems hard to swallow the fact that, while each vaccine may be safe in itself, so many vaccines in such a short period of time is not going to overwhelm the immune system, wreaking havoc and possibly causing health issues that did not previously exist.
Secondly, how does your organization respond to the studies out there that question the safety of the ingredients in these vaccines? Pregnant women and children are discouraged from eating certain types of fish due to the levels of mercury, however the vaccines in your recommended schedule contain more mercury than is deemed safe for children to ingest. Also, there is aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, there are the studies that link SV-40 to cancer. I realize that many of these issues are still being researched, however if there is even a minute chance these studies could be accurate, is it fair to pressure families into injecting these substances into their children’s bodies without questioning the possible effects?
Finally, while I understand that your organization must take into consideration the health of the general population when creating these recommendations, I urge you to rethink them in the considerations of the rights of parents who choose not to vaccinate based on religious, personal or philosophical reasons. It is very hard for these parents to enroll their children in school or to discuss the different options with their doctor without being ridiculed, swayed or pressured to vaccinate. There is a reason we live in a free country, and I would hope that your organization would honor and encourage the freedom of choice with respect to medical considerations within a family.
As a concerned future parent, I ask three things of your organization. One, that you would be more forthright with information regarding the vaccines, including the ingredients and possible side effects, so that parents may make well-informed decisions regarding vaccination. Two, that you would re-think the vaccination schedule and consider raising the age of certain vaccines, in order to give the immune system a chance to develop before these children receive their vaccinations. Three, I respectfully ask that you would address the laws concerning school-age children who are not vaccinated and are enrolling in school. It should be a parent’s choice whether or not to vaccinate, and laws should reflect this freedom of choice.
Best Regards,
Laura Caudill
WORKS CITED
Bookchin, Debbie and Jim Schumacher. The Virus and the Vaccine. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2004.
Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Deborah Mitchell. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. New York: Wellness Central, 2001.
Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? Santa Fe: New Atlantean Press, 2002.
Allen, Arthur. Vaccine. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2007.
Vaccines? Assesing the Risks and Benefits. Perf. Dr. Jay Gordon. Choices Video, 2008.
Vaccinations.
Ingredients and Side Effects. < http://www.knowvaccines.com/aboutus.htm.>
Vaccination Liberation Information. 24 March, 2005. < http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/index.htm#5>
Please keep in mind, this was not the final paper I turned in. I did submit it as my rough draft, but had to completely edit the paper because it was too long and it was too persuasive, and the assignment was to give information about a topic and let the reader decide. I guess I got really caught up in writing the essay. So I re-wrote it, and here is my final submission:
Infant and Childhood Vaccines:
Preventing an Epidemic, or Creating One?
“Vaccine: a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, it’s products or its synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease. (Oxford American Dictionary).” In this standard definition, you can find a few key phrases that remind us of the original purpose for vaccinating infants and children, such as “provide immunity” and “act as an antigen without inducing the disease.” It’s interesting to me, then, that more and more vaccine research shows us that these vaccines really aren’t doing what they are supposed to be doing, yet our pediatricians and M.D.’s are encouraging us to vaccinate our little ones more than ever before.
THE HISTORY OF VACCINES, AND A LOOK AT HOW THEY WORK
The idea of vaccines was developed sometime around 1796 by a British physician, Edward Jenner, who “believed that dairy maids who had caught cowpox could not catch smallpox (Miller, 13).” Jenner infected a young boy with cowpox and after the boy caught the disease, Jenner injected him with smallpox, with no effect. This was the first recorded vaccination. In the years following, Jenner met with criticism from other physicians as they debated the efficacy and safety of using an animal disease to treat humans, so it was clear another approach was needed. “During that time, [Louis] Pasteur [who developed a rabies vaccine for humans in 1885] enhanced the concept of attenuation, which is the use of a weakened form of a virus to provide immunity. Pasteur found that a weakened form of chicken cholera (an attenuated form) was highly effective in preventing disease. Attenuated vaccines are widely used today. (Cave, 13).”
Most vaccines today contain some form of the virus it is vaccinating against. This is because “The main purpose of a vaccine is to stimulate the formation of antibodies at a concentration high enough to stop the pathogen in its tracks... as long as you maintain a certain concentration for a specific disease, you have immunity (Cave, 7).” However, how does the vaccine include the virus? What other ingredients are used in these vaccines to help the body react appropriately to them?
First, before we answer those questions, let’s look at how vaccines work in the immune system so that we can then understand why they formulate vaccines the way they do. Vaccines, essentially “trick” the immune system. “The vaccine is made from an antigen [or toxin] produced from the disease-causing microorganism. The vaccine is injected into the blood stream. The B cells in the blood stream respond to the antigen by producing antibodies. The antibodies bind to the antigen to "neutralize" or inactivate it. In addition, memory cells are produced and remain ready to mount a quick protective immune response against subsequent infection with the same disease-causing agent. (http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/making_vaccines.php).”
It makes perfect sense that a vaccine would be effective in an adult’s body, then, but consider the way an infant or child’s immune system may react. The immune system strengthens as we grow by responding to natural challenges in the environment. There are those of the opinion that the immune system of an infant is, in fact, “relatively complete upon birth” and that a breast-fed infant will even have the added benefit of receiving the mother’s antibodies through the breast milk, assisting the immune system in completing any unfinished development (http://www.immune.org.nz/?t=899). There are also those of the opinion that it’s not fully developed yet. “When the vaccine virus is injected directly into the child’s bloodstream, it gains access to all of the major tissues and organs of the body without the body’s normal advantage of a total immune response. (Miller, 89).” One conclusion that could be made from the conflicting theories is that no one really knows exactly how developed an infant’s immune system is upon birth, or how exactly it might react to vaccines at such an early age.
