These pro-vaccine arguments come from BCCDC Centre for Disease Control, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver – www.bccdc.org

Aren’t the only children who die of these infections suffering from malnutrition or defects of the immune system?

Although infections such as measles and pertussis are much more likely to kill a child who is malnourished, these infections can also kill healthy, well-nourished children.

VAN UK’S COMMENT:

In the majority of cases, complications and deaths from childhood illnesses occur in those with pre-existing illnesses or disabilities, and those already vaccinated:

‘According to the DOH, in their book ‘Immunisation Against Infectious Diseases’,‘Before 1988 (when the MMR was introduced) more than half the acute measles deaths occurred in previously healthy children who had not been immunised.’ They quote the study C L MILLER. Deaths from measles in England and Wales, 1970-83. British Medical Journal, Vol 290, 9 February 1985, but if you actually read this study (which they are relying on parents not doing), you will find it actually says:
‘No attempt was made to establish further clinical details, vaccination history, or social class.’ – i.e. they didn’t know the vaccine status of the individuals. And: ‘90% of deaths in those previously normal occurred in those over the age of 15 months, when the vaccines are usually given’. These children were probably vaccinated prior to dying of measles as they were of vaccination age.
Nearly half the children who died were ‘grossly physically or mentally abnormal or both. The pre-existing conditions in the 126 previously abnormal individuals included cerebral palsy (24), mental retardation (20), Down’s syndrome (19) and various congenital abnormalities (22). There were nine children with immune deficiency or immunosuppression, and 19 aged 2-8 with lymphatic leukaemia, a number of them in remission.’

It is true that very rarely, a healthy child may die of a childhood illness. But to put this in context, there are far more children who die in car accidents than ever died of a childhood disease, yet we don’t stop driving our children around in cars.

The leading cause of childhood death in USA between 2002-2004 was:

Accidents – 4.6% per 100,000

Cancer – 3.2% per 100,000

Congenital Abnormalties – 1.1% per 100,000

Murder – 0.8% per 100,000

Suicide – 0.4% per 100,000

Your child has a far higher chance of dying of cancer than a childhood disease. Yet in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was virtually unheard of. It may be that through vaccinating, we are swapping our infectious disease death rates for cancer death rates.

(http://www.kidsdata.org/topictables.jsp?csid=0&t=8&i=4&ra=3_132&link=related

Don’t infections like measles stimulate the immune system and lead to better overall health?

No. Natural infection with measles does not provide a general form of stimulation of the immune system. It stimulates immunity to measles only. No infection acts as a general stimulus to the immune system. There is no scientific evidence that infection with measles or any other germ is necessary or important for natural and healthy development of the immune system.

Furthermore, what we know of measles makes it extremely unlikely that measles plays any role whatsoever in the normal development of the human immune system. Measles infection results in marked suppression of many parts of the immune system, which lasts for several months. During this time, the child is more susceptible to a number of other infections. This suppression of the immune system caused by measles actually leads to the high rate of other infections that complicate measles.

VAN UK’S Comment

That isn’t true. There have been studies which show that having childhood illnesses can stimulate the immune system.

Children who have measles are less likely to develop asthma later in life. According to research from the University of Aberdeen, scientists have found that early exposure to measles appeared to protect against the allergic condition.

The team studied 300 people from 1964, and monitored their allergic responses and immune systems regularly, over 30 years.

Suspicions are growing amongst the medical profession that the growing incidence of asthma in Britain is connected to the cosseting of children from disease. Some research has suggested that exposure to infections such as measles, hepatitis A and TB may prevent allergic conditions.

(reported in the Daily Telegraph, 19 April 2000).

Here are some other studies showing measles strengthening the immune system:

A 6-year-old girl suffering from severe psoriasis had been treated unsuccessfully by various conventional methods. She developed measles and, on recovery from measles, the psoriasis soon cleared up and now, 6 months later, she still has had no further recurrence. The basic defect in psoriasis, basal cell hyperplasia and defective keratinization, may well be immunologically mediated. Measles virus, by its immunosuppressive effect can lead to remission of psoriasis.

