Anti-Vaccination Movement Endangers Public Health

[HuckleB]

http://www.highlighthealth.com/resources/anti-vaccination-movement-endangers-public-health/

"In a commentary this month in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Dr. Gregory Poland discusses the dangers associated with vaccine denialism, defined as the continued propagation of anti-vaccination sentiment and misinformation in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary <1>.

Poland points out that the current anti-vaccination movement, which is by no means unique in history, looks particularly unfavorably upon the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This is largely due to a since-retracted study published in the Lancet journal by Andrew Wakefield <2>, which suggested a causal link between the MMR vaccine and autism. In his commentary, Poland emphasizes that there are more than 20 well-conducted studies that show no link between MMR and autism, and that scientific societies unilaterally agree that there is no reason to suspect such a link. Nevertheless, fear of autism and other serious adverse reactions to vaccines is having a significant impact upon public health in the United States. Indeed, just this week, inaccurate statements about the HPV vaccine causing mental retardation made the headlines.

As more and more children are withheld from vaccination, the risk of contracting the disease for which they were to be immunized increases. Last year, researchers determined that children whose parents refused the chickenpox vaccine have an 8-fold increased risk of catching the virus compared to fully immunized children.

One of the arguments used by opponents of vaccination is that the diseases for which children are routinely vaccinated aren’t serious, but the adverse reactions associated with vaccines are. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, however, demonstrate otherwise. Measles is incredibly communicable — prior to the advent of vaccination, almost 100% of the U.S. population got the disease — and isn’t as innocuous as opponents of vaccination claim. As many as 20% of measles cases in the U.S. result in hospitalization, and six percent of total cases result in pneumonia, which is the major cause of measles-related death. Approximately three of every 1000 individuals infected with measles die.

..."


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This is the piece linked to in the first paragraph:
MMR Vaccine and Autism: Vaccine Nihilism and Postmodern Science
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/86/9/869


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I would really like to let this go, but it's clear that the anti-vaccination groups are not going to stop pushing their propaganda. As this piece makes clear, that's not good for public health.

[HuckleB]

1. I wonder if those who unrec this are aware that they're helping to prove the point of the article.

Hmm.

:shrug:

[Drale]

2. Anyone who does no vaccinate their children,

deserves a shift kick in the side of the head. Also in my opinion, they are endangering the life of the child, and maybe Child Services should step in because this is basically playing Russian Roulette with their children's lives.

[HuckleB]

3. As bad as it is for their own kids, it's not just their own kids they are putting at risk.

"Children who are not vaccinated are unnecessarily susceptible to serious illnesses, they say, but also present a danger to children who have had their shots — the measles vaccine, for instance, is only 95 percent effective — and to those children too young to receive certain vaccines."

From: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/us/21vaccine.html

[dtexdem]

4. To vaccinate an individual is to vaccinate a community.

And as bad as it is having a small percentage unvaccinated, the rest are mostly protected by the vaccines, and even the unvaccinated are largely protected by herd immunity -- the lack of transmission of the disease through a vaccinated community, so that it does not reach the unvaccinated. The real danger is when a large proportion of a community fails to be vaccinated, so that herd immunity fails. And that is the major threat of the anti-vaccination yahoos.

[drm604]

5. K&R

It's all been said before, but it all bears repeating.

[HuckleB]

6. Unfortunately, it needs to be repeated.

:toast:

[HuckleB]

7. I'm happy to note that the recs outnumber the unrecs, but...

...I'm astounded by the number of unrecs that I've noted.

If we really want to argue that science is important, and that the GOPers don't take science seriously, how can so many Dems ignore science?

[laconicsax]

8. Religion is like that. n/t

[Chakaconcarne]

9. It's not the individual vaccines, it's the schedule....

and there are NO clinical trials that have looked at scheduling. If there are enough people with negative outcomes and incidence of autism has increased since the increased in # of vaccines and # of vaccines given in one office visit have increased, then I see no problem with being cautious with vaccines. If people are skeptical, they have every right to be...no matter how many times the vaccine sponsors tell us they are completely safe AND effective. To deny there could NOT be a relationship without vaccine scheduling being trialed is totally naive. We all know how drug companies operate, why we would think vaccines are treated differently?

