I recently got into a debate with a medical professional about the comparison of immunity through vaccination versus naturally acquired immunity.
She referenced her medical textbook which stated that there was no difference between the two.
How could someone truly believe that?! You don’t have to be a medical doctor to understand the very distinct differences between the two.
To think that receiving a vaccine is no different then acquiring the disease itself is misinformed and grossly deceiving.
Naturally acquired immunity is magnificent, multifaceted, and something scientists are still learning about to this day. I would fathom to guess we will never truly be able to understand it in it’s entirety.
Our body’s immune system is a multifaceted interaction between molecules, cells, and organs. This system is efficient and is able to protect an individual from outside threats as well as internal cells.
Let’s compare the cascade of events/effects when a person acquires ‘immunity’ naturally versus artificially.
Non-specific VS Specific
Let’s first appreciate that our immune system can be classified into two parts: non-specific (innate, immediate response) and specific (acquired or antigen specific). These parts are complex and are constantly communicating and interacting – something to be said of the entire immune system.
When a person attains an infection naturally, the virus/bacteria/fungus must penetrate through physical barriers (skin), chemicals factors (nasal secretions, saliva) and biological features (flora in the GI tract).
The non-specific components make up the majority of immune resistance.
When a person receives an injectable vaccine – these barriers are bypassed; none of the body’s cells, organs or molecules that are part of the non-specific response is activated in a way that would happen naturally.
Thinking we can “trick” our bodies into becoming immune to a disease without any consequences is simply bad science.
Definition of Immunity
It is impartive to note that the definition of immunity used in every standard dictionary includes both non-specific and specific components.
Relying soling on a vaccine would not fall into terms of this definition.
Ports of Entry
A vaccine is injected into the muscle of an individual, directly into the bloodstream.
This is quite the opposite of what would happen naturally. The majority of pathogens enter through a person’s mouth or nose which are heavily lined with mucous membranes, packed with IgA.
In the events triggering natural immunity, a remarkable amount of biological events occur which trigger the body’s ability in developing true immunity. This happens before the virus or bacterial come in contact with the host’s bloodstream.
Antibody Production
Vaccines sole intent is to elicit an antibody reaction from the individual. However, it is still uncertain if elevated antibody titers confer immunity or protection from disease.
Natural immunity involves many organs and systems. This complex system is completely evaded when relaying on vaccines to confer protection.
Life-Long Immunity
One of the fundamental features of the immune system is its ability to respond and remember an invading virus or bacteria.
A problem occurs here with the use of vaccines because T cells (memory cells) are extremely slow learners. The most recent research shows that the ability for a T cell to remember requires many encounters instead of one initial exposure.
Conclusion
Vaccines are touted as the biggest gun in our arsenal of preventative medicine; not nutrition, sanitation or daily lifestyle choices.
In response to my discussion with the medical professional that so confidently stated there is no difference between the response a vaccine elicits versus the naturally occurring immune response, I think it is evident that the stimulation by a vaccine is not even remotely close in duplicating the response received from natural exposure.
Personally, I think we would be much more effective at evading disease if we shift our focus from disease prevention and management to enhancing health and wellbeing. The importance of nutrition, exercise and positive lifestyle choices should not be down-played by modern medicine.
It is important to embrace the concept that many diseases are normal and natural, that they may actually strengthen the immune system and benefit the body.
References:
NShe referenced her medical textbook which stated that there was no difference between the two.
How could someone truly believe that?! You don’t have to be a medical doctor to understand the very distinct differences between the two.
To think that receiving a vaccine is no different then acquiring the disease itself is misinformed and grossly deceiving.
Naturally acquired immunity is magnificent, multifaceted, and something scientists are still learning about to this day. I would fathom to guess we will never truly be able to understand it in it’s entirety.
Our body’s immune system is a multifaceted interaction between molecules, cells, and organs. This system is efficient and is able to protect an individual from outside threats as well as internal cells.
Let’s compare the cascade of events/effects when a person acquires ‘immunity’ naturally versus artificially.
Non-specific VS Specific
Let’s first appreciate that our immune system can be classified into two parts: non-specific (innate, immediate response) and specific (acquired or antigen specific). These parts are complex and are constantly communicating and interacting – something to be said of the entire immune system.
