The information is pretty rudimentary, however, I believe this helped because it is easy to get confused when starting to learn about vaccines in general.
I think learning about the diseases prior facilitates a better understanding and foundation.
I encourage you to learn more about each disease in greater detail. Check out
Hepatitis B
Virus that infects the liver
Prevelence
less then 2%in US
Transmission
unprotected sex, blood transfusions, re-use of contaminated needles & syringes, and vertical transmission
Treatment
More than 95% of people who become infected as adults or older children will stage a full recovery and develop protective immunity to the virus. Of those infected between the age of one to six, 70% will clear the infection
More info on Hep B Disease and Vaccine:
CDC Pinkbook - Hep B
NVIC - Hep B
Hep B - This Disease & Vaccine
Rotavirus
Stomach Flu
Prevelence
average of 35 deaths/year in US
Transmission
faecal-oral route, via contact with contaminated hands, surfaces and objects
Treatment
Hydration; Rotavirus infections rarely cause other complications and for a well managed child the prognosis is excellent
More Information on Rotavirus:
CDC Pinkbook - Rotavirus
NVIC - Rotavirus
Diphtheria
Respitory tract infection, characterized by sore throat, and low fever
Prevelence
3 recorded cases in US from 2000-07
Transmission
direct physical contact or breathing the aerosolized secretions of infected individuals
Treatment
Infected child or adult receives a special antitoxin. Diphtheria is also treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin
More Info on Diphtheria:
CDC Pinkbook - Diphtheria
Tetanus
prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers
Prevelence
approx. 43 cases annually
Transmission
Infection generally occurs through wound contamination and often involves a cut or deep puncture wound.Heroin Uses at higher risk. From 1998-2000, 75% of the deaths in the
Treatment
Immune globulin, given intramuscularly, is the immediate treatment of unimmunized individuals exposed to material likely to contain the tetanus bacteria. Treatment includes bed rest and quiet conditions.
Pertussis
Whooping Cough
Prevelence
5,000-7,000 annually in the
Transmission
airborne discharges from the mucous membranes of infected people, who are most contagious during the catarrhal stage
Treatment
Treatment with an effective antibiotic
More Information in Pertussis:
CDC Pinkbook - Pertussis
NVIC - Pertussis
The Perfect Storm: How the increase in pertussis vaccine usage is causing an 'epidemic'
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
Bacterial Infection
Prevelence
3 out 100,000
Transmission
contact with discharges or droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person
Treatment
Treatment with antibiotics should be started
More Information on Hib -
CDC Pinkbook - Hib
NVIC - Hib
Pneumococcal
pneumonia
Prevelence
500,000/year in US
Transmission
Respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth of an infected person
Treatment
Treatment with penicillin
Additional Notes:
The Vaccines and Immunizations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for:
- 65 years old or older
- You have a serious long-term health problem such as heart disease, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, lung disease (not including asthma), diabetes, or liver cirrhosis
- Your resistance to infection is lowered due AIDS or Cancer
- You are an Alaskan Native or from certain Native American populations
*twice as high in African Americans than in caucasians
More information on pneumococcal:
CDC Pinkbook - pneumococcal
NVIC - pneumococcal
Influenza
Flu
Prevelence
see below in additional notes
Transmission
Transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes. Also be transmitted by direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces
Treatment
Plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco and, if necessary, take medications such as acetaminophen to relieve fever
Additional Notes:
Most people will recover completely in about one to two weeks
According to the World Health Organization: "Every winter, tens of millions of people get the flu. Most are only ill and out of work for a week,
yet the elderly are at a higher risk of death from the illness.
The group most vulnerable to flu, the elderly, is also the least affected by the vaccine, with an average efficacy rate ranging from 40-50% at age 65,
and 15-30% past age 70
In the
a person aged 50–64 is nearly ten times more likely to die an influenza-associated death than a younger person
More Information on Influenza:
CDC Pinkbook - Influenza
NVIC - Influenza
Flu Vaccine Inhibits Your Heterosubtypic Immunity (and why the heck its important)
Buying into the hype of this year's flu shot?
