F-U Wired Magazine (and Some Facts about Vaccines)
I (used to) love Wired magazine. It is normally filled with excellent, intelligent and interesting articles, but after receiving their November 2009 issue, with the cute baby on the cover with “FEAR” written across it’s body, with the tag line: “Vaccines don’t cause autism. But some panicked parents are skipping their baby’s shots. Why that bad decision endangers us all.”
Since I’ve recently had a baby and had to deal with the serious influence of what EVERYONE else thinks that I should have injected into my baby, I immediately flipped to the Wired vaccine article, expecting to read something important and interesting. Instead I wasted my time reading a bunch of crap about a single man (Paul Offit) that is the co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine (so he is a man that has made multi-millions off of it) and how he does not think that vaccines cause autism. Well that’s nice. OH, the guy that made the vaccine and has made millions (billions?) of dollars off of it says that he thinks it is safe for your child. Well, okay. End of story! Off to the vaccination clinic for me!!!
A quote from the Wired vaccine article:
“(counterintuitively, higher rates of non-vaccination often correspond with higher levels of education and wealth)”
“Counterintuitively”?! Oh really? Yeah, well there is a reason why people that choose to educate themselves and actually do a little research are choosing not to vaccinate their children.
I could spend days ranting about vaccines, quoting articles and explaining why I have chosen not to vaccinate my baby, but how about this: Let’s just stick to the facts for now.
Let’s start with the most commonly talked about and most common childhood vaccine. The MMR vaccine. This vaccine is to immunize your child against measles, mumps and rubella (german measles).
The Measles – What happens if you get the measles: You’ll have a rash, fever, red eyes, sore joints. What you should do if you get the measles: Nothing. Most patients with uncomplicated measles will recover with rest and supportive treatment. Cases of measles in the USA in 2009: 70.
The Mumps: What happens if you get the mumps: You’ll have swelling, fever, headache. Could possibly have dry mouth, sore face, temporary loss of voice and/or inflammation of the testicles (in males past puberty). What you should do if you get the measles: Nothing. The disease is self-limiting (the condition would run its course without the need of external influence, especially any medical treatment), and general outcome is good, even if other organs are involved. Cases of mumps in the USA in 2009: 179.
Rubella: What happens if you get rubella: You’ll have a rash, fever, headache, swollen glands and red eyes. What you should do if you get rubella: Nothing. The disease is self-limiting (the condition would run its course without the need of external influence, especially any medical treatment). Rubella infection of children and adults is usually mild, self-limiting and often asymptomatic. Cases of rubella in the USA in 2009: 11.
Okay, so let’s weigh the risk of your child getting the measles, mumps or rubella versus the risk of getting the MMR vaccine. The chances of getting the measles, mumps or rubella is very very very slim. If your child did end up getting one of these diseases, 99% of the time these illnesses require no medical care, as they are self-limiting (the condition would run its course without the need of external influence, especially any medical treatment) and there are no long term effects. So in trying to prevent a child from getting a disease that he/she will most likely not contract and that is easily curable and requires no medical intervention, we are injecting them with a vaccine that admittedly could cause the following:
- Fever
- Panniculitis (tender skin nodules and systemic signs such as weight loss and fatigue)
- Atypical measles
- Malaise (a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness)
- Syncope (loss of consciousness)
- Vasculitis (a heterogeneous group of disorders that are characterized by inflammatory destruction of blood vessels)
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Mild rash
- Swelling
- Seizure
- Pain & stiffness in the joints
- Temporary low platelet count, which can cause a bleeding disorder
- Serious allergic reaction
- Deafness
- Long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness
- Permanent brain damage
Shall I go on? Because there are many more possible side effects of the MMR vaccine. Don’t believe it? Read the insert to the MMR vaccine insert from Merck.
