***Don’t Vaccinate Before You Educate

20th century medicine has been shown to be false in many of its assumptions while it has held physicians with non-interventionist philosophies to a higher standard than interventionist physicians. The unscientific reasoning, “I think therefore I believe” has replaced scientific evidence based decision making. How can we have trust in a medical system, which has been shown to be untrue in some of its practice? The answer is with great skepticism. Let us hope that scientific reason will prevail and the motto for the 21st Century will become “The scientific evidence points in that direction, therefore I believe.”

All vaccine programs carry risk and benefit. Therefore, the goal should not only be the prevention of a specific disease by vaccination, but also the benefits must outweigh any potential long term negative side effects.
Vaccine proponents claim that the benefits of childhood vaccination are undeniable. However, at the same time vaccine opponents point out that the incidents of autism, diabetes, and other chronic immune and neurological dysfunctions in children have increased dramatically in the last 30 years. This points out the difficulty in making an informed decision to vaccinate or not to vaccinate.

Here Is the Core of My Concern:

There is no convincing scientific evidence that mass inoculations can be credited with eliminating any childhood disease…

It is commonly believed that the Salk vaccine was responsible for halting the polio epidemics that plagued American children in the 1940’s and 1950’s. If so, why did the epidemics also end in Europe, where polio vaccine was not so extensively used?
There are significant risks associated with every vaccination and numerous contraindications that may make it dangerous for the shots to be given to your child…
While the myriad short-term hazards of most vaccinations are known (but rarely explained), no one knows the long-term consequences of injecting foreign proteins into the body of your child. Even more shocking is the fact that no one is making any structured effort to find out.

There is a growing suspicion that vaccination against relatively harmless childhood diseases may be responsible for the dramatic increase in autoimmune diseases since the introduction of mass inoculations. These are life altering diseases such as cancer, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and autism.

Vaccines contain many ingredients of which the public is not aware. These are just some of the ingredients used in production of vaccines:
Ethylene glycol—antifreeze
Phenol—also known as carbolic acid. This is used as a disinfectant, dye.
Formaldehyde—a known cancer causing agent
Aluminum—is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and seizures, also cancer producing in laboratory mice. It is used as an additive to promote antibody response.
Thimerosal—a mercury disinfectant/ preservative. It can result in brain injury and autoimmune disease.
Neomycin, Streptomycin—antibiotics which have caused allergic reactions in some people.

These vaccines are also grown on and strained through animal or human tissue such as monkey kidney tissue, chicken embryo, embryonic guinea pig cells, calf serum, human diploid cells (the dissected organs of aborted fetuses as in the case of rubella, hepatitis A, and chicken pox vaccines).

The problem with using animal cells is that during serial passage of the virus thru the animal cells, animal RNA and DNA can be transferred from one host to another. Undetected animal viruses may slip past quality control testing procedures, as happened during the years 1955 thru 1961. The polio vaccine, which was grown on the kidney of the African Green monkey (simian), was contaminated with SV40 (simian virus #40—the 40th discovered) which differs from the prior 39 because it has oncogenic (cancer causing) properties. What other viruses could be slipping by from animal tissue, administered through vaccinations, that we don’t know of?

When I started practicing medicine in 1973, the number of mandated childhood vaccines in the first 18 months of life was 10 and the incidence of autism was 1 in 10,000. Today the number of mandated vaccines is 36 and the incidence of autism is 1 in 150! If this trend continues, many more vaccines, such as influenza, rotovirus, pneumococcal, HepA as well as HPV and meningococcal vaccines will become mandated. Is there a connection between autism and vaccines? Is it the inordinate number of vaccines given to our children in the first 18 months of life? Is it the unnecessary toxins in vaccines? It seems that most parents of autistic children can pinpoint the onset of their child’s autism and are able to point to a happy, healthy, normal child before receiving the vaccines.

Like the mandated Hepatitis B vaccine, the HPV vaccine is recommended, allegedly, to prevent a sexually transmitted disease, Human Papiloma Virus. Does our government have the right to legislate our morality? Recent reports by the organizatio
Judicial Watch have revealed that the HPV vaccine, itself, has been responsible for at least three deaths and over 1,300 adverse events.