Measles
infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, rash on skin
Prevelence
131 cases-No deaths, (11 of the cases had received the vaccine)
Transmission
Airborne pathogen which spreads primarily via the respiratory system
Treatment
Most patients with uncomplicated measles will recover with rest and supportive treatment.
More information on Measles:
CDC Pinkbook - Measles
NVIC - Measles
Mumps
Prevelence
disease is self-limiting, and general outcome is relatively good with life long immunity
Transmission
When an infected person coughs or sneezes
Treatment
intermittent ice or heat to the affected neck, acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol) for pain relief
Additional Notes:
Prior to the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine, it was a common childhood disease worldwide
The disease is generally self-limited, running its course before receding, with no specific treatment apart from controlling the symptoms with painkillers.
After the illness, life-long immunity to mumps generally occurs
More Information on Mumps:
CDC Pinkbook - Mumps
NVIC - Mumps
Rubella
German Measles
Prevelence
CDC annouced elimination in 2004 in the
Transmission
airborne droplet emission from the upper respiratory tract
Treatment
No specific treatment-disease lasts for 1-3 days
Additional Notes:
Disease is often mild and attacks often pass unnoticed
Children recover more quickly than adults.
The disease can last one to three days.
More information on Rubella:
CDC Pinkbook - Rubella
NVIC - Rubella
Varicella
Chicken Pox
Prevelence
.0023% death rate in the
Transmission
inhalation of airborne respiratory droplets
Treatment
anti-itching creams and lotions
Additional Notes:
More severe in adult males than in adult females or children.
More information on Varicella:
CDC Pinkbook - Varicella
NVIC - Varicella
Chickenpox Party-RSVP?
Chickenpox vaccine-strain virus reverting back to virulence
Hepatitis A
Prevelence
640 people in 2003 (this was considered an outbreak)
Transmission
HAV is found in the feces of infected persons & those who are at higher risk include travelers to developing countries where there is a higher incidence rate, and those having sexual contact or drug use with infected persons
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Sufferers are advised to rest, avoid fatty foods and alcohol eat a well-balanced diet, and stay hydrated
Additional Notes:
Hepatitis A does not have a chronic stage, is not progressive, and does not cause permanent liver damage.
Following infection, the immune system makes antibodies against HAV that confer immunity against future infection.
Young children who are infected with hepatitis A typically have a milder form of the disease, usually lasting from 1–3 weeks, whereas adults tend to experience a much more severe form of the disease
More information on Hep A:
CDC Pinkbook - Hep A
NVIC - Hep A
More General Posts Regarding Safety of Vaccines:
Vaccine schedule touted as 'not unsafe'
Published Research and the Safety of Vaccines
Vaccine Trials & the Use of Placebos
How your doctor is taught to deal with questions about vaccines
Natural immunity vs artificial immunity
Anti-vaccine vs pro-vaccine
Stages parents experience on their journey to understanding vaccines
Anonymous is just a nickname. I'm actually Shawn Siegel.
ReplyDeleteBased on figures from the national Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the manufacturers' own product inserts, if vaccines were advertised on TV (DTaP, in this example), the opening, upbeat statement would be followed by this accurate disclaimer:
(Check with your doctor – the vaccine is contraindicated in some circumstances; for instance, if you’ve had a prior adverse reaction to it, or are immunocompromised. Some people experience nausea immediately following vaccination, or within a few hours. The aluminum adjuvant in the vaccine, used to stimulate the immune system, may leave a hard lump at the injection site, which may be hot to the touch – this will typically dissipate in a few days, but has been known to effect muscle pain and chronic fatigue, and, though rare, may trigger development of autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease); consult with your doctor at the first sign of any such reaction. In rare circumstances, the vaccine recipient may issue a high-pitched shriek sometime within the twenty-four hours following vaccination, which may indicate brain inflammation, and may be followed by a lengthy period of regression – consult with your doctor. The DTaP may cause bulging fontanelle in infants – this typically subsides after a few days, but may indicate brain damage; be alert for unusual behaviors, and call your doctor should you detect any. Also in infants, reports associate SIDS with the vaccine; for a period of about three weeks following vaccination, do not place your infant face-down. And, you may experience any combination of the following, some of which may require hospitalization: abdominal pain, anaphylactic shock, apnoea, autism, bacterial/viral infections, convulsions, disintegrative disorder, coma, abnormal EEG, blood disorders, eye movement disorder, hearing loss, trouble walking, narcolepsy, paralysis, pneumonia, impairment of psychomotor skills, screaming, and speech disorders. This vaccine has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.)