When a person attains an infection naturally, the virus/bacteria/fungus must penetrate through physical barriers (skin), chemicals factors (nasal secretions, saliva) and biological features (flora in the GI tract).
The non-specific components make up the majority of immune resistance.
“In the 1980’s Paola’s team at the Pasteur Institute in Paris showed that 98% of the immune response triggered at the early stages of infection is non-specific. [1]
Nature Medicine, April 2000
Nature Medicine, April 2000
When a person receives an injectable vaccine – these barriers are bypassed; none of the body’s cells, organs or molecules that are part of the non-specific response is activated in a way that would happen naturally.
Thinking we can “trick” our bodies into becoming immune to a disease without any consequences is simply bad science.
“The non-specific defense system responds immediately to protect the body from all foreign substances, whatever they are. The non-specific system reduces the workload of the specific defense system, by preventing entry and spread of micro-organisms throughout the entire body” [2]
Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology
Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology
Definition of Immunity
Immunity; 1. Protection against infectious disease by either specific or non-specific mechanisms. 2. Pertaining to the immune system or immune response [3]
Dorland’s Medical Dictionary
Dorland’s Medical Dictionary
It is impartive to note that the definition of immunity used in every standard dictionary includes both non-specific and specific components.
Relying soling on a vaccine would not fall into terms of this definition.
Ports of Entry
A vaccine is injected into the muscle of an individual, directly into the bloodstream.
This is quite the opposite of what would happen naturally. The majority of pathogens enter through a person’s mouth or nose which are heavily lined with mucous membranes, packed with IgA.
“IgA is the key defender against viral infections”[4]
Essentials of Medicine
Essentials of Medicine
In the events triggering natural immunity, a remarkable amount of biological events occur which trigger the body’s ability in developing true immunity. This happens before the virus or bacterial come in contact with the host’s bloodstream.
Antibody Production
Vaccines sole intent is to elicit an antibody reaction from the individual. However, it is still uncertain if elevated antibody titers confer immunity or protection from disease.
Natural immunity involves many organs and systems. This complex system is completely evaded when relaying on vaccines to confer protection.
There is no relation whatsoever between antibody count and incidence of disease. The researchers found people who were highly resistant with extremely low antibody counts, and people who developed the disease who had high antibody counts.
Dr. Burton also discovered that children born with a-gamma globulinemia (inability to produce antibodies) develop and recover from measles and other infectious or contagious disease almost as quickly as other children.[5] Dr. Alec Burton, published by the British Medical Council
Dr. Burton also discovered that children born with a-gamma globulinemia (inability to produce antibodies) develop and recover from measles and other infectious or contagious disease almost as quickly as other children.[5] Dr. Alec Burton, published by the British Medical Council
Life-Long Immunity
One of the fundamental features of the immune system is its ability to respond and remember an invading virus or bacteria.
A problem occurs here with the use of vaccines because T cells (memory cells) are extremely slow learners. The most recent research shows that the ability for a T cell to remember requires many encounters instead of one initial exposure.
“It is true that natural infection almost always causes better immunity than vaccines. Whereas immunity from disease often follows a single, natural infection, immunity from vaccines occurs only after several doses.” [6]Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
“The antigens contained in many inject able vaccines will not produce an immune response sufficient enough to confer protection against infection. Of the 23 vaccines currently in routine use, 20 are delivered by injection and stimulate only systemic immunity” [7]Avant Immunotherapeutics
“It is dangerously misleading and indeed the exact opposite of the truth to claim that a vaccine makes us “immune’ or protects us against an acute disease, if in fact it only drives the disease deeper into the interior and causes us to harbor it chronically, with the result that our responses to it become progressively weaker and show less and less tendency to heal or resolve themselves spontaneously” [8]Dr. Robert Moskowitz, Dissent in Medicine
Conclusion
Vaccines are touted as the biggest gun in our arsenal of preventative medicine; not nutrition, sanitation or daily lifestyle choices.
In response to my discussion with the medical professional that so confidently stated there is no difference between the response a vaccine elicits versus the naturally occurring immune response, I think it is evident that the stimulation by a vaccine is not even remotely close in duplicating the response received from natural exposure.
