I am hoping to unpackage some of the reasons people are increasingly questioning the consensus regarding vaccines. To do this I have put together a list of what I believe to be the “Top” causes for vaccine concern. 

These being adverse events, vaccine failure, medical freedom, contraindications and pregnancy, autism, ethics and controversies. 

Adverse Events 

“One In a Million” – 1 in 1’000’000

Internationally esteemed Professor Christopher Exley of The University of Keele, U.K., is an expert on aluminium toxicology. His research has linked aluminium accumulation in the brain with both autism and Alzheimer’s disease. In an interview discussing aluminium adjuvants and unique aluminium adjuvants with larger quantities of aluminium, like the HPV vaccine, he estimated that the risk of severe adverse events was up to 1 in 40 recipients, making up 2.5% of those who receive them, though this risk factor will also be dependant on genetic and epigenetic factors which impact the bodies ability to detoxify aluminium and other adjuvants.

When people talk about vaccine reactions many, if not most of the consensus seem to perpetuate the generalised risk of an adverse reaction is “one in a million”. Quantitatively this is so far from the statistical reality. Vaccine Patient Information Leaflets quantify adverse reactions as “very common” (1-10), “common” (10-100), “uncommon” (100-1000) and “not known” – where it has not been investigated to identify the frequency. So despite the dismissal of how unusual and rare adverse events are, they are statistically common, though obviously vary greatly in severity.

There are lots of parents out there who witness a dramatic – negative – change in their child’s health following their routine vaccinations. For us it was more of a gradual accumulation of declining health and symptoms. We believed the mantra that the side effects were normal and to be expected; until they encompassed our sons health resulting in a tremendously overactive immune system which creates a daily risk to his life from anaphylactic reactions to dozens upon dozens of food and environmental triggers.

The vast majority of families who witness this kind of reaction are dismissed. Vaccines do not cause anything apparently, other than the desired response. Despite the range of known adverse reactions listed on vaccine inserts and in published medical research and reviews including brain swelling – encephalitis/encephalopathy, immune disorders includings atopy – allergies, eczema, asthma and anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal problems, metabolic disorders including diabetes and SIDS. Many of these conditions come from genetic proclivities that insults the body such as trauma or immune activation can trigger, or switch on.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of vaccine reactions are not reported, and an even smaller number seek and are able to obtain compensation for the damage they have caused. A Harvard study reported they estimate that only 1% of vaccine reactions are reported to the USA’s VAERS – Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System.

In the UK we seem less aware of the potential risks of vaccines. Due to existing legislation in the UK (1979), the USA (1986) and many other countries internationally, vaccine companies are protected from indemnity and the taxpayers fund the compensation for the few that are successful in their claim. In the UK claimants have to be at least 60% disabled as a result of a injury and over the age of 2. Those who do not meet this 60% threshold receive no compensation whatsoever regardless of whether or not vaccine injury has been agreed upon as a cause for injury, nor do the families of those who lose their children as a result of vaccine induced SIDS. For those who do receive compensation, in the UK, it can impact their state benefits. 

Despite these limitations in the UK between the inception of the Vaccine Damage Fund in 1979 and May 2017 £74’130’000 had been given out in compensation to 939 successful claimants – as per a freedom of information request. Though this does not give us any idea how many families have reported to the Yellow Card Scheme vaccine reactions, or the potential degree of disability incurred by vaccine injury in the 5’226 unsuccessful claims.

The USA’s Vaccine Injury Compensation Program states that they received 20’522 claims since its beginning in 1988 up to April 2019, including 1’297 deaths. Only 6’465 claims were successful, which resulted in $4’119’686’42.89 in payouts. The VICP has given compensation to a claim for vaccine induced autism, in the case of Hannah Poling, where her father as an immunologist was able to provide sufficient data to support the claim, though many families in the US find claims for autism are rejected where claims for cases of neurological inflammation, such as encephalitis and encephalopathy, which result in the behavioural symptoms diagnosis of autism are successful. 

Related Reading: 

Vaccine compensation limitations in the UK

USA Vaccine claim and compensation 2018

Successful Autism Claim – Hannah Poling

Parents who believe vaccines played a role in their child’s Neurological regression: 

Vaccine Failure

The public perception of vaccines seems to be that being vaccinated is synonymous with having an acquired immunity. Medically this is highly inaccurate. 

