Details on how vaccines may be linked to chronic illness

[Guest guest]

Many of you have asked for books or documentation that you can show family

members or your physician that provide evidence of the link between vaccines and

chronic illness (autism, allergies, ADHD, etc.). I am including in this message

an excerpt from my new book on the epidemic of chronic illness in American

children (www.acompromisedgeneration.com). My book provides scientific

documentation of the potential dangers of vaccination in particular children

(details are explained in earlier chapters). The book is titled: A Compromised

Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America's Children. Read the

excerpt below and feel free to contact me with any questions. (I'm also happy

to email a longer excerpt if you contact me directly).

Just remember that this whole debate about whether or not we should vaccinate

our children is very nuanced and very complicated--it is critically important to

have the facts straight, or else we risk battling underinformed public health

authorities for ever.

Wishing Good Health for all the Children,

Beth Lambert

Author, A Compromised Generation

www.acompromisedgeneration.com

www.epidemicanswers.org

EXCERPT below:

More than Just Mercury: Evidence Indicating that Vaccinations May Play a Role

in Chronic Childhood Illnesses

Many parents claim that their child's routine vaccines were in some way

responsible for their child's chronic illness or disability. Their observations

and experiences watching their children respond adversely to vaccines should be

taken into consideration. These experiences could be quite helpful in guiding

scientists to better understand the precise mechanisms of multiple vaccinations

in individual children (with particular genetic polymorphisms/variations, for

example).

Parents argue that there is a great need for more research on the long-term

immunological consequences of vaccines in children. But, is there any

scientific reason to believe that vaccination might be adversely affecting

children's immune systems? A review of vaccine history and current scientific

literature reveals a tremendous amount of evidence linking vaccination to

immunological dysregulation in vaccinees. There is a mountain of evidence

demonstrating that some vaccines cause autoimmunity, allergic disease,

encephalitis (swelling of the brain), mental retardation, behavioral disorders,

inflammatory conditions and many other adverse events. In fact, most early

(experimental) versions of vaccines had to conquer these sorts of adverse events

before they could be licensed for use in the public. It is not such a far

stretch of the imagination, therefore, to believe that today's vaccines might

cause immune dysregulation or contribute in some way to the autoimmunity or

immunological dysfunction that is arguably at the epicenter of today's chronic

illnesses in children.

The following is a brief historical catalogue of ways in which vaccines have

been linked directly to degenerative human health conditions, autoimmune

diseases or other serious adverse events.

• Animal Tissues and Autoimmunity. Researchers by the names of Maurice Brodie

and Kolmer created two separate polio vaccines in the 1930s that were

tested on 20,000 children throughout the country. Kolmer's vaccine killed nine

children (and paralyzed more) and Brodie's vaccine caused allergic encephalitis,

which is an acute inflammation of the brain that occurs when T-cells are

sensitized to attack myelin components (an autoimmune reaction against brain

tissue causing brain damage). Part of the reason this happened is because the

researchers used monkey brains to " grow " the viruses that would then be injected

into human subjects. Researchers subsequently discovered that viruses grown in

animal brains can cause the human immune system to attack its own brain tissues

(autoimmunity to brain). This was found to be the case in rabies vaccines

grown in rabbit brains, and other vaccines grown in mice brains (including a

West Nile virus vaccine).

Despite these findings, mouse brains are still used in the production of

commercially available vaccines such as the Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Just

recently, Japan suspended routine immunization with the Japanese encephalitis

(JE) vaccine due to a number of serious vaccine-induced adverse events,

including a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (brain inflammation

leading to brain damage). Researchers speculate that the mouse brain protein in

the vaccine may cause the human immune system to attack its own brain tissues.

Seven cases of this same illness (vaccine-induced brain damage) were documented

in the 1990s.

