Help for sore throat

The naturopathic doctor or chiropractor recommended the following remedy for a soar throat,etc.

Time release Vitamin C - 2g every 4 hours
Super Echinacea - dropper full every 2 hrs
Zand Elderberry Zinc lozenge - every few hours
Eucalyptus spray - in vaporizer

How to find a Safe Sunscreen

Like anything that is considered unsafe, there is someone that will say that it is safe.

Issues to consider:

• Will the chemical penetrate skin and reach living tissues?
• Will it disrupt the hormone system?
• Can it affect the reproductive and thyroid systems and, in the case of fetal or childhood exposure, permanently alter reproductive development or behavior?
• Can it cause a skin allergy?
• What if it is inhaled?
• Other toxicity concerns?

If you want to error on the side of it is safe until considered safe by all, then try to avoid the ingredients below when buying sunscreen.

• Retinyl Palmitate - not required; it just is thought to reduce signs of aging and has been linked to skin cancer.
• Oxybenzone - a common UV filter that has been shown to interact with hormones when fed to animals in large amounts (much greater than sun screen contains). Avoid this because it readily pentrates the skin.
• Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate) - Hormone-like activity; reproductive system, thyroid and behavioral alterations in animal studies.
• Nano-particles - Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are mineral based sunscreens that provide broad-spectrum protection. If the particles have been shrunk to micro or nano-particles so that they no longer leave a white color then they may not be safe anymore. They are thought to possibly enter the body an cause cancer, but more information is needed. To keep it safe, it is best to buy sunscreen that says "non-nano-particles". If it stays on as white then it should be safer as it is not likely using nano-particles. Labelling is not required.
• Titanium Dioxide - concerns if inhaled, so buy choose topical application, not a spray.
• Zinc Oxide - concerns if inhaled, so buy choose topical application, not a spray. Skin penetration, but in very small number amount (.01%).
• SPF 15 - It doesn't provide protection against skin cancer, but does from sunburn. It is recommended to use SPF 30. SPF 50 may be used as well, but some believe it is not necessary. Also, beware the higher the SPF may also mean higher concentration of harmful chemicals.
• Homosalate - Disrupts estrogen, androgen and progesterone
• 4-methylbenzidyl camphor - used in Europe and under petition for use in the U.S. is a hormone disruptor.
• methylisothiazolinone, or MI - a preservative and inactive ingredient. It is a major allergen.

More ingredients to understand

• Avobenzone -best chemical filter for UVA. Relatively high rates of allergies
• Mexoryl SX - skin penetration. Currently not fda approved
• Octisalate - skin penetration
• Octocrylene - skin penetration

Summary
"Zinc oxide is EWG’s first choice for sun protection. It is stable in sunlight and can provide greater protection from UVA rays than titanium oxide or any other sunscreen chemical approved in the U.S."

To find the product you want use the advance search on http://www.ewg.org. They have rated by ingredients tons of sunscreens. I found this site so valuable when deciding on sunscreens.

I found Badger products such as Badger Sunscreen Cream, Unscented, SPF 30 to be a good product that can be found on Amazon for the US and UK. There is also a sport version called Badger Sport Sunscreen Cream, Unscented, SPF 35. It can be found on Amazon for UK and US.

References:
Sunscreen Safety: What to Know
The Trouble With Sunscreen Chemicals

Eating Organically in Cornwall

If you are looking for organic fruits, vegetables, and meats in Cornwall, UK there are options for eating organically.

More information on why you should choose UK Organics

Local

One option is Tesco. They do have some organic food, but much more on Tesco online. If you already shop at Tesco or need something around the corner this may be a good option.

List of Health food stores in Cornwall - here you'll find a list fo health food stores in Cornwall that have at least some organic food.

Trevaskis Farm - a very small part of their farm is organic, but their restaurant is supposed to be organic as well.

Delivered Boxes

There are so many options for online. I think the delivered boxes are a great way to save some money and it is very convenient. Some even let you decide what you want or don't want for each box.





Abel and Cole - selection of organic and non-organic foods (meat, veggies, fruits). Order the specific food or schedule boxes of food you can customize. You can also pause a scheduled box anytime. Each box can be customized with what you like more of or don't want. I really like how flexible this site is. They also focus on sustainable farming.

Riverford Organic farms - Appears you can't cusomize much and appears to offer lots of types of boxes. Food is local and regional farmers.

Real Foods  - organic foods as well, but not delivery boxes. They do however offer bulk discounts. They are more of an online grocery store. They also have baby care, beauty, supplements, etc.

Planet Organic - much like Real Foods, but they also add household products such as cleaners, etc.

Water Contamination and filters

If you are considering buying a water filtration system you may want to consider all the different types of contaminants that can be in the water you use so that you can decide if you want to get rid of them using a filter.

The first step for me is to see what type of water my has. The city of Tempe has its own web site and report posted there.

Here is what I learned from the report. "the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations that limit the
amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.
The Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants
in bottled water.

The EPA has a webpage that lists a ton of contaminants and their allowable limits and how they get into our water supply. They can be broken categorized into the following types:

• Microorganisms
• Disinfectants
• Disinfection Byproducts
• Inorganic Chemicals
• Organic Chemicals
• Radionuclides

I looked through the list. I wanted to compose a list of the most serious ones, but as I looked through the list I concluded that nearly all of them have harmful effects that are serious. Take note that several of them are part of the water disinfection process so this will be in nearly everyone's water unless filtered at the faucet level.

The best way to decide on filters is see enumerate what each type of filter can remove and buy the filters that remove the largest number of contaminants.

The University of Nebraska wrote a good paper (short) on Reverse Osmosis systems.

EMF and Health

Overview

EMF stands for Electromagnetic fields
They decrease dramatically (inverse distance squared)
Two types of EMFs:
ELF = Extremely Low Frequency (1-300Hz)
Example: power lines, many domestic appliances
RF = Radio Frequency (100 kHz to 300Gz)
Examples: mobile phones, cell towers, wi-fi, and other communication devices


FCC exposure limits for the general public aim to limit exposure such that first, the absorption of RF energy averaged across the whole body is limited to 0.08 watts per kilogram (W/kg); this metric is referred to as the specific absorption rate or SAR. However, many say this limit is way too high and causes long term health effects that are not noticeable in the short term.

"The mainstream view is that the only potential danger from EMFs stems from their heating effects on tissue, in the case of RF-EMF, or of electrical currents induced in the body for ELF-EMF. However, there is strong evidence to suggest that the athermal effects of ELF- and RF-EMFs also contribute to various health problems."

Safe levels for RF: less than 100 uW/m2 is safe in the day and less than 10 uW/m2 is safe at night


ELF-EMF
Sources: Vacuum cleaners, electric can openers, microwave ovens, shavers, hair dryers are among the most powerful. For a longer list and actual values, go here.

RF-EMF
Sources: Mobile phone base stations, mobile phones, cordless phones, utility smart meters, remote control toys, wireless networks, radar, baby monitors, CB, NFC devices, Satellite phone, Traffic-speed radar, CFLs, bluetooth, wi-fi, Broadcast TV (VHF, UHF), FM/AM radio broadcast, amateur radio, car radar, etc.

