The Controversy On The Effectiveness Of Vaccinations

In the United States, there is a major controversy on the safety and efficiency of vaccines. Although there is a large portion of the population that believes vaccines positively affect society and are a step in the right direction for eradicating harmful diseases, some scientists are starting to question whether or not that is truly the case. There are medical professionals who are in disagreement with how the mainstream medical establishment is implementing, promoting, and increasing the number of vaccines on the market. It is clear that throughout history, vaccines have been harming rather than helping the general public. Vaccines are overprescribed and are not as safe and effective as the population has been told.

First of all, to fully understand the controversy on vaccinations, people need to be informed on what a vaccine is and how in interacts with the human body. A “vaccination is the introduction of weakened or dead microbes into a person's blood stream in order to stimulate an immune-system response against that microbe and thus prevent disease” (Lutwick and Davidson 1). Now, a microbe is the bacteria in a vaccine that causes a disease. The goal of vaccines is to give people a weakened virus so that the body’s immune system, which is the body's natural defence against disease and infection, is simulated so it learns to fight off the disease and when the full disease come around, the body can recognise the virus or bacteria and easily fight it off. How vaccines work is an Antigen, a foreign substance such as bacteria or a virus, is injected into the human body. Then, white blood cells “engulf” the Antigen and transport it to T-Cells in the body that contain antibodies, which are proteins that fight Antigens, which then kills the disease (Lutwick and Davidson 2). Some of the main purposes for vaccinations are for people who are likely to be exposed to disease, travel, for individuals who are naturally at “high risk” of infection, and preventative or precautionary measures (Lutwick and Davidson 5) Vaccines help build the body's resistance to diseases although, when a vaccine stimulates someone's immune system, it does not necessarily mean that the individual has built resistance to the disease (Newman3). Many people believe that vaccines and immunizations are the same thing and tend to use the two interchangeably, which is not accurate. When a person is immunized, the individual is no longer susceptible to an infection from a specific disease, but when vaccinated, the individual's body learns how to fight off a disease and is still at risk of infection (Blaylock What The Medical 10).

Vaccines are created to target a few common “bacterial strains out of hundreds that exist” meaning it is likely for an individual to get an illness from an unknown and unvaccinated strain. (Garry and Ashley 5). Many people receive vaccines for all purposes; however, “Vaccines are not always 100 percent effective, and there is no way to predict whether a vaccine will fail to provide adequate immunity in any particular person”(Lutwick and Davidson 5). This is because vaccines do not account for all bacteria and viruses (Lutwick and Davidson 2) which is concerning when the majority of the population is receiving vaccines because like any other medications, “vaccines are not perfect, and they do sometimes have serious side effects” (Calfee 2).

Some of the most common side effects are Guillain- Barré Syndrome (GBS) which is a disease that affects the body's nerves leading to sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs and paralysis (Lutwick and Davidson 7), lung illnesses like Bronchitis and Pneumonia, fever, seizures, deformities in unborn babies, allergic reactions, and Encephalitis which is the inflammation of the brain that can cause “seizures, sleepiness, confusion, personality changes, weakness in the body and even coma” (Lutwick and Davidson 5), behhavioral disorders, brain injury (Monitor2), Autoimmune and Neurological disorders (Garry and Ashley 2). This increases if multiple vaccines are given over a short period of time, the immune system can become suppressed. Although there are many side effects, most of the side effects take a large amount of time appear and it can take multiple doses or the re-application of a vaccine for these side effects to occur (Blaylock Vaccines 3). Due to these side effects all states in the United States allow medical exemptions from vaccines (Lutwick and Davidson3). Tom Jefferson, an Epidemiologist (someone who studies disease), at the Cochrane Institute, a British institute of medicine, said that “immunizations usually work best in healthy adults who are the lowest priority for receiving them” (Newman 2). One thing that vaccine manufacturers need to take into account is the mutation of viruses. The World Health Organization (WHO) is finding that viruses are developing resistances against vaccines. Meaning that new vaccines need to be made in order to accommodate for the changing viruses. Due to these ever changing viruses, people are not going to be 100 percent protected because when a disease mutates, the vaccine will become useless. The individual receiving the vaccination will build antibodies to a virus that is no longer a threat which is an issue because “human antibodies are generally virus specific” (Newman2). Even with those concerns with vaccinations, people believe that “vaccines are still probably the most valuable medical tool ever invented, and the failure to use them would be a disaster of epic proportions” (Calfee2). Altogether, vaccines are highly interactive with the human body and have major effects on bodily process.