In attempting to prevent your child from the slim to no risk of contacting a mild disease that just simply goes away without treatment, you are injecting them with something that ADMITTEDLY can cause serious debilitating and life threatening side effects. Why? Because Merck (the drug company that makes this vaccine) makes BILLIONS of dollars a year selling it to you. And they spend millions of dollars marketing these drugs/vaccines to you, to make you think that you need them. I can almost guarantee that you have seen a Merck advertisement and you probably had no idea it was an advertisement rather then some important medical announcement. Amazing.
So, okay, the drug companies won’t admit that vaccines can cause autism. But they do admit that they can cause brain damage (I don’t really see the big difference). I really wish people would educate themselves about any drug or vaccine that they give their child (or themselves for that matter) before doing so. Injecting your baby with all of these “recommended” vaccines without researching the possible side effects and weighing the risks is foolish, in my opinion. And if you are so frightened about the possibility that your child could get the measles that you are willing to risk giving them brain damage, then by all means, be my guest.
I had measles, mumps, chicken pox, flu and I think rubella and it was no biggy. Mumps and chicken pox were a little annoying with an itch. Mother’s used to try to expose to chicken pox early since later symptoms were usually a little worse. I have known many kids that had whooping cough, no biggy, either, just sounds aweful. Maybe there are exceptions with complications but there are complications with vaccines as well. Now polio would suck, and I vaccinated my kids for that later than recommended.
The reason the numbers are so low is because most people in the US population are and have been getting their children vaccinated. More children who are vaccinated leads to a trend of lower disease. Look at the historical data from 1900-2000 and you will see that vaccinations are a measure of reducing outbreaks in the greater public. I.E. polio & meningitis vaccinations in the beginning iof the 20th century leading to less occurances of deafness and other debilitating effects of these preventable diseases.Vaccinations are akin to proper hygiene in a college dorm, it makes life better for everyone although you may not care to bathe with the frequency of others. I perform social science research and this is my 2 cents.
You are right about vaccination. Contrary to what Ashley (and many people) believe, the historical data shows clearly that vaccination had little or no impact on lowering the incidence of measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis and even polio. You might want to consider homeoprophylaxis as a safe alternative to vaccination. For more info, see my article, “Homeoprophylaxis: Better Than Vaccination?” [posted on my webside--google "Diderik Finne"]
I can no longer receive vaccines because the last one I got, in fall 2008 for the seasonal flu, caused me to have signs of Guillain–Barré syndrome. Fortunately I was not paralyzed but I did experience several weeks of scary tingling, numbness, and weakness. And then to add insult to injury, I got the freaking flu anyway despite having been vaccinated! If I had kids I would have to think twice about vaccinating them. I had Mumps as a kid, it wasn’t fun but it wasn’t life threatening. I also had Rubella (it was called German Measles back in the day), again came through unscathed. Now Polio, that’s a vaccine that is probably worth the risk because Polio is much more likely to kill or permanently disable and it spreads like wildfire, but I’m not sure if it’s even given any more since Polio has nearly been wiped out. By the way, Ashley does make a case for vaccines, yes if everyone is vaccinated you can possibly wipe out a disease, but a big problem occurs when the vaccine is worse than the illness. Let me tell you, I’d rather have the flu than Guillain–Barré !!!
While my son did receive the initial injections from the hospital after he was born I refused to let him have the others. Not because of the fear of autism but because he was sick enough and I didn’t want to add more crap into his body. He is now 11.5 years old and recently he was diagnosed with Asperger Sydrome, he is on the autism spectrum. He did have other vaccinations when he was 9 after I was cornered by the Doctor and basically strong armed but honestly in our case the symptoms were there long before. When I look back they were present from the day of birth before the vaccinations even happened. However, I do believe that while they may not affect all children there may be something to be said for those that have extreme sensitivities to some of the properties in these injections! I do believe in our case it was a genetic link but there is a saying among us in the autistic world, “Genetics load the gun but the environment pulls the trigger.” God only knows what is really in those things, follow your hearts not because of autism but for the shear principle of it!