Personally, I think we would be much more effective at evading disease if we shift our focus from disease prevention and management to enhancing health and wellbeing. The importance of nutrition, exercise and positive lifestyle choices should not be down-played by modern medicine.
It is important to embrace the concept that many diseases are normal and natural, that they may actually strengthen the immune system and benefit the body.
With the rise of vaccines and antibiotics, people in developed countries have experienced fewer childhood diseases than ever before and scientists suspect that an immune system with no serious work to do is likely to become a renegade army, attacking whatever it encounters[9]
Newsweek, 1997
Newsweek, 1997
Several studies have shown that the incidence of asthma and allergies tend to rise in countries where childhood immunization rates are high. This has prompted researchers to suggest that certain infections may trigger immune changes that protect children from developing asthma and allergies later. Preliminary studies have shown a protective effect of measles and infections with intestinal parasites. [10]
Science News, 1997
Science News, 1997
Infection with an organism does not necessarily mean diseases, since the immune system in most cases will be able to eliminate the infection before disease occurs. Disease occurs only when the bolus of infection is high, when the virulence of the invading organism is great or when immunity is compromised. [11]
References:
[1]Degrave W. “A B-cell mitogen from a pathogenic trypanosome is a novel eukaryotic proline racemase” Nature
[2] Marieb, E. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, WB Saunders, 2000, Philadelphia.
[3] Ingelfinger, F. Dorland’s Medical Dictionary Saunders Press, 1999.
[4] Andreoli, T. Essentials of Medicine, WB Saunders, 2001, Philadelphia.
[5] Null G. Vaccines: A Second Opinion, 2000.
[6] Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, www.vaccine.chop.edu.
[7] Choang K Avant Immunotherapeutics.
[8] Moskowitz R. Dissent in Medicine Contemporary Books, 1985 p.142.
[9] Underwood, A. “Why Ebonie cant breathe” Newsweek, May 26, 1997
[10] Raloff, J. “Childhood Vaccinations” Science News Jan 25, 1997
[11 Gene Mayer, Ph.D. IMM U
Quotes 1-10 were gathered from Keith Wassung. “Challenging the Theory of Artificial Immunity.” Dr. Wassung is a nationally known author and speaker in the field of health education and research. http://atlaschiro.com/great_stuff/challenging_the_theory_of_artificial_immunity/
Just wanted to say I'm a regular reader of yours and I'm really, really grateful for all the research you do and pass along. I sometimes have a hard time remembering all the facts and reasons why we choose not to vaccinate when people attack me about it, but all the research I've done seems to reside, not so much in my brain, but in my heart... giving me full peace about it.
ReplyDeleteI could not have said it any better then you - all the research tends to reside in my heart as well! That's one of the reasons why I document this research, so I can reference this as well as continuing to spread the information, and of course offer support to those other parents out there.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this comment.
Crock of BS!!!! Let's get rid of all the vaccinations and see who comes out on top. My money's on the smart people who vaccinate.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that insightful comment.
ReplyDeleteI am uncertain what your message is intended to convey though. This post is listing what naturally immunity is compared to the “immunity” expressed when referring to vaccination.
Are you suggesting that the immune response is no different between the two? If so, could you please elaborate?
Also, when you refer to “smart people” who vaccinate – are you inferring that those who choose not to vaccinate are not educated? If so, please understand that the common demographics to those who forgo vaccines are most likely to be married, hold a college degree and to live in a household with an income exceeding $75,000.00.
Notice how the only negative comment was from someone too much of a coward to identify their self? As a nurse and a recent Anatomy & Physiology student, I keep getting more confirmation that vaccines cause more problems than they claim to solve.
ReplyDeleteHealthy choices, pharmacy & GMO avoidance and addressing the causes are far wiser than trying to trump nature with all this pseudoscience.
Amanda is correct, the higher the education level the more likely to pass on vaccinations. Notice also how detractors from enlightenment are commonly the same people who offer NO evidence in their 'arguments'.
I like this post a lot, but there is one problem. The definition of immunity listed in this article does include vaccines. The word "or" is an inclusive term. So, if either the specific or non-specific aspects of immune function are activated, it counts as immunity.
ReplyDeleteI would point out that not everyone has the option for healthy choices.
ReplyDeleteWOuld love to interview for my podcast, Healthy Alternatives to Vaccinations. Great article!
ReplyDelete