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By Venessa Naccarato
a grade 11 student from Barrie
Baby Sherrie was a normally developing child. Seemingly far above the usual intelligence of any three and a half month old, she was smart and attentive. It was during this time that she received her first DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus) vaccine. Just a few hours later, she was screaming uncontrollably. Her alarmed mother also found that Sherrie had a high fever. After almost three horrific days, she finally stopped screaming. When her pediatrician was consulted about the issue, he clearly stated that her reaction was typical of any other baby and that she would be fine. Soon after, Sherrie was vaccinated the second time with the DPT shot. This action, appearing to be very insignificant, was regretted for years to come. No longer bright eyed and observant, she lost all previous enthusiasm for life. Sherrie was never herself again. After several tests, she was diagnosed with a severe mental handicap that she still suffers from today. Although her story is heartrending, she is not alone. Every year, thousands of children suffer from similar and sometimes fatal reactions to the DPT vaccine. If this is so, then why do doctors continue to administer it? Is it truly harmful?
Every day numerous parents have their children inoculated against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. While these parents worry about the probabilities of their child ‘catching’ one of these diseases, they do not realize that all of these illnesses are almost non-existent in North America. Tetanus, a disease resulting from "the bacterium Clostridium tetani"1, coming into contact with open wounds and cuts, is extremely rare. Canadian statistics show that only about five cases of the disease occur per year. Consequently, deaths from tetanus have been unheard of for almost thirteen years. Diphtheria, another disease in the DPT series, is one that affects the respiratory system. This infectious disease interferes with breathing and can ultimately cause death. Quite similar to tetanus in that it has a low infection rate, diphtheria is not common. Pertussis also affects the respiratory system. Because of its characteristic, severe coughing attacks, pertussis can cause a depletion of oxygen to the brain and therefore seizures and eventually death. Although this contagious disease was greatly feared at one time, it is not as prevalent in North America. According to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention), this reduced disease rate is the result of children being continually vaccinated. Although this conclusion may appear to be the most logical, further study has found quite different results. In 1940, when the pertussis vaccine was produced, whooping cough (pertussis) had previously begun a sharp, downward spiral. Also, diphtheria had "declined by more than eighty-five percent" from 1900-19302. This is proven to be the result of a new hygienic atmosphere. The once crowded, sewage filled tenant houses were replaced in many parts of Europe and North America. At this time, people also were building up natural immunity. "In the 1920s and 1930s, for example, whooping cough was so common in America that by the age of ten, seventy-three percent of all children had a clinical history of the disease."3 Along with the introduction of cleanliness and natural immunity, antibiotics were another factor that kept the death rates down at the time. Although familiar with these facts, many doctors continue to argue that the reduction in pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus rates was the result of sudden, mass DPT immunizations. To the unbiased reader, it is apparent that the true reason for the reduction in these diseases lies in renewed sanitation, natural immunity, and the invention of the antibiotic.
Although physicians may imply that a vaccination contains the single diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus germs, many other hidden ingredients are included. While in certain parts of the U.S., the whole-cell DPT shot is still used; Canada has lately begun using the Pentacel vaccine. It contains not only the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus toxoids, but also polio and Hib. They are " inactivated with formaldehyde, aluminum (.33mg), purified inactivated poliomylelitis vaccine,"2-phenoxyelthanol"(contains phenol which has the ability to inhibit phagocite activity ("toxic to all cells). It can disable the immune system’s primary response mechanism," can cause shock," convulsions,"cardiac or kidney failure, death."4 Randall Neustaedter, O.M.D, L.Ac.in his work: "Vaccines: does Your Child Really Need Them") says, " The FDA revealed that some infants who receive multiple doses of vaccines containing the preservative thermisol could be exposed to total amounts of mercury that exceed federal guidelines!"5 This highly toxic mineral is being injected into thousands of tiny babies every day who can hardly suffer from the common cold without ill effects. Many have pondered the thought: if vaccinations are harmful, then why are there numerous statistics published in their favor? It has been found that "When statistics are applies to the study of vaccines, political immunology demonstrates its infinite flexibility""6 Would not one want the area of medicine that most involves their child to be studied and tested to the highest perfection? In the matter of a child’s health, most would agree that utmost caution and indescribable flawlessness would be used, but this appears to be lacking in most studies. Much of the information that is used to prove that vaccines are effective has been altered to make it appear to be more effective than it really is. Upon the arrival of the pertussis shot, many doctors discontinued the identification of the disease. Another question to ponder is: why trust statistics that are published as a result of a company’s effort to keep their business prospering? Because of the incredible profits ("3 billion worldwide. It is expected that this figure will increase to $7 billion in the next few years"7), most vaccine-producing companies continue to ‘push’ the shot. A considerable bias is clearly seen. The manufacturers of the DPT shot will not be giving a fair statistic if it may result in a decline in vaccine usage. True concern for a child’s health has been replaced with a selfish desire for gain.