Chakravarti VS, Lingam S. Measles induced remission of psoriasis. Ann Trop Paediatr. 1986 Dec;6(4):293-4.

Kids Who Have Measles Have Less Allergies:

OBJECTIVE: Viral and bacterial infections in childhood decrease the likelihood of allergic diseases in later life. The frequency of allergic diseases in patients with a history of measles has been reported to be low but some studies still suggest that measles can increase the frequency of allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of allergic diseases following measles in childhood. METHODS: Fifty-two children hospitalized in our clinic with measles were compared with 51 children without measles. Allergic diseases were investigated in both groups by using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. In all children, allergy skin tests were performed with the four most common allergens. RESULTS: Sensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was less frequent in children with measles than in those without (p < 0.05). A history of nebulized salbutamol use in the emergency room in the previous 12 months was also less frequent in the measles group (p < 0.05). Inhaled corticosteroid use was more common in the group without measles (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that findings of allergic disease are less frequent in children with a history of measles. These children were less sensitive to D. pteronyssinus.

Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2006 Jul-Aug;34(4):146-9.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have led to speculation that infections in early childhood may prevent allergic sensitisation but evidence to support this hypothesis is lacking. We investigated whether measles infection protects against the development of atopy in children of Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. METHODS: We conducted a historical cohort study in Bandim, a semi-rural district of Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau. 395 young adults, first surveyed in 1978-80 aged 0-6 years, were followed up in 1994. Our analyses were restricted to 262 individuals still living in Bandim for whom a measles history, documented in childhood, was judged to be reliable. We defined atopy as skin-prick test positivity (> or = 3 mm weal) to one or more of seven allergens. FINDINGS: 17 (12.8 percent) of 133 participants who had had measles infection were atopic compared with 33 (25.6 percent) of 129 of those who had been vaccinated and not had measles (odds ratio, adjusted for potential confounding variables 0.36 [95 percent CI 0.17-0.78], p=O.O1). Participants who had been breastfed for more than a year were less likely to have a positive skin test to housedust mite. After adjustment for breastfeeding and other variables, measles infection was associated with a large reduction in the risk of skin-prick test positivity to housedust mite (odds ratio for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 0.20 [0.05-0.81], p=0.02; D farinae 0.20 [0.06-0.71], p=0.01). INTERPRETATION: Measles infection may prevent the development of atopy in African children.

Measles and atopy in Guinea-Bissau. Lancet. 1996 Jun 29;347(9018):1792-6.

Seizure Disorders DISAPPEARED after infection with rotavirus, measles and mumps:

In general, epileptic seizures become more serious following infections. However, transient and permanent improvement of epileptic seizures has been observed following acute viral infections, without a recent change in anti-epileptic therapy. Questionnaires were sent to 73 institutions, throughout Japan, where pediatric neurologists care for children with epilepsy to characterize this phenomenon through clinician survey. Completed surveys were received from 11 institutions, and 21 cases were selected for the study. The age of the patients were 6 months to 17 years. The West syndrome or epilepsy subsequent to West syndrome cases were 16 out of 21. Two cases of symptomatic generalized epilepsy and one case each of symptomatic partial epilepsy, continuous spike-waves of slow sleep and severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy were also reported. These seizures disappeared within 2 weeks subsequent to viral infections such as, exanthema subitum, rotavirus colitis, measles and mumps. The disappearance of intractable epileptic seizures following acute viral infections might be related to the inflammatory processes or the increased levels of antibodies after viral infections.

Hitoshi Yamamoto, et al. Spontaneous improvement of intractable epileptic seizures following acute viral infections. Brain and Development
Volume 26, Issue 6, September 2004, Pages 377-379.