For those who are vaccinated there will always be a risk of vaccine failure: 

1. Primary – where the vaccines fail to take. That despite the vaccine being administered, the body doesn’t produce the desired immunological response.
2. Secondary – where the vaccines wear off. Vaccine induced immunity is temporary typically lasting between 2 years to 10 years.

Thus, despite the aggressive childhood vaccination schedule, the commonplace over-generalised application of the principle of herd immunity to vaccine induced immunity is deeply flawed. Herd immunity was a principle derived from the observations of in those with the life-long immunity, induced by wild exposure, yet is frequently misapplied to a population with a temporarily induced immunity that wanes with time. Unfortunately, vaccine efficacy is also known to reduce as recipients age; some research also shows that the more repeated vaccination for the same illness the less effective it is. This is known to be a contributing factor toward the flu vaccinations consistently poor efficacy in older recipients as well as the resurgence of measles and mumps outbreaks in young adults, particularly in university communities, as well as the current US naval ship mumps outbreak. 

In addition to these more accepted forms of vaccination failure, there is also a risk of self-culturing and developing illnesses as a result of vaccinations, otherwise known as negative efficacy. Live attenuated vaccinations, such as the rotavirus, MMR, chickenpox/shingles and most flu vaccines contain live strains; which increase the risk of the recipient developing the illnesses and/or being contagious for up to a month after receiving them. Which is why it is routine for neonatal, oncology, intensive care and immunology wards to have warnings for those who are recently vaccinated with live vaccines not to enter, as those who are recently vaccinated can put those with immature or impaired immune function at risk. 

A prime example of negative efficacy is the 2017-2018 flu vaccine when given to children, despite it being most effective in the child population with one strain providing up to 90% protection, another strain in the vaccine had a negative efficacy of 75%, meaning 75% of the children who received the vaccine self cultured and developed the flu from that particular strain. It’s also estimated around 5% of those who receive the MMR will develop the measles as a result of the vaccine itself. These shedding periods typically peak within 1-2 weeks but can last for 4 weeks or longer in some individuals. One man was in the news for shedding the polio virus for over 30 years, due to an underlying immune deficit which had not been identified or taken into consideration before he received the live virus.

Related Reading:

Primary vaccine failure to routine vaccines

Identification of Primary and Secondary Measles Vaccine Failures by Measurement of Immunoglobulin G Avidity in Measles Cases during the 1997 São Paulo Epidemic

UK 2017-2018 flu vaccine efficacy

Man sheds polio for 30 years

Medical Freedom

Medical freedom, contraindications and pregnancy.

Whether it’s regarding sexual exploits, abortion, tattoos, diet, medications etc. we are bombarded with the statement “my body – my choice”.

As a society we champion progressive thinking around autonomy and respect, to raise generations with increased mindfulness, greater respect for themselves, their peers and society as a whole. 

In history respecting individuals autonomy for medical decisions has been a hallmark for developed and democratic countries. In countries, and times, when medical freedom and autonomy have not been respected it has been a contributing factor to the segregation and massacres of oppressed groups such as Jews and Slaves.

This disregard for autonomy contributed to the religious persecution of the holocaust and the development of the Nuremberg Code which states that those who are a part of medical experiments should do so voluntarily with informed consent.

Despite living in a generation where vaccination is normative and expected, we are the first generation to do so – with such an extensive and robust schedule. Which many see as a sign of progress; while neglecting to observe that many of the social and health advancements we attribute to vaccines are in large part due to improved sanitation and living standards. Nor considering the potential role of the burgeoning schedule on chronic health conditions. Many doctors, scientists and researchers do speak out against the consensus; believing that by attempting to avoid the acute illnesses traditionally experienced in infancy, not only are we potentially more likely to contract previously deemed childhood illnesses as adults when they can have greater repercussions; but the schedule may well be contributing to the chronic health crisis. 

