Time to learn what is in the vaccines you receive
Two years ago a bill was brought to the Maine legislature asking for a list of ingredients to be provided to parents with each childhood vaccination. I wrote in support of it then.
A similar bill was again presented in the legislature, and I have written again in its support. I also enclosed a copy of the very popular CDC list of vaccine ingredients, annotated by me to identify the presence of animal or fetal-derived cells in vaccine production. Here is the letter:
Meryl Nass, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine
5 Alexandra Rd.
Southwest Harbor, Maine 04679
207 522-5229 C 207 244-9165 W
May
4, 2013
4, 2013
Dear Maine HHS Committee Member:
I
wanted to comment on LD 754, a bill that would require that a list of vaccine
ingredients be provided to parents when their children are vaccinated. I
practice medicine in Maine and am an expert on anthrax vaccine. An abbreviated
CV is attached.
wanted to comment on LD 754, a bill that would require that a list of vaccine
ingredients be provided to parents when their children are vaccinated. I
practice medicine in Maine and am an expert on anthrax vaccine. An abbreviated
CV is attached.
It is
important that both recipients and medical providers be well-educated regarding
vaccines, in order to make wise vaccine recommendations. I was a licensed
physician for 17 years before I learned anything about the composition, testing
and licensing of vaccines. I had, at most, a one hour lecture on vaccines
in medical school. I wonder how
many other doctors are equally ill-informed?
important that both recipients and medical providers be well-educated regarding
vaccines, in order to make wise vaccine recommendations. I was a licensed
physician for 17 years before I learned anything about the composition, testing
and licensing of vaccines. I had, at most, a one hour lecture on vaccines
in medical school. I wonder how
many other doctors are equally ill-informed?
1.
Medical providers are required
by federal law to give parents or recipients a Vaccine Information
Statement (VIS), a 2 page informational sheet prepared by CDC, with each
of the following vaccines administered:
Medical providers are required
by federal law to give parents or recipients a Vaccine Information
Statement (VIS), a 2 page informational sheet prepared by CDC, with each
of the following vaccines administered:
Ø
DTaP
(includes DT)
DTaP
(includes DT)
Ø
Td/Tdap
Td/Tdap
Ø
Hib
Hib
Ø
hepatitis
A
hepatitis
A
Ø
hepatitis
B
hepatitis
B
Ø
HPV
HPV
Ø
influenza
(inactivated and live vaccines)
influenza
(inactivated and live vaccines)
Ø
MMR
and MMRV
MMR
and MMRV
Ø
meningococcal
meningococcal
Ø
pneumococcal
conjugate
pneumococcal
conjugate
Ø
polio
polio
Ø
rotavirus
rotavirus
Ø
varicella
varicella
The
VIS mentions some, but not all, risks related to vaccines. For example,
the VIS
for Hepatitis B vaccine mentions a potential allergy problem due to the
presence of yeast in the vaccine, but does not mention that soy is also
present, and it too is a common allergen.
VIS mentions some, but not all, risks related to vaccines. For example,
the VIS
for Hepatitis B vaccine mentions a potential allergy problem due to the
presence of yeast in the vaccine, but does not mention that soy is also
present, and it too is a common allergen.
Some
vaccines contain eggs, which occasionally cause serious allergic
reactions. Some vaccines contain gelatin (prohibited for kosher Jews);
others are made in [aborted] fetal cells or their derivatives, and some people
may choose to avoid a vaccine for that reason.
vaccines contain eggs, which occasionally cause serious allergic
reactions. Some vaccines contain gelatin (prohibited for kosher Jews);
others are made in [aborted] fetal cells or their derivatives, and some people
may choose to avoid a vaccine for that reason.
Listing
vaccine ingredients may not be necessary all the time. But remember that FDA
considers it important enough to require food manufacturers to list all ingredients
on their packaging. This enables consumers to choose which ingredients to avoid,
whether due to allergy, a religious dictate or for any other reason.
vaccine ingredients may not be necessary all the time. But remember that FDA
considers it important enough to require food manufacturers to list all ingredients
on their packaging. This enables consumers to choose which ingredients to avoid,
whether due to allergy, a religious dictate or for any other reason.
2.
Hundreds of vaccines are in development, and they contain an array of new
ingredients to stimulate increased immunity. These ingredients do not
have to be tested for their “stand-alone” toxicity: their only
required testing occurs during a clinical trial of the complete vaccine.
Most human vaccine studies
Hundreds of vaccines are in development, and they contain an array of new
ingredients to stimulate increased immunity. These ingredients do not
have to be tested for their “stand-alone” toxicity: their only
required testing occurs during a clinical trial of the complete vaccine.
Most human vaccine studies
last
only one month. If no serious side effects are identified within that
period, the candidate vaccine may be licensed.
only one month. If no serious side effects are identified within that
period, the candidate vaccine may be licensed.
