Posted on 08/14/2002 1:42:48 PM PDT by krodriguesdc
Mumps and the MMR vaccine
Evening Standard editorial comment
Parents have good reason to be concerned about the possibility of a mumps outbreak in London. The epidemiological history of this infectious disease suggests that mumps is unpleasant but hardly ever fatal to children. In rare cases it causes meningitis or encephalitis; it can also cause infertility in boys. Before there was a vaccine for mumps, it tended to kill no more than five people a year.
Yet it is impossible to be certain that half a century of vaccination against the disease will not have weakened our natural immunity to the extent that a renewed outbreak would produce unusually severe symptoms.
This is why the near quadrupling of mumps cases in the capital to 112 in 2001, and the 30 per cent rise in the last quarter over the previous three months, is particularly worrying, given that clinics across the country have been without supplies of the mumps vaccine for up to six months and do not know when they can expect fresh supplies.
The Government will be blamed for creating this situation, and endangering childrens' lives, by insisting that the triple MMR vaccine be used to inoculate children against measles, mumps and rubella, but it is not directly the fault of the Department of Health. The reason why there is such a shortage of mumps vaccine is that not much of it is being manufactured (none to UK licence specifications) and the logical reason for this is that every country in the developed world except Britain has accepted the overwhelming scientific evidence that MMR does not trigger autism in young children. This is not to say that blame should rest with parents who refuse the triple vaccine.
Ever since Dr Andrew Wakefield produced his own variant findings, which suggested a possible link between MMR and autism and bowel disorders, enough anecdotal evidence has emerged that the MMR vaccination appears to coincide with the onset of autism in young children to convince many parents that they must be connected. Pressure is therefore growing to make it the responsibility of the Government to accelerate the production of mumps vaccine and then provide all three vaccinations separately on the NHS. This will be the first major challenge for the new public health minister David Lammy, and perhaps the toughest he will ever have to face.
The simple fact is that chiropractors are not often trained in either the scientific process, microbiologic theory, pharmaceuticals, nor human anatomy. ?well - here is a list of typical chiropractic courses, in addition to undergraduate pre-requisite courses, that are needed to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree.
In addition, a Doctor of Chiropractic must take and pass four parts of his/her standardized National Boards tests.
Course No. Course Title
Trimester I
ANA 502 Systemic Anatomy
ANA 500 Embryology
ANA 504 Spinal Anatomy
PHY 506 Cell Physiology
CHE 508 Biochemistry I: Structure and Function of Macromolecules
PRI 510 The Philosophy and Science of Chiropractic
PRA 512 Technique I: The Philosophy and Practice of Static Palpation
Trimester II
ANA 514 Histology
ANA 530 Thorax/Abdomen/Pelvis Anatomy
PHY 532 Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Physiology
CHE 534 Biochemistry II: Digestion/Intermediary Metabolism
PRI 536 The Philosophy and Science of Chiropractic II
PRA 538 Technique II: Biomechanics I
Trimester III
ANA 540 Extremity/Back Anatomy
PAT 548 Immunobiology
PHY 546 Endocrine/Reproductive Physiology
PHY 560 Renal/Digestive Physiology
MPH 562 Public Health I: The Health Care System
PRA 552 Technique III: The Philosophy and Practice of Kinetic Palpation
PRA 564 Technique IV: Biomechanics II
PRI 550 Introduction to Research
Trimester IV
ANA 566 Head/Neck Anatomy
CHE 568 Basic Nutrition
MPH 570 Microbiology I: Bacteriology
PAT 572 General Pathology
PRA 574 Technique V: The Philosophy and Practice of the Full Spine Specific Technique
Trimester V
ANA 600 Neuroanatomy
PHY 602 Neurophysiology
MPH 604 Microbiology II: Virology/Parasitology/Mycology
PAT 606 Cardiovascular/Pulmonary/Gastrointestinal Pathology
DIM 608 Normal Radiographic Anatomy
CLI 610 Introduction to Clinic I
Trimester VI
PHY 630 Physiology Laboratory
PAT 632 Neuromusculoskeletal/Genitourinary Pathology
PAT 634 Pathology Laboratory
GED 636 Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis
GED 638 Physical Diagnosis
GED 640 Head/Eyes/Ears/Nose/Throat Diagnosis
DIM 642 X-ray Physics and Technology
PRI 612 The Philosophy and Science of Chiropractic III
PRA 614 Technique VI: The Philosophy and Practice of the Gonstead Technique
Trimester VII
MPH 616 Public Health II: Epidemiology
NMS 644 Neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) Diagnosis I: Physical
GED 666 Gastrointestinal/Genitourinary Diagnosis
GED 660 Cardiopulmonary/Endocrine Diagnosis
PRA 646 Technique VII: The Philosophy and Practice of the Diversified Technique
CLI 650 Introduction to Clinic II
PHT 648 Physiotherapy I/Rehabilitation
Trimester VIII
ACS 668 Toxicology I
ACS 694 Emergency Methods/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
NMS 670 Neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) Diagnosis II: Clinical
NMS 676 Clinical Neurology
DIM 678 Skeletal Radiology I
PRA 692 Chiropractic Assessment
PRA 680 Technique VIII: The Philosophy and Practice of Extravertebral Adjusting
CLI 696 Introduction to Clinic III
PHT 688 Physiotherapy II
Trimester IX
DIM 700 Skeletal Radiology II
DIM 702 Soft Tissue Radiology
ACS 712 Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN)
PRA 710 Chiropractic Case Management
PRA 708 Technique IX: The Philosophy and Practice of Integrated Technique Procedures
DIM 704 X-ray Procedures
PRI 706 The Philosophy and Science of Chiropractic IV
CLI 714 Clinic Internship I
Trimester X
GED 730 Clinical Nutrition
ACS 732 Toxicology II
ACS 716 Pediatrics
ACS 718 Geriatrics
ACS 720 Dermatology
GED 734 Differential Diagnosis
DIM 736 X-ray Case Presentation
CLI 750 Clinic Internship IIB
Trimester XI
DIM 738 Special Imaging
ACS 744 Chiropractic Practice/Business Management
ACS 746 Ethics and Jurisprudence
ACS 748 Psychiatry
PRI 740 Research Methods
CLI 760 Clinic Internship IIIB
Trimester XII
CLI 764 Clinic Internship IVB
Grand Total 4,410 hours of study...