HOW MANY VACCINES DO CHILDREN NEED, AND WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF?
Today, most pediatricians along with the US government recommend a vaccine schedule that includes more than thirty-one doses before they even reach kindergarten age, with the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine given at birth. The following table is the Center for Disease Control’s recommended vaccination schedule, which is approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
“Approximately 100 years ago, children were on the receiving end of one vaccine, smallpox. Approximately 40 years ago there were five vaccines being promoted: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and smallpox. Usually the child received eight shots of one kind or another by age two. A detailed count reveals that kids now get 52 vaccines via 15 shots by age 16 months, if parents stand still for the shots recommended by AMA medicine (http://www.tuberose.com/Vaccinations.html).”
Does this large amount of injections in such a short time period seem excessive? The American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s perfectly safe. “Infants and children are exposed to many germs every day just by playing, eating, and breathing. Their immune systems fight those germs, also called antigens, to keep the body healthy. The amount of antigens that children fight every day (2,000-6,000) is much more than the antigens in any combination of vaccines on the current schedule (150 for the whole schedule). So, children’s immune systems are not overwhelmed by vaccines. (http://www.cispimmunize.org/pro/pdf/Vaccineschedule.pdf).”
However, some parents, and even more interestingly, a growing number of physicians believe it is, in fact, excessive and that it can even be dangerous. Dr. Donald W Miller, Jr., MD, writes, “Public health officials…have not proven that it is indeed safe to inject this many vaccines into infants. What's more, they cannot explain why, concurrent with an increasing number of vaccinations, there has been an explosion of neurological and immune system disorders in our nation’s children. (http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html).”
What about the ingredients in vaccines? First, obviously, is either a live or dead form of the virus. The virus is usually incubated or harvested in an animal or human medium such as chick embryo, pig pancreas tissue, monkey kidney tissue or even aborted human fetal tissue. Then, the additives, preservatives and anti-bacterial agents consisting of things like formaldehyde, questionably safe metals like mercury and aluminum, MSG, antifreeze (although this ingredient is debated, depending on the resource), and possible cancer-causing agents such as Polysorbate 80 and Beta-propiolactone are included. (Bookchin, 163). As vaccine manufacturers are required to release the ingredient information, the list of ingredients is easily obtainable knowledge to anyone who seeks it and therefore not something that leaves much room for question. The safety, necessity and volume of these ingredients in vaccines, however, are hotly debated issues among medical professionals, parents and child safety advocates. “Research focusing on possible correlations between vaccines, autoimmune diseases, and neurologically-based disorders (i.e., multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, cancer and AIDS) is just beginning (Miller, 89).”
A CLOSER LOOK AT MERCURY
A concerned parent or advocate could research each of these ingredients individually and find out if they might or might not be dangerous to the human body. However, let’s focus on just one of these ingredients: mercury. It is known that mercury, in the form of thimerosal, a preservative, has been used in common vaccines for many years. Is it safe? There are two sides to every story.
In the Hepatitis B vaccine alone, there is “12.5 micrograms of mercury (thimerosal), which is more than twenty-five times the EPA ‘safe level’ of 0.1 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day (Cave, 62).” By the time the child has been given the suggested doses of Hep B, plus the Hib and DTP vaccines at six months of age, they had received 187.5 mcg of mercury, which can not be filtered out of the body as bile production does not begin until after six months of age.
Vaccine manufacturers and some doctors say, however, that the amount of mercury in vaccines began to be reduced or almost eliminated in 1999. Interestingly, the form of mercury (ethyl mercury) used in vaccines has been found to leave the blood faster than other types, and it’s possible the levels of this type used in vaccines may never have been dangerous to begin with. The type of mercury that is used in the safety research, and the kind most people are familiar with is the type found in fish: methyl mercury. (http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/news/20080130/vaccine-mercury-leaves-blood-fast).
While many parents may blame mercury for causing Autism, ADD or other illnesses in their children, it’s clear more research is needed and this concern seems to be echoed even among manufacturers. “More research is planned to evaluate if the thimerosal in vaccines poses a risk to children (http://www.immunizationinfo.org/thimerosal_mercury_detail.cfv?id=3).”
VACCINES AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS
In the United States, the incidence of autoimmune disorders – disorders where the immune system produces antibodies against natural presences in the body- are higher than they have ever been in history. “There are a rising numbers of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile diaetes, pediatric asthma, pediatric Chrohn’s disease, and Guillain-Barre syndrom (progressive muscle weakness). Behind cancer and heart disease, autoimmune disease is now the third leading cause of illness in the United States (Cave, 79-80)…”
Some speculate that the huge number of vaccines given to children before their immune system has fully developed is changing or damaging their immune systems. Further, it’s questioned whether the new ‘combined’ vaccines could be creating reactions never seen before.
The immune system is designed to find and attack ‘enemy’ germs and organisms. However, when you inject these foreign cells into an otherwise healthy body, rather than letting them enter naturally as in contracting an illness, it is possible for the alien cells to fuse with the healthy cells instead and then the immune system can no longer differentiate between them. This confusion of the immune system can cause it to “either invade its own cells (causing cancer), or ignore danger signs altogether, leaving the organism vulnerable to any number of autoimmune diseases (Miller, 90).”
Some researchers relate this vaccine reaction to the way the human body has responded to antibiotics. Over the years as antibiotics have been developed to destroy disease causing bacteria, the bacteria has learned to mutate, therefore we find diseases that are no longer responding to antibiotics. “Health experts have noticed that antibiotics are becoming less and less effective as people use them more and more. This happens because of antibiotic resistance, a problem that develops when antibiotics are overused or misused. (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2601/is_0000/ai_2601000093)”
WHY YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO VACCINATE, YOUR RIGHTS, AND THE FUTURE OF VACCINES
There are many studies now that show that rates of disease were steadily decreasing before the corresponding vaccine was ever introduced. There are even studies that show that, with some illnesses, the rate increased again after the vaccine began being used, indicating that they were actually infecting people with these vaccines rather than building their immunity against these diseases. “The oral [Polio] vaccine…has been shown to cause polio – about ten cases per year – and so after January 1, 2000 it was no longer recommended for use in the United States except in limited circumstances (Cave, 167).”
Photos: http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/index.htm#5
Not all experts agree with these studies. There are arguments against this, such as the fact that the population has increased since the 1800’s, skewing the numbers. Another argument is that these rates are based on death rates due to poor conditions. “What was changing before vaccines became available was the death rate from some of these diseases. Improvements in social and economic conditions led to declining death rates for many common diseases. Children who are healthy and well-nourished are much less likely to die from measles or pertussis than malnourished children. (http://www.bccdc.org/content.php?item=19).”
Some argue that the drug companies are the force behind the push to vaccinate from doctors and the medical community. It’s true that the vaccine manufacturer Wyeth funds non-profit programs like Every Child By Two (which promotes the passage of laws designed to require children to be vaccinated before entering school) and the CDC (which is trying to enforce mass vaccinations) (http://www.whale.to/vaccine/handley1.html). You just need to look deep enough to get the information. Also, physicians who use the vaccinations in their offices receive numerous perks from these companies, such as free lunches and dinners and gifts. This is common practice for the medical community among drug manufacturers of all kinds. However, does this mean that potential for these companies to make money is the only reason we are encouraged to vaccinate?
New vaccines are being developed every day. It is rumored that the new cervical cancer vaccine will eventually be added to the recommended vaccine schedule for female children. There is a diarrhea vaccine that has just been developed and released, making it, interestingly, the most expensive vaccine on the market today (Vaccines: Assessing the Risks and Benefits). There are also vaccines being developed for autoimmune diseases such as cerebal palsy and certain types of arthritis.
If you are, or hope one day to become, a parent, you do have rights. You can choose to vaccinate on schedule, delay vaccinations, have them separated into single doses, or even choose not to vaccinate at all. In most states, you can file an exemption with your child’s school, citing either personal or religious reasons for not vaccinating. “Even though all states require children to receive specific vaccines before they can attend school, every state also allows at least one exemption, and many offer two and even three to that mandate. (Cave, p. 251). It’s important to check with the state’s health department to find out the regulations in your state.
It’s true and wonderful that vaccines have been helpful through our country’s history to save hundreds of thousands of lives and eliminate widespread disease. To continue this trend, we should take a good look at the amount, frequency and appropriateness of the vaccines that are recommended for our children today, and determine if they are safe. We should also look deeper into whether or not these vaccine ingredients are affecting children who have been immunized. We need to encourage each other to be responsible in doing our research, to ask questions of our doctors and our government, and to advocate for the health and safety of our children.
WORKS CITED
Bookchin, Debbie and Jim Schumacher. The Virus and the Vaccine. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2004.
Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Deborah Mitchell. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. New York: Wellness Central, 2001.
Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? Santa Fe: New Atlantean Press, 2002.
Allen, Arthur. Vaccine. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2007.
Vaccines? Assesing the Risks and Benefits. Perf. Dr. Jay Gordon. Choices Video, 2008.
Vaccinations.
Ingredients and Side Effects. < http://www.knowvaccines.com/aboutus.htm.>
Vaccination Liberation Information. 24 March, 2005. < http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/index.htm#5>
Making Vaccines. < http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/making_vaccines.php>
"The immune system, infants and immunization.” Health Professionals Online Resource Centre. 2004.
“The Childhood Immunization Schedule: Why Is It Like That?” American Academy of Pediatrics.
“Thimerosal: Mercury in Vaccines.” National Network for Immunization Information. 6 Aug 2008...
Ross-Flannigan, Nancy. “Antibiotics.” Find Articles.com.
“Immunization FAQ’s.” BC Centre for Disease Control.11 Dec 2006.
Infant and Childhood Vaccines:
Preventing an Epidemic, or Creating One?
“Vaccine: a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, it’s products or its synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease. (Oxford American Dictionary).” In this standard definition, you can find a few key phrases that remind us of the original purpose for vaccinating infants and children, such as “provide immunity” and “act as an antigen without inducing the disease.” It’s interesting to me, then, that more and more vaccine research shows us that these vaccines really aren’t doing what they are supposed to be doing, yet our pediatricians and M.D.’s are encouraging us to vaccinate our little ones more than ever before.
THE HISTORY OF VACCINES, AND A LOOK AT HOW THEY WORK
The idea of vaccines was developed sometime around 1796 by a British physician, Edward Jenner, who “believed that dairy maids who had caught cowpox could not catch smallpox (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective?, p. 13).” Jenner infected a young boy with cowpox and after the boy caught the disease, Jenner injected him with smallpox, with no effect. This was the first recorded vaccination. In the years following, Jenner met with criticism from other physicians as they debated the efficacy and safety of using an animal disease to treat humans, so it was clear another approach was needed. “During that time, [Louis] Pasteur [who developed a rabies vaccine for humans in 1885] enhanced the concept of attenuation, which is the use of a weakened form of a virus to provide immunity. Pasteur found that a weakened form of chicken cholera (an attenuated form) was highly effective in preventing disease. Attenuated vaccines are widely used today. (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p.13).”
Most vaccines today contain some form of the virus it is vaccinating against. This is because “The main purpose of a vaccine is to stimulate the formation of antibodies at a concentration high enough to stop the pathogen in its tracks... as long as you maintain a certain concentration for a specific disease, you have immunity (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 7).” However, how does the vaccine include the virus? What other ingredients are used in these vaccines to help the body react appropriately to them?
First, before we answer those questions, let’s look at how vaccines work in the immune system so that we can then understand why they formulate vaccines the way they do. Vaccines, essentially “trick” the immune system. A form of the virus is manipulated and mixed with other ingredients, and then injected into the person. The body creates antibodies against the disease that basically live inside the body and are ready to attack the virus should you ever come in contact with it. “A vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to create antibodies and immune cells that recognize the pathogen and are thus prepared to battle it when it presents itself at the portals of the body (Allen, Arthur. Vaccine p. 14-15).” It makes perfect sense that a vaccine would be effective in an adult’s body, then, but consider the way an infant or child’s immune system may react. The immune system strengthens as we grow by responding to natural challenges in the environment. “When the vaccine virus is injected directly into the child’s bloodstream, it gains access to all of the major tissues and organs of the body without the body’s normal advantage of a total immune response. (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? p. 89).” The child’s immune system has not had time to develop and thus does not work the same as an adult’s does. If this immature immune system is injected with a barrage of vaccinations, rather than passing through the natural immune defenses, the immune system is not able to process it correctly and thus the defenses are overwhelmed. This could mean the vaccines are actually harming the child’s immune system, causing future issues with it’s ability to protect the child later in life.
HOW MANY VACCINES DO CHILDREN NEED, AND WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF, ANYWAY?
Today, most pediatricians along with the US government recommend a vaccine schedule that includes more than thirty-one doses before they even reach kindergarten age, with the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine given at birth.
“Approximately 100 years ago, children were on the receiving end of one vaccine, smallpox. Approximately 40 years ago there were five vaccines being promoted: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and smallpox. Usually the child received eight shots of one kind or another by age two. A detailed count reveals that kids now get 52 vaccines via 15 shots by age 16 months, if parents stand still for the shots recommended by AMA medicine (http://www.tuberose.com/Vaccinations.html).” If you take into account the underdeveloped immunity level of children, as mentioned earlier, the fact that our children are being injected with fifty-two different vaccines at such a young age is just scary.
Even scarier, however, are the ingredients in the vaccines. First, obviously, is a form of the virus. The virus is usually incubated or harvested in an animal or human medium such as chick embryo, pig pancreas tissue, monkey kidney tissue or even aborted human fetal tissue. Then, the additives, preservatives and anti-bacterial agents consisting of formaldehyde, dangerous metals like mercury and aluminum, MSG, antifreeze (although this ingredient is debated, depending on the resource), and cancer-causing agents such as Polysorbate 80 and Beta-propiolactone are included.
THE LINK BETWEEN MERCURY AND AUTISM, AND OTHER DANGERS
Obviously, you could look at each of these ingredients and see why they might be dangerous to the human body. However, let’s just focus on just one of these ingredients: mercury. It is well known that mercury, in the form of thimerosal, a preservative, has been used in common vaccines for many years. In the Hepatitis B vaccine alone, there is “12.5 micrograms of mercury (thimerosal), which is more than twenty-five times the EPA ‘safe level’ of 0.1 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 62).” By the time the child has been given the suggested doses of Hep B, plus the Hib and DTP vaccines at six months of age, they had received 187.5 mcg of mercury, which could not be filtered out of the body as bile production does not begin until after six months of age.
Under “Mercury Poisoning” Wikipedia.com describes, “Symptoms typically include sensory impairment (vision, hearing, speech), disturbed sensation and a lack of coordination (wikipedia.com). Other symptoms include verbal or physical ‘tics’, obsessive-compulsive behavior, sound sensitivity and many, many others. “Yet it was not until 1997 that the FDA reviewed whether exposure to thimerosal from vaccines was dangerous (Bookchin, Debbie and Schumacher, Jim. The Virus and the Vaccine. p. 282).” This investigation only began because parents started noticing and reporting their children’s symptoms, which seemed to correlate with mercury poisoning. It’s interesting to note that the symptoms of autism are almost identical to those of mercury poisoning. Coincidence?
In the early 1980’s the autism rate was about 1 in 10,000. In the late 1990’s, it was 1 in 500. In 2000 it had increased to 1 in 250 and in 2004 it was 1 in 166. It’s steadily risen to current rate of 1 in 150. Why? Some parents and medical professionals feel it’s because over the last fifty years the number of vaccines recommended for children has increased and these children can’t process the high levels of mercury, causing autism or autism-like symptoms.
As of now, vaccine manufacturers are removing the thimerosal from their products in response to this public outcry, however, this is just one of many harmful ingredients that should be removed. There has just not been enough research to determine all of the possible effects of the ingredients in these vaccines. “In fact, research focusing on possible correlations between vaccines, autoimmune diseases, and neurologically-based disorders (i.e., multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, cancer and AIDS) is just beginning (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? p. 89).”
POLIO VACCINES: CAUSING CANCER AND AIDS?
In 1916, the country was hit with a huge polio epidemic that began in the immigrant sections of New York City. By then end of that year, polio had spread across the country and more than 27,000 cases of paraylis were confirmed and people were in a panic. It was clear that something needed to be done.
Jonas Salk and other researchers who developed the Polio vaccine decided to use monkey kidneys to culture the disease for use in the vaccines, mostly because of the large supply of monkeys already “on hand” in researcher’s labs and because the kidneys were easy to obtain from the animals, as opposed to hearts or lungs. The problem? “Remove a kidney from a monkey and you reap with all of the offal circulating through the monkey’s blood – parasites, bacteria, unknown viruses- plus whatever microorganisms are actually living in the kidney itself. (Bookchin, Debbie and Schumacher, Jim. The Virus and the Vaccine. p. 32).” In 1959, it was discovered that these vaccines contained an infectious agent that caused cancer, SV-40.
SV-40 has been found to be a catalyst for many types of cancer. Cancer research has found SV-40 in brain tumors, leukemia, bone cancers, and a deadly form of lung cancer called mesothelioma. Further, a study in 1998 found higher rates of these types of cancer were found in people who were exposed to SV-40.
There are even more dangers associated with using monkey kidney cultures. The diseases monkeys carry may not always be known, and they can even mutate in the human body, creating new diseases. “Evidently, some viruses can live inside monkeys without causing harm. But if these viruses were to somehow cross species and enter the human population, new diseases could occur. (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? p. 22).” By the 1980’s, as vaccine research was growing substantially more sophisticated, researchers found another shocking discovery. A virus called SIV, found in over half of the primates used in these vaccines, is a close relative to the HIV virus. In fact, some AIDS researchers believe it is the same virus, mutated into human form. AIDS expert Robert Gallo has said, “The monkey virus is the human virus. There are monkey viruses as close to isolates of HIV-2 as HIV-2 isolates are to each other.”
VACCINES AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS
In the United States, the incidence of autoimmune disorders – disorders where the immune system produces antibodies against natural presences in the body- are higher than they have ever been in history. Why? Some speculate that the huge number of vaccines given to children before their immune system has fully developed is changing or damaging their immune systems. Further, it’s possible that the new ‘combined’ vaccines could be creating reactions never seen before. “There are a rising numbers of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile diaetes, pediatric asthma, pediatric Chrohn’s disease, and Guillain-Barre syndrom (progressive muscle weakness). Behind cancer and heart disease, autoimmune disease is now the third leading cause of illness in the United States (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 79-80)…”
The immune system is designed to find and attack ‘enemy’ germs and organisms. However, when you inject these foreign cells into an otherwise healthy body, rather than letting them enter naturally as in contracting an illness, the alien cells can fuse with the healthy cells instead and then the immune system can no longer differentiate between them. This confusion of the immune system can cause it to “either invade its own cells (cancer), or ignore danger signs altogether, leaving the organism vulnerable to any number of autoimmune diseases (Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? p. 90).”
Some researchers relate this vaccine reaction to the way the human body has responded to antibiotics. Over the years as antibiotics have been developed to destroy disease causing bacteria, the bacteria has learned to mutate, therefore we find diseases that are no longer responding to antibiotics. It’s possible that messing with the body’s natural reaction via the immune system could actually be hurting the body, confusing it and even causing it to turn on itself.
WHY YOU ARE BEING PRESSURED TO VACCINATE, YOUR RIGHTS, AND THE FUTURE OF VACCINES
There are many studies now that show that rates of disease were steadily decreasing before the corresponding vaccine was ever introduced. There are even studies that show that, with some illnesses, the rate increased again after the vaccine began being used, indicating that they were actually infecting people with these vaccines rather than building their immunity against these diseases. “The oral [Polio] vaccine…has been shown to cause polio – about ten cases per year – and so after January 1, 2000 it was no longer recommended for use in the United States except in limited circumstances (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 167).”
Photos: http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/index.htm#5
While not all experts agree with these studies, the underlying issue is that these vaccines are still being marketed as completely safe and effective in spite of the varying research out there. Drug companies and some doctors are not being straightforward with parents about the possible risks of vaccinating. To consider another point, if we assume 90% of children are receiving the recommended vaccination schedule before entering school, why would anyone be against allowing the admittance of the 10% of children who are not vaccinated? Obviously, if these unvaccinated children contract any of the diseases, the vaccinated children would be safe, right? So what’s the real concern?
The real concern, in my opinion, is the money the drug companies are not getting from those that choose not to vaccinate. Vaccine manufacturers fund non-profit programs like Every Child By Two (which promotes the passage of laws designed to require children to be vaccinated before entering school) and the CDC (which is trying to enforce mass vaccinations). Also, physicians who use the vaccinations in their offices receive numerous perks from these companies. Many of the scientists who are creating and working on vaccines are receiving money from these drug companies, and they are the same scientists who are advising the federal government on decisions regarding making some vaccines mandatory.
New vaccines are being developed every day. It is rumored that the new cervical cancer vaccine will eventually be added to the recommended vaccine schedule for female children. There is also a diarrhea vaccine that has just been developed and released, making it the most expensive vaccine on the market today. This is another vaccine that could be added to the recommended schedule of vaccinations for children, even though it was developed mainly for the disease I which mainly affects lower-income countries such as parts of Africa and only has about 20-40 reported cases in America each year. It will cost the consumer over $300 per dose, per child.
If you are, or hope one day to become, a parent, you do have rights. You can choose to delay vaccinations, have them separated into single doses, or even choose not to vaccinate at all. In most states, you can file an exemption with your child’s school, citing either personal or religious reasons for not vaccinating. “Even though all states require children to receive specific vaccines before they can attend school, every state also allows at least one exemption, and many offer two and even three to that mandate. (Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Mitchell, Deborah. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. p. 251). It’s important to check with the state’s health department to find out the regulations in your state, if you choose not to vaccinate your child(ren) as recommended.