The polio virus in the IPV polio vaccine used today is grown in monkey kidneys

and calf blood serum. Other animal tissues and cells are also involved in the

manufacturing of vaccines. Some vaccines contain glycerol, derived from cow

fat, and gelatin and amino acids derived from cow bones. In addition, " the

growth medium for viruses and other microorganisms may require cow skeletal

muscle, enzymes and blood. " Residual animal tissues and cells in vaccines have

been found to cause autoimmunity to human brain tissue in vaccinees. This is

fairly well-established science. New science tells us that autoantibodies to

brain (and other) tissues have been found in children with autism. The question

remains, could any of our childhood vaccines be, in some way, contributing to

this type of autoimmunity?

• Guillain Barré Syndrome and the (first) Swine Flu Affair. In 1976, reports

that a virulent form of a swine flu was emerging in the United States (believed

to be similar to the influenza virus that killed millions of people in 1918)

resulted in the rapid vaccination of 40 million Americans against this virus.

Shortly after the vaccination program began, reports of deaths and other adverse

events associated with the vaccine began to pile up at the CDC. According to

the CDC, there were 181 deaths reported following swine flu vaccination (142 of

which occurred within 48 hours of immunization). A direct link between the

vaccine and the deaths has not been established, yet it is possible that the

vaccine in some way precipitated a fatal event in some of the vaccinees. Over

500 people developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a direct result of the

vaccine, and 25 people subsequently died from GBS. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a

debilitating, and sometimes deadly, autoimmune disease that affects the

peripheral nervous system.

There were 4000 injury claims, $1.3 billion in compensation was requested, and

the federal government eventually paid out approximately $100 million to flu

shot recipients. The CDC was so concerned about the relationship between the

swine flu vaccine and GBS that they completely halted the vaccination program in

December—before flu season was even in full swing. Ironically, the swine flu

never materialized, which is why this is often referred to as the " Swine Flu

Affair " or the " Swine Flu Fiasco. " " Epidemiologists wondered if the cause of so

many people developing GBS after getting the swine flu vaccine might have been a

residual protein taken from the myelin of embryonic chicks [egg protein] that

existed in the vaccine through all its manufacturing stages " The association

between GBS and the swine flu vaccine may seem like a fluke or one of those

typical " bumps " in the history of vaccination, however, in later years (1992,

1993 and 1994), a number of Americans would develop GBS after receiving their

annual influenza vaccine. There may be something about how the influenza

vaccine is manufactured that increases the risk of an individual developing an

autoimmune disease like GBS. Two scientists, Harley and Judith , have

shown that " molecular mimicry between a protein in a virus and a protein in the

body could lead to autoimmune disease. " In other words, it is scientifically

plausible that the certain proteins (virus or animal) found in vaccines can

cause autoimmunity in vaccine recipients. Most recently, the HPV (human

papilloma virus) vaccine known as Gardasil has been implicated in the

development of GBS in a number of vaccinees. At least 31 girls since 2006

reported the development of Guillain Barré Syndrome after receiving the Gardasil

vaccine.

• Strep Vaccine and Autoimmunity. In the 1960s, efforts to develop a vaccine for

group A streptococcus (which causes strep throat) were disastrous, as the

developed vaccine caused innoculees to generate antibodies against their own

tissues including their brains and heart, another case of vaccine-induced

autoimmunity. Five people died during the trials of this vaccine, and further

plans for development were scrapped.

• Current Scientific Research Linking Immune Dysregulation and Vaccination.

There is diverse body of research that examines how vaccines may contribute to

immune dysregulation. In examining this literature, it is important to remember

that vaccines are unlikely to be the sole-causative agent of immune

dysregulation in children. They may be one part of the " perfect storm "