The Flu Vaccination greatly lowers the risk of getting the flu. It is not some miraculous cure that will stop you from getting the flu, just like a most vaccines. It is always possible to get a mutated strain of the disease your immune system may be severely weakened and so on. Some people react differently to things it’s a knows fact. Some get it worst than others simple as that. Your article is right and wrong in my opinion. Yes people should study up on what they do to themselves. The thing is your stressing possible side effects of taking this vaccine, but your not telling us hard facts, the probabilities of them happening to people.
Honestly just look at the possible side effects of an aspirin.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/aspirin-side-effects.html
Oh My God look at all those side effects! Forget the fact that there is an incredibly small chance of getting some of those sever life changing side effects. I’ll never take one ever! I don’t care about the statistical facts, I’ll choose only by the possibilities.
Tell me something, why didn’t you include the statistic probability of those listed side effects? You decided to slander Merck‘s name, then gave nearly no support to base this defamation on. In fact your base was that what they prevent is mild.
Shell – My point is that most vaccines are unnecessary, so why take the risk in severely harming, or killing, a child in order to prevent an illness that doesn’t even require treatment? None of the severe side effects of aspirin are permanent or life-changing (and even so, I wouldn’t give my baby aspirin either):
“Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black or bloody stools; confusion; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; hearing loss; ringing in the ears; severe or persistent stomach pain; unusual bruising; vomiting”
It’s just sad that Merck preys on uneducated people in order to line their pockets with the all mighty dollar. The fact that their greed has caused the death of children (and permanently disabled even more) is disgusting.
Now that it isout that the “Doctor” that linked autism to vaccines admitted that he falsified his results for monetary gain, I think that you need to apologize to Paul Offit, at least he is open about his bias…
You really should be condeming that quack that falsified his results and caused unnecessary panic and distress.
As for what choices you need to make for you and your child, that is your business and who am I to tell you what to do..
You realize that the chances of lasting complications from diseases like Measles are much higher than for the vaccine?
From Wikipedia:
“While the vast majority of patients survive measles, complications occur fairly frequently and may include bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media, hemorrhagic complications, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, acute measles encephalitis, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (sspe), blindness, deafness, and death. Statistically out of 1000 measles cases, 2-3 patients die, and 5-105 suffer complications. In patients who do not develop complications, the prognosis is generally excellent. However, although most patients survive, it is still important to get vaccinated, as up to 15 percent of measles patients experience complications, some fairly mild, others (such as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) typically fatal. Also, even if the patient is not concerned about death or sequela from the measles, the person may spread the disease to an immunocompromised patient, for whom the risk of death is much higher, due to complications such as giant cell pneumonia. Acute measles encephalitis is another serious risk of measles virus infection. It typically occurs 2 days to one week after the breakout of the measles exanthem, and begins with very high fever, severe headache, convulsions, and altered mentation. Patient may become comatose, and death or brain injury may occur.[21]”
The diseases are highly contagious, and immunocompromised patients like those with organ transplants, cancer recoveries or aids patients have a 1 in 3 chance of dying from measles. So your irrational fear of vaccines places lots of other people at risk.
If it’s not an issue, then why do so many kids and infants who were not vaccinated die each year? I love how so many women (and I am a woman) believe vaccines cause the problems their child has. To tell you the truth, my kids are and will be vaccinated and won’t die from the things that your child will spread.
Really? How many children/infants die in the USA each year from diseases that they could have been vaccinated for? There was an outbreak of whooping cough in California this year. More people that were vaccinated against it got it, then people that were not vaccinated against it. Explain that one…
Whooping vaccine is a temp thing, it doesn’t protect you for a long period of time and getting it a second time is possible. The vaccine for that isn’t like the other vaccines most of us have had. It’s like the hpv vaccine only protects against some strains.
y do u think that there are so few cases? because they were vaccinated and stupid people like yourself are seeing the numbers rise because the same idiots that believe the financial crisis was caused by international shadowy bankers are the same fucks that state your shit
actually, my mother’s eye sight was completely ruined because of having measles as a child… she is, and has been since then, nearly legally blind.
i’m not promoting vaccination because of this, mind you (i’m about to give birth and leaning heavily toward not doing it, and a big ole facebook debate led me here), but i just wanted to point out that measles can have some drastic and long-lasting (or permanent) effects.
my mom also had mumps as a child, and has had pneumonia several times over the course of her life, as well as chicken pox as an adult. freaky.