Vaccines are over prescribed. The CDC is recommending a large amount of vaccines to people from birth to adulthood. The over prescription of these vaccines is hurting rather than helping many kids and is damaging to one's overall health. The current recommended vaccine schedule in the United States has children recieve 24 vaccines by the age of one, about 40 by that age of six, and about 150 throughout an individual's lifetime (Blaylock What The Medical The CDC recommends multiple doses of eleven different vaccines by the age of six (Gardner1). Some of the prescribed vaccines are the Hepatitis B Virus, DTap, MMR, Varicella (Chickenpox), and Influenza (Lutwick and Davidson 3). The CDC and Pharmaceutical Industry are prescribing these vaccines with mis information which is leading to the increase of adverse effects in children. The government has been trying to mandate vaccines, but “like any medicine vaccines can have adverse effects”(Brownstein1). Children under the age of eight should not receive vaccines because their brains are rapidly developing. This is because when vaccines are introduced at a very early age, they can “alter the brain's construction and function for a lifetime” which can lead to chronic brain inflammation causing neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders which affects children's learning, communication, and mental and emotional brain function (Blaylock What The Medical 3,9).

“American children are the most heavily vaccinated in the world… You would think that they would be the healthiest… Our children have the highest newborn mortality rate and more chronic illnesses, including autoimmune disorders than other western children” (Brownstein 5). “The CDC states that childhood vaccines are 90 to 100 percent effective in promoting immunity… There is not doubt vaccines have decreased the incidence of childhood infections such as Measles and Chickenpox… but the overall health of children has worsened since the implementation of more vaccines” (Brownstein 7). Although vaccines are known to have adverse effects, parents are not being informed about such side effects and are not able to make educated decisions about whether or not they should vaccinate their children (Brownstein 1). Another issue is that doctors are also not being properly informed on the side effects of vaccinations (Garry and Ashley 4). Generally, the dosage of vaccines should be up to the patient as well as a well informed a physician for the best decision “when each vaccination should be given” (Loutwich and Davidson 4). Although vaccines can harm children, so can diseases. Rightfully so, the fear of harm from disease is pressuring many misinformed parents to vaccinate their children. What those parents do not know is that many childhood infections like Measles, Mumps, Chickenpox, are minor illnesses. Little to no children has had serious complications from having these normal diseases and from having these natural infections children are able to build lifelong immunity to those diseases.

All in all, vaccinations are being unnecessarily over prescribed and are causing damage to many children. There are many different ingredients in vaccines. These ingredients are meant to preserve, stabilize, prevent contamination of other bacteria and viruses, increase efficiency and longevity of the virus in the vaccine to boost someone's immune system. Although these might seem like they are made to positively interact with the human body and its natural defence against disease, they can be harmful to the human body and damage a person's immune system. Most vaccines contain Thimerosal, Aluminum salts, sugars, gelatin, egg protein, Formaldehyde, and Neomycin (CDC What’s In Vaccines 1). One major ingredient that is harmful to the human body is Thimerosal. Thimerosal is a form of Mercury that is used to preserve vaccines (CDC What’s In Vaccines 1). Vaccines that contain Mercury are the Flu vaccine, Tetanus Shot, and the Meningococcal Vaccine. Although each vaccine only contains a small amount of Mercury, Mercury is “one of the most toxic elements known to mankind. There is simply no justification for ever injecting Mercury into a living being” (Brownstein 7).