ELF Health Issues
Childhood Leukemia - 300% increased risk at 2mG, and 450% at 4mG (ICNIRP limit is 1000mG)
Alzheimer's disease - increased risk

RF Health Issues (Especially Cell phones)
RF has been given a 2B classification possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This is in the same category as is carbon black, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, DDT, lead, nickel, phenobarbital, styrene, diesel fuel, and gasoline.
Acoustic neuromas
Gliomas (brain tumors) - 200% increase risk after 10 years of usage on one side of the head. 470% for cordless phones.
Melatonin - decreased production levels that affect alzheimer's, depression, cardiovascular diseases, insomnia, mood disorders, tinnitus, and cancer.
DNA and chromosome damage
Neurotransmitter impacted
Central Nervous System changes: especially cell death

sperm damage & male infertility
miscarriages
vaginal discharge
vascular system disease
tinnitus
childhood cancer
sleep problems
depression
irritability
memory loss
concentration difficulties
headaches
dizziness and fatigue
suicidal tendencies
arrhythmia
heart attacks
bone marrow interference
altered calcium level in cells
ADHD
reduction in night-time melatonin
suppression of the immune system
arthritis
rheumatism
skin symptoms
lymphatic diseases
autism
hearing problems
fibromyalgia
weakened immune system

ICNIRP
They say in a review of studies...
Exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields, biological effects and health consequences (100 kHz-300 GHz) - says "Results of epidemiological studies to date give no  consistent or convincing evidence of a causal relation between RF exposure and any adverse health effect. On the other hand, these studies have too many deficiencies to rule out an association. " They also say not enough is known or proven so we need more studies on the subject.

Which side do you want to error on?

Cell phones

According to this study, there is linear relationship between cell phone subscriptsions (usage) and brain tumors.
All the affects of RF are included if you use a cell phone.

Tests show young men who keep their phones in a pants pocket have reduced sperm counts.

Meters
RF and Microwave meters
Wiring, appliances = need ELF meter for around 50Hz
mobile phones, microwaves, RF
CFL - 2kHz to 100kHz

Antennas and Cell Towers
As it turns out the number of feet you are from the cell tower can make a big difference. At 300 feet away most meters can't detect the signal anymore. The actual exposure will vary depending on height, obstacles, etc between you and the tower. So, it may be useful to find antennas and cell tower near your office and home. I found this site that is great for this. The trick is that exposure is the sum of the towers, not just a single tower. In my case, there are about 100 towers and 607 antennas within 4 miles of me. Ultimately, a very sensitive meter. This one is a good economical choice.

Common Frequencies
Wi-fi: 2.4GHz (sometimes 5GHz with 802.11n) with range of about 330ft max.
Bluetooth 2.4GHz with range usually around 30 feet
Zigbee 2.4GHz with range around 30 - 60 feet approximately
Z-wave 900 MHz with range up to around 100 ft
Mobile phone 800MHz to 2690MHz
TV Broadcast 7MHz - 1002MHz
Baby Monitor: 49MHz, 902MHz or 2.4GHz
Microwave Oven 2450MHz during use only
Smart Meter (from Utility company) 900MHz or 2400MHz. SRP says it is only 45seconds a day.
CFL 20kHz to 50kHz
Cordless up to 5.8GHz

What can be done:

• Using fibre-optic cables for your broadband
• Using wired connections whenever possible
• Keeping mobile and cordless phones away from your body
• Using wired baby monitors: children are more effected by EMFs than adults
• Keeping wireless routers or cordless phones out of regularly used bedrooms or children’s bedrooms
• Reducing time spent in calls when using mobile or cordless phones
• Reducing children’s exposure to wireless devices as much as possible
• Avoiding using microwave oven
• Avoiding placing wireless computers on your lap
• Avoiding allowing your children to use remote-control toys for long periods of time, if at all
• Should not be using cell phones without “ear buds.”  
• Should not keep cell phones that are turned on in their clothing next to their body.  Use the speaker option.  
• Recognize that texting and other phone functions can be less dangerous than holding a phone next to your head to hear.  
• Remember that cordless phones also pose similar radiation hazards, so minimize their use at home.
• And the golden rule is: minimize exposure to all forms of EMFs in the two to three hours before you sleep. - See more here. To keep Melatonin levels up you should avoid exposure to light late at night because light at night can inhibit the production of melatonin. The IARC has classed light at night as a class 2A carcinogen. Here is software to adjust color on your computer to a more night appropriate color and brightness.

What can be done specifically for mobile phones (listed most risky to safest options)
1. Do nothing different and hold mobile phone up to your head.
2. Hold it a little bit away from your head.
3. Use the speaker phone (at arms length from your head)
4. Text more  This likewise keeps the phone away from your head and body and actually reduces radio frequency exposure compared to using the speakerphone. This is because the phone only sends out a pulsed, digital frequency when you hit "send," rather than almost continuously when you are on speakerphone. There will also be bursts of radio frequency as your phone synchs up with the tower for other functions (incoming texts and other messages, email, software updates). This option is also better than holding the phone right next to your head.
5. Use the earphone provided by your cell phone manufacturer and hold the phone at arm's length when you make a call. This is also better than putting the phone next to your head, but is not the best solution because most earphone cords can carry radio frequencies (RF) up the cord and concentrate them at your head. 
6. Use the earphone provided by your cell phone manufacturer and install two ferrite snap beads on the cord. This is better than using a wired earphone by itself. Purchase the snap beads from Less EMF
7. Place one at the bottom of the cord where it plugs into the phone and the other about 3/4 of the way up (the earphones from Robert have a different configuration). This blocks radiation as it comes out of the phone. It also blocks RF radiation picked up by the cord through the air from your own cell phone antenna as well as frequencies transmitted by other cell phones and cell towers nearby. See here for more details on quality production.
8. Purchase an air tube earphone and hold the phone away from your body. Don't keep the phone in a pocket when you are on the call. You can purchase air tube earphones from Less EMF; 888-537-7363.

In California, you can purchase them from:

• John Black in Costa Mesa (949-261-7352),
• Robert Brandolino, also in Costa Mesa (949-235-0561), or
• Sue Long in Tustin (949-387-2084)

Once you have an air tube earphone, be sure to install two ferrite snap beads onto the cord (again, Robert's have a different arrangement). This is the least harmful option. The plastic air tube in the six inches closest to the earbud keeps all frequencies from your head, but you can still have frequencies travel up the cord right out of the cellphone and from cell towers and other cell phones through the air, which then radiate off the cord as it drapes against your body. That is why the snap beads are still needed.

9. Avoid using your cell phone altogether except for a few moments at a time, and only a few times per week.

We do not recommend the use of a Bluetooth headset because you are still exposing the cells of your head and brain to so-called "low-frequency information-carrying radio waves," which are the most harmful frequencies emitted by wireless devices. While the power output of the carrier wave transmitted by a Bluetooth is only 1/50th the strength of the carrier wave transmitted by a cell phone, the Bluetooth still transmits potentially harmful low-frequency information-carrying radio waves.

Also, using a cell phone in a car is a bad idea as the cell phone can actually be put in a mode where the signal strength is increased so it can make it through the metal in the car. Don't use Bluetooth either, it just adds to the RF in the car. Play it safe if you can, don't take a call in the car.

