Vaccine Assumptions - Are They Effective?

An "effective vaccine," as defined by medicalmedical community, it is considered irrational to
doctors, is a vaccine that protects a person fromquestion the importance of vaccines. Parents who
developing the infection that they have beenhave experienced the wrath of pediatricians are
vaccinated against. For example, the chickenpoxseeking information independently. After reading
vaccine is considered to be medically effective if,horror stories of vaccine injury or have sadly
in the case of an outbreak, those vaccinated doexperienced first-hand their child regressing into
not contract chickenpox.autism, many are deciding for themselves not
An "effective vaccine," as defined by researchers,adhere to the vaccine dogmas preached by the
is one that leads to the development of antibodiesmedical profession. They are deciding that the risk
after it has been injected into the bloodstream.of the vaccine is greater than the risks of normal
Referred to as "positive seroconversion," onechildhood diseases. They are finding other, more
vaccine is considered to be more effective thannatural ways, to keep their children healthy.
another if the first vaccine induces a measurablyInformation is power, and they are taking
greater antibody response than the second.(1)self-empowering steps to make healthcare
These definitions are quite different and havedecisions away from the fear-based dogma of
considerably different ramifications. It is known,medical professionals.
for example, that the presence of an antibody inA benchmark of public health policy in a mature
the blood does not necessarily confer protectionsociety is the absence of infectious diseases. This
from infection.(2) In addition, many outbreaksdoctrine emerged from the pre-antibiotic era,
have occurred in fully vaccinated populations. Onewhen thousands of people died annually across
of many examples is the outbreak of measles inthe globe from infections introduced through poor
a group of children that had a vaccination rate ofhygiene. We have long past this basic need in our
greater than 99 percent.(3)society. Our concept of public health must
Further evidence exists that antibody titersbecome more than the myopic focus on high
measured in the blood have not been proven tovaccination rates and low infection rates.
be clinically protective. The manufacturer of theThe dogma "vaccines are safe and effective"
Haemophilus influenza vaccine, the HiBTiter®,must be replaced with the truth: Vaccines can be
reports in its package insert that "the contributionharmful and have not been proven to be
[antibodies make] to clinical protection ismedically to protect from infection. It is time to
unknown."(4) The Centers for Disease Controldispense with this dogma before one more child
(CDC) stated the following about the pertussisbecomes a medical statistic.
vaccine: "The findings of efficacy studies have not_____________________
demonstrated a direct correlation betweenREFERENCES
antibody response and protection against pertussis(1) CDC. MMWR. Pertussis Vaccination: Use of
disease,"(5) meaning, the presence of an antibodyAcellular Pertussis Vaccines Among Infants and
does not guarantee that the vaccinated personYoung Children. March 28, 1997/Vol. 46/No. RR-7,
will be protected from contracting a pertussisp.4
infection.(2) Del Giudice G, Podda A, Rappuoli R. Vaccine.
Therefore, when the medical community reads2001 Oct 15;20 Suppl 1:S38-41. PMID: 11587808
that a vaccine as been "proven to be effective"(3) Gustafson, T.,et.al.NEJM 1987;316-771-774.
the perception is that it will confer nearly 100(4) HibTiter® vaccine package insert.
percent protection. It is important to understandPhysician's Desk Reference, 2002. Vol. 56. pg.
that effective and protective in vaccine research1860.
are not synonyms.(5) CDC. MMWR. Pertussis Vaccination: Use of
The dogma that "vaccines are safe and effective"Acellular Pertussis Vaccines Among Infants and
has become medicine's sacred cow. Within theYoung Children. March 28, 1997/Vol. 46/No. RR-7.