Another major ingredient found in vaccines is Aluminum. This is an issue because Mercury increases in toxicity when combined with Aluminum. Some vaccines that have Aluminum in them are the MMR, HIB, Hepatitis B, Chickenpox and Gardasil. (Brownstein 7). Vaccines that contain these ingredients are a major issue because when heavy metals such as Aluminum and Mercury are injected into the human body they can cause damage to the body’s Central Nervous System which affects brain function (Blaylock What The Medica 9). Many vaccines such as “MMR, Varicella (Chickenpox), Influenza (Nasal Spray), Rotavirus, and Herpes Zoster (Shingles)” contain live viruses. This is a major concern because when an individual has a viral infection, the virus can be transmitted to others. When someone in vaccinated with a live virus, they are contagious and can “shed” the virus “for days, weeks, or even months… During shedding, the virus can be found in saliva, nasal and throat secretions, breast milk, urine, blood, stool, and skin leasions” (Brownstein 5). When injected with a live virus, some viruses can survive in the human body for months and can permanently embeds itself in the person's internal organs. “One autopsy study of elerly people dying of noninfectious diseases found live Measles virus in 45 percent of cases in their body organs and 20 percent of cases in their brains” (Blaylock5). These embedded viruses mutated and were causing Multiple Sclerosis, muscle pains, Crohn’s Disease, and brain degeneration” (Blaylock 3). They also suppress the immune system and when the immune system is suppressed for extended periods of time, the body becomes susceptible to other diseases and infections. “Live virus vaccinations should not be used, especially in immunosuppressed children and older people… The medical authorities agree that imuno- supressed people should not be vaccinated at all. Now we learn that live viruses themselves are a major cause of the condition” (Blaylock 4, 5). All together, the ingredients in vaccines are not healthy and are toxic to the human body.

Herd immunity is the act of giving vaccines so that a large percent of the population is immune or protected from infectious disease allowing the small percent of people who can not become immune or build immunity will be protected (Brownstein 3). Herd immunity can only apply to contagious diseases. This is because the concept of herd immunity is built so that once a person is protected they can no longer spread the disease to those who are not protected, meaning that the disease must be capable of spreading and infecting multiple people. This also means herd immunity can not apply to diseases that are not contagious. So, herd immunity can not apply to any vaccine for a non spreadable disease (Brownstein3). The concept of herd immunity began in 1923 when a study was conducted on vaccinated mice. The results of the study showed that the mice had lower death rates and were less likely to transmit or spread bacteria. In other words, the conclusion of the study showed that the immunized mice were less likely to spread diseases to other mice, thus showing herd immunity (Brownstein 3).

Although this study had positive results, it did not take into account the fact that over time vaccines wear off. Many vaccines only last up to ten years, that is why people are recommended to get “booster shots” (Brownstein 3). One way to provide lifelong immunity is if the human body naturally gets an infection. This allows the body to build antibodies that can fully fight off diseases in the future leading to lifelong immunity (Brownstein). A major benefit of natural immunity is that when a woman builds antibodies against a disease, they can transfer their immunity to their child which makes the child protected from the disease. This occurs specifically when the mother breastfeeds the child. The transfer of immunity from the mother to the child can only happen when the mother naturally contracts the disease. If the mother develops antibodies from a vaccine her protection can not be passed down to the child (Brownstein 3). The fact of the matter is, vaccines can not provide full immunity to infectious diseases making the idea of herd immunity invalid.

Many people argue that mass inoculations (vaccinations) are the cause of the eradication of many diseases (Garder1). Although diseases rates started to fall about the same time vaccines were first being prescribed to the public, vaccines were not the cause. “As statistics say, correlation (two things happening at once) does not prove causation (one thing causing another)” (Blaylock Vaccines1). Some of the major decline happened with infectious diseases such as Measles, Whooping Cough, and Polio. Medical journalist, Neil Z. Miller, found that “before mass measles vaccination began in the U. S. ” and Great Britain the death rates were already falling more than 95 percent. Also in the United States and Great Britain, before the Whooping Cough vaccination programs, death rates were falling at about 75 percent. Lastly, before the Polio vaccine was introduced to the public, death rates from the disease were also dropping. (Blaylock Vaccines 1). The Pharmaceutical Industry also known as “Big Pharma” and the government “take credit for the decline in death rates but… Better nutrition and sanitation… accounted for most of the improvement in death statistics” (Blaylock Vaccines 1).

The reason for the drop in death rates is primarily due to better nutrition and sanitation such as, proper sewage disposal. When a human has the proper nutrients, their immune systems are stronger. (Blaylock Vaccines1). Interestingly, most wide spread disease outbreaks happen after a period of poor nutrition. For example, the Influenza Pandemic of 1917. The pandemic occurred right before the end of World War One where the majority of the people were nutrient deficient due to the lack of food available. A large amount of people are unaware of the effect that proper nutrients and sanitation has on the human body and Big Pharma is using this ignorance to keep the public convinced that the implementation of vaccines is the cause of the decline of diseases when that is simply not the case (Blaylock Vaccine2). Overall, the correlation of vaccines and the decline of disease death rates does not necessarily mean that vaccines are the cause of the decline.