Another option is to use the BlocSock. It allows you to make and receive calls, but reduces you exposure dramatically, by shielding the side that is near you. I'm not sure how it fits into the list above, but I'm pretty sure it could be used in conjunction with the others to further improve it.

For carrying the phone, the Cell-shield Holster may be a good idea.

Links:
Good beginners guide to meters

Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Extremely Low-Frequency (ELF) and Radiofrequency (RF): What are the Health Impacts?

Technical Details on sources of EMF - IEEE and ICNIRP both says no need to change safe limit guidelines.

Search for Cell towers and Antennas by address

Smart Meter Study

44 reasons to believe cell phones can cause cancer

How WiFi and Other Electromagnetic Fields Cause Biological Harm

The INTERPHONE Study - study says no increased risk for Glioma, meningioma, accoustic neuroma

World Health Organisation verdict on mobile phones and Cancer - cell phones could cause cancer

Cell phone Safety List - very good article on what can be done if you use a cell phone, but want to minimize the risk. Much of the cell phone recommendations are copied from here.

Safeliving Technologies - products to help limit exposure.

Safe Limits

Lead in Drinking Water

According to EPA:
"Lead, a metal found in natural deposits, is commonly used in household plumbing materials and water service lines. The greatest exposure to lead is swallowing or breathing in lead paint chips and dust.

But lead in drinking water can also cause a variety of adverse health effects. In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Lead is rarely found in source water, but enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water."

The EPA also says:

"Uses for lead.
Lead is sometimes used in household plumbing materials or in water service lines used to bring water from the main to the home. A prohibition on lead in plumbing materials has been in effect since 1986. The lead ban, which was included in the 1986 Amendments of the Safe Drinking Water Act, states that only “lead free” pipe, solder, or flux may be used in the installation or repair of (1) public water systems, or (2) any plumbing in a residential or non-residential facility providing water for human consumption, which is connected to a public water system. But even “lead free” plumbing may contain traces of lead. The term “lead free” means that solders and flux may not contain more than 0.2 percent lead, and that pipes and pipe fittings may not contain more than 8.0 percent lead. Faucets and other end use devices must be tested and certified against the ANSI – NSF Standard 61 to be considered lead free.

What are lead’s health effects?

Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

How will I know if lead is in my drinking water?

Have your water tested for lead. A list of certified laboratory of labs are available from your state or local drinking water authority. Testing costs between $20 and $100. Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is the only sure way of telling whether there are harmful quantities of lead in your drinking water. You should be particularly suspicious if your home has lead pipes (lead is a dull gray metal that is soft enough to be easily scratched with a house key) or if you see signs of corrosion (frequent leaks, rust-colored water). Your water supplier may have useful information, including whether the service connector used in your home or area is made of lead. Testing is especially important in high-rise buildings where flushing might not work.

Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water."

According to the 2012 Tempe Water Quality Report:

52 homes tested for Lead had: 6.5ppb (90th Percentile), but 3 (5%) of them were above safe level of 15ppb

The cause is stated as corrosion of household plumbing systems

According to EPA no amount of lead is considered safe, however, .015ppm (15ppb) is what is considered a safety threshold that requires action.

The 2012 report also says: 

"Lead - If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and 

components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Tempe is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials 

used in home plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 

two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, 

testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 or at http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/index.cfm"

Tips from EPA:

• Boiling your water will not get rid of lead.
• Use cold water for drinking or cooking. Never cook or mix infant formula using hot water from the tap.
• Make it a practice to run the water at each tap before use.
• Do not consume water that has sat in your home's plumbing for more than six hours.  First, make sure to run the water until you feel the temperature change before cooking, drinking, or brushing your teeth, unless otherwise instructed by your utility.
• Some faucet and pitcher filters can remove lead from drinking water. If you use a filter, be sure you get one that is certified to remove lead by the NSF International.

Resources:

• EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791
• National Lead Information Center: 1-800-424-LEAD / www.epa.gov/lead
• NSF International: www.nsf.org

Personal notes: The filter for some refrigerators PUR Ultimate filter does remove lead and mercury among other substances. Check your filter system, not all of them. For example, the Brita pitcher solution doesn't, but the faucet solution does remove lead.

Should I go to Urgent Care or Emergency Room (ER)

According to a 24-hour ER in Dallas here are some guidelines when deciding if you should go to the ER or Urgent Care.

ER
Chest Pain
Abdominal Pain
Shortness of Breath
Broken Bone
Flu with complications
Unexplained slurred speech
Open wound / severed limbs
Foreign objects stuck in body
Mental Health Issues

Urgent Care
Sinus Pain
Cold
Sprain
Flu without complications
Sore Throat
Conjuntivitis

Hepatitis B (aka Hep B)

What is Hep B?
Hep B is short for the virus called Hepatitis B. It causes liver damage and can cause liver failure (can be fatal).

How is it transmitted?
The Hep B virus can be transmitted to you by doing one of the following with an infected person:

• Unprotected Sex
• Sharing of IV drug needles
• Get a tattoo with an improperly sterilized need that was previously used on someone that was infected.
• Accidentally stuck by an infected needle
• Blood transfusion
• Saliva exchange is a theoretical, but virtually unheard of.
• Exchange of blood through an open wound

The Hep B virus can be transmitted to your BABY by doing one of the following with an infected person.

• Blood transfusion (blood is screened for Hep B, but in rare cases (1 in 65,000 or 1 in 500,000 units) it gets through.
• Saliva exchange is a theoretical, but virtually unheard of.
• Exchange of blood through an open wound.
• Birth if mom is infected. NOTE: The placenta protects the baby during pregnancy, but not birth).

As you might imagine it is extremely rare for a baby to be at risk for Hep B. Yes, the risk would go up as a child starts to handle things like needles or play with other children where injuries with blood are more likely. For a baby in the first two years of life I believe this to be a low risk disease. I will re-evaluate as she gets older. Even later, I think the risk is low enough to vaccinate, but I will delay until there is more exposure to risky situations. For example, a care giver, medical, etc.


Why would you want it?
If you are in the medical profession and around other people's blood or saliva you may want to consider the vaccine. Once you become sexually active it may make sense. Travel for less than 6 months is NOT a good reason to get this vaccine because there is little added risk. Though, it is worth noting that many places such as Alaska, Pacific Islands, China, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, most of the middle east, Africa and the northern part of South America have 12% of the population infected with Hep B opposed to 1% in the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and southern part of South America which have 1% infected. Interestingly most cases in these areas are transmitted at the time of birth to infants. Countries not listed have a 5% infection rate.



Symptoms and Diagnosis
A blood test is needed to diagnose Hep B. Symptoms include

• Abdominal Pain
• Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue

Is HEP B Common?
According to Dr. Sears, this is a very difficult one to tell. The only place that he could find that said how many cases a year are reported was in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. It said there were 360 cases from birth to age nine per year. Interestingly, it is somehow estimated that 30,000 cases are estimated per year.

