Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 13:15, 8 May 2005

Vaccines are widely credited for reducing the prevalence and damage of several diseases. As a result, national and international public health organizations have made vaccination a central part of their strategies. Research efforts have led to the development of vaccinations against a broadening array of illnesses, raising hopes that some of the most deadly illnesses in the world will be eliminated or at least diminish.

The case against vaccine policy

The practice of vaccination has been opposed by some since its inception in the mid-19th century , but criticism has become re-energized in the US and some other developed countries in recent years. Criticism is often based on the following arguments:

• The public health benefits of vaccinations are exaggerated. Critics of vaccination policy point out that the mortality rates of relevant illnesses were already dramatically reduced before vaccines were introduced, and claim that further reductions cannot immediately be attributed to vaccines.
• Secondary and long-term effects on the immune system from introducing immunogens directly into the bloodstream are not fully understood.
• The recommended vaccination schedule does not consider the cumulative effect of being exposed to multiple immunogens at the same time and at a young age
• The increased incidence of previously rare diseases, including leukemia, multiple sclerosis, SIDS, autism, and others seem to coincide with the increased use of vaccinations.
• Opponents of current vaccination policy question if vaccinations actually create immunity against the targeted diseases given what appears to them to be number of individuals in a number of cases who were assumed to be immunized and still contracted the illness.
• By not exposing children to common childhood illnesses, they may in fact be more susceptible to diseases at a point when their immune system is weakened, e.g., at an old age or when sick for other reasons
• Vaccinations contain chemical components that are known to be toxic, including formaldehyde, aluminum in various compounds, acetone, glyceride, ethylene glycol, and antibiotics. In particular, many express concern over the once-widespread, but declining use of thimerosal in vaccinations
• The practice of early childhood vaccination is not typically subject to screening to determine whether a child is more likely to experience adverse effects.
• Medical professionals and scientists agree that there are risks associated with vaccinations.
• There are a number of conflicts of interest that may affect the research design, findings, and opinions about vaccines, including financial interests of companies, the self-regulatory mechanism of medical doctors, and fear of the consequences should vaccines be found to be dangerous.

The rebuttal

Most of the medical and scientific community reject these arguments, pointing out that known adverse events are rare; that there is little evidence linking vaccines with serious problems; and that vaccines have proved effective against serious illnesses . Supporters of vaccination point out that:

• The number of immunogens in vaccines is far lower than what a child could often expect to be exposed to in the normal course of things.

• Even when sanitary conditions have not improved vaccination has been successful in reducing disease. The most obvious cases are the worldwide destruction of smallpox and the near eradication of polio in Africa despite little change in sanitary conditions.

• When vaccination against polio was recently halted in Nigeria the number of cases significantly rose .

• Much research has failed to find a link between vaccination and autism

• Vaccine controversies appear to closely mirror litigation. In the United States, the issue of thimerosal has come to the fore, as litigants seek to remove cases from the jurisdiction of vaccine compensation tribunals. In the UK, there has been little controversy over thimerosal, but great worry over MMR .

• Instances of infection despite vaccination are unsurprising. Even highly successful vaccines rarely have an efficacy greater than 80%, creating a need to maintain "herd immunity" through universal immunization.

• Critics of vaccination often lack relevant qualifications, may be ideologically opposed to mandatory health programs, and are commonly associated with fringe views about alternative therapies and the achievements of drug-based medicine.

• Physicians overwhelmingly support multiple vaccines, such as DPT and MMR, as being in the best interests of the child, even though they could make more money giving the shots separately.

Graphic representation of mortality and vaccines for selected illnesses

External links

• CDC National Immunization Program Centers for Disease Control information site on vaccinations
• World Health Organization WHO site on vaccination programs around the world.

Sites promoting vaccines

• ratbags.com
• Immunization Action Coalition
• UK department of health

Sites critical to vaccination policy

• Vaccination Debate
• National Vaccine Information Center
• whale.to vaccines section
• The Informed Parent
• Vaccines: A Second Opinion by Gary Null

• Vaccines