I was born in late 1940, almost a year to the day before Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, marking our entry into WWII. I contracted measles and chickenpox before I started school, but in early 1946 I contracted whooping couch (pertussis) and rheumatic fever at the same time. The only vaccination I had received to that date was for smallpox.
The double whammy of whooping couch and rheumatic fever almost killed me, but since WWII had ended in 1945, the doctor was able to prescribe penicillin and sulfa for me, three times per day. I slowly recovered from these two diseases, but a was left with some mild heart complications. Two years later I suffered a bout with the mumps.
In 1952, the year that the number of US polio infections peaked at 57,897, I woke up one morning with a stiff neck and a bad headache. My mother called the doctor who rushed over and determined that I did not have polio, just some type of mild virus. This was the year that public swimming pools were closed in many parts of the US to try to stop the polio epidemic. A link to the history of polio infections in the America is posted below.
I provide this personal health history to provide some background of what kids and parents went through before the development of the range of vaccines our children receive today. Time's June 2nd issue (link below) has a comprehensive article on the currently controversial issue of vaccinations, examining the questions about the relationship to autism and vaccinations. There are a growing number of parents who have decided to not vaccinate their children. Currently between two and three percent of all Americans with school age children have chosen not to have their children vaccinated under state exemptions for religious or philosophical reasons.
Americans of my generation are concerned about the refusal of some of today's parents to have their kids vaccinated because we lived through the "bad old days" when common childhood diseases could leave your child with serious impairments of even kill them. We were careful to have our own kids vaccinated with all required and recommended inoculations and believe they avoided some serious diseases as the result. We have one friend that refused to have her two kids vaccinated because she believes vaccines are "dangerous", but she refuses to accept the scientific evidence that diseases are caused by bacteria and viruses. She points out that her kids have not contracted any of the normal childhood diseases, but refuses to believe that is because over ninety percent of the people they are in contact with are vaccinated.
This year there was a whooping cough outbreak at Bob Jones University in Greenville South Carolina with hundreds of students and facility infected. The Health Department was called in to vaccinate those that had not ever been vaccinated and to give booster shouts to those who had been inoculated as children. They stopped the spread of the highly infectious disease after inoculating several thousand persons. The epidemic was traced to a single student who had never received the vaccine and who had recently visited a foreign country where he was infected.
In 2004 the percentage of US children vaccinated against with all the required inoculations ranged from 95.5% to 73.2%, so we have some room for improvements. As long as the overall vaccination rate in the US remains above 90% public health concerns should be minimal, but we need to educate parents on the wider issues of vaccinations and prove to them that vaccines are safe for the overwhelming majority of children.
As the Time article points out, US vaccinations prevent 14 million infections per year, saves 33,000 live and avoids about $10 billion in medical costs by the time the children reach adolescence.
The public health implications of an increasing number of Americans who are not vaccinated against major communicable diseases are serious, especially with the millions of persons who travel to and from the United States every year. The concern for a world pandemic of bird flu is just one example of a disease that could literally travel around the world in a matter of days as the result of our air transportation system.
Global vaccination efforts have eradicated smallpox and are on the way to eradicating polio. The Gates Foundation and other funding sources are working on producing a vaccine to malaria, the disease that has killed more humans that any other in recorded history, but we have to continue our efforts to eradicate every deadly disease in every nation.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1808438,00.html
http://www.post-polio.org/ir-usa.html
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Comments: 41
I had all of the usual childhood diseases, most of which are nearly nonexistant now. I knew several children who were destined to limp through life with special shoes due to polio, and this seems to have been largely eliminated.
Jeff, on the other hand, reminds us that vaccinations have been linked to autism and it is apparent to me that autism is much more common than it used to be.
So, what's a parent to do? I'm just glad I don't have to deal with the issue directly...
For example, overuse of antibiotics allowed MRSA to become resistant to penicillin type antibiotics. Doctors often recommend letting mild illnesses pass without medication. I understand why. But I got all my kids vacinated.
Contrary to what Jeff says, there is no "very real and substantial evidence" that vaccinations are responsible for the high rate of autism. The possibility of an effect for a small subset of vulnerable children has not been excluded, but then there is no way to exclude it either--you can no more exclude vaccinations than you can exclude exhaust fumes, food additives, of flame retardants in furniture. It isn't entire clear that there's been a huge increase in autism cases either--as autism diagnoses have been increasing, "mental retardation" has been declining, suggesting that doctors are opting for autism in some cases that previously would have been labeled mental retardation--a diagnosis parents would be even more upset about.