Keep in mind the study was done by the drug companies (GlaxoSmith Kline and Merck) did a study to determine if infants should be vaccinated for Hep B based on how many actual cases there were in infants and children. They concluded the number was 30,000 cases a year and every since 1991 it is recommended that all babies should be vaccinated in order to decrease Hep B in our population. The reality is that since then the cases of Hep B has decreased by two-thirds. Is this because of the vaccine or something else? Hard to say.

Is Hep B Serious
The vaccine books says, "Extremely. About 90% of babies who catch Hep B during birth become chronically infected. They may now show it for many years or decades, but 25% of them will develop liver cancer or liver failure eventually.

Kids who catch Hep B during the toddler or preschool years have about a 35 percent chance of getting a chronic infection and older kids and adults have only a 6 to 10% chance of developing a chronic disease....There are an estimated 4000 deaths each year in the United States from liver failure or liver cancel due to Hep B. These are virtually all among adults."

You may also want to consider that only 10% of children of contract Hep B show symptoms right away. On the other hand, it passes without much consequence for adults.

Is Hep B Treatable?
No routine treatment is available. However, there are treatments similar to Chemotherapy though. This works in about 1/3 of the cases. Also, babies that are born to infected mothers can be given a HBIG injection to kill the viruses. It can be given to anyone who is exposed to blood known to contain the Hep B virus.

When to give it?
The CDC and AAP now recommend giving the vaccination at BIRTH. This is the one size fits all mentality of the AAP and CDC. The vaccine only applies to those babies with mothers that have Hep B already. Alternatively, they used to recommend two months after birth for the first of three doses. If you decide you don't want to give the Hep B vaccination be aware that some hospitals don't ask, they just assume you want the vaccine for your newborn and give the vaccine to them. So, be sure to make it known to the staff what your preference is.  The upside of waiting until adolescence is that only 2 shots are needed instead of 3 and the toxin to body weight is much better (safer). Though 2 or 3 shots depends on the manufacturer.

How is the vaccine made?
The Vaccine Book says, "This is a very unique vaccine in that it is artificially engineered using advanced genetic techniques." The good news is there is no way to get Hep B from the vaccine. The bad news is a portion of DNA from the Hep B virus is integrated into yeast cells and then the virus is filtered out. Then to make the vaccine work "better" they add aluminum.

This is GMO to the max. If you research GMO in our food you will find that messing with DNA and then putting it in our body is a BAD idea. Our body doesn't know what to think of it. Add that to the aluminum, mercury, and formaldehyde and I'll give this vaccine a big PASS.
NOTE: Many of the manufacturers of the vaccine have removed either all or all but trace amounts (still too much though) of mercury, but check to be sure the vaccine being used doesn't have it.

Side Effects of the Vaccine
The standard side effects occur more frequently than with many of the other vaccines. About 10 to 15 percent of people experience flu-like symptoms. Other possible reactions are: life-threatening allergic reactions, severe rash, heart palpitations, minor liver damage, bleeding disorders, visual problems, hair loss, arthritis, lupus. There are also several neurological reactions but they are rare.

Conclusion

If you are someone how believes that vaccines work reduce disease in the long run and don't mind subjecting your baby and child to this vaccine then I guess it makes sense. For me, I will not subject my baby to something for the theoretical greater good of the population when the risk for her contracting the disease is extremely low.


References: All information on this post was taken from The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis Vaccine

I am reviewing Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (whooping cough) together since you typically give them to babies as a group. There is no doubt that like every disease we vaccinate for that it is not good to get a severe case of it, but we have chosen to not to vaccinate for diseases that are a uncommon. This makes this vaccine particularly difficult to decide because we are really talking about three diseases, not just one.

Let's start by looking at them individually.

Diptheria

The Vaccine Book says, "Dihptheria is a very severe throat infection that is caused by a bacterium...The germ secretes a toxin that irritates the lining of th ethroat and upper  lungs, causing a severe coughing and breathing difficulty. The breathing passage becomes swollen and may close off altogether... Diphtheria is transmitted like the common cold."

It is not common in the United States. There are only about 5 cases each year and many years go by without any reported cases at all. It is more common in parts of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, South Pacific, Middle East, and Europe. About 10 percent of cases are fatal. In those cases, by the time the victims seek treatment (antitoxin) the disease had done too much damage.

Our Choice: Since Dihpheria is basically nonexistant in the US we will not be vaccinating for it. If we decide to travel to other parts of the world where it is more common when she is older, we may reconsider.

Tetanus

The Vaccine Books says, "Tetanus is an acute infectious disease that is caused by a bacterum () that lives in soil and on dirty, rusty metal and can also contaminate unsterile needles... the toxin that enters a person's a person's nerves and gradually caues paralysis throughtout the body. Tetanus is commonly referred to as lockjaw because often the first muscles to become paralyzed are the jaw muscles.

It is thankfully not common. Most people with deep and dirty wounds receive proper medical care and have their wounds flushed out with clean water and disinfectant. Each year in the United States we see only about 50 to 100 cases of tetanus. Virtually all occur in adults over twenty-five who haven't received a booster shot. Only about 1 case occurs in kids under five each year, and only a handful in older children. Before this vaccine was introduced several decades ago, about 1300 cases were reported each year in the United States." Internationally, tetanus is much more severe for infants says the World Health Organization that has reports of 200,000 infants dying each year from tetanus world wide. This occurs most often when an unvaccinated mom gives birth, the umbilical cord is cut with a dirty tool, and tetanus spores from the dirty tool flow into the newborn baby through the cord. This doesn't happen in developed countries.

Our Choice: Given that there is only 1 case for kids under 5 and a handful in older children we will not be vaccinating. I can see how some might think that vaccines caused the decline (1300 to 50 or 100 cases a year) in cases would be attributed to the vaccine. I think it is more about the decline of the family farm and everyone moving into cities where we don't routinely work in the dirt. In short Tetanus is not a disease of infants and rarely for children.

It has a 15% fatality rate. It is treatable with antibody injections and antibiotics to kill the germ, but there are no medications to reverse the paralyzsis. It just has to run its course which can mean intensive care and life support while the paralysis wears off. This may take a few weeks. Also, you can get the tetanus vaccine if you get injured and suspect you might get tetanus. It is however not as effective. Though, there is a TIG (tetanus immune globulin) that can immediately inactivate any tetanus bacteria present.

Pertussis

The Vaccine Books says, "Otherwise known as whooping cough, pertussis is caused by a bacterium (Bordetela pertussis) that infects the upper lungs. It secretes a toxin that causes severe irritation and damage to teh lining of the upper lungs and throat. Pertussis is similar to diphtheria, not as serious. Symptoms mimic the common cold in the first week, but then the cough worsens into prolonged coughing fits tha tlast from thirty seconds to as long as two minutes. The cough is so severe that a person can barely breathe, and when a breath is finally possible, it sounds like a gasping "whoop." Pertussis is transmitted like the common cold an dcan last for as long as three months, even with treatment."

According to The Vaccine Book, Unfortunately, Pertussis is fairly common (about 10,000 reported caes each year in the United States during the 1990s and early 2000). In 2004 and again in 2005 it increased to about 25,000. Over the past few decades pertussis has mysteriously peaked every five years (some other sources say 3-4 years) and then decline. Case in point, one year later in 2006, it was back down to 13,000 cases. In the early part of the twentieth century (before the pertussis vaccine ) cases where about 240,000 each year in the US.