We are probably overrepresented on FR.
Dr. Jim.
"Leaning heavily" on the IOM report is YOUR characterization, slick, not mine. I was simply pointing out that they at least made an outward effort to be neutral. There are plenty of problems with that report, include their INTERNAL objectivity. That subject (the committee's actual objectivity) was discussed extensively at the congressional hearings in April, 2001.
At least you've acknowledged the report's existence and its call for more research. In this discussion, that's progress.
As for their conclusions, I had my children vaccinated with MMR 10+ years ago. If I had to make that decision today, I might consider the use of single vaccines, if available, pending further research on MMR.
I certainly DO NOT advocate forced vaccination with MMR in the U.S. That kind of mandated social control is your bag, not mine. You're in good company, though....Henry Waxman strongly supports you.
Since there are exemptions granted on a daily basis, you comment is nonsense. Not to mention that, if you home school your kids you don't even need the waiver.
Nice to see you've finally figured out the difference between "rare" and "small".
Are we supposed to be impressed?
BTW, you left out all the "practice management" and "practice building" seminars.
To bones and aruanan:
"BINGO!!"
Dr. Jim.
"Damnit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a saint!!!"
I know, I stole bones' line.
that's about in a nutshell what it says...
there needs to be more research on MMR...
Ummmm, forgive me, but what the hell does pertussis have to do with MMR?
therefore as far as I am concerned everything is fair game and worthy of discussion where vaccines are concerned...
YES! as a matter of fact - YES!
wow you are so smart!
well - you are correct - somewhat - so why have mandated vaccines if naturally aquired immunity is better than vaccinations!
somatic mutations of your immune system repertoire is a biggy yes...
In addition practicing a healthy life style - proper nutrients, exercise, rest, stress reduction, etc.
Ditto
as I said - you'd never make any of my decisions concerning my health...
After quoting a lengthy paper on ''whole'' cell Pertussis vaccine and the observation of waning immunity, the fact that we use ''acellular" vaccine appears to have been forgotten!
The fact is no offices have used whole-cell in our area for years!
Lastly, increasing evidence of new contagion and spread of wild Pertussis is appearing in the American population.
wow - vaccines are really effective at providing immunity...
I'm conjecturing that incomplete immunization in the community has permitted evolution of a Pertussis variant that must not be completely prevented by the Aventis or Glaxo Smith Kline vaccines.
your wrong here too... wow what's good for Aventis and GSK is good for me, my children and the rest of The USA...
vaccinations have failed to totally protect the public as they have promised to do...
your here answer will be to vaccinate again and again - and if that doesn't work - keep vaccinating some more...
you have no other answers - you vaccinate, give medication, and then surgery - how come there are people in this country who have never been vaccinated and have never had a problem?
Now, when these totally preventable diseases kill, where will you be mister?
telling it like it is mister - just like I am doing now - I have only asked parents to think through their vaccination decisions - you in turn have told them that they are mandated and must regardless of their questions and/or objections have their child(ren) vaccinated. Have you ever heard of informed consent?
As if we can rely on your medical expertise to successfully intubate, run IV antibiotics, quantify hemodynamics, and then wonder why the chiropractors are allowed to call themselves a doctor.
what does this have to do with vaccinations - are still grinding your axe?
If we do smallpox this way, we should just surrender!
you surrender mister - I am going to continue to do as I have done to protect myself and mny loved ones...
?????
I am advocating safety in vaccines...
and - the right to refuse a vaccine if they want to without suffering undue harm...
you and others on this thread, on the other hand, are trying to steer this thread into an axe grinding fest against D.C.'s, D.O.'s, and all others who disagree with you...
stick to the issue...
that is - vaccine safety, etc...
here's the link...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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Such instances as these demonstrate the fallacy of incidence figures, yet vaccine advocates tend to rely on them indiscriminately.
If you make a statement like that, this statement"
I am advocating safety in vaccines...
Is a complete lie. If you are going to claim that vaccines are ineffective, you are not advocating safety, you are advocating avoidance.
But, since you brought it up, one of the greatest successes of an immunization program is a very current one, the Hib vaccine. In the late 80s, when the vaccine was introduced, there were around 20,000 cases of the disease in this country, and the number had remained steady until that point. However, once the program took effect the number of cases had dropped to only 256 in 1995.
Obviously, you cannot account for that mprovements in sanitation.
Could you tell us the difference between the whole cell and acellular vaccine?
Do you know there's a difference?
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