DISPELLING VACCINATION MYTHS: An introduction to the contradictions between
medical science and immunization policy. c by Alan Phillips (aphillip@email.unc.edu).
Last Revision: February 1997. See the Informed Parents Vaccination Home Page" on the
World Wide Web at URL: http://www.unc.edu/~aphillip/www/vaccine/imformed.htm
*Permission freely granted to copy and redistribute in full for any nonprofit purpose.
Persons concerned with for-profit distribution, electronic postings, and other concerns
should contact the author at Vaccine Awareness, P.O. Box 62282, Durham, NC 27715 or
by email (see above).

INTRODUCTION
Is there a legitimate controversy?

When my son began his routine vaccination series at age 2 months, I did not know there
were any risks associated with immunizations. But the clinic's literature contained a
contradiction: the chances of a serious adverse reaction to the DPT vaccine were 1 in
1750, while his chances of dying from pertussis each year were 1 in several million.
When I pointed this out to the physician, he angrily disagreed, and stormed out of the
room mumbling, "I guess I should read that sometime..." Soon thereafter I learned of a
child who had been permanently disabled by a vaccine, so I decided to investigate for
myself. My findings have so alarmed me that I feel compelled to share them; hence, this
report. Health authorities credit vaccines for disease declines, and assure us of their
safety and effectiveness. Yet these seemingly rock-solid assumptions are directly
contradicted by health statistics, medical studies, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports, and reputable research scientists from
around the world. In fact, infectious diseases declined steadily for decades prior to
vaccinations, U.S. doctors report thousands of serious vaccine reactions each year
including hundreds of deaths and permanent disabilities, fully vaccinated populations
have experienced epidemics, and researchers attribute dozens of chronic immunological
and neurological conditions to mass immunization programs. There are hundreds of
published medical studies documenting vaccine failure and adverse effects, and dozens
of books written by doctors, researchers, and independent investigators that reveal
serious flaws in immunization theory and practice. Ironically, most pediatricians and
parents are completely unaware of these findings. However, this has begun to change in
recent years, as a growing number of parents and healthcare providers around the world
are becoming aware of the problems and starting to question the use of widespread,
mandatory vaccinations. My point it not to tell anyone whether or not to vaccinate, but
rather, with the utmost urgency, to point out some very good reasons why everyone
should examine the facts before deciding whether or not to submit to the procedure. As a
new parent, I was shocked to discover the absence of a legal mandate or professional
ethic requiring pediatricians to be fully informed, and to see first-hand the prevalence of
physicians who are applying practices based on incomplete--and in some cases, outright
mis--information. Though only a brief introduction, this report contains sufficient
evidence to warrant further investigation by all concerned, which I highly recommend.
You will find that this is the only way to get an objective view, as the controversy is a
highly emotional one. A note of caution: Be careful trying to discuss this subject with a
pediatrician. Most have staked their identities and reputations on the presumed safety and
effectiveness of vaccines, and thus have difficulty acknowledging evidence to the
contrary. The first pediatrician I attempted to share my findings with yelled angrily at me
when I calmly brought up the subject. The misconceptions have very deep roots.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #1: "Vaccines are completely safe..." ...or are they?
The FDA's VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System) receives about 11,000
reports of serious adverse reactions to vaccination annually, some 1% (112+) of which
are deaths from vaccine reactions.[1] The majority of these reports are made by doctors,
and the majority of deaths are attributed to the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, the
"P" in DPT. This figure alone is alarming, yet it is only the "tip of the iceberg." The FDA
estimates that only about 10% of adverse reactions are reported,[2] a figure supported by
two National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) investigations. [3] In fact, the NVIC
reported that "In New York, only one out of 40 doctor's offices [2.5%] confirmed that
they report a death or injury following vaccination," -- 97.5% of vaccine related deaths
and disabilities go unreported there. Implications about the integrity of medical
professionals aside (doctors are legally required to report serious adverse events), these
findings suggest that vaccine deaths actually occurring each year may be well over 1,000.
With pertussis, the number of vaccine-related deaths dwarfs the number of disease
deaths, which have been about 10 annually for recent years according to the CDC, and
only 8 in 1993, the last peak-incidence year (pertussis runs in 3-4 year cycles, though
vaccination certainly doesn't). Simply put, the vaccine is 100 times more deadly than the
disease. Given the many instances in which highly vaccinated populations have
contracted disease (see Myth #2), and the fact that the vast majority of disease decline
this century occurred before compulsory vaccinations (pertussis deaths declined 79%
prior to vaccines; see Myth #3), this comparison is a valid one--and this enormous
number of vaccine casualities can hardly be considered a necessary sacrifice for the
benefit of a disease-free society. Unfortunately, the vaccine-related-deaths story doesn't
end here. Both national and international studies have shown vaccination to be a cause of
SIDS[4,5] (SIDS is "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome," a "catch-all" diagnosis given when
the specific cause of death is unknown; estimates range from 5 - 10,000 cases each year
in the U.S.). One study found the peak incidence of SIDS occurred at the ages of 2 and 4
months in the U.S., precisely when the first two routine immunizations are given,[4]
while another found a clear pattern of correlation extending three weeks after
immunization. Another study found that 3,000 children die within 4 days of vaccination
each year in the U.S. (amazingly, the authors reported no SIDS/vaccine relationship),
while yet another researcher's studies led to the conclusion that half of SIDS cases--that
would be 2500 to 5000 infant deaths in the U.S. each year--are caused by vaccines.[4]
There are studies that claimed to find no SIDS-vaccine relationship. However, many of
these were invalidated by yet another study which found that "confounding" had skewed
their results in favor of the vaccine.[6] Shouldn't we err on the side of caution? Shouldn't
any credible correlation between vaccines and infant deaths be just cause for meticulous,
widespread monitoring of the vaccination status of all SIDS cases? In the mid 70's Japan
raised their vaccination age from 2 months to 2 years; their incidence of SIDS dropped
dramatically. In spite of this, the U.S. medical community has chosen a posture of denial.