It is not surprising that more and more families are relying on personal religious exemptions to avoid this overwhelming, non-scientific approach to preventing illnesses.
These are some of the questions that I am asked at my vaccine seminar. Is the vaccine paradigm failing? Why are more and more parents questioning mandatory vaccination? Do vaccines really save lives? Is there a connection between autism and vaccines? Why is there still mercury in some vaccines—including the flu vaccine?

If the concept of mandatory vaccinations is abandoned, the burden of proof as to efficacy of the whole childhood vaccine program will be shifted to our legislatures. It’s time to let scientific evidence determine medical policy not politics!
There is hope on the horizon. I never thought that a congressional bill would be introduced to study the effects of vaccines on health outcome. Much to my surprise, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, in the 110th Congress 1st Session 2007, introduced a bill to do just that specifically. This bill mentions Homefirst® Health Services, the practice which I have guided since 1973.

H. R. 2832
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or support a comprehensive study comparing total health outcomes, including risk of autism, in vaccinated populations in the United States with such out-comes in unvaccinated populations in the United States, and for other purposes…
The secretary shall seek to include in the study under this sectio
Populations in the United States that have traditionally remained unvaccinated (such as the Homefirst® practice in Chicago).
Also, a recent study by Generation Rescue, June 26, 2007 the “Cal-Oregon Unvaccinated Survey” re-ported:
“We surveyed over 9,000 boys in Califo
ia and Oregon and found that vaccinated boys had a 155% greater chance of having a neurological disorder like ADHD or autism than unvaccinated boys.”

Until the scientific evidence shows that the benefits of childhood vaccines outweigh the risk, more and more parents will continue to question the concept of mandatory vaccination, refuse to vaccinate their children and look for various means, including a personal religious exemption, to be in compliance with the law while keeping their children from receiving vaccines.

This is the greatest country in the world. I have full confidence that our government will eventually address these issues. Until then, we can expect more and more families to question the value of mandatory vaccinations.
At this time, we need to call for a moratorium on all vaccinations. We need to convene a panel of the leading experts in medicine. This panel must be devoid of sponsorship from any drug companies or parties that have any vested interest in the outcome. The panel should review all the scientific articles and data on vaccinations. Afterwards, they should make their recommendations. It is very interesting that whenever the National Institute of Health has convened such consensus panels the results are far different than we would expect. In the past, these NIH consensus panels have recommended fewer ultra sounds, fewer breast cancer surgeries, less cesarean sections, and they have questioned routine mammograms for women. I have great faith in the honesty of scholarly physicians. When they meet in large consensus groups and review data they come to unbiased conclusions relying on the information presented to them, not on political agendas, or their own beliefs.

As a parent, only you can decide whether to reject vaccinations or risk accepting them for your child. Let me urge you, thoughbefore your child is immunized—to arm yourself with the facts about the potential risks and benefits and demand that your pediatrician defend the vaccinations that he recommends.
I want to raise doubt in your mind as to the safety, efficacy, and moral issues of vaccines. My goal is for you to do further research into all of the vaccines, use libraries, bookstores, our internet web site (homefirst.com), and ask questions. Only after fully weighing the evidence can you make an informed decision. An informed consumer is a wise consumer. This journey is a beginning of better understanding the issues surrounding childhood vaccinations.

I recommend that you Don’t Vaccinate Before You Educate!

Questions & Answers with Regard To Childhood Vaccines

Q) What is a philosophical objection to vaccines?
A) A philosophical objection to vaccines states that you are objecting from your own personal belief, not on medical or religious grounds. It comes from your own personal knowledge, whatever that is composed of. At the time of this writing Illinois does not accept this as a valid objection to childhood vaccines. A philosophical objection is also known as a constitutional objection, (as defined by the American College Dictionary belonging to or inherent in a person’s constitution of body or mind) not to be confused with the U.S. Constitution.

Q) What is a medical exemption to vaccines?
A) An exemption that is written by a physician who is licensed to practice in the state stating the specific medi-cal objections to the vaccine.

Q) Do vaccines weaken the immune system?
A) The scientific literature has mixed reviews. Some studies say yes, some say no.