However,
this testing is insufficient to identify whether the vaccine or its components
may cause or promote cancers. (Many vaccines have never been tested for
carcinogenicity, for example, although many contain formaldehyde, a known
carcinogen.)
this testing is insufficient to identify whether the vaccine or its components
may cause or promote cancers. (Many vaccines have never been tested for
carcinogenicity, for example, although many contain formaldehyde, a known
carcinogen.)
Vaccine
testing can miss birth defects that might be related to vaccination. This
is because pregnant women are not included in vaccine trials. The HPV
vaccine Gardasil was approved after a six-month, “fast-track” review by FDA.
Merck, the manufacturer, was asked by FDA to collect information on
possible birth defects after approval. The VIS
for Gardasil vaccine says,
testing can miss birth defects that might be related to vaccination. This
is because pregnant women are not included in vaccine trials. The HPV
vaccine Gardasil was approved after a six-month, “fast-track” review by FDA.
Merck, the manufacturer, was asked by FDA to collect information on
possible birth defects after approval. The VIS
for Gardasil vaccine says,
“Any
woman who learns she was pregnant when she got this HPV vaccine is
encouraged to contact the manufacturer’s HPV-in-pregnancy registry
at 800-986-8999. This will help us learn more about how pregnant
women respond to the vaccine.”
woman who learns she was pregnant when she got this HPV vaccine is
encouraged to contact the manufacturer’s HPV-in-pregnancy registry
at 800-986-8999. This will help us learn more about how pregnant
women respond to the vaccine.”
3.
In 2009-10, swine flu vaccines were made with and without novel adjuvants (new
additives used to enhance the immune response), using abbreviated
testing. Novel adjuvants had not been used in previously licensed US
vaccines.
In 2009-10, swine flu vaccines were made with and without novel adjuvants (new
additives used to enhance the immune response), using abbreviated
testing. Novel adjuvants had not been used in previously licensed US
vaccines.
Here
is an important example of how an ingredient list would be beneficial to
vaccine recipients:
is an important example of how an ingredient list would be beneficial to
vaccine recipients:
The
2009 Pandemrix swine flu vaccine caused narcolepsy (at a rate 12 times greater
than expected) in hundreds of children and young adults, and some other swine
flu vaccines caused seizures. Their use in children was stopped in
some countries (Finland,
Ireland
and Australia).
2009 Pandemrix swine flu vaccine caused narcolepsy (at a rate 12 times greater
than expected) in hundreds of children and young adults, and some other swine
flu vaccines caused seizures. Their use in children was stopped in
some countries (Finland,
Ireland
and Australia).
Pandemrix used a novel adjuvant (named ASO3) to increase
the vaccine’s effectiveness. ASO3 had not been used in children before, nor
had it ever been used in the US. It probably contributed to narcolepsy. A
vaccine containing ASO3 is under consideration now by FDA for avian flu. I
think it is very important that parents be informed when a vaccine that will be
given to their child contains ASO3.
the vaccine’s effectiveness. ASO3 had not been used in children before, nor
had it ever been used in the US. It probably contributed to narcolepsy. A
vaccine containing ASO3 is under consideration now by FDA for avian flu. I
think it is very important that parents be informed when a vaccine that will be
given to their child contains ASO3.
4.
Consider the difference between ingesting food and injecting vaccines.
Food has to pass through the gastrointestinal tract, which acts as a barrier
against noxious substances entering the body, protecting us from harm.
Consider the difference between ingesting food and injecting vaccines.
Food has to pass through the gastrointestinal tract, which acts as a barrier
against noxious substances entering the body, protecting us from harm.
Injections
bypass all skin and mucosal barriers, overriding important protective mechanisms.
Substances injected into us therefore need even more careful vetting than is
given to foods. Vaccines should be at least as safe as foods, and their
components should be equally transparent.
bypass all skin and mucosal barriers, overriding important protective mechanisms.
Substances injected into us therefore need even more careful vetting than is
given to foods. Vaccines should be at least as safe as foods, and their
components should be equally transparent.
5.
Providing a list of ingredients at the time of inoculation will not add a large
burden to medical providers or manufacturers. The Vaccine Information
Statement is already given out with most inoculations. An ingredient list
is part of the vaccine package insert, which is included with each bottle of
vaccine sold. This package insert or the list of vaccine ingredients it
contains could easily be included along with the Vaccine Information Statement,
when vaccinations are administered.
Providing a list of ingredients at the time of inoculation will not add a large
burden to medical providers or manufacturers. The Vaccine Information
Statement is already given out with most inoculations. An ingredient list
is part of the vaccine package insert, which is included with each bottle of
vaccine sold. This package insert or the list of vaccine ingredients it
contains could easily be included along with the Vaccine Information Statement,
when vaccinations are administered.
Thank
you for the opportunity to comment on this piece of legislation.
you for the opportunity to comment on this piece of legislation.
Sincerely,
Meryl
Nass, M.D.
Nass, M.D.
Hey thanks a lot for sharing the information related to Test And Vaccination..it is very useful for pregnant women…