Coroners refuse to check the vaccination status of SIDS victims, and unsuspecting
families continue to pay the price, unaware of the dangers and denied the right to make a
choice. Low adverse event reporting also suggests that the total number of adverse
reactions actually occurring each year may be more than 100,000. Due to doctors' failure
to report, no one knows how many of these are permanent disabilities, but statistics
suggest that it is several times the number of deaths (see "petitions" below). This concern
is reinforced by a study which revealed that 1 in 175 children who completed the full
DPT series suffered "severe reactions," [7] and a Dr.'s report for attorneys which found
that 1 in 300 DPT immunizations resulted in seizures. [8] England actually saw a drop in
pertussis deaths when vaccination rates dropped from 80% to 30% in the mid 70's.
Swedish epidemiologist B. Trollfors' study of pertussis vaccine efficacy and toxicity
around the world found that "pertussis-associated mortality is currently very low in
industrialised countries and no difference can be discerned when countries with high,
low, and zero immunisation rates were compared." He also found that England, Wales,
and West Germany had more pertussis fatalities in 1970 when the immunization rate was
high than during the last half of 1980, when rates had fallen.[9] Vaccinations cost us
much more than just the lives and health of our children. The U.S. Federal Government's
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) has paid out over $724.4
million to parents of vaccine injured and killed children, in taxpayer dollars. The NVICP
has received over 5000 petitions since 1988, including over 700 for vaccine-related
deaths, and there are still some two thousand total death and injury cases pending that
may take years to resolve. [10] Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies have a captive
market: vaccines are legally mandated in all 50 U.S. states (though legally avoidable in
most; see Myth #9), yet these same companies are "immune" from accountability for the
consequences of their products. Furthermore, they have been allowed to use "gag orders"
as a leverage tool in vaccine damage legal settlements to prevent disclosure of
information to the public about vaccination dangers. Such arrangements are clearly
unethical; they force a nonconsenting American public to pay for vaccine manufacturer's
liabilities, while attempting to ensure that this same public will remain ignorant of the
dangers of their products. It is interesting to note that insurance companies (who do the
best liability studies) refuse to cover vaccine adverse reactions. Profits appear to dictate
both the pharmaceutical and insurance companies' positions.
VACCINATION TRUTH #1: "Vaccination causes significant death and disability at an
astounding personal and financial cost to families and taxpayers."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #2: "Vaccines are very effective..." ...or are they?
The medical literature has a surprising number of studies documenting vaccine failure.
Measles, mumps, small pox, polio and Hib outbreaks have all occurred in vaccinated
populations. [11, 12, 13, 14 ,15] In 1989 the CDC reported: "Among school-aged
children, [measles] outbreaks have occurred in schools with vaccination levels of greater
than 98 percent. [16] [They] have occurred in all parts of the country, including areas that
had not reported measles for years." [17] The CDC even reported a measles outbreak in a
documented 100 percent vaccinated population. [18] A study examining this
phenomenon concluded, "The apparent paradox is that as measles immunization rates
rise to high levels in a population, measles becomes a disease of immunized persons."
[19] A more recent study found that measles "produces immune suppression which
contributes to an increased susceptibility to other infections."[19a] These studies suggests
that the goal of complete immunization is actually counterproductive, a notion
underscored by instances in which epidemics followed complete immunization of entire
countries. Japan experienced yearly increases in small pox following the introduction of
compulsory vaccines in 1872. By 1892, there were 29,979 deaths, and all had been
vaccinated. [20] Early in this century, the Philippines experienced their worst smallpox
epidemic ever after 8 million people received 24.5 million vaccine doses; the death rate
quadrupled as a result. [21] In 1989, the country of Oman experienced a widespread
polio outbreak six months after achieving complete vaccination. [22] In the U.S. in 1986,
90% of 1300 pertussis cases in Kansas were "adequately vaccinated." [23] 72% of
pertussis cases in the 1993 Chicago outbreak were fully up to date with their
vaccinations.[24]
VACCINATION TRUTH #2: "Evidence suggests that vaccination is an unreliable means
of preventing disease."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #3: "Vaccines are the main reason for low disease rates in the
U.S. today..." or are they?
