🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <45kbat$17d9@bigblue.oit.unc.edu>,
a. phillips <a.phillips5@genie.geis.com> wrote:
>
>..That the FDA records about 11,000 adverse reactions to vaccines each 
>year, including more than 112 deaths--and that FDA statements and NVIC 
>(National Vaccine Information Center) reports confirm that only about 10 
>- 15% of deaths and disabilities from vaccines are reported, in spite of 
>doctors' legal obligation to do so--in other words, the total annual 
>vaccine related deaths occuring is probably closer to 700 - 1,000?
>
>..and that the majority of the adverse events are attributed to the 
>pertussis vaccine, yet when compared to the Centers for Disease Control's 
>report of only 11 deaths per year from pertussis (1992-94, which includes 
>the fall 1993 outbreaks), that the vaccine is therefore somewhere between 
>10 and 100 times more deadly than the disease?

Sorry to quote the whole of this, but I wanted to post a couple facts in
response to it.  First, even if we accept that there are 700 - 1000 vaccine
related deaths (but see below about that) that *still* doesn't make the
vaccine worse than the disease: The historical *low* in deaths in the USA
due to pertussis (whooping cough) alone was over 1000 (in 1976: ref. [2]). 
Furthermore, we note that pertussis mortaility is underreported (ref [1])
so the actual figure is worse than that. 

So if we accept philips' worst case scenario, the conclusion is still
wrong.  But there's more than that: The reason pertussis deaths are as low
as it is, is because of the vaccine.  Before the vaccine was introduced in
the mid 1940s, deaths were much higher - about 9000 people died in 1923;
there were about 260,000 cases in 1934 (again from ref. [2]). 

And there's yet another flaw in philips' post.  Pertussis vaccine is
actually not believed to be the cause of most of the so-called cases of
vaccine-induced damage: Ref [4] says that "epidemiologic studies appear to
have largely, if not completely, absolved pertussis vaccine of
responsibility for inducing death or permanent neurologic disability ... " 

I'm not going to preach.  Do the research yourself, and make your own 
decisions.  Don't simply accept philips' word.

No association with any vaccine companies.  I just don't like the idea of
children suffocating in their own phlegm, coughing until they're blue, or
dying of encephalopathy.  Call me sentimental. 

Ian 
--
Ian York   (york@mbcrr.harvard.edu)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston MA 02115
Phone (617)-632-3921     Fax  (617)-632-2627

-------------------------references----------------------------

[1]  Cherry JD.
  Acellular pertussis vaccines--a solution to the pertussis problem.
  Journal of Infectious Diseases.  168(1):21-4, 1993 Jul.
Abstract
  Available data relating to pertussis and pertussis immunization are
  frequently overlooked or misinterpreted. Mortality due to pertussis is
  underreported. Most whole cell pertussis vaccines are effective; there is
  no evidence that pertussis vaccines cause brain damage. Moreover,
  acellular pertussis vaccines have been used successfully in Japan since
  1981. Third-generation, genetically derived acellular pertussis vaccines
  have been developed, but knowledge of antigens and concentrations required
  has not kept pace with vaccine technology. There is substantial evidence
  that pertussis is not a single lymphocytosis-promoting factor (LPF) toxin
  disease. Pertussis vaccine efficacy studies suggest that monocomponent LPF
  toxoid or biocomponent LPF toxoid/filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) vaccines
  are not as effective as vaccines that contain pertactin and fimbrial
  antigens as well as LPF toxoid and FHA. Future programs with
  multicomponent acellular vaccines and universal childhood immunization
  followed by booster doses in adults will effectively curtail disease
  incidence and the circulation of Bordetella pertussis. [References: 41]

