Logging into Facebook, you may see angry parents addressing the various vaccines required for children from birth into their childhood. Vaccines are created to build a Childs’ immunity from deadly diseases. According to the CDC, there are nine types of vaccines
• Hepatitis B (Hep B)
• Rotavirus
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Haemophilus Influenza type B (Hib)
• Pneumococcal (PCV)
• Poliovirus (PV)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella
• Hepatitis A (HepA)
required in the first year of life (chart pictured below).
What is a vaccine?
Vaccines are scheduled shots designed to expose the body to weakened or killed foreign invaders (viruses and bacteria) to create immunity. They help create immunity to deadly and serious health complications such as pneumonia, polio, and death (Destefano, Price, & Weintraub, 2013).
When the body is exposed to these foreign bodies in a controlled manner, the body creates fighters (or antibodies) to defend itself against sickening viruses and bacteria.
Why do vaccines have a bad reputation?
When did this epidemic of anti-vaccinations start? A now discredited physician, Andrew Wakefield, published a study in 1998 linking the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine to autism. According to Knopf (2015), the study was found to be fraudulent when discovered the study was funded by lawyers of parents who were suing vaccine companies. This resulted in revoking Wakefield’s license and deemed the study to be compromised.
Vaccines in the media today.
Many individuals have voiced their concerns about vaccines and specifically their link to the diagnosis of autism. Jenny McCarthy, a Hollywood actress, spoke out about her son whom she claims developed autism after receiving his childhood vaccines. McCarthy claims our vaccines are unsafe and harmful, even deadly, to our children.
Other public figures such as Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, have publicly discussed their opinions regarding the association between the diagnosis of autism and childhood vaccines.
In this CNN media clip, Trump voices his concerns about the frequency and dosing of vaccines. He continues on to describe a story of a child who prior to receiving the required vaccines was a healthy individual but then developed autism shortly after the shots.
A documentary named “Vaxxed” was created and directed by the discredited physician, Andrew Wakefield, and the film’s producer Polly Tommey to uncover the link between vaccines and autism and how the CDC has hidden the information from the public. The documentary claims that the CDC has known for 14 years that there is a link to autism with the components vaccines are made of.
Debunking vaccine myths
Vaccines make you sick
The purpose of a vaccine is to expose the body to foreign invaders to create immunity against future attacks. By exposing the body to weakened or killed bacteria/ viruses in a controlled manner, the immune system becomes stronger (LaSalle, 2018). Individuals may feel tired or “under the weather” as a result of the triggered immune response.
Vaccines cause autism
A common misconception of vaccines is their link to the activation or triggering autism. Claims that vaccines are linked to autism, or are unsafe when administered according to the recommended schedule, have been negated by many pieces of medical literature (Knopf, 2017).
It is believed that Mercury (a form of Thimerosal) and Aluminum, components found in the MMR vaccine are linked to the development of autism (LaSalle, 2018). This was concluded from Andrew Wakefield’s discredited study in 1998.
Aluminum actually works as an assistive enhancer to the body’s immune system response to vaccines. This competent Is monitored closely by the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to ensure nonhazardous amounts are given. The amount of aluminum in vaccines is well below the regulated marker. According to LaSalle (2018) infants and children are exposed to aluminum products nearly every day in pots and pans, cereal, and even baby formula. “Infants exposed to 4.4 mg of aluminum in vaccines typically administered in the first 6 months of life. However, infants typically ingest more than that during the first 6 months of life.” (LaSalle, 2018).
Mercury is used as a preservative to prevent bacterial and fungal contamination of vaccines. However, according to LaSalle (2018), in the year 2001, licensed US vaccines removed the use of Mercury from the vaccines. Since the removal of Mercury, the CDC noted that there has been an increase in rates of autism.
There are too many vaccines and toxins in them
Vaccines are safety man-made created in a sterile environment to avoid contamination of bacteria. According to Destefano, Price, & Weintraub (2013), since the year 2012, children receive about 315 antigens (a forgien substance) compared to the several thousand in the late 1990s. A consistent schedule of vaccines helps build a child’s immunity during the vulnerable first two years of their life.
References
Destefano, F., Price, C., & Weintraub, E. (2013). Increasing Exposure to Antibody-Stimulating Proteins and Polysaccharides in Vaccines Is Not Associated with Risk of Autism, 163(2), 561- 567.
Knopf, A. (2015). MMR vs. Autism: A False Choice. Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter, 31, 1–2.
LaSalle, G. (2018). When the answer to vaccines is “No.” Journal of Family Practice, 67(6), 348.