According to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, childhood diseases
decreased 90% between 1850 and 1940, paralleling improved sanitation and hygienic
practices, well before mandatory vaccination programs. Infectious disease deaths in the
U.S. and England declined steadily by an average of about 80% during this century
(measles mortality declined over 97%) prior to vaccinations. [25] In Great Britain, the
polio epidemics peaked in 1950, and had declined 82% by the time the vaccine was
introduced there in 1956. Thus, at best, vaccinations can be credited with only a small
percentage of the overall decline in disease related deaths this century. Yet even this
small portion is questionable, as the rate of decline remained virtually the same after
vaccines were introduced. Furthermore, European countries that refused immunization
for small pox and polio saw the epidemics end along with those countries that mandated
it. (In fact, both small pox and polio immunization campaigns were followed initially by
significant disease incidence increases; during smallpox vaccination campaigns, other
infectious diseases continued their declines in the absence of vaccines. In England and
Wales, smallpox disease and vaccination rates eventually declined simultaneously over a
period of several decades.[26]) It is thus impossible to say whether or not vaccinations
contributed to the continuing decline in disease death rates, or if the same forces which
brought about the initial declines--improved sanitation, hygiene, improvements in diet,
natural disease cycles--were simply unaffected by the vaccination programs.
Underscoring this conclusion was a recent World Health Organization report which
found that the disease and mortality rates in third world countries have no direct
correlation with immunization procedures or medical treatment, but are closely related to
the standard of hygiene and diet. [27] Credit given to vaccinations for our current disease
incidence has simply been grossly exaggerated, if not outright misplaced. Vaccine
advocates point to incidence statistics rather than mortality as proof of vaccine
effectiveness. However, statisticians tell us that mortality statistics can be a better
measure of incidence than the incidence figures themselves, for the simple reason that
the quality of reporting and record-keeping is much higher on fatalities.[28] For instance,
a recent survey in New York City revealed that only 3.2% of pediatricians were actually
reporting measles cases to the health department. In 1974, the CDC determined that there
were 36 cases of measles in Georgia, while the Georgia State Surveillance System
reported 660 cases.[29] In 1982, Maryland state health officials blamed a pertussis
epidemic on a television program, "D.P.T.--Vaccine Roulette," which warned of the
dangers of DPT; however, when former top virologist for the U.S. Division of Biological
Standards, Dr. J. Anthony Morris, analyzed the 41 cases, only 5 were confirmed, and all
had been vaccinated. [30] Such instances as these demonstrate the fallacy of incidence
figures, yet vaccine advocates tend to rely on them indiscriminately.
VACCINATION TRUTH #3: "It is unclear what impact vaccines had on the infectious
disease declines that occurred throughout this century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #4: "Vaccination is based on sound immunization theory and
practice..." ...or is it?
The clinical evidence for vaccinations is their ability to stimulate antibody production in
the recipient, a fact which is not disputed. What is not clear, however, is whether or not
such antibody production constitutes immunity. For example, agamma globulin-anemic
children are incapable of producing antibodies, yet they recover from infectious diseases
almost as quickly as other children.[31] Furthermore, a study published by the British
Medical Council in 1950 during a diphtheria epidemic concluded that there was no
relationship between antibody count and disease incidence; researchers found resistant
people with extremely low antibody counts and sick people with high counts. [32]
Natural immunization is a complex phenomenon involving many organs and systems; it
cannot be fully replicated by the artificial stimulation of antibody production. Research
also indicates that vaccination commits immune cells to the specific antigens involved in
the vaccine, rendering them incapable of reacting to other infections. Our immunological
reserve may thus actually be reduced, causing a generally lowered resistance. [33]
Another component of immunization theory is "herd immunity," which states that when
enough people in a community are immunized, all are protected. As Myth #2 revealed,
there are many documented instances showing just the opposite--fully vaccinated
populations do contract diseases; with measles, this actually seems to be the direct result
of high vaccination rates.[19] A Minnesota state epidemiologist concluded that the Hib
vaccine increases the risk of illness when a study revealed that vaccinated children were
five times more likely to contract meningitis than unvaccinated children. Carefully
selected epidemiological studies are yet another justification for vaccination programs.
However, many of these may not be legitimate sources from which to draw conclusions
about vaccine effectiveness. For example, if 100 people are vaccinated and 5 contract the
disease, the vaccine is declared to be 95% effective. But if only 10 of the 100 were
actually exposed to the disease, then the vaccine was really only 50% effective. Since no
one is willing to directly expose an entire population to disease--even a fully vaccinated
one--vaccine effectiveness rates may not indicate a vaccine's true effectiveness. Yet
another surprising concern about immunization practice is its assumption that all
children, regardless of age, are virtually the same. An 8 pound 2 month old receives the
same dosage as a 40 pound five year old. Infants with immature, undeveloped immune
systems may receive five or more times the dosage (relative to body weight) as older
children. Furthermore, the number of "units" within doses has been found upon random
testing to range from 1/2 to 3 times what the label indicates; manufacturing quality
controls appear to tolerate a rather large margin of error. "Hot Lots"--vaccine lots with
disproportionately high death and disability rates--have been identified repeatedly by the
NVIC, but the FDA refuses to intervene to prevent further unnecessary injury and deaths.