(including genetics, environmental toxins and gut dysbiosis) that is

contributing to the epidemic of immune dysregulation. Below is a brief overview

of some of the more intriguing findings regarding vaccination and immune

dysregulation:

o Over the last two decades, the medical literature has become littered with

studies documenting cases of autoimmune diseases triggered by vaccination. In

2000, Drs. Yehuda Schoenfeld, and Anabel Aharon-Maor of Tel Aviv University

performed a review of the medical literature documenting vaccine-induced

autoimmunity. They found over 138 cases of vaccine-induced autoimmune disorders

that were documented in peer-reviewed literature (as opposed to simply reported

to VAERS or similar). An example of a typical case of vaccine-induced

autoimmune disease includes a case documented by researchers in 2008, at the Sao

o University School of Medicine in Brazil, where they described a

12-year-old girl who developed a deadly neurological autoimmune response

following her third dose of Hepatitis B vaccine. The young girl (who was taking

no drugs and who had no relevant previous medical history) developed a seizure

attack and unconsciousness after vaccination. An autopsy " revealed cerebral

edema with congestion and herniation and diffuse interstitial type pneumonitis. "

o Multiple studies have demonstrated that ethylmercury (thimerosal found in some

vaccines such as flu shot) and methylmercury (mercury found in fish) are

immunosuppressive and cause a Th2 skewing of the immune system. Flu shots are

mandated by most states to be given annually to anyone 6 months or older. The

immune skewing effect of mercury is a perfect example of how multiple

environmental factors may contribute to immune dysregulation in children. In

this case, children exposed to mercury through diet, vaccines and other

environmental sources could experience a Th2 skewing—or immune dysregulation

associated with allergies, asthma, autism, and other inflammatory illnesses.

o A study published in the journal Neurology in early 2009 found an increased

risk of central nervous system inflammatory demyelination (destruction of nerve

tissue) with the " Energix B " vaccine (GlaxoKline's hepatitis B vaccine) but

not for other hepatitis B vaccines. The study looked at 349 children with acute

CNS inflammatory demyelination and compared them to 2941 matched controls to see

if the affected children had higher rates of vaccination with hepatitis B

vaccine. The investigators found no strong correlation between acute CNS

inflammatory demyelination and hepatitis B vaccination, but they did find that

those affected were more likely to have received the " Energix B " vaccine. The

investigators concluded that the " Energix B " vaccine did indeed increase the

risk of developing acute CNS inflammatory demyelination. Further study of this

connection is necessary to confirm this association, however, it does remind us

of the many variables in a given vaccination program. There are multiple

vaccines given for any one disease. Some preparations may present higher risks

of adverse events.

o Researchers in France recently uncovered the connection between aluminum

adjuvants used in vaccines and a condition known as " macrophagic myofasciitis "

(MMF). MMF, first reported in France in 1998 (where over 200 cases were

identified), " is defined by the presence of a stereotyped and immunologically

active lesion at deltoid muscle biopsy, " the location on the body where

intramuscular vaccine injections are given. " It was recently demonstrated that

this lesion is an indicator of long-term persistence of the immunologic adjuvant

aluminum hydroxide within the cytoplasm of macrophages at the site of previous

intramuscular (IM) injection [with hepatitis B, hepatitis A and tetanus

vaccines]. " In other words, aluminum hydroxide (an immune response stimulator in

vaccines) has been found concentrated at the site of vaccine injection (the

deltoid muscle). When a vaccination containing aluminum hydroxide is given, the

aluminum hydroxide it is supposed to dissipate in the body over time. In the

case of patients with MMF, the aluminum stays right at the injection site, never

dissipating, causing their immune systems to switch into a chronic state of

activation. MMF is associated with a host of systemic problems. Many patients

with MMF report symptoms similar to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a disorder

believed to be caused by immune dysregulation (chronic immune stimulation). In

the study, 19 of 19 patients with MMF had received aluminum-containing

intramuscular vaccinations (in the deltoid muscle) in the preceding months

(ranging from 1 month to 72 months). One-third of patients with MMF develop

autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. These patients show signs of an

immune system that is unable to shut itself off, and a Th2-skew to their immune

function. Interestingly, the World Health Organization has called for the

performance of epidemiological studies to understand the prevalence and

pervasiveness of MMF. If a significant prevalence of MMF and associated

autoimmune diseases and immune dysregulation is found in the general population,

public health officials may be required to reevaluate the use of aluminum

adjuvants in vaccines.

o A recent study in Canada found that children who delayed their first DPT

(diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus) shot by more than 2 months halved their

risk of developing asthma by age seven. Children who delayed all of their first

three doses had an even lower risk. The researchers examined the health records

of 11,531 children who received at least four doses of DPT. The researchers

speculate that early childhood immunization promotes stimulation of Th2 cells

and delaying vaccination may mitigate this effect to a degree.