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. Blah blah blah, NO IT FUCKING ISN'T

I just love how the anti-vaccine cranks are going "oh no it's the scheduling" now that repeated studies have shown that there is no connection between vaccination and autism, and now that the doctor responsible for positing such a connection between vaccination (specifically MMR) and autism in the first place has been censured by the UK General Medical Council after having been found guilty of serious professional misconduct, misrepresentation, and unethical behaviour, and struck off the medical register (which is the equivalent of having one's licence to practise medicine revoked by a state medical board in the US).

[OnTheOtherHand]

11. we have very extensive experience

We also have concomitant use trials -- although you'll always be able to find some specific hypothesis that hasn't been tested. But if multiple vaccinations are an important cause of the supposed "autism epidemic," it's really hard to understand why there isn't already dramatic epidemiological evidence. A vague assertion that autism incidence has increased "since" the number of vaccines per visit has increased comes nowhere close.

"Being cautious with vaccines" does seem like a good thing, but it isn't obvious why delaying protecting one's children against potentially lethal illnesses constitutes "being cautious."

This isn't just about "the drug companies." If multiple vaccinations are dangerous, many people are in a position to see evidence. Moreover, if only multiple vaccinations are dangerous, then the drug companies would be fairly stupid as well as malicious to insist on them, if that's what you think is happening.

It's good to be skeptical, but it's important not to be selectively gullible.

[Chakaconcarne]

22. Then let's see the trials

That's all I'm asking.... If you're so familiar with them, I presume they're at your fingertips?

[HuckleB]

23. See post 12 to start.

[OnTheOtherHand]

28. malarkey

If you want people to endanger their children in the name of being "cautious" (!), then you should bear at least some burden of evidence. That's a matter of reason and of decency.

[HuckleB]

12. The schedule has been shown to be fine.

Study: many vaccines at once OK for kids
http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2010/05/new-study-many-vaccines-at-once-ok-for-kids/#ixzz0otZTrv8p

On-time Vaccine Receipt in the First Year Does Not Adversely Affect Neuropsychological Outcomes
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2010/05/24/peds.2009-2489.abstract

Frequently Asked Questions about Multiple Vaccinations and the Immune System
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Vaccines/multiplevaccines.html

Report: Vaccines Generally Safe, Cause Few Health Problems
http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/news/20110825/report-vaccines-generally-safe-cause-few-health-problems

The Immunologic Basis for Neonatal Immunizations
http://neoreviews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/extract/6/10/e463

[Chakaconcarne]

24. These are far from convincing...

Sorry, but this is the same old crap. Pick out a bunch of studies and hope no one looks at the details.

#1 speaks to neonates ONLY. Neonates don't receive the intensity in schedule as non neonates do.
#2 = same as above.
#3 Does nothing to substantiate that the schedule is safe.
#4 Does not address schedule.
#5 is a bad link...

[HuckleB]

27. Hogwash.

All of these answer your question. Your ridiculous responses are aimed at ignoring the evidence that shows the vaccine schedule to be safe.

You made a claim that said there was no evidence that the vaccine schedule is safe. Yet, the evidence to show that it is safe is large and growing.

If you want to ignore that evidence. That's your choice. But that doesn't mean your excuses for ignoring it are valid. (I mean, all the links work fine, for starters. Oh, and you clearly did not read the first two pieces. The study looks at kids down the road, long term. So you bit about neonates is not even true. Number three is a science based explanation, based on the abundance of research. Number four addresses almost all vaccines, and so your excuse about schedule is pointless.)

[CanSocDem]

13. ...public health???

The biggest impediment to "public health" is the medical and pharmacuetical industry. Take a break from all THEIR propaganda and read Ivan Illich.

During the past three generations the diseases afflicting Western societies have undergone dramatic changes. Polio, diphtheria, and tuberculosis are vanishing; one shot of an antibiotic often cures pneumonia or syphilis; and so many mass killers have come under control that two-thirds of all deaths are now associated with the diseases of old age. Those who die young are more often than not victims of accidents, violence, or suicide.
These changes in health status are generally equated with a decrease in suffering and attributed to more or to better medical care. Although almost everyone believes that at least one of his friends would not be alive and well except for the skill of a doctor, there is in fact no evidence of any direct relationship between this mutation of sickness and the so-called progress of medicine.