VACCINES & AUTISM: Myths and Misconceptions--The Anti-Vaccination Movement
VACCINES & AUTISM: Myths and Misconceptions--Vaccine Safety: Vaccines Are One of Public Health's Great Accomplishments
VACCINES & AUTISM: Myths and Misconceptions--Interview with Roy Richard Grinker
Author of Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism
The prevention of childhood illnesses is the biggest factor in improved longevity rates thast folks enjoy in developed countries.
I recently did some research (internet snooping, really) abut a person who was blinded by "Scarlet Fever" in the 1880s. This was a not-uncommon consequence of strep infectiions in the years before antibiotics.
Failure to vaccinate is a risk to the individual AND to the community.
aniko is correct.
This is another illustration of fear trumping serious research.
Sometimes, there just isn't anyone to blame, folks. Maybe one reason we have so many more cases of autism is that children are living long enough to be diagnosed. When my grandfather was a kid (early 20th century), infant mortality was still more than 50%, considerably more frightening to me than 3-5% autism rates.
Note, also, that many of these disease won't affect us much here, because our vaccination campaigns have been successful here, but, traveling to countries where vaccination still isn't widespread, where these disease still regularly kill, can be deadly. Or running into someone who's been traveling can expose one. And many of these "childhood maladies" are considerably more dangerous when contracted as an adult.
I don't believe autism is preventable, at least not with the data available. I know that many of these diseases are. The choice is easy to me.
I also don't agree with forcing families to have their kids vaccinated or to have the newest vaccines. I don't want to try out any new vaccine on my son's fragile immune system!
I agree with Stephanie - when a parent decides not to vaccinate, they are putting the entire community at risk. I am a member of Rotary, one of whose missions is to eradicate polio worldwide. We give money and person hours to doing so. A couple from our club recently joined an international Rotary team in Bangladesh for a week-long polio vaccination tour. These go on throughout the year. To think that we are providing desperately needed vaccines to third world countries, devoting time and resources to helping them avoid lethal and disfiguring diseases, yet educated parents in our own country through misinformation and fear are deciding not to vaccinate.
I've always thought that our downfall as a country would come from our own self-induced ignorance. Seems a national outbreak of one of these major diseases which we thought were conquered, of catastophic proportions, may lead to our eventual downfall. It's not going to be terrorists....it will be our own fault and the viruses will prevail.
I would have to disagree with Joe T. on the comment as to "only the ignorant refuse to vaccinate". Of course I will concede that anyone who does not vaccinate based on partial information, gossip, rumors, urban legends or hyped up media stories are acting out of ignorance. However, there are some very real reasons not to get vaccinations for some individuals. I think Individuality is one thing people forget when it comes to looking at the side effects. This is where communication with the doctor is extremely vital. If the patient has a known compromised immune system or even has recently been ill with a cold or anything the medical whoseewhatsits, if informed of this usually recommend postponement of vaccinations until such a time that the patient's immune system is up to par. There may also be something in one's family history that would alter the advisement from the doctor. COMMUNICATION.
I think another big factor is that parents and even adult patients upon reading the consent form (informed patient consent legal issues can be frightening) they stop or get stuck on the information of possible side effects, especially the serious ones. Whereas when I was given this form it also included the odds of an unvaccinated person getting each condition and the possible side effects including the serious ones. When your child is believed to have a healthy immune system and there is no family history that would cause concern then you weigh the odds and look at the real numbers the chances of an unvaccinated child contracting the disease and the percentage who suffer the "serious" (which for some include death) are much higher than those who are not vaccinated. So since I actually read the whole form I decided I would go with the odds which were in favor of vaccinations for my children. Again I restate that this included the fact that they were very healthy children with no family history to indicate they were at a higher risk of negative reactions to the vaccines. i think the only way to combat this is to improve our eductation system to teach people as children and teenagers to learn to make fully informed decisions.