In fact, they have never recalled a vaccine lot due to adverse reactions. Some would call
this infanticide. Finally, vaccination practice assumes that all recipients, regardless of
race, culture, diet, geographic location, or any other circumstances, will respond the
same. This was perhaps never more dramatically disproved than an instance a few years
ago in Australia's Northern Territory, where stepped-up immunization campaigns
resulted in an incredible *50%* infant mortality rate in the native aborigines.[34]
Researcher A. Kalokerinos, M.D. discovered that the aborigine's vitamin C deficient
"junk food" diet (imposed on them by white society) was a critical factor (studies had
already shown that vaccination depletes vitamin C reserves; children in shock or collapse
often recovered in a matter of minutes when given vitamin C injections). He considered
it amazing that as many survived as did. One must wonder about the lives of the
survivors, though, for if half died, surely the other half did not escape unaffected. Almost
as troubling was a very recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine which
revealed that a substantial number of Romanian children were contracting polio from the
vaccine, a less common phenomena in most developed countries. Correlations with
injections of antibiotics were found: a single injection within one month of vaccination
raised the risk of polio 8 times, 2 to 9 injections raised the risk 27-fold, and 10 or more
injections raised the risk 182 times [Washington Post, February 22, 1995]. What other
factors not accounted for in vaccination theory will surface unexpectedly to reveal
unforeseen or previously overlooked consequences? We will not begin to fully
comprehend the scope of this danger until researchers begin looking and reporting in
earnest. In the meantime, entire countries' populations are unwitting gamblers in a game
that many might very well choose not to play if they were given all the "rules" in
advance.
VACCINATION TRUTH #4: "Many of the assumptions upon which immunization
theory and practice are based have been proven false in their application."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #5: "Childhood diseases are extremely dangerous..." ...or are
they, really?
Most childhood infectious diseases have few serious consequences in today's modern
world. Even conservative CDC statistics for pertussis during 1992-94 indicate a 99.8%
recovery rate. In fact, when hundreds of pertussis cases occurred in Ohio and Chicago in
the fall 1993 outbreak, an infectious disease expert from Cincinnati Children's Hospital
said, "The disease was very mild, no one died, and no one went to the intensive care
unit." The vast majority of the time, childhood infectious diseases are benign and
self-limiting. They also may impart lifelong immunity, whereas vaccine-induced
immunity is only temporary. In fact, the temporary nature of vaccine immunity can create
a more dangerous situation in a child's future. For example, the new chicken pox vaccine
has an effectiveness estimated at 6 - 10 years. If effective, it will postpone the child's
vulnerability until adulthood, when death from the disease is 20 times more likely. About
half of measles cases in the late 1980's resurgence were in adolescents and adults, most
of whom were vaccinated as children,[35] and the recommended booster shots may
provide protection for less than 6 months.[36] Furthermore, some healthcare
professionals are concerned that the virus from the chicken pox vaccine may "reactivate
later in life in the form of herpes zoster (shingles) or other immune system disorders."
[37] Dr. A. Lavin of the Dept. of Pediatrics, St. Luke's Medical Center in Cleveland,
Ohio, strongly opposed licensing the new vaccine, "Until we actually know...the risks
involved in injecting mutated DNA [herpes virus] into the host genome [children]."[38]
The truth is, *no one* knows, but the vaccine is now licensed and recommended by
health authorities. Not only are most infectious diseases rarely dangerous, but they can
actually play a vital role in the development of a strong, healthy immune system. Persons
who have not had measles have a higher incidence of certain skin diseases, degenerative
diseases of bone and cartilage, and certain tumors, while absence of mumps has been
linked to higher risks of ovarian cancer.
VACCINATION TRUTH #5: "Dangers of childhood diseases are greatly exaggerated in
order to scare parents into compliance with a questionable but profitable procedure."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #6: "Polio was one of the clearly great vaccination success
stories..." ...or was it?
Six New England states reported increases in polio one year after the Salk vaccine was
introduced, ranging from more than doubling in Vermont to Massachusetts' astounding
increase of 642%. In 1959, 77.5% of Massachusetts' paralytic cases had received 3 doses
of IPV (injected polio vaccine). During 1962 U.S. Congressional hearings, Dr. Bernard
Greenberg, head of the Dept. of Biostatistics for the University of North Carolina School
of Public Health, testified that not only did the cases of polio increase substantially after
mandatory vaccinations (50% increase from 1957 to 1958, 80% increase from 1958 to
1959), but that the statistics were manipulated by the Public Health Service to give the
opposite impression.[39] According to researcher-author Dr. Viera Scheibner, 90% of
polio cases were eliminated from statistics by health authorities' redefinition of the
disease when the vaccine was introduced, while in reality the Salk vaccine was
continuing to cause paralytic polio in several countries at a time when there were no
epidemics being caused by the wild virus. (For example, in the U.S., thousands of cases
of viral and aseptic meningitis are reported each year--these were routinely diagnosed as
polio before the Saulk vaccine; the number of cases needed to declare an epidemic was
raised from 20 to 35; and the requirement for inclusion in paralysis statistics was changed
from symptoms for 24 hours to symptoms for over 60 days; it is no wonder that polio
decreased radically after vaccines--at least on paper.) In 1985, the CDC reported that
87% of the cases of polio in the U.S. between 1973 and 1983 were caused by the vaccine,
and later declared that all but a few imported cases since were caused by the
vaccine--and most of the imported cases occurred in fully immunized individuals. Jonas
Salk, inventor of the IPV, testified before a Senate subcommittee that nearly all polio
outbreaks since 1961 were caused by the oral polio vaccine. At a workshop on polio
vaccines sponsored by the Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Dr. Samuel Katz of Duke University cited the estimated 8-10 annual U.S.
