Over Medicated and Over-Vaccinated: The Unintended Consequences of Medicines Meant to Protect

Several important findings affecting our children's health were reported in the past few months. All of them raising questions about the unintended consequences of widely accepted medical treatments.

In September news reports about Prevnar, a vaccine developed to protect against pneumonia in children, along with the overuse of antibiotics, was "having the unfortunate effect of promoting new superbugs that cause ear infections" that are resistant to all antibiotic drugs approved for children.

A month later it was announced that once routinely recommended infant and cold medications were being immediately and voluntarily recalled by many of the country's largest drug companies because the products were being "misused leading to overdosing," particularly in children 2 years and younger. In addition, physicians and public health officials expressed concern that there were no studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the medications.

In responding to the recall, Dr. Steven Czinn, chair of the department of pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine stated, "In the 21st century, it is unacceptable to be marketing medication to infants and children that may not work."

Are they kidding me? "No studies demonstrating the effectiveness of these cold medications"? Don't we have a whole federal agency; the Food and Drug Administration, whose job it is to make sure drugs are safe and effective? If this data was available, why did it take 35 years to notify parents the medications they were giving their sick children may not work? Where is the evidence-based science that should have been here to prove safety and efficacy?

Just a few weeks ago another study called into question long prescribed vaccination recommendations and added more "fuel to the fire" in the on going controversy over our nation's immunization policies.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine [Nov. 8, 2007] the study, funded by the U.S. Public Health Service, suggests we may want to reevaluate and adjust our nation's current vaccination recommendations.

Scientists from the Oregon Health & Science University found many of the vaccines administered to millions of American's may be providing immunity longer than what was first believed, making the need for some booster shots unnecessary.

"Surprisingly, we found that immunity following vaccination with tetanus and diphtheria was much more long-lived than anyone realized, and that antibody responses following viral infections were essentially maintained for life," stated lead author Dr. Mark Slifka, a scientist at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute. The study also found similar longer than expected immunity for several other vaccines.

According to the study, "it [a booster shot] may just be unnecessary under certain circumstances."

Logically, this would make sense. After all, if vaccines are effective, one should not need another booster shot.

But our kids are getting a lot of booster shots...shots containing heavy metals and viruses. Shots that a growing number of parents, physicians and researchers believe could be contributing to the rise of chronic illnesses and developmental disorders affecting our children. If the booster shots are unnecessary because immunity is present, why expose our children to these toxins?

If this study found there has been no increase in diseases in countries that discontinued the booster shots, as was noted, why is the current policy of over vaccinating our children continuing? Where are the conflict-free studies that prove giving infants and children 49 immunizations - most of them by age 5, are safe and effective?

I'm also starting to think that we should follow the lead being set in veterinary medicine. Studies have provided evidence that the over-vaccination of dogs and cats can result in numerous maladies including cancer, skin and ear conditions, arthritis, allergies, diabetes, aggression, behavior problems and other immune system dysfunctions.

There is even a name for the conditions caused by animal over-vaccination, vaccinosis and it is note worthy to read what veterinarians' say about over-vaccinating our pets.

"Vaccinosis is the reaction from common inoculations (vaccines)...These reactions might take months or years to show up and will cause undue harm to future generations."

"In a general and frightening context, I see the overall health and longevity of animals deteriorating. The bodies of most animals have a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons, but they do have a limit."

These statements made by seasoned animal health professionals have an eerie familiar ring to them. They bare a striking resemblance to what parents of children suffering from autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders have been claiming.

Why is it that veterinarians have a better appreciation of how over-vaccinating with shots containing various toxins and viruses might overload the immune system of the family pet but mainstream physicians can't quite wrap their arms around such a logical premise when it comes to our babies and young children? If vaccinosis can cause maladies in animals, isn't it possible that like animals, over-vaccinating our children might, not only be unnecessary, but may be contributing to the rising rates of chronic diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders affecting our children today?

It is also interesting to note that the mercury-containing preservative [thimerosal] used in vaccines for over 50 years was removed from animal vaccines back in 1992. Unfortunately for the kids, it remained in children's vaccines for another decade and remains in some vaccines like the influenza (25 micrograms) and tetanus vaccine (25 micrograms) today and in trace amounts (3 micrograms) in some immunizations.

Add this all up and there's still a lot of mercury being injected into our children.

What most people don't realize is that any liquid waste containing more than 200 parts per billion (ppb) mercury must be deposited at a hazardous waste site and that drinking water cannot exceed 2 ppb mercury. But when the influenza vaccines arrive and are injected into pregnant woman and infants as young as six months, those vaccines contain 50,000 ppb mercury. This is an amount that is 250 times higher than hazardous waste. According to EPA guidelines, this amount of mercury can only be considered safe if a person weighs 550 pounds. Even trace amounts of mercury in vaccines can be anywhere from 600 to 2000 ppb.

