[NVIC] UK Babies to be given 25 vaccinations in a year

[Guest guest]

E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER

Vienna, Virginia http://www.nvic.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

#8122

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

" Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982. "

============================================================================

==============

BL Fisher Note:

Speaking of going too far, the U.S. recommendations from the CDC currently

are set at 54 doses of 14 vaccines for all children by age 12. This, as the

percentage of US children diagnosed as chronically ill or developmentally

delayed approaches 20 percent and the nation's price tag to treat chronic

brain and immune system disorders for all age groups surpasses $425 billion

annually. The potentially negative impact that repeated use of multiple

vaccines has on individual and public health deserves increased scientific

scrutiny.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16687015 & method=full & siteid=94762 & h

eadline=a-jab-too-far---name_page.html

Mirror,UK

10 February 2006

A JAB TOO FAR?

AS EVEN MORE VACCINATIONS ARE PLANNED FOR KIDS, HAVE WE GONE TOO FAR..

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.

=============================================

News@... is a free service of the National Vaccine Information

Center and is supported through membership donations. Learn more about

vaccines, diseases and how to protect your informed consent rights

http://www.nvic.org

Become a member and support NVIC's work

https://www.nvic.org/making%20cash%20donations.htm

To sign up for a free e-mail subscription http://www.nvic.org/emaillist.htm