The anti-vaccine movement is older than Jenny McCarthy, but the rampant misinformation still poses the same threat it did before widespread implementation of immunization programs began in the United States. It's not surprising that measles & pertussis cases are popping up in communities where the anti-vaccine movement is strong.
On various discussion boards, I've debated
on the side of vaccines, & naysayers often provided links to anti-vaccine
websites to support their reservations. I visited these websites, & most
are run by people who hardly qualify as experts in the field. The CochraneLibrary had studies negating the benefits of the flu vaccine, but the footer of
the documents contain a disclaimer that these studies have a high potential for
bias & offer weak data. There were angry soccer moms with bachelor
degrees in English Literature, psychologists, etc. as authors of anti-vaccine
material too, but you won't find a plethora of anti-vaccine docs on the internet very easily. While I'm by no means as qualified as a physician who practices
in immunology, I do have an MSN & a great deal of formal training in
immunizations. I am very passionate about the importance of vaccines, so I'm hoping to clear the air. If you choose to read on, I will attempt to dispel common myths
about vaccines.
MYTH: The MMR vaccine causes autism.
Andrew Wakefield
published such findings in the Lancet in Great Britain. Years later, the Lancet retracted the
study & acknowledged that his work was fraudulent & biased. Multiple
studies followed, by other researchers, that refuted Andrew Wakefield's
findings. Conclusion: There is no link between autism & vaccinations.
Autism is a difficult & elusive disorder that needs goal-directed research;
blaming vaccines takes energy & focus away from finding more probable
causes that may direct health outcomes in the future.
MYTH: Mercury or thimerosal in vaccines is
harmful.
The mercury in fish
is called methylmercury, & it can potentially accumulate to harmful levels
in the human body. The mercury found in certain vaccines is called
ethylmercury, & it does not accumulate in the body like methylmercury. It's
in very few vaccines now as a preservative to prevent bacterial contamination,
etc. It's already in the earth, soil, & water, & it poses no health
risks to vaccine recipients.
MYTH: The flu shot may cause the flu.
It is impossible to
get the flu from the flu vaccine. However, some may experience mild flu-like
symptoms 1-2 days post-vaccination that are, by no means, anywhere close to flu
severity. Symptoms may include fatigue, headache, or mild fever, but I'd like
to stress that it's a "walk in the park" compared to the actual flu.
I feel like I can go
on forever debunking anti-vaccine garbage, but I will rest my fingers now &
provide you w/links to some AWESOME websites that house accurate information on
the subject at hand. There is a fascinating Frontline special that is very, very informative called The Vaccine War. Thank you for reading!
Links:
