I’m currently in the masters in public health program at Johns Hopkins University and am taking my first course in epidemiology. I have my first midterm tomorrow and among the many concepts the professors want me to understand is herd immunity.
Herd immunity is the ability to resist an attack of a disease because the majority of the members are immune to it. Disease passes from person to person so when a large portion of the population is immune — most likely through immunizations — this protects those who aren’t immune by decreasing the likelihood a susceptible person will come in contact with the disease.
I hope that was review for the clinicians. But for me, though I had been reporting on health care for four years, this was a new concept. It helps put the importance of mass vaccinations into context. Immunizations don’t only protect those who receive them, but the entire population.
That’s why this seemingly growing movement by parents not to immunize their children is so worrisome. I want to know why public health experts have not taken a stronger, more public position about the importance of immunization.
CBS News ran a report last week asking whether substantial financial contributions from vaccine companies tarnishes the independence of the prominent vaccine promoters, the Smerican Academy of Pediatrics and Every Child by Two.
Pointing out financial conflicts of interest of scientists whose research shapes public policy is important. But the story fails to say that vaccination has been a crucial part of protecting the public’s health since their inception.
The dozens of comments following the CBS story are an insight into what many people today think about vaccinations. Here’s one:
The vaccine argument will never be effectively debated or investigated
by the mainstream media– there is simply too much collusion in big
business today. So dismiss what you read, but consider common sense–
those populations which do not vaccinate, such as the Amish, show a
much lower incidence for all illnesses, not just the disease vaccine is
supposed to prevent. Rates for cancer, immunological disease,
allergies, autism, etc have all skyrocketed in recent years in spite of
”modern” medicines and vaccines. — Posted by h5mind
Where is the response from public health experts, particularly the ones that don’t have financial ties and can speak objectively on the topic? My professors keep saying public health practitioners need to improve their communication skills. Clearly.
On a side note, I now think every health reporter should take a course in epidemiology. I have a new appreciation for calculating disease incidence, survival rates and the validity and reliability of a screening test. Hopefully, I do it correctly on my test tomorrow!
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The bit about Mercury is false. It has been removed or reduced to trace amounts in every vaccine available except certain types of flu vaccines. Mercury free versions of all vaccines are available for children.
Thimerosal is virtually non-existant in modern vaccines.
http://www.fda.gov/biologicsbloodvaccines/safetyavailability/vaccinesafety/ucm096228.htm
Sarah, you say ..”growing movement by parents not to immunize their children is so worrisome. I want to know why public health experts have not taken a stronger, more public position about the importance of immunization.
I’d like you to think about these issues:
1. Vacccines are linked to a host of autoimmune disorders. Vaccines are designed to powerfully stimulate the body’s immune system using components called adjuvants. These include toxic metals such as aluminum and mercury, animal proteins (gelatin, hydrolyzed proteins and even MSG) and special lipids. Recent studies have shown that immune adjuvants can cause powerful stimulation of the immune system for as long as two years, which means the brain’s immune system also remains overactive. A growing body of research indicates that overactivity of the brain’s immune cells (microglia) can lead to a gradual loss of brain connections (synapses and dendrites) and can even cause the brain to be miswired (abnormal pathways development). Once again, this is not theory—it is neuroscience fact. The problem is, most practicing physicians do not know this, primarily because they never read the scientific literature concerning these mechanisms.
Another thing that can prime microglia is vaccine adjuvants such as aluminum, mercury and protein additives. These products easily enter the brain, are stored for decades and can powerfully activate the brain’s microglia, and do so for prolonged periods. Most pediatricians and family practice doctors have never heard of this.
2.So, what should be more worrisome ? An epidemic of autism spectrum diseases – 40,000 new cases diagnoses amongst children every year- or a much much smaller number of communicable diseases like measles and flu.
3. Why aren’t public health experts taking a stronger, more public position about the importance of vaccine safety, instead of hiding facts about adverse reactions, and negating finding about risks ?
4. Do you know how many children die every year due to adverse vaccine reactions?
5. have you interviewed any parents whose kids have neurological problems, or autism spectrum disorders, and traced the time-line for when the symptoms set in ?
6. Please explore the trails leading from here – http://www.robertfkennedyjr.com/articles/2005_june_16.html
7.Please read David Kirby’s Evidence of Harm
Which is stronger, herd immunity or herd mentality?
Reading comments at any news story dealing with vaccines is eye opening. Among some (large?) segment of the population it’s now beyond question that vaccines are a bad, dangerous thing. The reality of infectious diseases like smallpox and measles are forgotten now.