It’s true and wonderful that vaccines have been helpful through our country’s history to save hundreds of thousands of lives and eliminate widespread disease. In some instances, vaccines are still very beneficial and should be considered as an option. However, we should take a good look at the amount, frequency and appropriateness of the vaccines that are recommended for our children today. We should also look deeper into the way these vaccine ingredients are affecting children who have been immunized. If we don’t, it’s possible we could be creating new and more dangerous diseases that these vaccines are actually responsible for. We should remember that the body has it’s own, natural way of fighting disease and perhaps we should give our bodies a chance to work the way they were meant to work before relying on synthetic means. We need to encourage each other to be responsible in doing our research, to ask questions of our doctors and our government, and to stand up for the health and safety of our children.
Laura Caudill
123 Main Street
Anytown, OH 12345
American Medical Association
515 N. State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Dear Medical Professionals:
As a soon-to-be parent, I have begun research into my child’s medical future, in order to be well prepared and informed once she has arrived. One of the things I have learned is that there is a recommended schedule of vaccinations for infants and children. While I understand the theory behind vaccinating, I am concerned with a few things regarding the federal recommendations for vaccinating in this country.
First, I find that the number of doses in the schedule is very large. Is it truly necessary to inject children with this many different types of vaccines? How can this be healthy for a young child whose immune system is still developing? I realize that your organization deems these vaccinations safe for children, however it just seems hard to swallow the fact that, while each vaccine may be safe in itself, so many vaccines in such a short period of time is not going to overwhelm the immune system, wreaking havoc and possibly causing health issues that did not previously exist.
Secondly, how does your organization respond to the studies out there that question the safety of the ingredients in these vaccines? Pregnant women and children are discouraged from eating certain types of fish due to the levels of mercury, however the vaccines in your recommended schedule contain more mercury than is deemed safe for children to ingest. Also, there is aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, there are the studies that link SV-40 to cancer. I realize that many of these issues are still being researched, however if there is even a minute chance these studies could be accurate, is it fair to pressure families into injecting these substances into their children’s bodies without questioning the possible effects?
Finally, while I understand that your organization must take into consideration the health of the general population when creating these recommendations, I urge you to rethink them in the considerations of the rights of parents who choose not to vaccinate based on religious, personal or philosophical reasons. It is very hard for these parents to enroll their children in school or to discuss the different options with their doctor without being ridiculed, swayed or pressured to vaccinate. There is a reason we live in a free country, and I would hope that your organization would honor and encourage the freedom of choice with respect to medical considerations within a family.
As a concerned future parent, I ask three things of your organization. One, that you would be more forthright with information regarding the vaccines, including the ingredients and possible side effects, so that parents may make well-informed decisions regarding vaccination. Two, that you would re-think the vaccination schedule and consider raising the age of certain vaccines, in order to give the immune system a chance to develop before these children receive their vaccinations. Three, I respectfully ask that you would address the laws concerning school-age children who are not vaccinated and are enrolling in school. It should be a parent’s choice whether or not to vaccinate, and laws should reflect this freedom of choice.
Best Regards,
Laura Caudill
WORKS CITED
Bookchin, Debbie and Jim Schumacher. The Virus and the Vaccine. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2004.
Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Deborah Mitchell. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. New York: Wellness Central, 2001.
Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? Santa Fe: New Atlantean Press, 2002.
Allen, Arthur. Vaccine. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2007.
Vaccines? Assesing the Risks and Benefits. Perf. Dr. Jay Gordon. Choices Video, 2008.
Vaccinations.
Ingredients and Side Effects. < http://www.knowvaccines.com/aboutus.htm.>
Vaccination Liberation Information. 24 March, 2005. < http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/index.htm#5>
Please keep in mind, this was not the final paper I turned in. I did submit it as my rough draft, but had to completely edit the paper because it was too long and it was too persuasive, and the assignment was to give information about a topic and let the reader decide. I guess I got really caught up in writing the essay. So I re-wrote it, and here is my final submission:
Infant and Childhood Vaccines:
Preventing an Epidemic, or Creating One?
“Vaccine: a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, it’s products or its synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease. (Oxford American Dictionary).” In this standard definition, you can find a few key phrases that remind us of the original purpose for vaccinating infants and children, such as “provide immunity” and “act as an antigen without inducing the disease.” It’s interesting to me, then, that more and more vaccine research shows us that these vaccines really aren’t doing what they are supposed to be doing, yet our pediatricians and M.D.’s are encouraging us to vaccinate our little ones more than ever before.
THE HISTORY OF VACCINES, AND A LOOK AT HOW THEY WORK
The idea of vaccines was developed sometime around 1796 by a British physician, Edward Jenner, who “believed that dairy maids who had caught cowpox could not catch smallpox (Miller, 13).” Jenner infected a young boy with cowpox and after the boy caught the disease, Jenner injected him with smallpox, with no effect. This was the first recorded vaccination. In the years following, Jenner met with criticism from other physicians as they debated the efficacy and safety of using an animal disease to treat humans, so it was clear another approach was needed. “During that time, [Louis] Pasteur [who developed a rabies vaccine for humans in 1885] enhanced the concept of attenuation, which is the use of a weakened form of a virus to provide immunity. Pasteur found that a weakened form of chicken cholera (an attenuated form) was highly effective in preventing disease. Attenuated vaccines are widely used today. (Cave, 13).”
Most vaccines today contain some form of the virus it is vaccinating against. This is because “The main purpose of a vaccine is to stimulate the formation of antibodies at a concentration high enough to stop the pathogen in its tracks... as long as you maintain a certain concentration for a specific disease, you have immunity (Cave, 7).” However, how does the vaccine include the virus? What other ingredients are used in these vaccines to help the body react appropriately to them?
