Vaccines
have been used in one form or another for a very long time going back as far as
1000 CE with early Chinese inoculations. From very early on humans have
identified a need to eradicate disease and sickness. The best way to do this is
by vaccinating the population and building antibodies against the various types
of illnesses. Only recently have we as a people been able to exterminate whole
diseases such as Smallpox and until last year Measles. The way vaccines work is
by injecting or exposing our bodies to either weak or dead versions of the virus
that we are targeting. Our bodies are then able to identify and develop
antibodies for those viruses thus protecting us from the full strength version.
After several generations of inoculations, the affronting virus then dies off
being another page in the history books. Since a vaccine is literally injecting
a version of a deadly virus into our bodies there are some side effects. These
side effects are typical of an immune system response like fever, or weak
symptoms of the original virus. This can be expected, so when we go out and get
a flu shot its perfectly normal to feel a little sick for a couple days after words.
You are after all purposely injecting yourself with different strains of the
flu virus in an effort to avoid getting the full strength version. Why then is there
a controversy behind vaccines? It seems that they are a pretty good thing, and
help in the long run by exterminating horrible diseases. All of that is true, but
the controversy is stemming from what else is in the vaccines, particularly the
preservatives. One of the preservatives that is causing a big fuss is Thmerosal
which is an organomercurial. Basically it’s an organic compound that contains mercury
a known neurotoxin. There are many other toxic preservatives in vaccines that
are linked to causing brain, muscle, bone, and connective tissue diseases. So
why would all these known toxins be included in vaccines that are meant to protect
people from illness? This is where the controversy comes into play with the deliberate
concealment of data and information. Recently the Measles vaccine has been
making headlines with concerns of the vaccine causing Autism. The concern is whether
or not the MMR (Measles Mumps and Rubella) vaccine has something in it that is
causing Autism in children. The main evidence behind this theory is
correlation. As the MMR vaccine has been administered to more any more children
under the age of two, the cases of Autism have been increasing in a one to one
ratio. In 2014 a CNN iReport regarding the CDC covering up data that indicates
a 340% increase of Autism cases among African American children who were given
the MMR vaccine was released that sparked outrage and added fuel to the fire of
vaccine controversy. Later this story proved to be false, but the idea behind
it remained. Over the last few years a growing movement of Anti-Vaxxers has
developed, these people refuse to receive any vaccine or inoculation. While it’s
their choice whether or not to take a vaccine, the implications of their choice
has led to an outbreak of Measles a disease that in 2000 was declared eradicated
in the United States. Because a few people decided not to take a vaccine a once
dead illness reemerged and is once again threatening populations. The question
now is whether or not you should be able to opt out of a vaccine without a medical
exemption. Public schools and pediatricians are now requiring proof of
vaccination for children before they are admitted, and rejected if their
parents are unable to provide that proof. This is being done to protect the
other children from potential carriers of diseases as a result of them not
getting vaccinated. Over the next several months to years these questions and
others are going to be raised, and it is up to us to decide how to interpret
the data.
*Personal Opinion*
We have been getting vaccines for a very long time; I have
been getting vaccinations, and immunizations all my life. While the controversy
has always existed only recently has it reemerged to the headlines. While I
will admit that there are awful lot correlations between vaccines and
complications, correlation does not equal causation. What we need to see in the
months and years to come is transparency with the CDC and FDA in regards to what
the data is really saying. There should also be changes to what can and cannot
be added to vaccines to act as preservatives. In my opinion I would like to
have all the facts and to know why some of the facts are being obscured.
Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion: this is mine.