cases of vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP) in people who have taken the oral
polio vaccine, and the [four year] absence of wild polio from the western hemisphere.
Jessica Scheer of the National Rehabilitation Hospital Research Center in Washington,
D.C., pointed out that most parents are unaware that polio vaccination in this country
entails "a small number of human sacrifices each year." Compounding this contradiction
are low adverse event reporting and the NVIC's experiences with confirming and
correcting misdiagnoses of vaccine reactions, which suggest that the actual number of
VAPP "sacrifices" may be many times higher than the number cited by the CDC.
VACCINATION TRUTH #6: "Vaccines caused substantial increases in polio after years
of steady declines, and they are the sole cause of polio in the U.S. today."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #7: "My child had no short-term reaction to vaccination, so
there is nothing to worry about..." ...or is there?
The documented long term adverse effects of vaccines include chronic immunological
and neurological disorders such as autism, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorders,
dyslexia, allergies, cancer, and other conditions, many of which barely existed 30 years
ago before mass vaccination programs. Vaccine components include known carcinogens
such as thimersol, aluminum phosphate, and formaldehyde (the Poisons Information
Centre in Australia claims there is no acceptable safe amount of formaldehyde which can
be injected into a living human body). Medical historian, researcher and author Harris
Coulter, Ph.D. explained that his extensive research revealed childhood immunization to
be "...causing a low-grade encephalitis in infants on a much wider scale than public
health authorities were willing to admit, about 15-20% of all children." He points out that
the sequelae [conditions known to result from a disease] of encephalitis [inflammation of
the brain, a known side-effect of vaccination]: autism, learning disabilities, minimal and
not-so-minimal brain damage, seizures, epilepsy, sleeping and eating disorders, sexual
disorders, asthma, crib death, diabetes, obesity, and impulsive violence are precisely the
disorders which afflict contemporary society. Many of these conditions were formerly
relatively rare, but they have become more common as childhood vaccination programs
have expanded. Coulter also points out that "...pertussis toxoid is used to create
encephalitis in lab animals." A German study found correlations between vaccinations
and 22 neurological conditions including attention deficit and epilepsy. The dilemma is
that viral elements in vaccines may persist and mutate in the human body for years, with
unknown consequences. Millions of children are partaking in an enormous, crude
experiment; and no sincere, organized effort is being made by the medical community to
track the negative side-effects or to determine the long term consequences.
VACCINATION TRUTH #7: "The long term adverse effects of vaccinations have been
virtually ignored, in spite of direct correlations with many chronic conditions."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #8: "Vaccines are the only disease prevention option
available..." ...or are they?
Most parents feel compelled to take some disease-preventing action for their children.
While there is no 100% guarantee anywhere, there are viable alternatives. Historically,
homeopathy has been more effective than "mainstream" allopathic medicine in treating
and preventing disease. In a U.S. cholera outbreak in 1849, allopathic medicine saw a
48-60% death rate, while homeopathic hospitals had a documented death rate of only
3%.[40] Roughly similar statistics still hold true for cholera today.[41] Recent
epidemiological studies show homeopathic remedies as equaling or surpassing standard
vaccinations in preventing disease. There are reports in which populations that were
treated homeopathically after exposure had a 100% success rate--none of the treated
caught the disease.[42] There are homeopathic kits available for disease prevention. [43]
Homeopathic remedies can also be taken only during times of increased risk (outbreaks,
traveling, etc.), and have proven highly effective in such instances. And since these
remedies have no toxic components, they have no side effects. In addition, homeopathy
has been effective in reversing some of the disability caused by vaccine reactions, as well
as many other chronic conditions with which allopathic medicine has had little success.
VACCINATION TRUTH #8: "Documented safe and effective alternatives to vaccination
have been available for decades but suppressed by the medical establishment."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #9: "Vaccinations are legally mandated, and thus
unavoidable..." ...or are they?
There are three exemption possibilities in the U.S.: 1) Medical Exemption: All 50 states
in the U.S. allow for a medical exemption. A few states allow licensed naturopathic or
chiropractic doctors to issue medical exemptions in addition to medical doctors.
