Encountered this article today: The Terrifying World Of Vaccine Adjuvants. The topic of vaccines and potential harm to children has been a hot topic and certainly one that my wife and I are intensely interested in. We researched quite a bit prior to making our own decision with regard to our daughter. We decided not to allow any vaccines to be administered.
Let me explain our reasoning:
Syringe plunging into a vaccine bottle
- Several vaccines still contain Thimerosal as a presevative. Thimerosal contains mercury and may have adverse effects on a child’s development. It is because of this that it is banned in 70 countries (just not the US). The new H1N1 vaccine will include it.
- Most of the illnesses that children are vaccinated against are not life threatening. Some have the potential to cause long-lasting, severe, health problems, but these complications are generally very rare.
- Long term effects of vaccines are not fully known.
- Now we can add adjuvants to the list…
I know that there are good arguments for vaccines, as well. The best articulated one is that vaccines have virtually wiped out some major illnesses here in the States. Polio is often given as the example.
While I am sure that vaccines have had a tremendous effect there, I don’t know if they are the only cause. Can’t overall health of the population account for some of that? Changes in diet? Improvements in medical care overall?
Ruby’s first pediatrician was rather unhappy with our decision. She was adamant that the shots were necessary and that any threats to her health were greatly exaggerated.
I imagine many doctors feel defensive in the presence of parents who make the same decision. This way of thinking challenges a great orthodoxy in modern medicine. Professionals are very protective over standard practice; that which they have ingested and internalized since they began their studies.
Western medical practice and ethics seem to mandate that we address any possible future ill effects in the present. For example, mumps potentially causing infertility in males. Parents and providers are so concerned about a one in a million chance of permanent damage from illness that they rush to treatment/prevention – consequences of that be damned!
Could it be that we are promoting worse outcomes? We have all heard speculation that Thimerosal is responsible for the increase in incidences of autism over the last twenty or so years. I know that many disagree that this is the case, e.g. the CDC, but I don’t think it’s safe to rule out completely – given the strong correlation.
In the end, it just comes down to doing the best for my daughter. I understand that there are bigger issues of public health to consider, but my greatest responsibility is for the health of my child. There is indeed a stronger risk that she will contract mumps or measles and the like. It is highly unlikely, however, that she would suffer permanent ill effects from one of those illnesses.
Exposing her to low levels of mercury and those crazy adjuvants, though, is likely to have some effect on that growing brain and body. It’s a risk we’ve elected not to take.
What to all of you think? Feel free to start a debate in the comments section.
EDIT: Childhood vaccines no longer include thimerosal in the States. Please read the comments for a continued discussion and updated information.