Stephanie Kudos for pointing out that the vaccines help not only prevent (a small number will still get the disease but the vaccine aides in minimalizing the disease) a person from contracting these diseases but also those who don't get it, don't share it! A few years ago it dawned on me that too many times I was in a doctor's waiting room (with an appointment even if it had been made that day) when a parent or parents would carry in their child, who was showing visible symptoms aka - pox or mumps, settled them in a chair or play area and then went to the desk where I would hear them say "We dont have an appointment but it looks like chicken pox, or mumps or whatever, so we came straight in". Which would send the staff into action to scurry them back somewhere while they were having to inform everyone that "we are sorry but they didn't call ahead and they may have.............. so please be aware of this." Now dont think that I am of the mind that if someone is ill that they should not seek medical treatment. But chances are if the child was a good candidate for vaccination previously and had received it then this would have statistically not have happened to begin with. Also, regardless of vaccination, if you believe that you or your child or whoever, has chicken pox, mumps, measels, etc ...all of which are known to be contagious and have very visible signs that indicate a high probability then you call ahead. It doesn't matter if you are going to your doctor, a clinic or an ER, you call ahead and let them know why you are coming in and if you describe the symptoms or even indicate that you think it may be one of these things they will advise you on how to get the proper treatment while minimizing exposure to other people. The first time I saw this I was checking out when they rushed a little girl past me who had chicken pox and yes the parents had not called anyone. Oh and I had just had a titer done to prove to the doctor that indeed I was an adult who had not had chicken pox. So yes the parents who choose not to vaccinate because they are too drawn in by the media (which makes headlines with bad news more often than good) or simply say sign a waiver based on philosophical or religious reason. Even those who have a legtimately recognized medical reason for not vaccinating. I believe owe it to the public to be responsible for if or when their child gets one or more of these diseases to take precautions to not perpetuate the spreading to others, in particular other patients who may very well have a compromised immune system (again speaking from a personal view point as I have been on chemo and other immuno suppresants for over a year now) and unfortunately too many of them fail to realize that with many of these diseases that by the time signs present themselves the patient has probably been contagious for 2 weeks maybe more.
Also as someone who has worked as a school secretary I can tell you that if you sign a waiver in lieu of vaccinating your child be prepared. Most schools have a strict policy that in the event that any other child who comes down with one of these conditions for which your child is not vaccinated then your child will be sent home for whatever duration it takes to determine that it has run it's course and this could be a few days, or weeks.
As to the links to autism.....I believe it was in the 80's when several vaccines were in a mercury or mercury derivative based perservative and there was a sudden increase in autism. However, very few if any vaccines still use thie medium. If anyone has ever had their own child who was on the normality track and then vaccinated and within a relatively short time span began having serious problems, in many cases autism, or even really listened to a parent who has had this happen then you really do give serious thought that these two are related. Many doctors wont even carry vaccines that use this material anymore and another reason communication is so vital.
Of course, Denmark got rid of thimerosal in 1992--and guess what? Autism rates didn't fall, but kept increasing.
Another thing to think about: Asperger's and other diagnoses on the autism spectrum did not start being used until 10-15 years ago. All the people you knew as quirky growing up might get a diagnosis now, when 20 years ago they would gotten some other learning disability or emotional disturbance label. Several people I know have only recently gotten that diagnoses as adults. Let's see, new diagnosis/sudden jump in total autism cases - think there might be some correlation there?
To the person above mentioning their son's fragile immune system - unless your immune system is already compromised, the way to make it stronger is to excerise it, whether by actually getting sick (which I don't think you want) or making your body fight something similar but less powerful, or made ineffective in some way, so it can have a response ready when the real thing comes along. And the preservative, thimersol, pointed to as the culprit in autism cases, was already removed from childhood vaccines several years ago.
I'm not denying there may be some increased environmental factor. But there is so much we are exposed to now that our ancestors weren't, it may be impossible to narrow it down. What I'm also wondering is how the non-vaccinating parents are getting their kids into school? My kid's school district requires proof of vaccinations (and a TB test) before they can attend - is every one homeschooling? I was raised as a Christian Scientist and had a few religious waivers, but I still had to have vaccinations as a kid.
By the way, my son wasn't even exposed to Thimerosal. He was born too late.
This probably varies by state. In Pennsylvania, the law states that:
(a) Medical exemption. Children need not be immunized if a physician or the physician's designee provides a written statement that immunization may be detrimental to the health of the child. When the physician determines that immunization is no longer detrimental to the health of the child, the child shall be immunized according to this subchapter.
(b) Religious exemption. Children need not be immunized if the parent, guardian or emancipated child objects in writing to the immunization on religious grounds or on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief.
If I'm remembering correctly, New York's is similar. Basically, all a parent needs to do is state their objection in writing. Scary, especially in light of the whole autism misinformation scare that many parents seem to be buying.
My brother didn't speak until he was 3-1/2. He was Phi Beta Kappa in Chemistry, became a medical doctor, got an MBA and now leads a human trials section at a major pharmeceutical company. My son did the same thing - has a 162 IQ and is doing fine. These indicators are just that....possible clues to something.