From what I can tell it appears that the vaccine may have made a difference in reducing the overall number of cases. I still wonder what would have happened if we didn't vaccinate for it. Would it have grown out of control or just declined to is current state as many of the charts suggest diseases do naturally.

The Vaccine Book says, the greatest risk for infants is below 6 months with about 1% fatality rate for that age group. There are about 2000 reported cases of pertussis each year for infants less than 6 months, and about 75% are hospitalized and about 20 die each year. In rare cases the infant can have coughing fits so long the brain is deprived of oxygen and can cause brain damage. There appears to be no long term effect from this disease. The coughing slowly resolves and the lungs recover over a couple of months. After 6 months of age, fatalities are almost unheard of, so isn't considered a serious disease in older infants (meaning up to age 1), children, and adults.

It is treatable using antibiotics to kill the germs so the person is no longer contagious. However, the damage to the airway caused by the infection produces weeks of ongoing cough, even after the germs are gone. Starting treatment early may make the symptoms shorter or less severe. The problem is that since it can be mistaken for other things like just a cough treatment may come later when the treatment might not help much and disease will just need to run its course. The good news is there are homeopathic remedies that are considered to be more effective than traditional medicines by many.

Our Choice: Since Pertussis is fatal for only 1% of the cases and that is typically in very young babies. The biggest risk seems to be less than 2 months or less and then 6 months when it is no longer considered a serious disease since fatalities are basically unheard of. Given that our baby is one month a way from the six month mark and we do not use day care and are careful about anyone who has a cough and there are homeopathic remedies we don't feel the risk of this quite reactive vaccine is worth the risk.

The Vaccines

The hard decision for many is whether to vaccine for all three even if you feel some of the others are not needed. In our case, we didn't find the risk of any particular one enough to vaccinate even if it were separate, so thankfully the choice is easier for us.

Adults
It is is recommended that you get a booster shot called Tdap every ten years. It is said this is to better protect the babies since can't be vaccinated until after two months. The focus of this vaccine is on Tetanus (you can tell because the T is bigger than the other letters). This is basically what some refer to as herd immunity (needs to be 90% of the population to be effective). About 25% of patients have standard side effects for this adult/child vaccine. Headache and fatigue are most common (30-40%).

My Choice: Personally, I won't be getting my booster. It is interesting when you start to consider what you would do vs. what you would do to your child. Most adults don't get their boosters (me included) because they think the risk is low, but yet some will automatically give it to their baby.

The Vaccine
There are a few different manufacturers of the vaccine and each one has different issues. Some have more Aluminum that others and some have none. Unfortunately, the one that has less Aluminum has Mercury. Between the two I would be sure to pick one that doesn't have Mercury and has more Aluminum since Mercury is really bad, and Aluminum is assumed to be not such a big deal. They all have formaldehyde.

There used to be a lot of bad things reported about DTP which are said to not apply to the new DTaP that we give our babies. About 15% of babies have standard side effects from this vaccine. There are real serious reactions though like Guillain-Barre syndrome, brain damage, and other nerve dysfunctions, encephalopathy.

There are other forms of the vaccine also. Here are some of them and what they are generally used for:

• DT - It is recommended for infants and children. Some parents use for older children since Pertussis is not needed later except for herd immunity and the P part is suspected to be the part that most kids are sensitive to. It is not recommended to be used for older kids because they may react to the high D component.
• dT - similar to DT, but less diphtheria vaccine than tetanus vaccine and is used for older kids (age 7 and up) and adults.
• T - Commonly used if someone is injured who want a tetanus shot. It is not officially approved for kids of younger age yet, but doctors can do it if desired.

I think it is crazy that there are so many versions of this vaccine for different age groups. To me that says it is too reactive. If for example the DT has too much D component then why in the heck should it be ok to give it to infants that are WAY smaller. This makes no sense to me. The whole set of vaccines tells me that these vaccines are not a one size fits all and thus may be more reactive for my baby.

Pneumococcal Disease / Pc Vaccine

To quote The Vaccine Book, "Pneumococcus (Pc) is a bacterium that causes a wide range of illnesses, from mild cold symptoms and ear infections to severe pneumonia, blood stream infections, and meningitis. It is transmitted like the common cold. When the germ finds its way ino a person, it usually is kept restricted to the nose, throat, and ears and causes cold symptoms, coughing, or ear pain. Occasionally it moves down into the lungs and causes symptoms of pneumonia (labored breathing, severe cough, and fever). Very rarely the germ invades farther into the body and causes bloodstream infection (symptoms include high fever and lethargy) or meningitis (fever, sever headache, vomiting, stiff neck). No one knows what percentage of the time Pc transforms from a minor illness into a more severe one, but this does happen more commonly in infants, toddlers, and the elderly."

According to The Vaccine Book, It is a common bacteria that causes respiratory infections, however cold and flue viruses are still far more common. It is also the most common cause of infant meningitis.

The CDC estimated that there were about 60,000 cases of severe pneumococcal disease each year before the vaccine began, but I am not sure how accurately they were able to estimate that since it is not a disease that requires that the CDC be notified. Of those 60,000, 17,000 were in kids younger than five years of age. These numbers have seemed to decrease by at least half since the vaccine came into use, but now we are seeing increases in other strains of the Pc germ that are not covered by the vaccine.  In fact, in a new (1995 - 2005) study in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2007;26:461-467) showed that 96% of the severe cases of Pc disease at Children's Medical Center in Dallas were caused by Pc strains not found in the vaccine. Conversely, serious Pc infections (pneumonia, bloodstream infection, or meningitis) occur mostly in infants (age two and under) and the elderly. Serious cases in healthy children and adults are uncommon.

True researches started working on an updated version of the vaccine and probably have one by now (2013), but to me this seems like a HUGE issue. In my mind, this means that the virus is mutating or evolving and the vaccine is only a good for a relatively short period until the virus adapts. This seems much like the flu vaccine. England has scrapped the Pneumonia Vaccines because they don't work. Specifically, The Committee are talking about the elderly over the age of 65, not infants and say

"JCVI has concluded that the protection the vaccine provides is poor and is not long-lasting in older people. In addition, the programme has had no discernable impact on the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in older people. The committee has advised, therefore, that there is little benefit to continuing the programme and that it should be stopped."

The way I see it is yes this is a common and potentially severe disease. The standard side effects are common 15% of the time, but it also has a much high rate of seizures than other vaccines. There is only a .001875% chance of having a severe reaction to the vaccine. If that was all that was considered it looks like not a bad idea to get the vaccine, but given that the virus tends to adapt and thus the vaccine is no longer effective. To add to that, we plan to breast feed (greatly reduces the chance of a severe case) our baby the first two years which is the highest risk time period. We are also not going to use day care. I don't like Aluminum being in the vaccine. All that put together and I don't see how it makes sense to get this vaccine. I say no to this vaccine (in our case). 

Vaccine Side Effects

As bad as many of the diseases we vaccinate for, the severe reactions to the vaccines themselves can be equally bad or even worse.