Vaccines are not routinely studied with inert placebos or for cumulative impact on health outcomes. The schedule is constantly evolving without any advancement in understanding for potential risks. Internationally there is an increase in mandates, such as in Australia, Italy and America; where only those fully vaccinated or with specific (increasing limited) exemptions can use certain public resources like childcare and schools. Despite the innately experimental nature of the vaccine schedule, there is no research supporting any theory that those who are unvaccinated pose any greater risk to their classmates, if anything recently vaccinated children who have received live vaccines may be higher risk of sharing those artificial strains, which has been shown to be true in places like California. Where despite having mandatory vaccines with limited medical exemptions, an uptake rate that exceeds the theoretical 95% herd immunity threshold, they still routinely have measles outbreaks. They’re also in the process of attempting to further limit their doctors ability to provide medical exemptions potentially putting the health and lives of many – such as those with histories of adverse reactions or genetics that predispose them to adverse events – at much higher risk.

The most current research which suggests those with a family history of atopic and autoimmune disorders, mitochondrial dysfunction and methylation difficulties – which can also have genetic markers – are all at substantially higher risk for adverse events from vaccines. There is no grace for this within the British, Australian or American, vaccination schedules and no screening before the schedule is embarked upon to quantify the risks. 

Many with these disorders are increasingly encouraged to vaccinate without being informed of their increased risk of adverse events because they are at higher risk of illness, despite those with immune compromised also being less likely to induce the desired immune response to the vaccine.

There is also an increased number of vaccines recommended during gestation despite research suggesting that those who have the flu vaccine during gestation are up to 7x more likely to have spontaneous miscarriage, and those who receive vaccines during gestation can be up to 20% more likely to have children with neurological disorders. Encouraged on the basis research would be unethical and it would be unethical to withhold vaccines from an at risk group. 

Related Reading:

The Nuremberg code

Contraindications

Spontaneous abortion following flu vaccine

Autism

The main controversy around the MMR vaccine seems to be that a group of Gastroenterologist in the UK, by request of a group of concerned parents, investigated a potential link between the combined vaccine and the development of autistic traits in their children. These highly respected doctors came to the conclusion that it was inconclusive and more research in the area needed to be pursued. The doctors recommended that those who wished to wait until more conclusive research were completed to proceed with caution opting for the separate available vaccinations over the combined 3 in 1.

Over a decade later, a journalist published a news article and filed a complaint with the British medical council, the media rushed with controversy, and an article which had stood as valid in an internationally recognised medical journal, for over a decade, was redacted. Then one of the 13 authors was used as a fall guy for the article and vilified for deigning to suggest more safety studied into the combined vaccine. 

Since then, the media and general consensus has treated it as though: this article boldly declared to prove the MMR caused autism; that “the” author (with no mention of the co-authors) “started” the “anti-vaccine” movement, claiming he was a fraud and discredited as a medical professional; and finally that it has been categorically proven that there is no reason to question vaccine safety and that it has been proven time and time again that there is no link between autism and vaccines.

Unfortunately, this seems to be predominantly smoke and mirrors, attempting to discredit a widely respected professional – when the other authors are all able to continue practicing in the UK.

The research that claims to disprove any links to autism from vaccines, specifically the MMR, has been limited at best. The recent Dutch study, repeating a previous study, comparing children who have been fully vaccinated with the MMR with those who have been fully vaccinated without the MMR, showing that there was a statistically insignificant increase in diagnosis in those who had received it in addition to the rest of the vaccine schedule. A previous study had similar results with a small increase in tics in children who received a larger amount of thimerosal than those who did not.

These studies do not account for autistic traits being a known side of many of the known inflammatory neurological disorders listed under “undesirable effects” on the MMR vaccine inserts. These include but are not limited to: encephalopathy, encephalitis and Measles inclusion body encephalitis (MIBE), transverse myelitis, cerebellitis, ataxia and other conditions such as seizures which are commonly comorbid with autism. This is not considering the many other known adverse effects including anaphylaxis and atopy. 

Related Reading:

Lancet study

MMR Patient Information Leaflets:

Priorix – GSK MMR

MMRVAXPRO – Merck MMR

Wakefield interview: 

Ethics and controversies 

Carcinogenic and Mutagenic potential

All vaccine patient information leaflets claim to be not studied for carcinogenic and mutagenic potential. Meaning they can neither confirm nor deny any potential involvement in the development of cancer, alterations in fertility or other alterations in genetic expression. 