Positive Effects of Natural Rotavirus Infection

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that children who acquire natural rotavirus infections develop immunity to subsequent infections, with the protective effect increasing with each natural infection. Natural infections also decrease the severity of any subsequent rotavirus infections. Notably, asymptomatic infections provide protection similar to that induced by symptomatic infections. Data also suggest that the antibody response to natural infection is heterotypic, and therefore may provide protection against multiple serotypes.

(The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal:Volume 28(3) SupplementMarch 2009pp S54-S56).

Is vaccination safer when my child is older, rather than at 2 months of age?

There is no evidence that side effects from vaccination are more common in younger infants. The purpose of starting vaccination at 2 months of age is to protect the child against pertussis and Haemophilus b disease as early in life as possible. Complications and deaths from pertussis are most common in infants less than 6 months of age. Infants can respond to vaccination at a very young age.

VAN UK’S Comment

That’s not true.

In 1975 and 1976, the Japanese increased the vaccine starting age to 2 years old, and cot death disappeared. They jumped from 17th place in infant death rate, to the lowest rate in the world.

In 1988 they lowered the vaccination age to 3 months old, and cot death rates rose again.

According to One World South Asia, child death rates have lowered at the same time as ‘immunisation’ rates:

‘
May 11, 2006
http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/132610/1/6684

Two recent health surveys carried out by the Government have thrown up mixed results. While one reports that the Infant Mortality Rate has fallen below 60 for the first time in the country, the worrying sign is that the already low immunisation rates are showing further decline.

The most alarming is the case of Uttar Pradesh, which shows a fall in immunisation from 43.7 per cent in 1998-99 to 28.1 per cent in the latest data.

In 1998-1999, 54 per cent of the children in the country were reported to be fully immunised. But a district household survey 2002-2004, the data for which was released last month, shows a decline in this to 47.6 per cent. In 1989-99, India had one-third of the world?s non-immunised children.

Immunisation rates seem to have fallen across the country, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which account for 40 per cent of the total children in the age group of zero to one who need immunisation. But unlike Uttar Pradesh, Bihar has shown only a marginal decline, from 24.4 to 22.4 per cent.

Experts believe that the focus on polio eradication, at the cost of routine immunisation, could have contributed to the decline.

The other states showing low figures are Rajasthan (25.4 per cent), Tripura (26.7 per cent), Jharkhand (29.3 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (32.5 per cent).

The states at the other end of the spectrum are Tamil Nadu (with an immunisation rate of 92.1 per cent), Kerala (81.2 per cent), Pondicherry (89.4 per cent), Goa (81.5 per cent) and Himachal Pradesh (79.4 per cent).

There is good news, however, on the infant mortality front. For the first time, India has reported IMR below 60, with the survey from Registrar General of India released recently showing 58 deaths per 1,000 live births in the country.

Though the rates are still high compared to other countries, the figures have shown decline from 68/1,000 live births in 2000, and 60/1,000 live births in 2004.’ (Indian Express).

The infant’s immune system is not fully developed until he is 6 years old, and when he is newborn, he doesn’t have his own immune system. He relies on antibodies left over from the placenta, and his mother’s breast milk. Very young babies who are vaccinated can have complications and even death.

According to Dr. Torch, in a study of 103 cot deaths, 6.5% occured within 12 hours of vaccination, 13% within 24 hours and a staggering 70% within 3 weeks of DPT vaccination.

(Torch, W.S., 1982. Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunization: a potential cause of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Neurology; 32(4): A169 abstract).

