Sir, - Further to Mr Gill's letter (January 16th) regarding vaccination, it may be helpful to provide a different viewpoint. Whilst it is true that there has been a decrease in the number of children developing and dying from infectious disease, this began long before the introduction of vaccination and, indeed antibiotics. The World Health Organisation says that the best way of preventing childhood infectious disease is by good nutrition and clean water supplies. The improvement in living standards which began in the latter part of the 19th century led to a dramatic decrease in such diseases and associated deaths. This continued through the 20th century with no change in decrease after the introduction of mass vaccination campaigns or antibiotics.
With regard to some of the specific diseases which Mr Gill mentioned it may be helpful to consider the history of vaccination which has not been the success some would have us believe.
Smallpox vaccination between 1953 and 1961 in the UK led to 37 deaths in half a million vaccinated. The disease killed 11 people out of a population of 47 million. This means that the vaccination was 316 times more likely to kill people than the disease. (Reports of the Registrar General.) An epidemic of measles in the US in 1990 has cast doubts on whether vaccination is so effective for this disease as formerly thought (General Practitioner, August 24th, 1990). These were the highest number of cases for the previous 10 years. It seemed from comments by scientists at the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta that up to 40 per cent of these cases had been vaccinated. The conclusion is self evident - vaccination has little effect. Many states in the US are now legally enforcing a second measles vaccination. Perhaps in another 10 years we shall see a legally enforced third vaccination. Rubella (German measles) vaccination was offered only to females before 1988 and it provides a good opportunity to study the differences in the occurrence of the disease in males and females. A Glasgow practice investigated people's immunity to rubella after a vaccination take up level of 86-87 per cent. There was no significant difference in the incidence of rubella between males and females. It has also been noted that as many cases of rubella are sub clinical, i.e., not noticed or with no symptoms, children may in fact have had the disease without knowing. To vaccinate without prior testing of immune status seems, at the least, a waste of money.
Any immunity which is gained from the vaccination lasts for a variable length of time and there is little information concerning long term immune states. Re infection does occur in vaccinated individuals with figures quoted of around 50 per cent and if in pregnancy can lead to foetal abnormalities. (Vaccines by Plotkin and Mortimer.) (Sanders, 1988) Vaccination, therefore, may have the effect of leading to more cases of rubella in older females, the very thing we are trying to avoid.
Polio is another disease which rarely occurs in the Western world. When polio does occur it usually does so only in vaccinated cases rather than in unvaccinated. Vaccination, using a live vaccine, is the deliberate introduction of live polio virus into the environment. There are repeated instances of parents developing the disease after catching it from their recently vaccinated children. In addition it may not be particularly effective in terms of protection. Despite the introduction of vaccination into Africa, Asia and South America the disease has actually increased considerably (World Health Organisation Bulletin, 1980). The decline in polio cases in Europe occurred at exactly the same time as the decline in the US although there was no mass vaccination in Europe at the time. The problems surrounding whooping cough vaccination have been known for years and several authorities warn of the dangers of neurological damage following such procedures. In fact, several European countries have now stopped such vaccinations.
The late Dr Robert Mendelsohn, a US paediatrician, was well known for his opposition to many conventional treatments of little or no use. He stated that there is as much likelihood of contracting diptheria in the US as being bitten by a cobra. In addition, there is increasing evidence that vaccination may lead to more serious disease in later life. Vaccination interferes with the immune system so that it produces antibodies. If this is done at all, and certainly at a young age when the immune system is immature, there may be the result that the immune system becomes disordered. There is evidence to link multiple sclerosis with measles vaccination and vaccination in general to the increase in recent years in diseases such as cancer and the auto immune diseases of rheumatoid arthritis and others. As Mr Gill states, it is indeed not immediately apparent what the effects of vaccination are. There is currently no research being undertaken to determine the long term effects of mass vaccination.
Children do not have a voice in their treatment. It is essential that we, as parents, find out as much as possible before allowing them to receive such treatment. There are always two sides to every story and if the parent knows both, they can then make an informed decision which is in the best interests of the child.
I would agree with the World Health Organisation, and say that building up the health of the child is the best remedy to prevent disease and its harmful effects. Measures such as a healthy diet, fresh air, clean water and non toxic methods of treatment are of great benefit in maximising health. - Yours, etc.,
Ashe Street,
Clonakilty,
Co Cork.