Animal models also demonstrate how vaccination can induce autoimmunity and/or

immune dysregulation:

o A 2004 study published in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy found that

non-autoimmune mice injected with adjuvant oils (used in a limited number of

vaccines, mostly experimental) such as squalene (MF59) and Bayol F developed

lupus-related autoantibodies. (Lupus is a debilitating autoimmune disease.) The

authors urge caution about the use of adjuvant oils in human vaccines given

their potential to induce autoimmunity. There are numerous other studies

supporting the induction of autoimmunity in animals receiving injections of

squalene. Adjuvant oils have long been used in veterinary vaccines and

experimentally in human vaccines to increase the immune response in recipients.

Although squalene is not licensed for use in the U.S., it is currently being

used in vaccines that are in clinical development for HIV, herpes simplex,

Cytolomegolovirus (CMV) and hepatitis B. It has also been tested as a possible

adjuvant for use in influenza vaccines. Some researchers and many veterans

believe that the use of squalene in some batches of anthrax vaccine administered

to soldiers in the first Gulf War in the early 1990s contributed to a chronic

illness now known as Gulf War Syndrome.

o A study published in the Journal of Autoimmunity in December 2008 found that

rabbits and mice immunized with peptides from the Epstein-Barr virus developed

autoimmunity. The animals developed high levels of lupus-like autoimmunity (83%

of rabbits and 43% of mice) and were found to have low levels of white blood

cells (also immune dysregulation). This study builds on previous work linking

the Epstein Barr Virus to autoimmune disease through the mechanism of molecular

mimicry.

Does the American Childhood Immunization Program Cause Chronic Illness?

Vaccines are associated with adverse events such as autoimmune diseases, acute

and chronic inflammatory illnesses, and even death. These facts are

indisputable. Over 80 years of vaccine history and medical research supports

these facts. This is why there is the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

(VAERS), a government-sponsored system devised to track all reported adverse

events from vaccines, and the Vaccine Compensation Program. Approximately $2B

has been paid out to thousands of victims of vaccine damage. We know that

vaccines can cause severe damage in a very small proportion of the vaccinated

population. What we do not know, however, is the degree to which vaccines also

cause more subtle, difficult to track changes to the immune system in the wider

population. Does the American vaccine schedule in some way contribute to the

epidemic of immune dysregulation in our most highly vaccinated segment of the

population, our children? Medical research has established that vaccine-induced

immune dysregulation (in the form of autoimmunity, Th2 skewing, inflammation,

etc.) occurs in some people, and it is plausible that a more subtle or

sub-clinical form occurs in many more. Yes, it is plausible, but we need to

study fully vaccinated versus completely unvaccinated children and look closely

at how the immune systems in each group function before we can answer this

question with certainty.

When put into a larger environmental context, an overloaded vaccination

schedule, in conjunction with other environmental factors that tax our immune

system (such as diet, toxin exposure, lifestyle, etc.), may be contributing to

an epidemic of immune dysregulation in America. Our understanding of vaccine

safety is extremely binary. We believe that vaccines are either 100% safe or

they cause severe damage, but we do not consider the possibility that there may

be a spectrum of damage between " safe " and " severe, " that is both chronic and

insidious.