However, few pediatricians check for indications of increased risk before administering
vaccines, so it is advisable for parents to research this matter for themselves. Epilepsy,
severe allergies, and siblings' previous adverse reactions are but a few of the many
conditions in child or family history which may increase the chances of an adverse
reaction, and thus qualify for a medical exemption; 2) Religious Exemption: Nearly all
states allow for a religious exemption. This may or may not require membership in an
established religious organization, as individual state laws vary; and 3) Philosophical or
Personal Exemption: An increasing number of states allow one of these exemptions, in
recognition of the controversy and/or violation of freedom that mandated vaccination
laws impose. Generally, exempted children may not be banned from attending public
schools and colleges except during local outbreaks. It is best to contact local school
officials in advance to determine their particular procedure for handling exemptions. The
best source for a copy of your state's vaccination laws is state health officials or your
public library. A phone call to the state Department of Epidemiology may be all that it
takes to get a copy mailed to you.
VACCINATION TRUTH #9: "Legal exemptions from vaccinations are obtainable for
most--but not all--U.S. citizens."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VACCINATION MYTH #10: "Public health officials always place health above all other
concerns..." ...or do they?
Vaccination history is riddled with documented instances of deceit designed to portray
vaccines as mighty disease conquerors, when in fact many times they have actually
delayed and even reversed disease declines. The United Kingdom's Department of Health
admitted that vaccination status determined the diagnosis of subsequent diseases: Those
found in vaccinated patients received alternate diagnoses; hospital records and death
certificates were falsified. Today, many doctors are still reluctant to diagnose diseases in
vaccinated children, and so the "Myth" about vaccine success continues. However,
individual doctors may not be wholly to blame. As medical students, few have reason to
question the information taught (which does not address the information presented in this
report). Ironically, medicine is a field which demands conformity; there is little tolerance
for opinions opposing the status quo. Doctors cannot warn you about what they
themselves do not know, and with little time for further education once they begin
practice, they are, in a sense, held captive by a system which discourages them from
acquiring information independently and forming their own opinions. Those few that
dare to question the status quo are frequently ostracized, and in any case, they are still
legally bound to adhere to the system's legal mandates.

SUMMARY

In the December 1994 Medical Post, Canadian author of the best-seller
"Medical Mafia," Guylaine Lanctot, M.D. stated, "The medical authorities keep lying.
Vaccination has been a disaster on the immune system. It actually causes a lot of
illnesses. We are actually changing our genetic code through vaccination...10 years from
now we will know that the biggest crime against humanity was vaccines." After an
extensive study of the medical literature on vaccination, Dr. Viera Scheibner concluded
that "there is no evidence whatsoever of the ability of vaccines to prevent any diseases.
To the contrary, there is a great wealth of evidence that they cause serious side effects."
John B. Classen, M.D., M.B.A. has stated, "My data proves that the studies used to
support immunization are so flawed that it is impossible to say if immunization provides
a net benefit to anyone or to society in general. This question can only be determined by
proper studies which have never been performed. The flaw of previous studies is that
there was no long term follow up and chronic toxicity was not looked at. The American
Society of Microbiology has promoted my research...and thus acknowledges the need for
proper studies." To some these may seem like radical positions, but they are not
unfounded. The continued denial of the evidence against vaccines only perpetuates the
"Myths" and their negative consequences on our children and society. Aggressive and
comprehensive scientific investigation is clearly warranted, yet immunization programs
continue to expand in the absence of such research. Manufacturer profits are guaranteed,
while accountability for the negative effects is conspicuously absent. This is especially
sad given the readily available safe and effective alternatives. Meanwhile, the race is on.
According to the NVIC, there are over 250 new vaccines being developed for everything
from earaches to birth control to diarrhea, with about 100 of these already in clinical
trials. Researchers are working on vaccine delivery through nasal sprays, mosquitoes
(yes, mosquitoes), and the fruits of "transgenic" plants in which vaccine viruses are
grown. With every child (and adult, for that matter) on the planet a potential required
recipient of multiple doses, and every healthcare system and government a potential
buyer, it is little wonder that countless millions of dollars are spent nurturing the growing
multi-billion dollar vaccine industry. Without public outcry, we will see more and more
new vaccines required of us and our children. And while profits are readily calculable,
the real human costs are being ignored. Whatever your personal vaccination decision,
make it an informed one; you have that right and responsibility. It is a difficult issue, but
there is more than enough at stake to justify whatever time and energy it takes. Do not
use this report alone to make your vaccination decision:
FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF!

To obtain a copy of Dispelling Vaccination Myths and the Vaccination Resource
Directory (publishers, books, tapes, videos, newsletters, government agencies, nonprofits,
vaccination alternatives, internet and WWW sources, etc.), send $5 + $2 P/H (US funds)
to: Vaccine Awareness, P.O. Box 62282, Durham, NC 27715-2282, download it free
from internet address http://www.unc.edu/~aphillip/www/vaccine/informed.htm, or send
email to aphillip@email.unc.edu.