Standard Side Effects

According to page 15 of The Vaccine Book, the following side effects typically occur 5 to 10% of the time, but some vaccines it soars to up to 40% of the time. The STANDARD side effects are, but not limited to:

• Pain at the injection site
• Redness at the injection site
• Swelling at the injection site
• Fever
• Crying
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Poor appetite
• Sleepiness
• HeadacheS
• Body AcheS
• Pea-sized nodule at injection site lasting for several weeks
• Rash over the whole body or limited to one area.

Best remedies are said to be holding a cool washcloth or ice pack to the injection site or giving ibuprofen, but it doesn't always work well. You can try Arnica for swelling. Most important is some TLC.

Serious Side Effects

The Vaccine Book (pg 181) says, "All vaccines have some potentially serious side effects. Fortunately, they are extremely rare." Based on Dr. Sears estimations, the chances of having a SEVERE reaction are approximately 4 times LESS than getting a SEVERE case of the disease. The problem is that he also said there is no way of know how off this estimate is. It could be easily be a factor of 4x off which would put it at the same likelihood as getting a SEVERE case of the disease AND we don't fully understand the long term effects vaccines have on us. We do know that having a healthy immune system is critical in reducing the chance of reactions to vaccines and reducing the chances of getting a disease. Keep in mind, the human body is subjected to millions of germs a day and only a tiny faction of 1% are for the ones that have vaccines for.

My question is, should we injecting our babies on things we HOPE will help them, but could in fact HURT them. For example, the Tetanus vaccine product insert states that there is enough evidence to say the vaccines can cause the Guillain-Barre syndrome. In the 1990's the DTP was replaced with the DTaP vaccine it had such bad reactions and may have caused permanent brain injury. Amazingly, it was once thought to be a safe vaccine, but in fact was the most "reactive" vaccines ever. The point is we can't trust what the government or the product companies believe. I'm not saying they are evil or malicious, I am just saying they will be smarter tomorrow than they are today and new safety facts are bound to come to the surface.

If that doesn't make you think twice consider these SEVERE side effects with the disease you are trying to prevent given that the chances MAY be the same of getting them.

Guillain-Barre syndrome
Dr. Sears says, "The body's immune system attacks the nervous system, causing temporary weakness and some paralysis. The effects usually wears off after several weeks, but a person must receive intensive care in the meantime to support the body system that aren't working (including respiration), and this illness is potentially fatal." Tetanus vaccine may cause this reaction / disease. To be fair, this condition also strikes for no apparent reason when no vaccines were recently given.

Encephalitis and Encephalopathy
Encephalitis is where the brain experiences swelling and irritation of the brain tissue for a brief period and is considered to be harmless. It is a lesser case Encephalopathy.

Encephalopathy is the same as Encephalitis except it is for days and can lead to dysfunction and damage to the brain tissue.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
It is a gradual and chronic swelling and irritation of the brain tissue and can cause permanent damage to brain tissue as it deteriorates over many years. The MMR and all tetanus containing vaccines (according to their product inserts) may also be linked to this reaction.. Also, certain viral infections may also cause this.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
It is hard to say if vaccines cause SIDS or not. Mostly because nearly all babies have had vaccines. Statistically there appears to be no link in either direction.

Autism
It appears that vaccines don't cause Autism per say. However, it doesn't mean that vaccines don't make children with autism or children that are thought to have autism, but do noticeably autistic. The reason according to Dr. Sears (The Vaccine Book, pg 183) is that, "many autistic kids have a variety of similar health problem, including intestinal disease, autoimmune disease, allergies, brain inflammation, and metabolic defects, as well as genetic inability to detoxify their bodies of the host of chemical in food, water, and pollution that are part of our modern society. Their brains and bodies may be affected by the buildup of these environmental chemicals." It is theoretically possible that chemicals in vaccines could contribute to this and maybe even bring autism in a child to such a level that it is first observable.

Chronic Arthritis
According to The Vaccine Book, "The product insert cites three research studies that have shown a 12 to 26 percent chance that teenage and adult woman who get the MMR or the plain rubella vaccine may experience significant arthritis for days, months, or rarely, years. Infants, children, and adult men don't seem to have this risk."

The best remedies for Severe reactions is about the same as for mild reactions with the addition of maybe vitamin A and vitamin C.

Rating the "Reactivity of Vaccines"

Dr. Sears has concluded through observation and his reading that we can probably rate the vaccines reactivity as follows where the first ones are least reactive (5%) up to the most reactive (40%).

5%

• HIB
• Polio
• DTaP
• Pc
• Chickenpox
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis A
• MMR
• Meningococcal
• Flu

40%

Minimize your risk

The goal whether you vaccinate or not is to keep the body as healthy as possible so that it can fight of disease and undesired reactions. Here is some advice Dr. Sears on pg 189 of The Vaccine Book suggests:

Breastfeed
One year, but two years is better.

Minimize sugar and junk food.
Sugar weakens the immune system. Just as a doctor if the week after Halloween is their busiest week. Be particularly careful several weeks before a vaccination.

Minimize other chemical exposures
Eat organic, non-gmo foods. This includes baby good and formula. Check the labels, most mainstream products are not organic and gmo free.

Use Omega-3 oil supplements
Most children a deficient in omega-3 fats mainly because they don't eat enough fish and eggs. Luckily breast milk does contain lots of omega-3s. Watch for mercury free supplements. Can supplement toddlers over age one.

Probiotics
They play a critical role in regulating both our intestinal immune system and our internal immune system. They are particularly important if antibiotics are used since they kill all bacteria including the good stuff such as acidophilus. Probiotics can be used after two months of age.

Vitamin A
Some researchers believe it can play a role in protecting the brain from vaccine side effects. Even infants can be given this supplement, but be careful of overdosing as it can be toxic. I suggest asking your pediatrician how much is ok. A baby multi-vitamin in the form of drops may be a good way to get the needed vitamins.

Vitamin C
This antioxidant vitamin can help boost the immune system and may decrease vaccine side effects. The amount in a multi-vitamin is usually not enough. Ask your pediatrician for suggests.

 Conclusion

There are many more side effects than I have listed here. It is hard to tell how much less risky a reaction is to a vaccine verses the disease itself. I don't have any easy answers. It would be nice if there were concrete stats on this stuff, but there just simply isn't. Our best bet is to stay health through good life choices. For me, I will have to evaluate each disease and vaccine combination separately because the risk do vary greatly from vaccine to vaccine and disease to disease. My heart and brain still find it difficult to purposely inject my baby with something that will not do her good, but has a likelihood of causing harm to her. The hope is that it will save her from a terrible disease someday and I will never be the wiser of it.

Stats on Diseases and Vaccines and when to vaccinate

The sad truth is that there is not hard core statistics on vaccines or the diseases so that you can easily make a decision on whether the risks / benefit ratio for a particular vaccine or even all vaccines in general because the reporting mechanism is subjective. May minor reactions to vaccines go unreported because they are assumed to be caused by something else or because psychologically doctors subcontiously (like all humans) see things through the filters of the thing they believe most. Consider that most doctors are in favor of vaccines. This means that when presented a symptom that could be from a reaction to a vaccine or something else they will likely say it was from something else and not report it. Why, because it supports their beliefs. I don't fault them, it is human nature, but it is something to consider. The same thing would be true for parents against vaccines. They would tend to lean the other way and blame more things on a reaction to a vaccination.