Let us look at some preliminary studies that examine the relationship between

vaccination and chronic illness or developmental disabilities. The October 2008

issue of Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry contained a study that

demonstrated a nine-times higher risk of developmental disability in boys who

were vaccinated with a full series of Hepatitis B vaccine as compared to boys

who had not been vaccinated with the Hepatitis B vaccine at all. " This study

found statistically significant evidence to suggest that boys in the United

States who were vaccinated with the triple series Hepatitis B vaccine, during

the time period in which vaccines were manufactured with thimerosal, were more

susceptible to developmental disability than were unvaccinated boys. "

After years of pleading with public health authorities (to no avail) to conduct

a vaccinated versus unvaccinated epidemiological study, Generation Rescue, one

of the country's most visible autism and vaccine safety advocacy groups, decided

to sponsor their own study. The study, completed in late 2008, compares health

outcomes (such as presence of ADHD, autism, etc.) of vaccinated versus

unvaccinated children in two states, California and Oregon. The vaccine and

health outcome information was gathered by telephone survey. Their findings,

quite disturbing, merit further examination with more rigorous epidemiological

studies. A total of 11,817 families were surveyed providing a study population

of 17,674 children, ages 4-17. In the entire study group, 991 children were

recorded as completely unvaccinated. Although telephone surveys are subject to

recall errors or other biases, they are the methodology used by the CDC to

determine prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD. The study

found:

• Vaccinated boys were 155% more likely to have a neurological disorder than

unvaccinated boys.

• Vaccinated boys were 224% more likely to have ADHD.

• Vaccinated boys were 61% more likely to have autism.

• Among older vaccinated boys, ages 11-17 (about half the boys surveyed):

o Vaccinated boys were 158% more likely to have a neurological disorder.

o Vaccinated boys were 317% more likely to have ADHD.

o Vaccinated boys were 112% more likely to have autism.

• Vaccinated boys and girls were 120% more likely to have asthma.

• No differences in neurodevelopmental disorders were noted in girls.

Generation Rescue makes the following comment regarding the outcome of this

study on their website:

Generation Rescue is not representing that our study proves that the U.S.

vaccine schedule has caused an epidemic in neurological disorders amongst our

children. We are a small non-profit organization. For less than $200,000, we

were able to complete a study that the CDC, with an $8 billion a year budget,

has been unable or unwilling to do. We think the results of our survey lend

credibility to the urgent need to do a larger scale study to compare vaccinated

and unvaccinated children for neurodevelopmental outcomes.

There are other anecdotal reports of unvaccinated children fairing better than

vaccinated children with regard to chronic illness and developmental disorders.

An article published by United Press International in 2005 reported on the large

medical practice, Homefirst Health Services, located in Chicago, IL, which

claims to have no cases of autism among the many unvaccinated children in their

practice. Most Homefirst patients do not receive any vaccinations. " We have a

fairly large practice. We have about 30,000 or 35,000 children that we've taken

care of over the years, and I don't think we have a single case of autism in

children delivered by us who never received vaccines, " said Dr. Mayer

Eisenstein, the director of the centers and a vocal vaccine safety advocate. In

a practice of this size, considering national prevalence estimates of autism at

1 in 150, they should have seen many children with autism go through their

practice. If you only count the 15,000 children delivered (at home) by

Homefirst who have been followed from birth on with no vaccinations, there

should be at least 100 children with autism, but there are none. According to

Dr. Eisenstein, asthma is also virtually nonexistent in his practice.

Similar findings have been reported among the Amish in Pennsylvania, a cultural

group that typically refuses many medical interventions including vaccination.

The " no autism in the Amish " story, however, has been dismissed by many,

including the former CDC director Gerberding, because the Amish tend to

have a homogenous gene pool. No such gene pool exists for the patients of

Homefirst Health Services. Yet, this is only anecdotal information, and its

credibility is questionable until subjected to rigorous statistical and

epidemiological analysis. It is also important to remember, vaccines are only

one piece of the immune dysregulation puzzle. There are many other

environmental factors that may work in conjuction with excessive vaccination to

cause immune dysregulation and resulting chronic illness.