Food for thought.
Thank you for gathering the information!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog! I am anti-vaccine for my family but my ideology on the topic is green vaccines/ safer schedule. At every well visit I get the same argument from my pedi saying how he sees all these deaths from measles. I want to know why he sees them and I, as well as the general public, do not!? These doctors have been conditioned to spew scare tactics that are backed by pharma. Sad.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Max!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's is extremely unfortunate that the education dr's are giving are from the pharm. representatives. They visit everyday, and that is who the dr. counts on and trusts.
I completely agree - thats why I don't agrue with them, it's a lost cause with peditricans ...
I post about vaccines every so often. I try to concede to the pro-vax side just so they don't feel like they are being attacked, and actually listen to what I have to say. I made a quick post about the new movie coming out, "The Greater Good". Can't wait to see it. I attached the trailer in my post: http://webberstory.blogspot.com/2011/04/when-politics-interferes-with-science.html
ReplyDeleteI want to be more anti-vax on my blog, but people turn away, and start arguing with me, and drives me insane! I have found more people respond to what I have to say when I'm a bit "softer".
I like it very much!
ReplyDeletewhy not:)
ReplyDeleteHi there. :) I, too, am non-vax. This is an informative article and I appreciate everything being laid out like that. Just to avoid issues with the pro-vaxers, you might want to include all of the death rates for all of these diseases, instead of just a few. I also wouldn't get my information via Wikipedia, unless the page has credible sources. A pro-vaxer would have a field day. Anywho, I'm loving cruising around your page. Good stuff! Keep fighting the good fight! Wish I could talk about this on my blog.....
ReplyDeletegreat information! thanks.. would like to know if you could put the references for the data you have published in your blog... the scope here is limited to USA. would like to get similar data for other countries...any pointers to the treatments, transmission and the notes section mainly would be of immense help...
ReplyDeleteThank you for this information. Convincing my husband was the easy part.my family on the other hand is throwing the medical text books at me and trying to shove Community health down my throat. My daughter has received her 6 months shots but that is the last she will get.
ReplyDeleteluckily, what matters is what you and your partner agree on...your family will been shown by example when your daughter has excellent health, despite being unvaccinated! ;)
DeleteThanks so much for commenting!!
would love to feature your issue on my radio program. My name is Curt Linderman and I am the host of Linderman Unleashed on www.naturalnewsradio.com. I am the father of a vaccine injured child that they call "autistic". I was one of those fathers in denial. please let me know if this is something that you would be interested in. my # is 309 335 0599. thanks for the blog. It is an amazing source of info for those just getting involved! :)
ReplyDeleteI never knew this post would get so much attention. It's probably one of the most simple posts I've written regarding vaccine awareness, yet it has receved the most attention !
DeleteI guess keeping it simple has the most power sometimes. I will most definately contact you curt!
Medical students normally study about vaccines for only a short time, often just for a few hours during the years at university.
ReplyDeleteInformation which students and doctors receive is grossly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry.
Doctors often don't take the time to even read through package inserts.
In comparison it is often the case that vaccine critics have spent hundreds of hours, even many years studying vaccines and know far more than the average doctor.
We are many who are frustrated, unimpressed and tired of trying to ask about and discuss with doctors about vaccine ingredients, safety statistics, potential long term adverse events including carcinogenicity, synergy, interactions, secondary transmission, concomitant administration, etc.
It is often blatantly obvious that the average doctor has minimal knowledge about the complex issue of vaccination.
I wish I could give you a hug - I couldn't agree more.
Delete