Confusion about vaccination has reigned supreme since they started injecting out great grandparents in the 1920s. Is it beneficial or harmful?
Let’s have a look at the debate in as an unbiased view as possible:

THE ARGUMENT FOR: WHY SHOULD WE VACCINATE OUR CHILDREN?

Infectious diseases such as polio and whooping cough are caused by the invasion of microorganisms into our bodies whether they be bacteria (as in diphtheria) or a virus (as in hepatitis).
Quick biology lesson: When these microorganisms invade our body (From hereon called "antigens") the body detects them immediately. Specific white cells in our blood immediately sense that these antigens are foreign and harmful and communicate this to other immune cells such as lymphocytes which work hard to make antibodies (aren't our bodies so clever?!). The problem is that these lymphocytes can take up to 5 days to make antibodies for any new antigen and, if you body has been invaded by a particularly virulent strain of a virus, the virus can overcome the host (that's us) and release toxins, cause serious illness or even death, before our wonderful immune systems can retaliate. This is what happens with diseases such as polio; whilst they may not kill in every instance, the toxins that these microorganisms produce can cripple our nervous systems, causing lameness or even chronic respiratory failure - for those of you who are old enough to remember the polio epidemics of the mid 1900's will clearly remember iron lungs and callipers.  This is where vaccinations step in: A vaccine is made up of either an "attenuated" virus (think weakened virus!) or a part of that virus - enough for the immune system to be able to step up a response. The lymphocytes spring into action and start making antibodies WHICH THEY REMEMBER how to make! So next time when the body is invaded by the real deal, the immune system is ready and it only takes the lymphocytes a matter of hours to churn out enough antibodies to overwhelm the virus - all without us really being aware of what is going on! This is called immunity -SO - vaccination is a very clever idea in principle; unfortunately there is a trade off - all vaccinations have side effects. Whether they be good (as in cause immunity to a disease) or bad (like high fevers, seizures, and the more speculative ones of autism etc). The undeniable fact that no one can ignore is that the decline in these communicable diseases cannot all be attributed to the improvement of hygiene standards worldwide. But another undeniable fact is that some of these medications have done irreversible damage to children in the past. Both sides have a highly emotive response which all gets a bit clouded sometimes. Big Pharma of course is set to make billions of dollars worldwide from the sales of their vaccines, so we all suspect that scare campaigns such as that of the swine flu are exaggerated when the vaccinations are about to go past their use by date. Smallpox is eradicated form the world – this killed millions of people every year and I am old enough to remember those horrifying images on the television of people in the third world suffering greatly from this monster of a disease. I am quite certain that hygiene standards haven’t improved that much in Africa to completely wipe out smallpox off the globe.

THE ARGUMENT AGAINST: WHY WE SHOULDN’T VACCINATE OUR CHILDREN?

The arguments why vaccinations may be causing our children harm continue to mount. Let’s just clarify something straight away: ALL drugs have side effects – the good ones are the “actions” that we want these drugs to perform – such as the polio vaccine will give us immunity to polio for example. Unfortunately, there are always unfavourable side effects and the dilemma for all parents is whether the trade off is worth it for your child:

• Thimerisol – a preservative which contains mercury was frequently used in vaccines up to the early 2000s. Due to public pressure, this has been largely removed from MOST vaccines. Big Pharma would like us to believe that they have removed it from all vaccines, but some still contain it; it is usually the adult vaccines – I guess the argument here is that adults don’t get diagnosed with autism! One point to note ‘though is that it is pretty much in ALL of the flu vaccines WHICH GPs LIKE TO GIVE TO CHILDREN & PREGNANT WOMEN! (Maybe not!). The following vaccines still contain thimerisol:
  

-  Combined diphtheria and tetanus vaccine - CDT & ADT (CSL)

-  Diphtheria vaccine (CSL)

-  Hepatitis B - Engerix B Adult (GSK)

-  Influenza  - Fluarix, Influvac, Fluvax (GlaxoSmithKline, Solvay, CSL)

-  Japanese encephalitis - JE Vax (CSL )

-  Q fever -Q vax (CSL )

Mercury is a heavy metal and neurotoxin and has been linked to many health challenges such as autism, learning difficulties, thyroid issues, depression and anxiety and even cancer. It tends to sit in out fatty tissue (the brain is 85% fat!) and accumulates in there, so the argument that there is only a minute amount in these medications falls flat – little bits add up to a big bit if enough is given. Also consider that most adults 30 years or older still had fillings with amalgam (a lovely concoction of mercury, cadmium, lead and whatever else the smelters had to get rid of), surely WE don’t need any more mercury do we?

• Increased Toxic Burden: Our children are already born with a higher toxic burden than any other generation. Food now contains more chemicals (&less nutrients) than ever before, pollution (inside the home & outside) is chronic and we utilise plastics in every part of our lives. A newborn’s organs of detoxification are still struggling to cope with this toxic load when we introduce further stresses by the way of vaccines into their bodies. What child REALLY needs a hepatitis B vaccination at birth? This is a sexually or intravenous drug transmitted disease! Unless the baby is born of a drug addicted or hep B positive mother, why are we subjecting the newborns brand new immune system with these antigens? Surely it should learn to recognise good bugs (from the mother’s gut flora) first?!

• Incorrect Stimulation of the Immune System As mentioned above, babies are born with an immune system that is ready to take on stimulus from the outside world. If this stimulus is in the wrong balance, autoimmune conditions may develop as the immune system becomes overenthusiastic.  This is why infants and young children need to occasionally get a cold or tummy bug – this tells their immune system to recognise bad bugs so that it doesn’t have to turn on itself (autoimmunity!). The trick is to avoid the really nasty ones!

•  Poly-pharmacy The amount of vaccines that are injected into our infants these days are ever increasing.  An 8 week old infant now gets vaccinated against 8 separate diseases using 2 separate injections and one oral vaccine – maybe that may be a TAD too much?? Dr Kevin Bock, leading expert on childhood autism in NY, USA, suggests maybe waiting until 4 months (especially if the child is fully breast fed and receiving antibodies via the mother’s breast milk). Another option is to split up the vaccinations – give them 2 weeks apart in order to allow the infant’s immune system to catch up. The problem is, in Australia, many of the vaccines are grouped together in a single injection. But even separating the injections/ oral vaccination will help lower the burden on your child’s immune system.

•  Correct Nourishment Many of our infants are now also born in a malnourished state due to chronic malnutrition of the mother – I am not talking calories here, but nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and good flora for the gut. Building up your infant’s nutrient status will ensure that any possibility of a reaction will be lessened. Consider the following: Minerals, vitamin c and probiotics specific for an infant’s gut – talk to your naturopath for safe dosing in infants!
  

SO, THEN WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Only you as a parent can decide whether vaccination is right for your child, but consider delaying the fist vaccination for a couple of months, when their immune systems have had a time to adjust to the world. Also talk to your practitioner about ensuring that your child is in the best state of nutrition possible before their vaccination – the optimal way to give your child the best start in life is by ensuring optimal health of the parents – a sound preconception care will ensure that your offspring will be born with a lowered toxic burden, a better nutrient status and the healthiest genes possible.

Aiding your child’s natural detoxification pathways once vaccinated will also decrease risks of short term or long term side effects – again a healthy gut and vitamin C will enhance these natural detoxification pathways.

If you do decide to vaccinate, again, consult with your naturopath or homeopath about preparations that you can give your child as a replacement for paracetamol to decrease pain and fever. Giving paracetamol routinely is NO Longer recommended, as this makes your child’s liver work too hard and may eventually prolong any side effects experienced.  Again, talk to your practitioner.