About the Author... Alan Phillips is an independent investigator and writer on vaccine
risks and alternatives. This report appeared in the April 1996 edition of "Wildfire
Magazine," as well as numerous newsletters in the U.S. and around the world. It is being
used by the Sheffield School of Homeopathy, UK. Alan has written to the Australian
Minister for Human Services and Health for the Immunisation Investigation Group and
the Campaign Against Fraudulent Medical Research in NSW Australia. Alan is also the
founder of Human Development Services, Inc., an international nonprofit conducting
training and research in psychorientology; the designer of a national children's literacy
program and materials; and a singer-songwriter and composer with albums of original
songs and music in over two dozen countries on six continents. His academic
achievements include a B.A. Magna Cum Laude, and election to the Phi Kappa Phi
National Honor Society and The National Dean's List.
INFORMATION SOURCES: (1) National Technical Information Service, Springfield,
VA 22161, 703-487-4650, 703-487-4600. (2) Reported by KM Severyn,R.Ph.,Ph.D. in
the Dayton Daily News, May 28, 1993. (Ohio Parents for Vaccine Safety, 251 Ridgeway
Dr., Dayton, OH 45459) (3) National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), 512 Maple
Ave. W. #206, Vienna, VA 22180, 703-938-0342; "Investigative Report on the Vaccine
Adverse Event Reporting System." (4) Viera Scheibner, Ph.D., Vaccination: 100 Years of
Orthodox Research Shows that Vaccines Represent a Medical Assault on the Immune
System. (5) W.C. Torch, "Diptheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunization: A potential
cause of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)," (Amer. Adacemy of Neurology, 34th
Annual Meeting, Apr 25 - May 1, 1982), Neurology 32(4), pt. 2. (6) Confounding in
studies of adverse reactions to vaccines [see comments]. Fine PE, Chen RT, REVIEW
ARTICLE: 38 REFS. Comment in: Am J Epidemiol 1994 Jan 15;139(2):229-30. Division
of Immunization, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333. (7) Nature and Rates
of Adverse Reactions Associated with DTP and DT Immunizations in Infants and
Children" (Pediatrics, Nov. 1981, Vol. 68, No. 5) (8) The Fresno Bee, Community
Relations, 1626 E. Street, Fresno, CA 93786, DPT Report, December 5, 1984. (9)
Trollfors B, Rabo, E. 1981. Whooping cough in adults. British Medical Journal
(September 12), 696-97. (10) National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP),
Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 7-90, 5600
Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 800-338-2382. (11) Measles vaccine failures: lack of
sustained measles specific immunoglobulin G responses in revaccinated adolescents and
young adults. Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center,
Washington, DC 20007. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 13(1):34-8, 1994 Jan. (12)
Measles outbreak in 31 schools: risk factors for vaccine failure and evaluation of a
selective revaccination strategy. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics,
University of Toronto, Ont. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 150(7):1093-8, 1994
Apr 1. (13) Haemophilus b disease after vaccination with Haemophilus b polysaccharide
or conjugate vaccine. Institution Division of Bacterial Products, Center for Biologics
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Md 20892.
American Journal of Diseases of Children. 145(12):1379-82, 1991 Dec. (14) Sustained
transmission of mumps in a highly vaccinated population: assessment of primary vaccine
failure and waning vaccine-induced immunity. Division of Field Epidemiology, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. Journal of Infectious Diseases.
169(1):77-82, 1994 Jan. 1. (15) Secondary measles vaccine failure in healthcare workers
exposed to infected patients. Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia, PA 19104. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 14(2):81-6, 1993
Feb. (16) MMWR, 38 (8-9), 12/29/89). (17) MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report) "Measles." 989; 38:329-330. (18) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR). 33(24), 6/22/84. (19) Failure to reach the goal of measles elimination.
Apparent paradox of measles infections in immunized persons. Review article: 50 REFS.
Dept. of Internal Medicine, Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic and
Foundation, Rochester, MN. Archives of Internal Medicine. 154(16):1815-20, 1994 Aug
22. (19a) Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology, May 1996; 79(2): 163-170. (20)
Trevor Gunn, Mass Immunization, A Point in Question, p 15 (E.D. Hume, Pasteur
Exposed-The False Foundations of Modern Medicine, Bookreal, Australia, 1989.) (21)
Physician William Howard Hay's address of June 25, 1937; printed in the Congressional
Record. (22) Outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis in Oman; evidence for widespread
transmission among fully vaccinated children Lancet vol 338: Sept 21, 1991; 715-720.