Thanks for publishing this!
You are a fucking idiot. There is ZERO evidence that vaccines cause autism. Read a fucking book, you self righteous moron.
Bottom line is that it should be up to an individual parent to vaccinate or not. Regardless of which way anyone leans on this issue, we’re talking about children, their health and parents who are doing their best to protect both.
I vaccinated my now 22-year old son when he was a baby (and followed up with all of the appropriate booster shots and additional vaccinations during childhood). But if I had to do it over again…knowing what I do now…I’d seriously think twice. I’m not saying that vaccines are bad, but I am saying that drug manufacturers are greedy. This, alone, makes me question the necessity of anything they (and the doctors in bed with them) say I must inject into my child.
Whether parents choose to vaccinate or not, they shouldn’t be criticized for questioning, investigating, educating themselves or hesitating when they’re not certain. Those who decide either way love their children and are only trying to do what’s right to protect them.
God help you and your kids if you are wrong.
Thankfully for my daughter I don’t just nod, smile and say “Okay!” when a doctor tries to sell me some snake oil (that would potentially harm her). I’ve done a ton of research on it and what I’ve written above are facts. Simple as that. If it makes you more comfortable to hear it from a doctor, you should read this: http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html
Loved this, thank you.
Dr. Miller is also a proponent of HIV/AIDS denialism & global warming denialism:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller18.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller21.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller16.html
I respect your viewpoint, however as a biological researcher, much of what is publicated en mass is so polluted with subjective crap (from both sides of the argument) that I actually don’t blame you, or many of the other people who are highly misinformed. If you’re looking for much more concrete proofs (and can wade through scientific lingo etc) then I would acquire true scientific white papers (unbiased – make sure they are not sponsored by pharmaceutical companies) on topics that you’re interested in researching. As for your list of “possible side effects” of the MMR vaccine, as indicated by Merck — you have to realize that they are legally obligated to list these side effects. The reason being is that these are the common side effects of a live strain of each virus. Although these are INACTIVE (essentially DEAD virus, just the “shell”) they are legally bound to provide these indications. The chances of getting ANY of these side effects are extremely low — and many people get phantom side effects due to what is coined as the “placebo” effect. These vaccines are created for a reason — and you effectively proved their worth in your statistical output of cases in the US of each illness. Myself and my team have been tasked in the past in the development of a variety of vaccines for the public. I have NOT been involved in the MMR vaccine however I can safely say that it is very similar to many I have worked with (DTaP, HepA, HPV 4 and 2). There is no government conspiracy. There is no mini microchips in them, alien DNA, cells that control population thought, NOTHING (I had to add those last ones as I am always laughing at what some of those nutcases say). As for the cause of Autism — it is a shame that people have blown this so far out of whack. It stems from a 1998 publication by Andrew Wakefield in the British medical journal called The Lancet (I assume you have done at least this much research to come this far to a conclusion). The case study was a joke and should have never been publicated. It used 12 cases (yes, you read it right — TWELVE.) Mr. Wakefield’s study was pulled from The Lancet and he, himself, has been caught up in scandal working on a rival vaccine he planned to market and stand to make millions. The damage has been done though to the public’s trust. That is why so many people still make the decisions you have come to — even though there has been TONS of publications since this article concluding that there is ZERO link. My comment is already too long and I was going to debate with you further on the side effects (especially long term) of contracting measles, mumps, and other variations of morbilli and your conclusions but I will if only you’re interested as if your mind is set and your obstinate about this topic and I guess it is really a waste of my time since you have already been brain washed (I apologize, that was not a shot at you as a person, it is just more so an observation based on your extreme viewpoint of being right and not having even the slighest inclination that you may be even a little wrong). All the best.
Didn’t read the whole article… stopped after the measles section.
Just want to say cases of measles in the USA in 2009 were only 70 b/c they are vaccined! Idiot.