Recent Articles Question Safety of Pediatric Vaccines

Infant exposure to ethylmercury (EtHg) has increased in the past 2 decades and alarmingly, is starting earlier in life. Both of these issues are due to the current immunization schedule that uses thimerosal containing vaccines. Thimerosal is an organic compound that contains mercury and, for decades, has been used as a preservative in a number of products, including several vaccines. Originally, the use of thimerosal was promulgated to help prevent potentially life threatening contamination with harmful microbes in the vaccines.

Although vaccination schedules vary considerably between countries, infants worldwide are being exposed to vaccinations in the first 24 hours post delivery. Specifically, Dorea and colleagues¹ found that over a 5 year period, there was a significant increase in vaccinations within hours of birth (on same day), from 7.4% (in the year 2001) to 87.8% (in 2005). According to their findings, "nearly 94.6% of infants are now being vaccinated within the first 24 hours."¹

Two recent articles by Hewitson and colleagues^2,3 have used primate models in an attempt to understand the possible detrimental consequences on neonate neurological development when exposure to thimerosal occurs. These articles establish a possible harmful effect of early vaccinations on the growth and development of the brain.

• In a longitudinal, case-control pilot study in rhesus macaque infants receiving the complete US childhood vaccine schedule (1994-1999), Hewitson et al² examined amygdala growth and developmental abnormalities. Their results identified maturational changes in amygdala volume and the binding capacity of diprenorphine in the amygdala in infant macaques receiving the vaccine schedule. Importantly, the amygdala is thought to play a key role in the expression of emotions and the development of social and emotional behaviors in early life.
• In a related investigation, Hewitson et al³ identified delayed development of neonate reflexes in newborn primates receiving a hepatitis B vaccine containing thimerosal. Specifically, in the animals exposed to the vaccine, "a significant delay in acquisition of root, snout, and suck reflexes, compared with unexposed animals", was found.
• "The infant mortality rate (IMR) is one of the most important indicators of the socio-economic well-being and public health conditions of a country. The US childhood immunization schedule specifies 26 vaccine doses for infants aged less than 1 year—the most in the world—yet 33 nations have lower IMRs. Using linear regression, the immunization schedules of these 34 nations were examined and a correlation coefficient of r = 0.70 (p < 0.0001) was found between IMRs and the number of vaccine doses routinely given to infants. Nations were also grouped into five different vaccine dose ranges: 12–14, 15–17, 18–20, 21–23, and 24–26. The mean IMRs of all nations within each group were then calculated. Linear regression analysis of unweighted mean IMRs showed a high statistically significant correlation between increasing number of vaccine doses and increasing infant mortality rates, with r = 0.992 (p = 0.0009)."

If these two studies aren't enough to alarm parents and health care providers, a more frightening piece of data just emerged identifying a statistically significant association between number of vaccine dosages given in the first year of life and Infant Mortality Rates (IMR's). From this study's abstract:

The topic of childhood vaccination is a complex one; it can trigger heated debates around pro's and con's as well as eliciting emotional, social, and religious viewpoints. However, the studies presented here should be convincing enough to seriously question whether routine and multiple vaccines are safe for our children.

References

1. Dorea JG, et al. Neonate exposure to thimerosal mercury from hepatitis B vaccines. Am J Perinatol 2009; 26(7):523-527.
2. Hewitson L, et al. Influence of pediatric vaccines on amygdala growth and opioid ligand binding in rhesus macaque infants: A pilot study. Acta Neurobiol Exp 2010;70:147-164
3. Hewitson L, et al. Delayed acquisition of neonatal reflexes in newborn primates receiving a thimerosal containing hepatitis B vaccine: influence of gestational age and birth weight. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2010;73:1298-313.
4. Miller NZ, Goldman GS. Infant mortality rates regressed against number of vaccine doses routinely given: Is there a biochemical or synergistic toxicity? Hum Exp Toxicol 4 May 2011. Published online: http://het.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/05/04/0960327111407644.