The CDC and The Institute for Vaccine Safety claim there are "no biological effects" from trace amounts (.3 micrograms) of mercury. So, where are the evidenced based (conflict free) studies that prove the safety of these "trace" amounts and proof that there are "no biological effects" of any amount of mercury being injected into our children and pregnant moms? Also, where are the evidence based studies proving the safety of vaccines given to pregnant moms and our children that contain other toxins such as aluminum and formaldehyde?

I do take issue with the NEJM study opinion that "over-vaccinating the population poses no health or safety concerns". Where is the hard data showing that giving vaccines, where immunity already exists... is not harmful?

Thimerosal has been proven to be a carcinogen, immunotoxic, genotoxic, nephrotoxic and neurotoxic. One study found thimerosal's lethal toxicity to developing human neurons below 1 part per billion (Parran et al., 2005). Another study concluded, "thimerosal...has been found not only to render its primary toxic effect, but also capable of changing the properties of cells. This fact suggests that the use of thimerosal for the preservation of medical biological preparations, especially those intended for children, is inadmissible." (Kravchenko et al., 1983).

These and many other studies would suggest over-vaccinating, certainly does pose some "health and safety concerns."

So here we have several recent findings that all contradict previously long held medical beliefs and raise more questions about the unintended consequences of overuse of some medications and over vaccinating and perhaps the over marketing of these treatments by pharmaceutical companies.

Far too often we are beginning to see physician prescribed drugs (like Vioxx and thalidomide) and vaccines (like the whole cell DPT and Rotovirus) thrust upon the public that are later found to be unsafe.

While physicians warn the public about the over use of antibiotics, it is the physicians themselves that over-prescribed these antibiotics for every ailment under the sun. And like antibiotics, every time a new vaccine was developed, it quickly found its way onto the immunization schedule along with the recommended booster shots. We are now reaping the unintended consequences of the overuse of these medical interventions. Instead of being healthier, we have a nation of very sick children.

Let's open our eyes to what appears obvious to doctors treating animals... we have allowed ourselves and our children to be overdosed through a culture dominated by drug company marketing influence which has now become dangerously out of control and detrimental to our children's health.

Comments

[PeopleForCleanBeds]

We are now required to be vaccinated by our mattresses. With the July-07 flameproof mattress regulation the CPSC says we will absorb .8 mg Antimony (Arsenic) every night to protect us from a one in 1.111 million mattress fire risk.

Here are some key facts you will see in the highlights of the flawed government risk assessment justifying the regulation. http://www.peopleforcleanbeds.org/CPSC_Risk_Assessment_Selected_Pages_Highlighted_4.pdf

They excluded and did not study children under age five. A proper risk assessment always includes young children. This one should because even crib mattresses must be flameproof and now often contain both Boric Acid and Antimony. A European study proved Antimony leaches through vinyl on crib mattresses.

They studied only 3 of the 8 main chemicals used to flameproof mattresses.

They proved these three chemicals leach to the surface of mattresses and measured significant amounts of toxins contacting our bodies.

They made ridiculously low skin absorption assumptions of only 2/1,000’s for Antimony, 1/1,000’s for DBDPO, and 1/10,000’s for Boric Acid.

The risk assessment basically failed independent review.

The reviewer complained strongly they changed the rules of the “Child Sucking Test” and then did not even apply it to young children who the test was designed to protect.

The reviewer complained many times their assumptions of safe levels of toxin absorption do not agree with other agencies.

Indeed, what the CPSC assumes is safe is 320 times more for DBDPO, and 5,750 times more for Antimony, than what the EPA says is safe to absorb.

Even with low absorption assumptions the CPSC says we will absorb .8 mg Antimony every night. Even .8 mg is 27 times more than the EPA says is safe.

Proper assumptions of absorption rates and/or safe levels would have proven all three chemicals toxic, with their own calculations. In other words the government cheated to make this appear safe.

See more at Strobel’s blog http://poisonbeds.blogspot.com/ and a lot of detail with links to references at www.PeopleForCleanBeds.org

[trrll]

"Logically, this would make sense. After all, if vaccines are effective, one should not need another booster shot."

What the hell kind of stupid "logic" is this? Immunity is maintained by cells in the body. These cells aren't immortal, they are constantly dying and being replaced. So this is about as "logical" as saying, "If the schooling my grandmother received was effective, then I shouldn't have to teach arithmetic to my daughter."

Perhaps the cells of the immune system effectively pass the immunity down through the thousands of generations of cells over the decades, perhaps they don't. "Logic" can't tell you the answer--the only way to know for sure is to actually do a study.

[Orac]

"The problem with overvaccination goes beyond mercury. There are other toxic ingredients (e.g., aluminum, formaldahyde, etc.), and there is also some concern about the mere act of giving so many, so early to children whose immune systems are not yet fully developed. "

Oh, goody. The old and dreaded antivax "formaldehyde" canard. Oooh, scary!

