Resources Child Health The Great Vaccine Debate: Why Some Parents Just Say No
| The Great Vaccine Debate: Why Some Parents Just Say No |
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Vaccine proponents are increasingly raising the alarm that medical progress is being impeded by "quack doctors" who recommend against vaccination, and by "irresponsible parents" who decide not to immunize their children. Meanwhile, organizations such as the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) are calling for more research into the safety of vaccines. What are the issues surrounding this debate? The Arguments of Vaccine ProponentsAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccine-preventable disease levels are at or near record lows in the United States. Diseases such as polio and diphtheria have been nearly eradicated from this country, and the incidence of mumps, pertussis, measles, and tetanus is steadily decreasing. The CDC believes that this good news can be attributed primarily to the high level of appropriate immunization in American children. However, it states that many under-immunized children remain, leaving the potential for outbreaks of disease. "Even if there are only a few cases of disease today," they warn, "if we take away the protection given by vaccination, more and more people will be infected and will spread disease to others. Soon we will undo the progress we have made over the years." The CDC and other public health officials in the U.S. acknowledge that serious reactions to vaccinations can and do occur, but they believe that the numbers are small enough to justify mass vaccination for the benefit of the nation's health. They state that the small amounts of chemical and other additives in vaccines cause no harm in the absence of allergies, and that these additives are necessary to ensure the potency, sterility, and safety of vaccines. They argue that there is a need to improve and sustain immunization coverage, so that the public health can be maintained and expanded in the century to come. The Questions Being Raised About Vaccines Those who oppose mandatory vaccination argue that the drop in vaccine-preventable disease levels may be due to improved overall hygiene and nutrition in this country since the 1940s. They point out that the likelihood of dying from a childhood vaccine-preventable disease is rare, and that lifelong immunity is conferred only by contracting the diseases. Vaccination does not guarantee even immediate immunity, and boosters are necessary for all vaccinations. If all childhood vaccinations were halted, they do not believe any major epidemic would ensue, only small, localized outbreaks. Many parents are questioning the number of shots doctors currently recommend for their children. In the 1970s, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised that children get 23 doses of 7 vaccines by the age of six. The first vaccinations were given at two months old. Today, the CDC and the AAP say that children should get more than twice that number of vaccine doses by age six: 48 doses of 14 vaccines. The first vaccination is given to newborns when they are 12 hours old. When babies are two months old, they may be given as many as eight vaccines on a single day. When they are 15 to 18 months old, they may be given as many as 12 vaccines on a single day. Is it possible that that many doses of pathogens (viruses and bacteria) and chemical additives tax the immune system, rather than enhance it? Vaccine additives include a number of potentially toxic substances, including formaldehyde and 2-phenoxyethanol (both known carcinogens), aluminum (associated with asthma, seizure disorders, and cognitive dysfunction), and monosodium glutamate (associated with neurological effects). Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, was removed from most childhood vaccines in 2001. For many years, parents of autistic children have believed that it was thimerosal in vaccines (particularly the MMR vaccine) that precipitated autism in their children. While the CDC maintains that there is no convincing scientific evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, Public Health Service agencies, the AAP, and vaccine manufacturers agreed in 1999 that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure. However, it is still used in flu shots, tetanus boosters, the hepatitis B vaccine, and the meningitis vaccine, to name a few. By far the biggest question being raised is whether vaccinations are having long-term, chronic effects on children's health. During the past quarter century, the number of children with learning disabilities, ADHD, asthma, and diabetes has more than tripled in the U.S., and the number of children with chronic brain and immune system dysfunction has more than doubled. Those who oppose vaccination are asking: Do those increased numbers correlate with the increased number of childhood vaccines?The Call for Investigation The NVIC is a nonprofit organization that works to raise government standards for vaccine licensure and policymaking. The NVIC does not promote the use of vaccines and does not advise against the use of vaccines. It supports the right of consumers to make educated, voluntary healthcare choices, and advocates ongoing scientific investigation into the long-term effects of multiple vaccinations on individuals and the public health. It is calling for government funding of independent researchers to investigate the reported links between vaccines and neurological and autoimmune disorders – researchers who have no conflicts of interest with vaccine manufacturers or public health agencies. NVIC's co-founders worked with Congress on the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, a law that acknowledges the suffering of the vaccine-injured and their families and the need for vaccine-safety protections in the mass vaccination system. As of 2008, the U.S. Court of Claims had awarded more than $1 billion dollars to vaccine victims for their catastrophic vaccine injuries. Among those compensated was the family of Hannah Poling, who became autistic after receiving routine childhood vaccines. The case received much media coverage, and raised the growing national concern over the potential link between vaccines and autism. Along with a federal vaccine injury compensation program, the law requires that vaccine providers report serious health problems following vaccination to the federal Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). Since the government inaugurated this system in 1990, the number of entries has followed a steadily upward trend: from 1,920 in 1990 to 25,620 in 2007. Mandated Vaccines and Your Rights Increasingly parents are encountering school officials who require vaccinations before allowing children to enter school. Any school official who claims that your child must be vaccinated, however, is misinformed. In most school situations, parents or guardians can sign a form or send a letter stating that they are against vaccinations for medical or religious reasons – this excuses the school from any liability. The two most valid reasons for medical waiver are "the fear of allergic reaction in a sensitive child" and "to prevent possible damage to a weakened immune system." A note or certificate of medical waiver may need to be submitted by a physician licensed in your state. If your child's school disallows your request, you or your doctor may not be using the right wording in your letter. While all immunization laws have exceptions you can use, the wording in each state differs. You can obtain this information through your local library or state representative. If your child's health deteriorates after vaccination, he or she may be eligible for federal compensation.Advice for Those Who Vaccinate Parents who are concerned about the potential dangers of vaccines, but decide to go ahead with them, can minimize the risk of adverse reactions by following these guidelines:
The NVIC urges parents to watch for these signs and symptoms of vaccine reactions:
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