Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,
 
I am writing in response to the “The Great Debate” article in your Apr/May 08 edition of Valley Babies. The article began with the statement that it is not taking a stance on the vaccination debate but is exploring each side… I would like to take a moment to offer “the other side,” Please understand, the following information is from well documented references.
 
Dr. Viera Scheibner, Ph. D. offers in her book, Vaccination, 100 years of Orthodox Research shows that Vaccines Represent a Medical Assault on the Immune System – The vaccine hypothesis – How are the vaccines supposed to work? According to orthodox medicine, the purpose of vaccination is to eradicate infectious diseases. “These diseases are considered bad and a nuisance rather than the way nature primes and challenges the immature immune systems of our children.” She continues by stating that, “after studying the extensive literature demonstrating ineffectiveness of vaccines and their dangers, I concluded that the call for suspension of all vaccination programs is now inevitable. Instead of relying on a ‘magic bullet’ (one injection solves it all), the orthodoxy should start learning the dynamics and importance of infectious diseases and effective treatment. It is absurd to set out to eradicate infectious diseases which play an important role in the maturation of the immune systems of our children. Medical literature documents that people who contracted cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases in later years have remarkably few infectious diseases of childhood to report.”
 
There are a number of books available to research the myth behind mass vaccination, and I strongly recommend each parent take the time to review the material so as to conclude the direction they want to take their family.
 
To address the HiB vaccine; a vaccine for HiB was licensed in the United States in April of 1985. The license was not based on any trials conducted in the US. The license was granted based on the “Finnish trial”. The pre-licensing efficacy data came from a randomized clinical trial in Mechlenburg County, NC and failed to demonstrate significant protective efficacy (only 69%) of this vaccine. Because of the lack of efficacy and lack of immune response to the vaccine, the FDA licensed a new “improved” vaccine, and this decision was again based on another Finnish trial. This trial touted an efficacy of 83%. However, there were 20 potentially serious adverse reactions documented.
 
There is a central dogma that exists in much of what we accept as fact concerning vaccine use. The years of research conducted on vaccines do not support the position that vaccines are the answer to infectious diseases. Those who are not vaccinated are labeled as “walking petri dishes” and need to be isolated from the general population, when in fact the opposite is true. There are groups of people living in this country that do not vaccinate, and have no records of devastating diseases.  Recently, the CDC began questioning the timing of certain childhood vaccinations due to the unpredictability of possible “side effects” resulting from underlying conditions. This should be a major RED FLAG to your readers.
 
The human body is designed to use these diseases to fortify and grow its own defense system. It uses the nerve system to coordinate immune responses in an effort to learn. This learning process is critical to our existence. However, today’s mainstream system is focused on merely the presence or absence of disease. This approach takes the position of ‘Champion’ in the fight to eradicate disease and is erroneous at best; producing a society of victims – those who will forever need their ‘Champion’. Therefore, the central focus of our health delivery system should instead be directed toward empowering and maintaining the adaptive abilities of the body’s nerve system. Regardless of the information provided here, or by any “experts” promoting vaccines, it is our responsibility to examine the truth behind the studies and decide for ourselves.
 
Respectfully,
 
Dr. Richard E. Aplin
Huntsville, AL

Dear Valley Babies,

What a blessing to be able to have such a discussion about vaccines.  I have never seen a case of diphtheria.  The rates of pneumococcal meningitis have decreased since the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine in the 1990’s.  But this is not a reason to abandon routine immunizations, rather a testament to the success of our vaccine program.  The recent outbreak of measles in San Diego is good example of the potential risks.  No immunized children became infected in the outbreak, and several unimmunized children were hospitalized.  The diseases that we currently immunize for can be devastating.  I would recommend the website:  www.vaccineinformation.org  for anyone wanting further information, including pictures and videos, about these diseases that are so easy for us to forget because most of us have not been personally touched by them.

As for the side effects of vaccines, there are many large, credible studies that show no link between vaccines and autism or other conditions.  In fact, the rates of autism have not decreased since the removal of thimerosal from vaccines over 10 years ago.  However, personal stories and untrustworthy websites seem to have more influence over many parents than solid research. 

If you wonder how important your pediatrician thinks immunizations are, ask them if their own children are immunized!

Traci Lynne Brewer, MD

To the editor,

I would like to make a comment and suggestion regarding the magazine.
 
First, I would like to encourage you to be more environmentally aware and to print the magazine on recycled paper.  I see it all over town, and it is sad to think how many trees you use to print it up.  With the kind of glossy paper it appears to be printed on, it must be a lot.
 
Secondly, I would like to comment on the article on vaccinations in the April/May issue.  The article stated at the beginning that it was not taking a stance on the issue, but that was anything but the case.  Throughout the article, there are quotes from pediatricians that refute arguments made against vaccines.  But there are no sources that refute what the pediatricians are saying.  For example, when Dr. Hull quotes that “Vaccines are designed and tested for small infants,” this is not true.  One of the problems with vaccines is that there have never been any double blind studies on them to PROVE they are effective, let alone testing of this nature on infants.  Also, if vaccines work so well, why is it that vaccinated children sometimes get sick with a disease they are vaccinated against??  The arguments the writer gave for why people do not vaccinate were weak.  She could have spent more time doing research and would have found out that there are many science-based arguments for not vaccinating.  In short, it is a shame that while the writer claimed to be writing an unbiased piece, it was anything but that.  This is a controversial subject, and it is unfortunate that not all sides were represented. 
 
I hope that in the future, you will publish articles that are better researched and written.
 
Sincerely,
Dr. Heather McDonald
Environmental Engineer