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The Story of Vaccines
Chapter 1 PERHAPS YOU'VE SEEN THE BUMPER STICKERS THAT SAY “QUEStion Authority.” Well, that's what's happening today with the increasing number of parents who are questioning the safety, effectiveness, and even the necessity of the vaccines being given to their children and required by state law. Parents-and perhaps you are one of them-are questioning health-care providers, state health officials, and each other about immunizations. They are forming and joining action groups so they can learn more, and do more, about vaccine policies in the United States. Next to the Question Authority sticker should be another one that says “Knowledge Is Power.” It's not a good idea to question authority when you don't know what you're talking about, because it won't help you accomplish your goals. And when the goals are safe health care and a healthy life for your children, the stakes are too high for you to miss the mark. This chapter introduces you to the information you'll need to help you understand the world of vaccines and how they can affect you and your children. It explains what vaccines are, types of vaccines, how they are developed, and how they affect the immune system. You will also learn the answer to the question “Do I have to vaccinate my child?” as well as how to use the rest of this book to answer this question for each of the vaccines required by law and for those that are not. Ten Vaccines…and Counting Today's parents are primarily concerned about the ten vaccines now recommended by the federal government and mandated by the states. That is not to say there is no controversy surrounding other vaccines, like those for influenza, Lyme disease, and hepatitis A. And there are dozens of other vaccines on the horizon, a future you may need to consider if you are a parent or grandparent. These other vaccines are covered in chapters 12 and 13. For now, however, here are the ten that are mandatory in most states:
What Is a Vaccine? A vaccine is a substance that attempts to protect people against disease. To do that, vaccines are made from the virus or other pathogen (germ) that causes the disease the vaccine is designed to fight. You might say a vaccine uses fire to fight fire: A little bit of the pathogen is specially prepared and usually injected into the body so it can help fight off any “wild,” or naturally acquired, versions of the disease. The purpose of that fight is to develop immunity. The body has a complex system, called the immune system, that has procedures for producing and maintaining immunity. We can avoid long explanations by saying that when you get, say, a cold or flu virus or a bacterial infection, your body responds by producing substances called antibodies, minute protein molecules that fight against (anti) the foreign bodies (the viruses, bacteria). When you recover from the illness, your body retains some of those antibodies so it is ready to fight off the infection should it appear again. This is called immunity. The main purpose of a vaccine is to stimulate the formation of antibodies at a concentration high enough to stop the pathogen in its tracks, and thus prevent those who get the vaccine from getting the disease. As long as you maintain a certain concentration for a specific disease, you have immunity. Immunization is no guarantee that your child or you will not get the disease. A small amount of the infectious agent can get past the antibodies and cause individuals to experience some mild symptoms, or occasionally even worse effects of the disease. (More on this topic in subsequent chapters.) However, in most cases, the vaccine prevents more serious symptoms from occurring. An up-to-date list of the vaccines recommended by the U.S. government and mandated by the states can be seen at or downloaded from www.aap.org/family/parents/immunize.htm. An in-depth explanation of each of these vaccines can be found in chapters 6 through 11 in the book. Included in these explanations is the Vaccine Information Statement, or VIS. A VIS is an information sheet, produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which informs vaccine recipients or their parents or legal guardians about the benefits and risks of the vaccine. Doctors are required by law to distribute a VIS for all mandated childhood vaccines.
Copyright © 2001 by Stephanie Cave, M.D. Tags: Childhood Immunizations, Pediatrics About the Author I graduating from LSU with a B.S.in Medical Technology in 1966. I went back to Medical School at age 36 after having three children, fulfilling a dream I had had for years. I graduated in 1983 and completed a residency in Family Practice in 1986. Board certified in Family Practice. My practice was a typical family practice until the last couple of years. I now enjoy integrative medicine and I spend my time mapping out and normalizing chemistry for my patients. In the last 4 to 5 years, I have treated autistic children. My colleague, Dr. Amy Holmes, and I are seeing more than 700 autistic children. This is where the inspiration for the book started. We realized that there is a link between vaccines and the epidemic of autism that we are seeing. I set out to put together a way to give vaccines safely and effectively and the book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations, is the result. More by Stephanie Cave, M.D., F. A.A.F.P.About the Author Deborah Mitchell is a medical writer and journalist specializing in complementary medicine and nutrition topics. Her articles have appeared in professional journals, as well as national consumer magazines. She has authored and co-authored eleven books about various health topics, including Natural Healing for Back Pain, The Natural Guide to Headache Relief, The Dictionary of Nutritional Healing, Natural Aphrodisiacs, Natural Medicine for PMS and MSm: The Natural Pain Relief Remedy. More by Deborah Mitchell |
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