[2]  Pertussis--United States, January 1992-June 1995.
    MMWR - Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.  44(28):525-9, 1995
Abstract:
 Pertussis was a major cause of morbidity and mortality among infants and
children in the United States during the prevaccine era (i.e., before the
mid-1940s). Since pertussis became a nationally reportable disease in
1922, the highest number of pertussis cases (approximately 260,000) was
reported in 1934; the highest number of pertussis-related deaths
(approximately 9000) occurred in 1923. Following the licensure of
whole-cell pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids
(DTP) in 1949 and the widespread use of DTP among infants and children,
the incidence of reported pertussis declined to a historical low of 1010
cases in 1976 (Figure 1). However, since the early 1980s, reported
pertussis incidence has increased cyclically with peaks occurring in 1983,
1986, 1990, and 1993 (1-3). This report summarizes national surveillance
data for pertussis from January 1992 through June 1995 from CDC's National
Public Health Surveillance System (NPHSS) and Supplementary Pertussis
Surveillance System (SPSS) and assesses the effectiveness of pertussis
vaccination in the United States during this period using vaccination
coverage data from CDC's National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). 

[3]   Edwards KM.
  Acellular pertussis vaccines--a solution to the pertussis problem?.
  Journal of Infectious Diseases.  168(1):15-20, 1993 Jul.
Abstract
  The expanded knowledge of the components of Bordetella pertussis has led
  to the production of new vaccines consisting of one or more components of
  the organism. The vaccines have been found to be safe and immunogenic in
  infants and children. Early efficacy studies failed to determine what
  component of the vaccine and what level of antibody were needed for
  protection; additional studies with many more vaccines are currently in
  progress. The role of adults as reservoirs of B. pertussis infections and
  as victims of symptomatic disease has also been appreciated. Component
  vaccines have been found to be safe and immunogenic in adults. There is
  reason to hope that within the next several years the information derived
  from ongoing and planned studies will support the general use of component
  acellular pertussis vaccines for the routine immunization of adults and
  children alike. [References: 54]

[4]  Hodder SL.  Mortimer EA Jr.
  Epidemiology of pertussis and reactions to pertussis vaccine. 
  Epidemiologic Reviews.  14:243-67, 1992.
Abstract
  It remains clear that pertussis is a dangerous infectious disease that is
  well-controlled in industrialized countries by widespread immunization. In
  the developing world, it remains a source of high morbidity and mortality
  because of previously inadequate immunization programs. However, because
  of the intense efforts of the World Health Organization's Expanded
  Programme on Immunization, the effects of pertussis have already been
  ameliorated and show promise of being within a decade of approximating the
  situation in the developed world. Pertussis can be controlled only by
  immunization; other measures such as antimicrobial therapy offer
  negligible benefit. A problem that has been addressed in recent years is
  the excessive reactivity of whole-cell pertussis vaccine, which
  undoubtedly includes components of the organism that are irrelevant to the
  induction of immunity and are excessively reactive. Although epidemiologic
  studies appear to have largely, if not completely, absolved pertussis
  vaccine of responsibility for inducing death or permanent neurologic
  disability, a less reactive vaccine is highly desirable, not only to
  promote acceptance of a full course of immunization for the world's
  children but also for simple humanitarian reasons. Additionally, it has
  become evident that, because of waning immunity, pertussis increasingly
  occurs in adults. A less reactive vaccine would offer opportunity for
  reinforcement of immunity beyond childhood. The development of better,
  though as yet incomplete, understanding of the biology of Bordetella
  pertussis and its relation to humanity offers the opportunity for the
  production of less reactive vaccines free of irrelevant components.
  Acellular pertussis vaccines have been used exclusively in Japan for more
  than 10 years, and one such preparation, combined with diphtheria and
  tetanus toxoids, was licensed in the United States in late 1991 for use as
  the fourth and fifth doses of DTP, given at 15 months and prior to school
  entry. Field trials of this and other acellular DTP preparations are
  currently under way to determine their clinical efficacy in infants. It is
  probable that, within a very few years, whole-cell pertussis vaccine will
  be replaced by these newer preparations and that, in addition, the
  acellular product will be combined with other antigens, such as
  Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine. [References: 122]