Although many of the statistics clearly appear to have been unfairly reported, the testimonies have not been. Countless parents, who have suffered the loss of a child due to the shot, are anxious to warn others with their stories. One mother, who had her four and a half-month old daughter vaccinated against DPT, found out too late the horrors of the vaccination. Immediately after her inoculation, Taylor bled profusely at the injection site. On her way home, she had unusual breathing patterns and at times appeared not to be breathing at all. Shortly after, Taylor began a harsh scream. She lost all vigor and life, and not many days later, Taylor suddenly stopped breathing and died. Although her death was dismissed as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), her mother is convinced that Taylor died from the shot. Many uniformed parents have had their child vaccinated and have suffered such horrifying results. Many parents who have suffered the loss of a child due to the shot have been told that it was merely a case of SIDS and nothing could have been done about it. Are there any connections between DPT and SIDS? It has been proven that "Babies die at a rate of seven times greater than normal within three days after getting a pertussis shot."8 Numerous parents, searching for answers, have proposed this idea-that their child died due to a reaction to the DPT shot, but doctors have excused it as SIDS. Is there some connection? It was ""found that SIDS frequencies have a bimodal peak occurrence at two and four months-the same age when initial doses of pertussis are administered to infants."9 "In another study of one hundred three children who died of SIDS, Dr. William Torch, of the University of Nevada School of Medicine at Reno, found that more than two-thirds had been vaccinated with DPT prior to death."10 Is this a coincidence or it there a connection?
Once the realities of the DPT vaccine are realized, one must wonder if there are any alternatives. One good and simple one is to omit the pertussis shot entirely in the DPT vaccine. One study conducted with DT and DPT presented these simple results: the reaction rate for the DPT shot was high and severe, while the reaction rate for the DT shot was minute. Many continue to believe that allowing the child to ‘catch’ the disease so that he receives natural immunity is a better option. This possibly dangerous alternative must be thought out with much care. Although this next option is not the first choice for some, many suggest using homeopathic medicine. It is said to aid in the strengthening of the immune system so that inoculations are not necessary. Although the alternatives to having your child vaccinated appear to be minimal, the opposite choice can be a deadly one.
Through each step, one must remember that an attitude of utmost caution must be exercised. Not every baby will react in the same way to the vaccine and some may not react at all, but nonetheless one can never be sure. Many today do not ever question the counsel of their doctor. People need to realize that doctors do occasionally make mistakes and therefore parents must study their advice. Prudence and wisdom must also be used. Before a child is scheduled for the shot, question the doctor about it and read more material. Doctors are only tools in God’s hand and it is ultimately up to Him whether our families stay healthy. Although responsibility must be taken, trusting God is vital. Each step in this direction must be taken with care. Surely baby Sherrie’s parents must have regrets!
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Notes
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1. Neil Z. Miller, Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective?; (Santa Fe, NM: New Atlantean Press, 2003),23.
2. Ibid. (received from Anderson, Micheal. International mortality Statistics (Washington, DC: Facts on File, 1981), pg 177-178), 39.
3. Harris L. Coulter and Barbara Loe Fisher, A shot In The Dark: Why the P In The DPT vaccination may be hazardous to your child’s health (Golden City Park, New York; Avery Publishing Group Inc., 1991), 6.
4. Author unknown, Pentacel.
http://www.whale.to/v/pentacel.html (Their source: Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties 1999)
5. Randall Neustaedter, "Vaccines: Does Your Child Really Need Them?" ({Article} Let’s Live: issue of April 2000), 47.
6. Harris L. Coulter and Barbara Loe Fisher, A shot In The Dark: Why the P In The DPT vaccination may be hazardous to your child’s health (Golden City Park, New York; Avery Publishing Group Inc., 1991), 144.
7. Randall Neustaedter, "Vaccines: Does Your Child Really Need Them?" ({Article} Let’s Live: issue of April 2000), 46.
8. Neil Z Miller, Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective?; received from Torch, W.C. "Diphteria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunization: A potential cause of the sudden death syndrome (SIDS)," (American Academy of Neurology, 34th Annual meeting, Apr 35-May 1, 1982) Neurology 32(4), pt.2 (Sante Fe, NM: New Atlantean Press, 2003), 43.
9. Ibid. , 43
10. Ibid. , 45
Works Cited
Miller, Neil Z., Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? Sante Fe, NM: New Atlantean Press 2003
Coulter, harris L and Fisher, Barbara Loe, A shot In The Dark: Why the P in the DPT Vaccination May be Hazardous to Your Child’s Health Golden City Park: Avery Publishing Group Inc., 1991
Neustaedter, Randall, Vaccines: Does Your Child Really Need Them? Article from Let’s Live (issue April 2000)
Author unknown, Pentacel:
http://www.whale.to/v/pentacel.html (accesses December 16, 2004)
Author unknown, Is Your Child High risk for a Vaccine Reaction? Vaccine Contraindications:
http://thinktwice.com/risk/htm (accessed 11 November 2004)
The National Vaccine Awarness Information Centre:
http://www.909shot.com
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