I think I agree with my daughter....shows like 20/20, Dateline, and some daytime talk shows take these "indicators" and produce these scarey segments on how they are definitive "symptoms" of illnesses or syndromes. The way these "news" programs sensationalize some basic "possibles" into full-blown scares is in and of itself a national security breach in my estimation.
I tell you what: Allowing them to infect other children!
I have trouble even understanding such a belief - what reason could they possibly have? It is plain and simple, ignorance. There is nothing more dangerous than a religiously fervent ignoramus.
As for certain religous beliefs that have a specific doctorine on medical treatment. (Some forbid all medical intervention, some specify only certain aspects (i.e. bllod transfusions, etc.) well none of us have to like it. But that is too bad. I don't like people hiding behind the right to bare arms in order to have some gun that was designed and truly only has a purpose in the military but claim it is their right and they only use it for the "sport" of deer hunting. Of course sport in this case is dressing up in cami with the safety orange vest, sitting in a "blind" that would rival the Ritz Carlton, and having the deer herded by vehicles to run towards your area and that one press of the trigger not only kills the deer but leaves no evidence that it was once a deer. Or that that right extends to immediate purchases without checks and so on because well that would hurt the business at the gun shows. But the government cannot interfere with religions, not even if it means that there will be a group of people out there who will be vulnerable to these disease and could end up perpetuating a pandemic. Which as Duane mentioned as long as we are at 90% or better on vaccinations this really should not be a problem.
Rose - people who choose not to vaccinate their children are not infecting them they are leaving them vulnerable to infection.
Which honestly if every one who was not vaccinated came down with one of these diseases the largest group at risk are those who are not vaccinated. Of course keep in mind that this sadly includes, people with compromised immune systems (i.e. me), children who are too young to have received their vaccinations (i.e. newborns and very young babies).
I know in California and Texas that the waiver for school aged children regarding vaccinations requires a statement from a physician (or medical care provider) stating that they cannot for health reasons be fully immunized at that time, or that they may have had one or more of those diseases rendering a vaccination unnecessary. or b- that they object to it based on religous beliefs, or C - that they object to it for philosophical reasons and I think this must be done on a yearly basis and I know in Texas and California it also means that the school will remove all unimmunized children from school in the event that any student does contract one of the diseases until such a time that the determined period of time has passed with no new cases within the school building. Some larger schools may base it on grade or even classroom but since cafeteriaa, restrooms, gyms, and playgrounds tend to be shared by all students it is safer to go by building.
Also, for many people in the developing world, sanitation hasn't improved. It actually got worse as people left their villages and moved into urban slums, and childhood deaths from rotavirus infections (diarrhea) from untreated water remain common. But vaccinations against measles, polio, etc work, no matter how poor the sanitary conditions are.
On the comment of the Catholic Church I wonder how much longer they will hold out on the birth control issue, especially in reference to condoms....and the spread of HIV. I know I have heard about many individual churches where the priest has decided to let people know that it is ok to protect yourself, and in some cases have even handed out condoms. Ironically in Africa where there are not enough doctors, hospitals and clinics, medicine, education, food and water, but there are a lot of devout Catholics the Vatican has really held it's ground on this issue and this is a matter of life or death. A few weeks ago I heard on NPR that they had finally given a little latitude with provisions. Get this one. It is only permitted if a couple is in a monogamous marriage and one or both of the person(s) is already HIV+. I know a lot of Catholics here in the US have basically decided to let some common sense and medical advice to weigh heavier than the concept that it is a sin and many of the churches are ok with that. How much longer do you think it will be before the Vatican catches up on this issue?
The risk of vaccinations are clearly stated on a sheet that parents must read and sign each time their child is vaccinated. And in 1995 my children were getting vaccinations and I read them the whole sheet. I am not going to rewrite what so many of us here have said but you may want to look further into it and look for some more recent resources if you are having to make this decision for yourself or another person. And a warning. Not everything on the internet is credible, it isn't even all true. But anyone faced with this decision should communicate with their care provider and when looking further make sure that you are getting current data and from a credible resource.
I will restate this. For anyone who does not get their child vaccinated (regardless of the reason) or themselves, please exercise caution regarding exposure to others. I am fully vaccinated, but since that time I have been on chemo and other immune-supressing medications. If you or your child is showing any symptoms that MIGHT be related to a disease for which they were not vaccinated and you are then choosing to seek medical care....call ahead to whereever you will be going to make sure they are prepared and don't expose the rest of us to something that you may have prevented years earlier.
It's worth noting that Walene James is the founder and director of Vaccination Liberation: Citizens for the Repeal of Compulsory Vaccination Laws and is often quoted by the anti-vax crowd.