Together Against Malaria

Most of us think of vaccinating our children as a given. We faithfully follow our pediatricians’ guidelines for vaccinating our children and get our own flu shots every year. But, did you know that there are a growing number of people who believe that vaccines actually pose more risk than benefit? Here are the reasons people avoid vaccinations.

1. The lower incidence of certain diseases is not necessarily related to the development of a vaccine. . Opponents of vaccines say that the evidence that vaccines work is fairly weak. They cite other reasons for the decline in outbreaks of serious illnesses. For example, they cite the reduction in the incidence of smallpox not from vaccinations, but from the improvement in the quality of drinking water and overall public sanitation. It’s certainly true that water quality and sanitation became more of a priority once it was realized that the disease was carried in the water supply. It’s also true that England had its worst smallpox outbreak just one year after reporting that 97.4% of their population had been vaccinated.

Other diseases, like pertussis, too, seem to decline even when vaccination rates are low. In Germany, for example, the incidence of pertussis has steadily decreased since 1975, when the German government stopped requiring the pertussis vaccine. Today, less than 10% of German children receive the vaccine.

2. They believe that vaccines may cause cancer.
Several doctors have noted, as far back as 1900, that the incidence of cancer was nearly non-existent until the development of the smallpox vaccine. Noted physician W.B. Clarke noted that he had never treated a cancer patient prior to the vaccine, and that he had never treated cancer in an unvaccinated person.
3. Vaccines contain additives that can be dangerous. There is much concern about the additives and preservatives in the vaccines we give our children. The two most concerning additives are mercury and aluminum. In the last 25 years, the number of required vaccines for children has risen from 10 to 36. During this same period of time, the incidence of autism and other learning disabilities has also risen dramatically. There is evidence that mercury, which is added as a preservative, have led to incidences of autism. A new disease called macrophagic myofasciitis causes pain in muscles, bones and joints. All persons with this disease have received aluminum containing vaccines.

Of course, it is up to each individual to determine whether or not vaccines carry enough benefits to outweigh their risks. Most of the medical community still supports routine vaccinations for children, but there is certainly a movement to evaluate whether or not all current vaccines are truly needed, and to make vaccines safer. For example, parents can request mercury free vaccines for their children. If you choose to do so, be certain to give your pediatrician advance notice that you’re requesting a mercury free vaccine. Mercury is used as a preservative in the vaccines, so it’s not likely that your doctor will have a mercury free version on hand, since its shelf life is more limited.

P. Zerkle blogs about how to enroll in online family nurse practitioner programs.