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VACCINATION MYTH #5: "Childhood diseases are extremely
dangerous..." ...or are they, really?
Most childhood infectious diseases have few serious consequences in today's modern
world. Even conservative CDC statistics for pertussis during 1992-94 indicate a 99.8%
recovery rate. In fact, when hundreds of pertussis cases occurred in Ohio and Chicago in
the fall 1993 outbreak, an infectious disease expert from Cincinnati Children's Hospital
said, "The disease was very mild, no one died, and no one went to the intensive care
unit."
The vast majority of the time, childhood infectious diseases are benign and
self-limiting. They also may impart lifelong immunity, whereas vaccine-induced immunity is
only temporary. In fact, the temporary nature of vaccine immunity can create a more
dangerous situation in a child's future. For example, the new chicken pox vaccine has an
effectiveness estimated at 6 - 10 years. If effective, it will postpone the child's
vulnerability until adulthood, when death from the disease is 20 times more likely.
About half of measles cases in the late 1980's resurgence were in adolescents and
adults, most of whom were vaccinated as children,[35] and the recommended booster shots
may provide protection for less than 6 months.[36] Furthermore, some healthcare
professionals are concerned that the virus from the chicken pox vaccine may
"reactivate later in life in the form of herpes zoster (shingles) or other immune
system disorders." [37] Dr. A. Lavin of the Dept. of Pediatrics, St. Luke's Medical
Center in Cleveland, Ohio, strongly opposed licensing the new vaccine, "Until we
actually know...the risks involved in injecting mutated DNA [herpes virus] into the host
genome [children]."[38] The truth is, *no one* knows, but the vaccine is now licensed
and recommended by health authorities.
Not only are most infectious diseases rarely dangerous, but they can actually play a
vital role in the development of a strong, healthy immune system. Persons who have not had
measles have a higher incidence of certain skin diseases, degenerative diseases of bone
and cartilage, and certain tumors, while absence of mumps has been linked to higher risks
of ovarian cancer.
VACCINATION TRUTH #5:
"Dangers of childhood diseases are greatly exaggerated in order to scare parents
into compliance with a questionable but profitable procedure."
INTRODUCTION
MYTH #1: "Vaccines are completely safe..."
MYTH #2: "Vaccines are very effective..."
MYTH #3: "Vaccines are the main reason for low disease rates
in the U.S. today..."
MYTH #4: "Vaccination is based on sound immunization theory
and practice..."
MYTH #6: "Polio was one of the clearly great vaccination
success stories..."
MYTH #7: "My child had no short-term reaction to
vaccination, so there is nothing to worry about..."
MYTH #8: "Vaccines are the only disease prevention option
available..."
MYTH #9: "Vaccinations are legally mandated, and thus
unavoidable..."
MYTH #10: "Public health officials always place health above
all other concerns..."
SUMMARY and About the Author...
(35) Reported by KM Severyn,R.Ph,Ph.D. in the Dayton Daily News, June 3, 1995.
(36) Vaccine Information and Awareness, "Measles and Antibody Titre
Levels," from Vaccine Weekly, January 1996.
(37) NVIC Press Release, "Consumer Group Warns use of New Chicken Pox Vaccine
in all Healthy Children May Cause More Serious Disease".
(38) See note 35 (quoted from The Lancet)
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