(23) Neil Miller, Vaccines: Are They Safe and Effective? p 33. (24) Chicago Dept. of
Health. (25) See Note 23 pp 18-40. (26) See Note 23 pp 45,46 [NVIC News, April 92,
p12]. (27) S. Curtis, A Handbook of Homeopathic Alternatives to Immunization. (28)
Darrell Huff, How to Lie With Statistics, p 84. (29) quoted from the internet, credited to
Keith Block, M.D., a family physician from Evanston, Illinois, who has spent years
collecting data in the medical literature on immunizations. (30) See Note 20, p 15. (31)
See Note 20 p 21. (32) See Note 20, p 21 (British Medical Council Publication 272, May
1950) (33) See Note 20, p 21; also Note 23 p 47 (Buttram, MD, Hoffman, Mothering
Magazine, Winter 1985 p 30; Kalokerinos and Dettman, MDs, "The Dangers of
Immunization," Biological Research Inst. [Australia], 1979, p 49). (34) Archie
Kalolerinos, MD, Every Second Child, Keats Publishing, Inc. 1981 (35) Reported by KM
Severyn,R.Ph,Ph.D. in the Dayton Daily News, June 3, 1995. (36) Vaccine Information
and Awareness, "Measles and Antibody Titre Levels," from Vaccine Weekly, January
1996. (37) NVIC Press Release, "Consumer Group Warns use of New Chicken Pox
Vaccine in all Healthy Children May Cause More Serious Disease". (38) See note 35
(quoted from The Lancet) (39) Hearings before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, House of Representatives, 87th Congress, Second Session on H.R. 10541,
May 1962, p.94. (40) Ullman, Discovering Homeopathy, p 42 (Thomas L. Bradford,
Logic Figures, p68, 113-146; Coulter, Divided Legacy, Vol 3, p268). (41) See Note 27.
(42) See Note 27. (43) Golden, Isaac, Vaccination? A Review of Risks and Alternatives.
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Dispelling Vaccination Myths: Unsolicited Reader Comments
"I found your Web site information to be the most credible, concise, and informative
information available on the vaccination issue, and in particular, why we should
immediately stop all vacinations until some serious research is done concerning the
issues you bring up. It is very difficult to find good literature to present to patients when
counseling them about vaccinations, particularly when they are wanting information
about why they should not vaccinate. I find this information very well written and will be
using it in my medical practice..." Ron Manzanero, MD, Austin, TX
"I just downloaded your vaccination myth file, and I must say, I am impressed...I am an
Internal Medicine resident in California, but I do not share my colleagues' view that
vaccines are a panacea." Dave D., M.D.
"I found your report disturbing and well documented...Good luck in your efforts to
discover the truth." J.D., MD, Durham, NC
"Thank you SO much for the immunizations paper -- it is SO well researched and
documented."... S.G., Ph.D., University of North Carolina
“...this guy has just summarized every book I'd read to date on the vaccination issue!"
N.L.
"...It certainly seems a neat, concise summary of the various issues regarding vaccination.
The no-nonsense, scientific, non-`new age' approach is appealing to someone from a
scientific background such as myself." M.B.
"Thank you for giving us the facts. I am taking my first virology course and find your
viewpoint refreshing and truthful." R.S., North Dakota University
"...I've never seen as comprehensive research and references as in that article, and I plan
to pass it along to my doctor, day care center, and friends." M.T.F.
“...Your article is the perfect avenue for [my husband] to get the basic vaccine facts
without exhaustive reading...Thanks for having the courage to speak out. It reinforces my
decision and makes me feel like I'm not alone." K.C.J.
"I rushed to your article and was not disappointed. This is very clear, very informative, an
excellent synthesis of a lot of informations, and very adapted to answer questions of the
layperson." F.D.C.
"I am truly impressed with your work. You nailed some real good insights/points right
squarely. I know we will be getting a lot of response from this one." Rick McBride,
Publisher, Wildfire Magazine
"One of the best posts on immunization I have ever seen! ...too bad people don't take the
time to research for themselves rather than blindly believing the medical establishment.
There is just so much we don't know about immunizations, not to mention all of the
negative aspects that we do know!" C.J.
"Please accept my profound gratitude for your dedication and hard work in revealing the
truth about one of the greatest dangers facing our children worldwide: vaccinations." R.S.
Bell, Newton Laboratories Homeopathic Medicine
"Your report is really well organized, researched, to the point and in plain,
understandable English." L.S.
"I enjoyed reading your report. It is clear, concise and well organized." S.M., RN, SNM
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Dispelling Vaccination Myths: Reprints/Reprint Requests: A. Internet Postings:
1)Sumeria Virtual Library, Jan. 1996 - present:
http://www.livelinks.com/sumeria/health/myth2.html 2) Informed Parents Vaccination
Home Page, Sept. 1996 - present:
http://www.unc.edu/~aphillip/www/vaccine/informed.htm 3) Dispelling Vaccination
Myths Mirror Site, Jan. 1997 - present:
http://www.ideasign.com/chiliast/vaccine/dvm1.htm 4) Feline Future Library, Dec. 1997 -
present: http://www.felinefuture.com/library/medicine/vacc_myth1.html B.
Reprints/Reprint requests: 1) Health Action Network, U.K. (distributor) 2) The National
Vaccine Information Center, Vienna, VA 3) The Parent's Information Network, WV 4)
The Vaccine Awareness Network, Australia 5) Vaccine Information and Awareness
(VIA), CA 6) Sai Sanjeevini Foundation, India (distributor) 7) Hindustan Times, N.
India, January 1997 (est. 1 mil readership) C. Requests for use in college instruction: 1)
Sheffield School of Homeopathy, UK, I. Townsend, Instr., fall 1996 2) UNC-Chapel Hill,
School of Medicine, S. G., Ph.D., Instr., spring 1997