Report: The Other Side of Vaccines
Candra D. Bunn
Salt Lake Community College
The Other Side of Vaccines
Abstract: A look at vaccines from the opposing point of view. The effectiveness of
vaccines is questionable. The necessity of some of the diseases is a concern. The toxicity of the
preservatives and others are also an issue. Looking at the reasons why some components of
vaccines should be reconsidered.
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The Other Side of Vaccines
What is a vaccine? A vaccine is a substance that stimulates the immune system to form
antibodies for a specific disease. These antibodies are then present to recognize and fight a
disease. This process has been universalized, where millions of people have been vaccinated.
Fig.1 An image of the idea of vaccines (Klingensmith)
Those who choose not to vaccinate have reasons that aren’t well known to the public.
Vaccines have proven to be ineffective, they prevent diseases that are easily treatable, and they
have chemicals that are harmful . Although the government pushes for vaccinations, some
choose not to vaccinate, and some opt out of just a few vaccines.
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The Other Side of Vaccines
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Effectiveness is also a major question when considering vaccines. The United States
government conducted a study by doctors and researchers for the pertussis, or whooping cough,
vaccine. They noticed that the vaccine did nothing to stop the actual spread of disease. Those
who were vaccinated had the same chance of contracting the disease than the test subjects who
were not vaccinated. The only difference was that the subjects who had the vaccine had more
subtle symptoms (Warfel, Zimmerman, and Merkel, 2014). Another reason that effectiveness of
these vaccines is questioned, is due to the fact that even those who are vaccinated can contract
diseases. The Disneyland outbreak had 154 cases in 2015, but 15% of those who contracted
measles were fully vaccinated. The CDC came out and said that the flu vaccine for the 20142015 flu season isn’t even that effective. Another statistic the CDC gives, is that the flu vaccine
is anywhere from 10% to 60% effective (Centers for Disease Control, 2015).
Vaccines are known to prevent certain illnesses from spreading, but what does it matter if
a person contracts this disease? Some vaccines protect against diseases that can lead to many
other issues, but almost all of the recommended vaccines aren't preventing an outbreak of lifesaving vaccines. A recent outbreak in Disneyland brought a lot of publicized attention to this
controversial matter. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 154 reported
cases of the measles from January 1, 2015 to February 20, 2015 which almost all were related to
the Disneyland outbreak (2015). It might be shocking for some to find out that none of the
reported outbreaks were fatal. This is partly because the medical knowledge of measles has
improved dramatically.The resources people have to treat these illnesses are also improved.
Clean water, accessibility to more foods have changed the fatality rates. There are a rare few
who contract measles and have complications that may result in death. Measles is contagious, but
the treatment is simple. Fluid and rest is what doctors prescribe to treat measles (WebMD, 2015).
The Other Side of Vaccines
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Another vaccine that is sometimes deemed as unnecessary is the Hepatitis B vaccine.
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver that usually clears up by the body's own immune system.
When it doesn't get cleared out naturally, some antivirals might be needed. Some speculate the
need for this vaccine because the only way it can transfer is through bodily fluids (sex and
sharing needles). Some parents have a difficult time injecting their newborns and exposing their
babies to the adverse side effects just for a disease that can only be contracted through high risk
behaviors (HealthWise, 2013).
Another reason why some people are hesitant to receive vaccines is because of the
chemicals used to preserve and make the inoculation, the body's response to build immunity,
intensified. For instance, aluminum adjuvants, in the form of a gel or salt, is included in the
vaccine which is said to escalate the immune response in the body to accept the disease and build
proper antibodies faster than if the disease was injected without these chemicals. The Neural
Dynamics Research Group at the University of British Columbia conducted a study that found
that children from countries with high autism populations come from countries with high
aluminum adjuvants. They also discovered that aluminum in high concentrated forms cause an
immunologic response (where the immune system inflames and the body begins to attack itself
with enough stimulus), eventually leading to auto-immune disease. Some think that vaccines
could be factors to why auto-immune diseases have increased dramatically. Autism, type 1
diabetes, celiac disease, and multiple sclerosis are all forms of autoimmune diseases, and are
increasing (Rattue, 2012). They also discovered that aluminum is a neurotoxin when given in
high doses (their idea of a “high dose” is less than what is given over a period over 18 vaccines
in the first two years of life), and the heavy metal degenerates neurons, which are brain cells
(Tomlijenovic and Shaw, 2011).
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Mercury is another toxin put into vaccines. There is about 50 micrograms of thimerosal
in a standard vaccine, which is 25 micrograms of mercury. Members of the Antiviral Immunity
Biotherapy and Vaccine Unit in Paris, France, conducted a study showing the effects of
thimeresol in the H1N1 vaccine on the body’s T cells (white blood cells), and discovered that the
thimerosal caused apoptosis or cell death (2014). The EPA and FDA even discourages pregnant
women, nursing mothers, or babies to even eat some types of fish because of the
neurodegenerative properties (kills brain cells). Two servings of tuna fish contains .4 micrograms
of mercury. (United States Environmental Protection Acency, 2004) (U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, 2004).
With all this being said, there are benefits to vaccinating. Rates of many illnesses have
declined. Due to many factors however, vaccinating makes parents, and all those considering
vaccines, to wonder if the chemicals and risks are really worth vaccinating, just to find that
vaccines don't even work that well, and some of the diseases are not fatal. Many think that there
needs to be more research and ideas to improve the safety of vaccines, and to reevaluate the
vaccine schedule and the necessity of some vaccines.
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References:
Centers for Disease Control (2015) MeaslesCases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html
Centers for Disease Control (2015) Protection From the Flu Vaccine Reduced This Season.
Centers For Disease Control. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0115-fluvaccination.html
Environmental Protection Agency (2004) What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and
Shellfish. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from
www.epa.gov/mercury/advisories
HealthWise (2013). Hepatitis Health Center. WebMD. Retrieved from
www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepb-guide/hepatitis-b-cause
Klingensmith, Milton. (2014). How Do Vaccinations Work? The Science of Immunizations.
Michigan Live. www.mlive.com
Loison, E., Poirier-Beaudouin, B., Seffer, V., Paoletti, A.,Abitbol, V., Tartour, E., & … Gougeon,
M. (2014). Suppression by Timerosal of Ex-Vivo CD4+ T Cell Response to Influenza Vaccine
andInduction of Apoptosis in Promary Memory T cells. Plos ONE, 9(4), 1-13.
Rattue, Grace (22 June 2012) Autoimmune Disease Rates Increasing. Medical News Today.
Retrieved from medicalnewstoday.com
Tomlijenovic, L., & Shaw, C.A. (2011). Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising
prevalence of autism?. Journal Of Inorganic Biochemistry, 105 (11), 1489-1499.
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (March 2004). What You Need to Know About Mercury in
Fish and Shellfish U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from www.fda.gov
Warfel, J.M., Zimmerman, L.I., & Merkel, T.J. (2014). Acellular pertussis vaccines protect
against disease but fail to prevent infection and transmission in a nonhuman promate model.
Proceedings of the National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America,111 (2),
787-792
WebMD. (2015). Measles (Rubeola) - Topic Overview. WebMD. Retrieved from
webmd.com/children/tc/measles-rubeola-topic-overview?page=2).
Contributing References
Mercola. (21 Dec 2013) One in Five American Deaths Associated with Obesity. Mercola.
Retrieved from mercola.com
American Lung Association (2015) Lung Cancer Fact Sheet. American Lung Association. Retrieved
from lung.org/lung-disease/lung-cancer/resources/facts-figures/lung-cancer-fact-sheet.html