The question then comes for long term effects that may not be noticed and cannot be measured easily. Considering this, the risk of vaccines could actually be higher than is thought. On the other hand it may not, so you have to decide which side makes more sense. The problem that goes along with this is that vaccines do have the same testing requirements that drugs do. They don't have to go through long term testing or even a few years. There seems to be no way to easily do the testing than to compare against previous batches of vaccines and observe through this subjective system described above. To me, it makes more sense to error on the side of caution and history. History has taught me that we don't understand the harmful effects of things we produce until it is too late and the damage is already done. The human body is no exception to this; we hardly understand how it works and reacts to everything.

Dr. Sear's stats that he come up with (some where guesstimates because hard numbers were not available). There are several ways that he looked at the stats. The important thing to realize is there is a clear line between diseases that are likely before age 2 and those that are after. Risks do vary greatly between diseases and vaccines. However, believe it or not, the data available is not really by vaccine or disease because many of the vaccines are combo shots and can't be traced because of that. But we can generalize the risk

Combines / copied from The Vaccine Book on pages 170 and 176. The first number is the number of severe cases from the disease itself for children 12 and under. The second number is for the general population (including children 12 and under).

Chances of getting a disease

• HIB: 25 / 25 hospitalizations
• Pc: 10,000 (very approximate) / 30,000 hospitalizations
• Diptheria: 5 / 5 hospitalizations (yearly max, some years are 0)
• Tetanus: 5 / 100 hospitalizations
• Pertusis: 1500 (very approximate) / 1500 (very approximate)
• Hepatitis B: 130 (all severe) / 7500 cases
• Rotovirus: 50,000 hospitalizations (approximate) / 50,0000 (approximate)
• Polio: 0 / 0
• Measles: close to 0 / close to 0
• Mumps: 10 (approximate) / 20 hospitalizations (during a recent outbreak)
• Rubella: 3 babies for with defects / 3
• Chickenpox: 200 (approximate) / 1000 (approximate) hospitalizations
• Hepatitis A: 20 (approximate)  / 200 (approximate) hospitalizations
• Flu: 20,000 (approximate) / 100,000 (approximate) hospitalizations
• Meningococcal disease: 2,750 hospitalizations / 3000 cases
• HPV: 0 / 20,000 new cases of cervical cancer each year and (very approximate) number of problematic genital wart cases each year.

As you can see many of these diseases are not tracked exactly and Dr. Sears had to guesstimate many of the numbers. Nonetheless, you can see that some diseases like Polio and Measles (almost) don't exist in the US anymore. Rubella doesn't really exist anymore either. Other diseases such as HPV are not a risk for children until they are sexually active. Some like the HIB, Pertusis, Rotovirus and Diptheria, and Meningococcal disease (for the most part)  are common in children only.

So, you may want to take your childs age into account when decided whether to get a particular vaccination or not. Keep in mind the Rotovirus vaccination can't be started after 15 weeks since its effects are unknown with those parameters.

Some stats from the The Vaccine Book pages 176 and 177.

Reaction Stats

• The risk of a reaction (mild and severe) from a single vaccine seems to be about 1 in 1000 (.1% of a reaction or 99.9% of no reaction)
• The risk that any one child will suffer a SEVERE reaction over the ENTIRE 12 year vaccine schedule is about 1 in 2600 (.0385% or 99.961% of no reaction)

Disease Stats

• The risk of any one person (child and adult) suffering a SEVERE case of a vaccine preventable disease each year in our entire population is about 1 in 1500. (.0667% or 99.933% of no disease or a mild case of the disease)
• The risk of a child (no adults) having a SEVERE case of a vaccine-preventable disease is about 1 in 600 (.1667% or 99.833% of not getting a disease or getting a mild case of it.) each year for all childhood diseases grouped together. This risk varies widely depending on the disease. Some disease risks are close to 0. Infant diseases are more risky than childhood ones.

For comparison of risk, check out these risks in life that we accept.

• Dying from Prostate Cancer (Male): 2.75%
• Dying from Testicular Cancel (Male): .02% (This is the only one that is even close to these other stats we are concerned in this post)
• Dying from being struck by lightenting: .000792%
• Dying from falls: .294
• Dying in a car incident: .92%

 Dr. Sears assumes that the risk of a SEVERE reaction is the same regardless of the number of vaccines you get at the same time. In particular, he assumes either one shot at a time, but then revises it to say most people get 3 at a time. However, this study shows that there is a linear relationship between risk of SEVERE reaction and the number of shots given at the same time. This means the risk is likely MUCH higher when getting combo shots at one time. My thought is to spread it out as much as possible to give the body a chance to process the toxic elements in these vaccines. Using Dr. Sears alternate vaccination schedule is a good start. If you want to fully vaccinate this schedule should at least minimize the risks. He does also have a selective schedule (see page 223 of The Vaccine Book) that he considers the minimum. Personally, I want to be more selective on what vaccines will be given so I will likely be coming up with my own schedule that keeps the same considerations in mind.

Risk and Time
Most of the diseases have times where the risk is substantially higher for an age group. The age of two is one of those lines. Sometimes this is just because the infant body can't protect itself well enough during this age. It does not mean that the disease only affects that age group, but in some cases that is the case.

Diseases that are of concern below or at age 2

• HIB
• Pc
• Pertussis
• Rotavirus
• Flu
• Meningococcal disease

Diseases that are of concern after age 2

• Hepatitis B
• Chickenpox
• Tetanus
• Diptheria
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rebella
• Hepatitis A
• Polio
• HPV

Other diseases the United States does NOT vaccinate for
Yellow Fever

Why? I assume because it is not in our country. Then why vaccinate for diseases such as polio that have no cases in our country. It seems the same logic should be applied to both diseases. Yellow Fever was in the US at one time. Maybe it is because it had to continually be imported in, but were would polio come from if not imported. I give up. Anyone?

 I still find the major problem with all these vaccines to be that one vaccines is for babies of all sizes, yet that is not how toxicity works. The larger the baby, child, or person, the less toxic a substance will be because it is deluted more and it is more likely the body will be able to deal with it. My baby is in the 5th perceptile, so I all vaccines have too much nastiness to them for her size. The problem is that most of the diseases are the highest risk before age 2. That is the youngest age I would think I would want to subject her body to toxins of this toxic level.

My likely choices:
This makes the decision very difficult. My preference is to reduce the bad stuff put in her body until she is of sufficient weight an can handle the toxins better. So, diseases (Measles, Polio, Rubella) that are low risk of getting because they don't exist in the country anymore, I'll probably skip because the health benefit for her is not there and the risk is too high. Rotavirus is easy for me as well since we are past the 15 week mark and thus cannot get the vaccine even if we wanted tox. The rest are less clear and I'll evaluate on an individual disease / vaccine basis.