Here’s some more studies showing young babies dying after vaccination:

Baraff LJ, et al (1983) Possible temporal association between diphtheria-tetanus toxoid-pertussis vaccination and sudden infant death syndrome. Pediatr Infect Dis. 1983 Jan-Feb;2(1):7-11. PMID: 6835859; UI: 83169234.
Because diphtheria and tetanus toxoids pertussis (DTP) vaccine is routinely given during the period of highest incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), this study was undertaken to determine if there is a temporal association between DTP immunization and SIDS. Parents of 145 SIDS victims who died in Los Angeles County between January 1, 1979, and August 23, 1980, were contacted and interviewed regarding their child’s recent immunization history. Fifty-three had received a DTP immunization. Of these 53, 27 had received a DTP immunization within 28 days of death. Six SIDS deaths occurred within 24 hours and 17 occurred within 1 week of DTP immunization. These SIDS deaths were significantly more than expected were there no association between DTP immunization and SIDS. An additional 46 infants had a physician/clinic visit without DTP immunization prior to death. Forty of these infants died within 28 days of this visit, seven on the third day and 22 within the first week following the visit. These deaths were also significantly more than expected. These data suggest a temporal association between DTP immunization, physician visits without DTP immunization and SIDS. PMID: 6835859, UI: 83169234 “They found a statistically significant excess of deaths in the first day and the first week after vaccination, i.e., a “temporal association.” They rejected the use of a “control group,” and instead relied on the intuitively obvious assumption that “there should be no temporal association between DPT immunization and SIDS were there no causal relationship between these two events.” I have not found any criticism of this article for relying on “anecdotal evidence.” This study was not financed by the US Government but apparently by the UCLA School of Medicine and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.”–Harris Coulter

Geraghty KC. DTP immunization and SIDS.J Pediatr. 1984 Jul;105(1):169-71. No abstract available.PMID: 6610735 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Torch, W.C., 1986 a. Characteristics of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) postvaccinal deaths and DPT-caused Sudden Infant Deaths Syndrome (SIDS): a review. Neurology (suppl 1); 36: 148 (abstract).

Torch, W.C., 1986 b. Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) imunization may be an unrecognized cause of Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) and Near-Miss Syndrome (NMS): 12 case reports. Neurology (suppl 1); 36: 149 (abstract).

The peak rates for cot death occur between the ages of 2 and 6 months, when the vaccines are being given.

Measles was No Big Deal Says Old timer

Surely, I’m not the only oldtimer who finds it curious that cases of measles – even as few as one or two in a region – are now the stuffof news headlines. Has something changed about the disease that most of us got, then got over, then never thought about again? It would have been about 50 years ago, one year after the widespread introduction of the measles vaccine, that I walked into the kitchen, showed my mom my speckled belly, and said, “I think I have measles.”

Other than that, however, I don’t remember any details of my affliction, just that it came and went without much trauma.

And I certainly don’t remember my mother evincing any panic on that day of discovery. If measles has deadly properties, they were not part of the social dialogue back then. Mom did tell me one thing: “Well, once you get over it, you’ll never get it again.”

Nowadays, we read that measles can be fatal in around one out of 1,000 cases, depending on the source. That’s obviously a concern, although it would be useful to know if those fatalities occur predominantly in people with ill-developed or otherwise compromised immune systems in the first place.

In any event, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control says that around 164,000 people die from measles complications each year, worldwide, with over half of those in India. Like most maladies, measles is much more of a threat in areas of poor sanitation and lack of medical care. In other words, measles is far from the bubonic plague. I thus consider it fearmongering of the worst order to send 100 unvaccinated Western Canada High School students home for two weeks to prevent the spread of measles.

For one thing, I thought there was such a thing as medical privacy; that is, not announcing to the world what procedures people have or have not undergone. These kids have been wrongly outed, in my view, and don’t deserve the tide of hatred that has been washing over them (and their parents) via article commentaries and social media. The opprobrium is unreal: Kick them out of school forever, people write. Put the parents in jail. Let all of them die from their stupidity.

Of course, the logical flaw in this is that if your kid is vaccinated, and the vaccination does everything it’s supposed to, what are you worried about? People reply, however, that it’s to protect those who can’t be vaccinated, for whatever reason. By that logic, perhaps all of us should be under quarantine because there are some extremely frail people out there who can’t so much as catch our colds.

Source: Calgary Herald, 14 April 2014 – http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Brooker+remember+measles+deal/9735786/story.html