Guest guest Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16687015 & method=full & siteid=94762 & h eadline=a-jab-too-far---name_page.html 10 February 2006 A JAB TOO FAR? AS EVEN MORE VACCINATIONS ARE PLANNED FOR KIDS, HAVE WE GONE.. By Kennedy IT'S a scene that's unbearable for both parents and children alike - when a nurse moves a menacing needle towards their child's arm. But by April, this toecurling scene will be repeated in doctors' surgeries TEN times before a child is two, as a further four inoculations will be added to the immunity programme. The current required 21 doses will be increased with an extra four pneumococcal vaccines - against meningitis, blood poisoning and pneumonia - and a booster against Hib, an infection that can cause bacterial meningitis. The government says these jabs are vital as they will keep children safe. However, questions have been raised as to how effective these inoculations are, and whether they are actually harmful to a child's health. This, in addition to parents' existing concerns over the safety of the current MMR jab - after all many parents born in the 80s only had five inoculations themselves. Some experts believe that vaccines are contributing to the steep rise in immune-related disorders in very young children. GP and child vaccination expert Dr Halvorsen says: " I expressed my concern about the new pneumococcal vaccines a year ago and I haven't changed my mind. The diseases it prevents - meningitis, pneumonia and blood poisoning - are serious but rare. " Only 20 children under five die from pneumococcal disease every year in the UK. A tragedy for the families affected, but a tiny portion of all three million children in this age group. " The new vaccine will not even prevent all of these deaths as it protects only two out of three children. " There is also an extra Hib jab to be given in a combined injection that has not, to the best of my knowledge, been used before. The government may be launching a vaccine with inadequate safety tests, as it did when the meningitis C vaccine was first introduced in 1999. " I am concerned it will contribute to the rise of immune-related disorders - such as diabetes and asthma - in very young children. The addition of four extra vaccines before 15 months may only make matters worse. As a doctor I want to protect children from serious disease but first and foremost my duty is to do no harm. " The benefit-risk balance is becoming precarious. " For every life saved with the introduction of an extra vaccine into the increasingly congested immunisation schedule, there may be a growing cost to our children in future disease and suffering. " Announcing the new inoculation plans, chief medical officer Sir Liam son said the new vaccine programme would in fact help ease parents' fears about their children contracting meningitis. Sir Liam said: " Pneumococcal infection can cause serious illness, such as meningitis and pneumonia as well as being one of the most common bacterial causes of ear infections. " The under twos are a particular risk group. The new vaccine will save lives and prevent hundreds more cases of serious illness and disability in both the young and old as well as reducing the need for medical care. " His views are backed by the fact the increased vaccination programme has already proved successful in the US, with cases of pneumococcal disease in young children having fallen by 94 per cent. Meningitis charities have also welcomed the new programme. Philip Kirby, Chief Executive of the Meningitis Trust said: " Vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis and we welcome this announcement as it will help save lives. " Britain already has one of the highest immunisation rates in Europe, with babies currently receiving 21 vaccines against nine different diseases between the ages of two months and 15 months. In contrast, in Sweden babies under 15 months only receive 16 vaccinations, while in Denmark they are given 18. Sir Liam said the idea that children are being overloaded with jabs is a myth. He said: " Science shows a baby's immune system can cope with thousands of vaccines. Children that are given vaccines tend to grow up to be more healthy. " 1980 vaccines UP TO AGE OF TWO: Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping cough Polio Measles 2006 vaccines 2 MONTHS Five-in-one jab protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib (an infection causing bacterial meningitis). Pneumococcal vaccine 3 MONTHS Five-in-one jab Meningitis C vaccine 4 MONTHS Five-in-one jab Meningitis C vaccine Pneumococcal vaccine 1 YEAR Combined Hib/meningitis C vaccine 13 MONTHS MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) Pneumococcal vaccine victoria.kennedy@... SCARE STORIES THAT TERRIFY PARENTS READING scaremongering headlines about the new childhood vaccination scheme, it's hard not to believe that some other newspapers have it in for our children. Vaccinations are a proven power for good and without them children are vulnerable to diseases that maim and kill, with more than a million deaths a year worldwide. Irresponsible headlines affect us all, because they frighten parents so badly they stop believing in vaccination. If vaccination rates fall below 75 per cent, epidemics become reality and several London boroughs already have dangerously low rates. The argument that multiple vaccinations somehow overtax a baby's immune system couldn't be more wrong. Having all the routine jabs at the same time is less challenging to a baby's immune system than a sore throat. I can also reassure parents who feel it is unsafe to give vaccines all in one go. Scientific trials show vaccines cannot interact in a way that harms children. Nor do vaccines overload the immune system. They work by arousing a response from the immune system so your baby can fight off infection. A baby's immune system thrives on this - it's designed to respond with protective antibodies. Scientists believe babies could have 10,000 shots and their immune systems would still not be overloaded. If this issue wasn't so serious it would be a joke. So let's support anxious parents with sensible rather than inflammatory debate. -------------------------------------------------------- Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK $$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account vaccineinfo@... voicemail US 530-740-0561 (go to http://www.paypal.com) or by mail Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/homeo.htm ANY INFO OBTAINED HERE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION TO VACCINATE IS YOURS AND YOURS ALONE. ****** " Just look at us. Everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information and religions destroy spirituality " .... 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