As always, the dose makes the poison. Formaldehyde at low levels is harmless. Indeed, it's everywhere. Indeed, children are probably exposed to far more formaldehyde from their environment than from every vaccine they ever get. It's in exhaust fumes; it's emitted from various kinds of clothing, plastics, and fabric softeners; it's even emitted from plywood and particle boards, carpets, and even some paper bags.

The amount of formaldehyde in vaccines is not a health hazard, as far as can be determined.

[Orac]

I'm not. WABC got rid of a far superior show, Curtis & Kuby, to make room for Don Imus. Never mind that C&K routinely trounced Imus in the ratings when he was still on the air in New York. Never mind that C&K was a far superior radio show.

As for Deirdre Imus' article, it's so clear that she only read the rather badly framed press release and not the study itself; so I dug up the actual study. Also, there are so many antivaccination canards there that the only way to deal with them is in a post:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/11/america_the_overvaccinated.php

[Jmulvaney]

Somebody is putting something bad into our kids. I don't know that Deirde Imus has it right but I am sure she doesn't have it wrong. Someone is killing our kids and they need to stop.
Jim

[ShaunHammer]

Good article...

thanks

[meemee]

Thank you Deirde. I have heard that many pediatricans are going to start screening for autism which means they will be seeking out information. Raising awareness works. More and more new mothers are asking questions. I believe there is a link. My daughter had a flu shot during her last pregancy. She was sick until delivery. My grandson has autism. To quote Jenny McCarthy, "one size does not fit all" so for Gods sake if your going to vacinate your kids at least don't do it when they are sick. I heard the other day that a newborn got a hepititis B shot and afterwards wasn't doing so well. Its all about the money. I don't trust them.

[dpowell]

After getting a round of vaccines - my great dane (weight 160 lbs) had an autoimmune response that dropped her platlets levels to dangerously low levels and almost killed her. The vet said no more vaccines for her, including rabies. The vets seems to know more than the peds.

[docd]

well said. Now we need our officials and leaders to take notice and not allow our health choices and freedoms to be taken away from us.

[avicenna]

Coming from the angle of an immunologist, I actually couldn't agree more that we aren't weighing the pros and cons (other then the financial ones) when considering the use of vaccines. Other than the preservatives and stabilizers used in vaccines, I am concerned that the way and frequency of the way the antigen is introduced to the immune system may not be the best way to go. It isn't the way the immune system would normally generate antibodies - there is no regulation through innate immunity to orchestrate the proper adaptive immune response when we inject things into the bloodstream with adjuvants. Could this lead to an oversensitivity to other inocuous antigens present simultaneously? Could it exacerbate a mild sensitivity by expanding immune cells that could lend themselves to develop into a full-blown autoimmune disorder or systematic allergy? Is that why we are seeing an unparalleled increase in childhood allergies from everything like peanuts to wheat? Don't blame the doctors - they are indoctrinated into believing that vaccines are equivalent to exercise when it comes to disease prevention - unfortunately, that is just a matter of miseducation and superb marketing.

[rng777]

Great article. I wonder who is watching what is actually in the vaccines and other drugs for purity and compliance? Could it be the same people who were checking the Vioxx pills?
How do we know how many bad batches have slipped through? Where are the recalls?

[MidwestDad]

"...if vaccines are effective, one should not need another booster shot."

And if food was effective, one should not need to eat every day.

[lefty2026]

I agree with most of this, but I wanted to point out that your argument against thimerosal really weakens this whole article.

The units ppb, are similar to percentages, except divided by a billion instead of 100. Therefore, the number is irrelevant when you compare different volumes. For example:
Drinking water at 2 ppb mercury, if you drink 8, 8 oz glasses per day, 365 days a year you consume .000047 oz mercury per year, of course this doesn't include bathing, cleaning, cooking etc.

with the vaccine assuming it contains 1 oz (it's probably less) and you get it once a year, you would consume .00005 oz per year. So pretty much the same amount as you will drink over the year. I'm not saying it's good for you, but comparing it to toxic waste is a fear mongering and ignorant tactic.

For simplicity I assumed ppb is by volume, it is probably not, but the article did not specify that either. I assume the author did not intend to misinform, but simply does not understand the math behind these numbers.

Other than that, this is a good article. The pharmacutical companies interests do not align with our best interests and it is scary to think about.

[BarbaraFischkin]

In the best of worlds, this column - with comments pro and con - would be posted on bulletin boards in every preschool in America, as a good solid starting point for tired parents who too often make decisions based on fear, not on information. I know because I have been there and now for reasons still unknown I have an adult son with autism whom I suspect was infected with a toxic substance when he was little. In all these years, there has been no other answer that makes as much sense. Thank you, Deirdre, for yet again igniting discussion. If only we had a Pediatric Academy that demonstrated the same leadership skills.

[HRoger]

Great piece, Dierdre! Thanks for your support on this issue. Not sure why commenters think your statistics are incorrect, they are perfectly accurate. Well done!
best,
Heidi