This is despite veterinary medicine acknowledging a link with cat vaccines and cancer to the point where they now recommend cats are vaccinated in their tails so if they develop a FISS (feline injection site sarcoma), which is at a rate of 1-10 in 10’000, they are able to amputate their tail easily with less cost and impact on quality of life. 

There has been a lot of controversy over the HPV vaccination, its safety studies and potential role in premature ovarian insufficiency and other chronic health disorders. This controversy contributed to the recent leadership crisis at Cochrane when Peter Goetsche, co-founder and board member, was asked to step down – not long after critiquing the Cochrane’s favourable review of the the vaccine which he found severely lacking – four other board members followed him. He has since founded the Institute for Scientific Freedom. HPV review critique.

There has also been controversy over potential links with autism, diabetes, allergies, autoimmunity and other conditions which though contain genetic elements have epigenetic factors which are consistently linked with their manifestation and severity. 

Ethical and religious concerns

Vaccines also routinely contain cells cultured on human or animal cell lines which can cause concerns for those with religious or ethically based objections and those concerned with the experimental nature of injecting these cultured cells which contain either whole and fragmented DNA from foetuses of both sexes and animals.  

Dr Stanley Plotkin, known as the “Godfather of vaccines”, creator of the rubella vaccine among others. During a deposition last year admitted to testing experimental vaccines on those who are handicapped, incarcerated mothers and babies, as well as those in colonies; with the belief that people have a different value based on their health and ability to contribute to society.

The lack of any adequate or consistent safety screening before or after vaccinations raises concerns. There are those who despite appreciating the advances in medical treatment do not believe in blanket prophylaxis. Advances in nutritional knowledge and medical treatments, in developed countries, have made the mortality and injury rates, of vaccinated conditions, negligent in recent decades.  

Controversy and Transparency 

• Vaccine found ineffective in monkeys still distributed for human trial in Africa
• Children given animal (cattle/sheep) vaccine by Ireland due to name similarities
• Dengue Vaccine, 600 deaths being investigated, increased adverse effects if no previous wild contraction of Dengue
• Vaccine derived polio virus is the bigger consideration for contraction internationally than wild strains
• Pertussis – whooping cough acellular vaccine increases risk of asymptomatic carriers
• Live vaccines known to shed into bodily fluids including breastmilk
• Infant mortality rate higher in counties with more extensive vaccine schedule: Miller’s Review of Critical Vaccine Studies.

U.K. infant mortality rate increased following the introduction of the Meningitis B vaccine (Introduced 2015): https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/15/health/uk-infant-mortality-higher-than-other-countries-intl/index.html

America – despite mandates/isolation/restricted medical exemptions they still have outbreaks inc. vaccine derived strains.

– New York-

Whistleblowers – MMR

• Mumps efficacy fraud court case
• CDC substantially increased ASD rate in African American boys who received MMR before 3 years – Vaxxed Documentary
• Freedom of Information act: MMR high adverse events rates (50+%) during clinical trial.

Corvelva

Independent Italian scientific body, is systematically going through vaccines to identify if their components and function meet that which is reported. 

• Infanrix Hexa, lacking intended antigens and high in contaminants.
• HPV, lack specific intended HPV strains and high in contaminants.
• MMRV, lack rubella antigen, contained whole and fragmented DNA and contaminants including 4 non-intended viruses including equine and avian strains.

Other interesting related links:

Harvard immunologist to legislators: unvaccinated pose zero risk.

Yale Scientist claims: timing of vaccinations potentially harmful.

Genetic Basis for Adverse Events Following Smallpox Vaccination.

“Don’t Vaccinate to Protect My Cancer Kid” – A eye opening mothers prospective.

For More Helpful Resources: 

– Dr Bob Sears “The Vaccine Book”
– Dr Paul Thomas and Jennifer Margulis “The Vaccine Friendly Plan” 
– Miller’s Review of Critical Vaccine Studies.
– https://vaccine.guide – Website by a Toxicologist 
– https://medscienceresearch.com – Peer Reviewed Research by Topic on known Vaccine Risks