First, before we answer those questions, let’s look at how vaccines work in the immune system so that we can then understand why they formulate vaccines the way they do. Vaccines, essentially “trick” the immune system. “The vaccine is made from an antigen [or toxin] produced from the disease-causing microorganism. The vaccine is injected into the blood stream. The B cells in the blood stream respond to the antigen by producing antibodies. The antibodies bind to the antigen to "neutralize" or inactivate it. In addition, memory cells are produced and remain ready to mount a quick protective immune response against subsequent infection with the same disease-causing agent. (http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/making_vaccines.php).”
It makes perfect sense that a vaccine would be effective in an adult’s body, then, but consider the way an infant or child’s immune system may react. The immune system strengthens as we grow by responding to natural challenges in the environment. There are those of the opinion that the immune system of an infant is, in fact, “relatively complete upon birth” and that a breast-fed infant will even have the added benefit of receiving the mother’s antibodies through the breast milk, assisting the immune system in completing any unfinished development (http://www.immune.org.nz/?t=899). There are also those of the opinion that it’s not fully developed yet. “When the vaccine virus is injected directly into the child’s bloodstream, it gains access to all of the major tissues and organs of the body without the body’s normal advantage of a total immune response. (Miller, 89).” One conclusion that could be made from the conflicting theories is that no one really knows exactly how developed an infant’s immune system is upon birth, or how exactly it might react to vaccines at such an early age.
HOW MANY VACCINES DO CHILDREN NEED, AND WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF?
Today, most pediatricians along with the US government recommend a vaccine schedule that includes more than thirty-one doses before they even reach kindergarten age, with the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine given at birth. The following table is the Center for Disease Control’s recommended vaccination schedule, which is approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
“Approximately 100 years ago, children were on the receiving end of one vaccine, smallpox. Approximately 40 years ago there were five vaccines being promoted: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and smallpox. Usually the child received eight shots of one kind or another by age two. A detailed count reveals that kids now get 52 vaccines via 15 shots by age 16 months, if parents stand still for the shots recommended by AMA medicine (http://www.tuberose.com/Vaccinations.html).”
Does this large amount of injections in such a short time period seem excessive? The American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s perfectly safe. “Infants and children are exposed to many germs every day just by playing, eating, and breathing. Their immune systems fight those germs, also called antigens, to keep the body healthy. The amount of antigens that children fight every day (2,000-6,000) is much more than the antigens in any combination of vaccines on the current schedule (150 for the whole schedule). So, children’s immune systems are not overwhelmed by vaccines. (http://www.cispimmunize.org/pro/pdf/Vaccineschedule.pdf).”
However, some parents, and even more interestingly, a growing number of physicians believe it is, in fact, excessive and that it can even be dangerous. Dr. Donald W Miller, Jr., MD, writes, “Public health officials…have not proven that it is indeed safe to inject this many vaccines into infants. What's more, they cannot explain why, concurrent with an increasing number of vaccinations, there has been an explosion of neurological and immune system disorders in our nation’s children. (http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html).”
What about the ingredients in vaccines? First, obviously, is either a live or dead form of the virus. The virus is usually incubated or harvested in an animal or human medium such as chick embryo, pig pancreas tissue, monkey kidney tissue or even aborted human fetal tissue. Then, the additives, preservatives and anti-bacterial agents consisting of things like formaldehyde, questionably safe metals like mercury and aluminum, MSG, antifreeze (although this ingredient is debated, depending on the resource), and possible cancer-causing agents such as Polysorbate 80 and Beta-propiolactone are included. (Bookchin, 163). As vaccine manufacturers are required to release the ingredient information, the list of ingredients is easily obtainable knowledge to anyone who seeks it and therefore not something that leaves much room for question. The safety, necessity and volume of these ingredients in vaccines, however, are hotly debated issues among medical professionals, parents and child safety advocates. “Research focusing on possible correlations between vaccines, autoimmune diseases, and neurologically-based disorders (i.e., multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, cancer and AIDS) is just beginning (Miller, 89).”
A CLOSER LOOK AT MERCURY
A concerned parent or advocate could research each of these ingredients individually and find out if they might or might not be dangerous to the human body. However, let’s focus on just one of these ingredients: mercury. It is known that mercury, in the form of thimerosal, a preservative, has been used in common vaccines for many years. Is it safe? There are two sides to every story.
In the Hepatitis B vaccine alone, there is “12.5 micrograms of mercury (thimerosal), which is more than twenty-five times the EPA ‘safe level’ of 0.1 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day (Cave, 62).” By the time the child has been given the suggested doses of Hep B, plus the Hib and DTP vaccines at six months of age, they had received 187.5 mcg of mercury, which can not be filtered out of the body as bile production does not begin until after six months of age.
Vaccine manufacturers and some doctors say, however, that the amount of mercury in vaccines began to be reduced or almost eliminated in 1999. Interestingly, the form of mercury (ethyl mercury) used in vaccines has been found to leave the blood faster than other types, and it’s possible the levels of this type used in vaccines may never have been dangerous to begin with. The type of mercury that is used in the safety research, and the kind most people are familiar with is the type found in fish: methyl mercury. (http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/news/20080130/vaccine-mercury-leaves-blood-fast).
While many parents may blame mercury for causing Autism, ADD or other illnesses in their children, it’s clear more research is needed and this concern seems to be echoed even among manufacturers. “More research is planned to evaluate if the thimerosal in vaccines poses a risk to children (http://www.immunizationinfo.org/thimerosal_mercury_detail.cfv?id=3).”