Q) Can I give some of the mandated vaccines and not others?
A) Yes, from a medical standpoint. However, to be in compliance with the state laws you must give your children the mandated vaccines unless you have a religious, philosophical or medical waiver exemption. You must check your state’s law (http://www.homefirst.com/vaccine_ exemptions_state_by_state.html) to see which of the waiver exemptions apply.

Q) Are there medical contraindications to vaccines?
A) It depends which side of the debate you are on. Scientific medical studies seem to point in both directions—that there are benefits and side effects. The difficulty is deciding which are more controlling.

Q) What is a personal religious exemption?
A) It is an exemption that states your specific and personal religious beliefs. These beliefs may not necessarily be the tenets or beliefs of your established or organized religion.

Q) If I home school my children do I have to give childhood vaccines?
A) Yes, the mandate for vaccines has nothing to do with school. School is just a checkpoint to see if you have given the mandated vaccines.

Q) Can I be reported to DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services) if I do not vaccinate?
A) Yes. Unless you have a bonafide exemption medical or religious (and in some states philosophical). If your child is less than two years of age and not in preschool or day care, the mandates do not apply.

Q) What are specific religious grounds objecting to vaccines?
A) They are statements which bring out your religious beliefs and religious reasons for objecting to childhood vaccines. These statements can come from the Bible, the tenets of your established religion, or your personal religious beliefs.

Q) If I use a religious exemption does it have to be signed by a clergyman?
A) No. Most state courts have held that a religious exemption does not have to be on church stationary, does not have to be signed by a clergyman, and does not necessarily have to be the tenets of your church.

Q) Can the state decide if your religious exemption is valid?
A) Most states have a statute which allows the School Board to determine the sincerity of your religious belief. However, if challenged in court, even though it would not be precedent setting, most state courts would look for guidance to other states ruling on similar statutes. The Wyoming Supreme Court Case, 2001 WY 26-March 8, 2001, Susan LaPage vs. The State of Wyoming Department of Health, ruled that if a state government requires a certain level of sincerity as a benchmark before a religious exemption can be granted, such legislation would call into question the Constitutional prohibition against governmental interference with the free expression of religion as expressed in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Q) Can the state review your personal physician’s letter objection to vaccines on medical grounds?
A) Yes. The state has the right to appoint another physician or consultant to review your physician’s medical exemption. The courts would probably find this to be valid and constitutional.

Q) If vaccines really work, why should parents whose children are vaccinated worry?
A) That is a good question. I suppose that the vaccine proponents don’t have as much faith in these vaccines as they would like us to believe.

Q) Do the vaccines work or are the diseases no longer around?
A) That goes to the heart of the statistical scientific debate. Some diseases like plague, tuberculosis, scarlet fever, etc. were widespread and, even without the use of vaccines, just seem to be dying out.

Q) Is the Chicken Pox Vaccine and Rubella Vaccine grown on the cells of aborted fetuses?
A) Yes. These vaccines are grown on a culture of diploid tissue. Diploid is defined as human tissue. The original culture has been replicated over and over again so it does not require new fetuses to be aborted for the production of the vaccine. However, one who receives the Chicken Pox Vaccine and Rubella Vaccines are directly linked to the chain that goes back to the original abortion.

Q) Is mercury still in vaccines?
A) Yes. It is still in the flu vaccine which is now being recommended to our children between six months and 18 years of age .

Q) Can I object to only Chicken Pox Vaccine on religious grounds, because I am pro-life, without ob-jecting to any other vaccines?
A) Yes, if your religious convictions are pro-life and you object to the Chicken Pox Vaccine because it was grown on the cells of aborted fetuses. However, like all waivers, medical or religious, it could be challenged by the school board. The Illinois courts would most probably uphold this waiver as a valid religious exemption.

Q) Do physicians respect parents’ rights to debate issues of vaccines?
A) They should; however, most physicians would respond to that question like Dr. Ben Katz from Children Memorial Hospital (April 11th, 2002 issue of Daily Southtown), “We need to force people to do right thing [vaccinate], unfortunately. We can’t leave these decisions up to individuals. I really believe it is inappropriate to debate this with parents.”

Written by Mayer Eisenstein, MD, JD, MPHn