 

Rotavirus Vaccine

The Vaccine Book says, "Rotavirus is an intestinal virus that causes vomitting and diarrhea. An infant stays contagious for two to three weeks after symptoms begin. It is transmitted by contact with the stools or saliva of an infected person. Unfortunately it is restistant to common disinfectants and antibacterial hand soaps. It takes a strong antiseptic or alcohol solution to kill the germ.This makes it easily spread in day-care, where an adult changes numerous diapers, and kids share toys and food... Rotavirus is indistinguishable from the common stomach flu in the initial stages of the illness (fever, vomiting, and diarrhea). A clue that a baby may have rotavirus is that the diarrhea lasts more than just a few days (it can last for a few weeks in some cases) and is more frequent, watery, and foul smelling than diarrhea caused by stomach flu."

To paraphrase, it is VERY common and Dr. Sears says it is not a matter of if a child will get it, but when during the first few years of life. Unfortunately, it is not treatable, but fortunately, it is not that bad either. That is the bad news. True up to twelve diarrhea diapers a day for up to three weeks would not be pleasant in any regard, but that also isn't life threatening, and it builds full or partial immunity for future cases. Consider that if you breastfeed your baby then they will likely have a milder case and they have less change of contracting it if you don't use day care. If you match those two criteria you may decide to skip this vaccine, but that is up to you. :)

The good news is that by not vaccinating you won't have the risk of these side effects:

1. Seizures that include high fever. The risk of this is migher than with most vaccines (1 in 1,300)
2. Intussusception: An intestinal complication in which part of the intestine "telescopes" into itself, creating serious and life-threatening blockage.

Personally, I will be skipping this vaccine because the two month mark has been passed, and side effects seem worse than the disease.

Animal and Human Tissues in Vaccines

The problem with having animal and human tissues in vaccines is really about contamination. For example in the past (1955 and 1963) kidney cells from a monkey that had the SV-40 virus in was used to produce the Polio vaccine. It is estimated that 30 million people where injected with this virus. This virus may be linked to cancer. After statistical analysis, it was determined that no more people got cancer that had been injected with the virus that the general population. We didn't find out about the SV-40 virus until decades later. Now tissues are checked for viruses. The problem is that we have to know what we are looking for before we can identify it. The fear is that we won't know about some other virus in tissues used to make current vaccines until it is too late to do anything about it (again).

My thought is yes, there is a real possibility that our current vaccines are contaminated also. However, the hope is that it isn't. It is kind of like eating sushi, you hope you don't have a tainted batch, but yet people each sushi all the time and hope everything will be okay. Nothing is a guarantee in this world, I see this as an acceptable risk.

Consider that among other parts of animals and humans we use Chicken embryos, chicken kidney cells, and chicken eggs. My first thought is why doesn't the body think think that the chicken and eggs we eat are a virus? I suspect if the body worked that way, we would see more chicken and egg allergies. I am dismissing this idea as not logical, but I am curious why not.

It is also important to know that not all vaccines use animal or human tissues. For example, according to Dr. Sears' book (The Vaccine Book, Pg 194), the following vaccines do NOT use animal or human tissues:

• HIB
• Pc
• Hepatitis B
• Meningococcal
• HPV
• DTaP (Daptacel brand)
• Tdap (Adacel brand)

However, the following vaccines DO use animal or human tissues:

• MMR
• Chickenpox
• Polio
• Rotovirus
• Flu
• Hepatitis A
• DTaP (Infranix and Tripedia brands)
• Tetanus and diphtheria vaccines
• Tdap (Boostrix brand)

You can read potential reason some may not want to use the vaccines that have animal or human parts and what particular tissues in what vaccines at  http://www.vaccine-tlc.org/human.html. I personally didn't find too much to convince me that the tissues are a bad things other than using aborted fetus tissue is not ethical and that by vaccinating I would be supporting it. Unfortunately, the benefits out weigh the negatives I think.

I think I heard that when animal tissues in vaccines an injected into humans it actually makes humans susceptible to animal only diseases (that without the vaccination, we would not be able to contract). I can't find anything that confirms or denies that. I wish I could find the video or article. If anyone know anything about this, please leave a comment and reference that I can go to. Thanks!

Hep A

Hep A

What is it?

It is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), a RNA virus, usually spread by the fecal-oral route; transmitted person-to-person by ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infectious person.[1] HAV infection produces a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection or chronic liver disease.[1]

Transmission

The virus spreads by the fecal-oral route and infections often occur in conditions of poor sanitation and overcrowding. Hepatitis A can be transmitted by the parenteral route but very rarely by blood and blood products.

More specifically:

• Travelers to countries with high or intermediate endemicity of HAV infection
• Men who have sex with men
• Users of injection and non-injection illegal drugs
• Persons with clotting factor disorders
• Persons working with nonhuman primates susceptible to HAV infection

Risk of contracting

For the US, Europe, and many other industrialized countries, it is primarily contracted when travelling to areas of poor hygiene standards.[1] 10–15% of patients might experience a relapse of symptoms during the 6 months after acute illness. Acute liver failure from Hepatitis A is rare (overall case-fatality rate: 0.5%). The risk for symptomatic infection is directly related to age, with more than 80% of adults having symptoms compatible with acute viral hepatitis and the majority of children having either asymptomatic or unrecognized infection. Antibody produced in response to HAV infection persists for life and confers protection against reinfection. The disease can be prevented by vaccination, and hepatitis A vaccines have been proven effective in controlling outbreaks worldwide.

Typical Symptoms

Hepatitis A infection causes no clinical signs and symptoms in over 90% of infected children and since the infection confers lifelong immunity.[1]

Worst Symptoms

Early symptoms of hepatitis A infection can be mistaken for influenza, but some sufferers, especially children, exhibit no symptoms at all. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 6 weeks (the incubation period) after the initial infection.

Symptoms usually last less than 2 months, although some people can be ill for as long as 6 months:^[8]

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Nausea
• Appetite loss
• Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes due to hyperbillirubinemia
• Bile is removed from blood stream and excreted in urine, giving it a dark amber colour
• Clay-colored feces
• Abdominal pain
• Dark Urine
• Joint pain

Vaccination

There are two types of vaccines: one containing inactivated hepatitis A virus, and another containing a live but attenuated virus.^[20] Both provide active immunity against a future infection. The vaccine protects against HAV in more than 95% of cases for longer than 25 years.^[21] In the USA the vaccine was first phased in 1996 for children in high-risk areas, and in 1999 it was spread to areas with elevating levels of infection.^[22]

The vaccine is given by injection. An initial dose provides protection starting two to four weeks after vaccination; the second booster dose, given six to twelve months later, provides protection for over twenty years.^[22] A recent review by an expert panel, which evaluated the projected duration of immunity from vaccination, concluded that protective levels of antibody to HAV could be present for at least 25 years in adults and at least 14–20 years in children.

Available for people 12 months and older.

Schedule:

2 shots: 0, 6-12 (or 18 depending on vaccine used) months

Treatment:

No specific treatment exists for hepatitis A. Your body will clear the hepatitis A virus on its own. In most cases of hepatitis A, the liver heals completely in a month or two with no lasting damage.

References:

·         Wikipedia

·         CDC

·         Mayo Clinic

Conclusion:

NO, I will not vaccinate for Hep A because I will not be travelling to suspect countries anytime soon (I will re-evaluate if we do), so risk of exposure is very low. If by chance I got the virus, I don’t think the effects sound that bad and the body clears it up on its own.