VACCINES AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS
In the United States, the incidence of autoimmune disorders – disorders where the immune system produces antibodies against natural presences in the body- are higher than they have ever been in history. “There are a rising numbers of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile diaetes, pediatric asthma, pediatric Chrohn’s disease, and Guillain-Barre syndrom (progressive muscle weakness). Behind cancer and heart disease, autoimmune disease is now the third leading cause of illness in the United States (Cave, 79-80)…”
Some speculate that the huge number of vaccines given to children before their immune system has fully developed is changing or damaging their immune systems. Further, it’s questioned whether the new ‘combined’ vaccines could be creating reactions never seen before.
The immune system is designed to find and attack ‘enemy’ germs and organisms. However, when you inject these foreign cells into an otherwise healthy body, rather than letting them enter naturally as in contracting an illness, it is possible for the alien cells to fuse with the healthy cells instead and then the immune system can no longer differentiate between them. This confusion of the immune system can cause it to “either invade its own cells (causing cancer), or ignore danger signs altogether, leaving the organism vulnerable to any number of autoimmune diseases (Miller, 90).”
Some researchers relate this vaccine reaction to the way the human body has responded to antibiotics. Over the years as antibiotics have been developed to destroy disease causing bacteria, the bacteria has learned to mutate, therefore we find diseases that are no longer responding to antibiotics. “Health experts have noticed that antibiotics are becoming less and less effective as people use them more and more. This happens because of antibiotic resistance, a problem that develops when antibiotics are overused or misused. (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2601/is_0000/ai_2601000093)”
WHY YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO VACCINATE, YOUR RIGHTS, AND THE FUTURE OF VACCINES
There are many studies now that show that rates of disease were steadily decreasing before the corresponding vaccine was ever introduced. There are even studies that show that, with some illnesses, the rate increased again after the vaccine began being used, indicating that they were actually infecting people with these vaccines rather than building their immunity against these diseases. “The oral [Polio] vaccine…has been shown to cause polio – about ten cases per year – and so after January 1, 2000 it was no longer recommended for use in the United States except in limited circumstances (Cave, 167).”
Photos: http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/index.htm#5
Not all experts agree with these studies. There are arguments against this, such as the fact that the population has increased since the 1800’s, skewing the numbers. Another argument is that these rates are based on death rates due to poor conditions. “What was changing before vaccines became available was the death rate from some of these diseases. Improvements in social and economic conditions led to declining death rates for many common diseases. Children who are healthy and well-nourished are much less likely to die from measles or pertussis than malnourished children. (http://www.bccdc.org/content.php?item=19).”
Some argue that the drug companies are the force behind the push to vaccinate from doctors and the medical community. It’s true that the vaccine manufacturer Wyeth funds non-profit programs like Every Child By Two (which promotes the passage of laws designed to require children to be vaccinated before entering school) and the CDC (which is trying to enforce mass vaccinations) (http://www.whale.to/vaccine/handley1.html). You just need to look deep enough to get the information. Also, physicians who use the vaccinations in their offices receive numerous perks from these companies, such as free lunches and dinners and gifts. This is common practice for the medical community among drug manufacturers of all kinds. However, does this mean that potential for these companies to make money is the only reason we are encouraged to vaccinate?
New vaccines are being developed every day. It is rumored that the new cervical cancer vaccine will eventually be added to the recommended vaccine schedule for female children. There is a diarrhea vaccine that has just been developed and released, making it, interestingly, the most expensive vaccine on the market today (Vaccines: Assessing the Risks and Benefits). There are also vaccines being developed for autoimmune diseases such as cerebal palsy and certain types of arthritis.
If you are, or hope one day to become, a parent, you do have rights. You can choose to vaccinate on schedule, delay vaccinations, have them separated into single doses, or even choose not to vaccinate at all. In most states, you can file an exemption with your child’s school, citing either personal or religious reasons for not vaccinating. “Even though all states require children to receive specific vaccines before they can attend school, every state also allows at least one exemption, and many offer two and even three to that mandate. (Cave, p. 251). It’s important to check with the state’s health department to find out the regulations in your state.
It’s true and wonderful that vaccines have been helpful through our country’s history to save hundreds of thousands of lives and eliminate widespread disease. To continue this trend, we should take a good look at the amount, frequency and appropriateness of the vaccines that are recommended for our children today, and determine if they are safe. We should also look deeper into whether or not these vaccine ingredients are affecting children who have been immunized. We need to encourage each other to be responsible in doing our research, to ask questions of our doctors and our government, and to advocate for the health and safety of our children.
WORKS CITED
Bookchin, Debbie and Jim Schumacher. The Virus and the Vaccine. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2004.
Cave, M.D., Stephanie and Deborah Mitchell. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations. New York: Wellness Central, 2001.
Miller, Neil Z. Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? Santa Fe: New Atlantean Press, 2002.
Allen, Arthur. Vaccine. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2007.
Vaccines? Assesing the Risks and Benefits. Perf. Dr. Jay Gordon. Choices Video, 2008.
Vaccinations.
Ingredients and Side Effects. < http://www.knowvaccines.com/aboutus.htm.>
Vaccination Liberation Information. 24 March, 2005. < http://www.vaclib.org/intro/present/index.htm#5>
Making Vaccines. < http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/making_vaccines.php>
"The immune system, infants and immunization.” Health Professionals Online Resource Centre. 2004.
“The Childhood Immunization Schedule: Why Is It Like That?” American Academy of Pediatrics.
“Thimerosal: Mercury in Vaccines.” National Network for Immunization Information. 6 Aug 2008.
Ross-Flannigan, Nancy. “Antibiotics.” Find Articles.com.
“Immunization FAQ’s.” BC Centre for Disease Control.11 Dec 2006.
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