The changes are dependent variables of political and technological transformations, which in turn are reflected in what doctors do and say; they are not significantly related to the activities that require the preparation, status, and costly equipment in which the health professions take pride.4 In addition, an expanding proportion of the new burden of disease of the last fifteen years is itself the result of medical intervention in favor of people who are or might become sick. It is doctor-made, or iatrogenic?

http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0303critic/030313illich/Frame.Illich.Ch1.html


.

[HuckleB]

14. Ah, it's the old "When you can't address the topic, try to change the subject" routine.

:eyes:

:boring:

[CanSocDem]

15. Run and hide....

...is your usual response so I'm surprised you even took the time to post your usual "red herring-change the subject-why do you hate science" gibberish.

Your OP claimed that "public health" was being threatened and I think I addressed that. I'm more concerned that you would use concepts like "public health" without really knowing anything about it. Of course you're also confused about 'placebo's' so I shouldn't be surprised.

Anyway, to suggest that free-market medicine is pursuing "public health" is simply ridiculous. Your endless posts, singing the praises of Modern Medicine, are so completely out of sync with the public interest that I'm forever baffled that they would be found on a BBS that proclaims its' progressive values. The "public interest" is HEALTH....not medical or pharmaceutical or scientific intervention.

No path that leads to personal health should be challenged by the medical establishment. Like religion, it is a personal choice. If I thought for a moment that your intent was altruistic and that you were genuinely concerned about the peoples' health, I wouldn't have to read all your dire warnings about the dangers of ignoring medical solutions and SURE-CURE pharmacopeia.

You're so busy looking for 'red-herrings' and dodging serious questions that your credibility is taking a big hit. Accusing others of intellectual misconduct is called PROJECTION.

.

[HuckleB]

16. Hide from what?

Your attempt to divert attention?

:rofl:

[CanSocDem]

17. Good answer.

Thanks for making my point.

.

[HuckleB]

18. No problem.

I'm always happy to help confirm that your point is pointless distraction. (Granted you also toss in some baseless personal attacks that are hilarious in their deceit, but...)

[CanSocDem]

19. Awww....

...you're feeling 'attacked'. Better run and hide.

.

[HuckleB]

20. I'm still here!

What's your next distraction attempt going to be?

[Odin2005]

29. What a load of ignorant anti-science horseshit.

"there is in fact no evidence of any direct relationship between this mutation of sickness and the so-called progress of medicine. "

This is the most idiotic BS I have ever heard.

[CanSocDem]

30. "This is the most idiotic BS I have ever heard."

Ever listen to yourself????

.

[HuckleB]

21. Tougher laws called for unvaccinated students

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18935315

[Chakaconcarne]

25. Forced vaccinations are dangerous territory....

What follows?

[laconicsax]

26. Eradication of disease. n/t

[BuddhaGirl]

31. huge profits for Big Pharma!

n/t

[HuckleB]

32. Get your Red Herring, here! RED HERRING! Free of charge!

[BuddhaGirl]

33. get your meaningless distraction here! MEANINGLESS DISTRACTION! Free of charge!

you're too funny :-)

[HuckleB]

34. Yes, I am funny.

It's the only way to respond to your usual meaningless distractions.

[BuddhaGirl]

35. And to yours as well!

;-)

[laconicsax]

36. Yes, red herrings are meaningless distractions. Glad you know that.

[BuddhaGirl]

37. as is yours

glad you know that! :thumbsup:

[laconicsax]

41. Name the red herring. n/t

[HuckleB]

38. 11,000 Students Enter California Schools Without Required Vaccines

http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/11-000-students-enter-california-schools-without-required-vaccines/245679/

[laconicsax]

39. But haven't you heard? Compliance is at an all time high!

There's no explanation for increased cases of measles and the like!

:crazy:

[HuckleB]

40. None whatsoever!

:rofl: