Facts and myths about vaccines have grown up around the dispute over their effectiveness and safety. Most doctors support the use of not only compulsory but also recommended vaccinations. Our opponents are of the opinion that we are persuaded to undertake too many vaccinations, and the preparations used to perform them may be dangerous to he alth.

Vaccine opponents, who in most cases are not doctors or pharmacists, emphasize that given the good epidemiological situation of infectious diseases, administering so many vaccines does not make sense. Another argument for them is the alleged harmfulness of substances contained in vaccines, and even their contribution to many diseases, as well as the occurrence of undesirable post-vaccination symptoms.

Infant vaccines can cause autism: MYTH

The arguments of the opponents of immunization are weak. They most often refer to a work previously published in the "Lancet" journal, in which Andrew Jeremy Wakefield reported the association of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination with intestinal diseases and disorders of mental development, primarily with autism. And while these conclusions have not been confirmed by any other studies, confidence in the vaccine has been called into question.

"The Lancet" apologized and published numerous corrections, but it was to no avail. Vaccinations against these diseases have fallen in many countries.

A slightly different caliber is reported by the Infectious Diseases Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which compared the number of deaths caused by disease in the period preceding the start of vaccination with the data from 2007. They show that the mortality rate has decreased from 93%. in the case of whooping cough up to 100 percent. with regard to chicken pox, diphtheria, polio and rubella.

Moreover, it is known from world epidemiological statistics that infectious diseases are the cause of nearly 30 percent deaths, while cardiovascular disease - 26 percent. deaths.

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Which vaccinations are compulsory?

The Ministry of He alth establishes the compulsory vaccination schedule. Newborns are vaccinated in the first 24 hours of life against tuberculosis and hepatitis B (so-called implantable jaundice). Then, cyclically, untilAt 19, children and adolescents are vaccinated against: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps and rubella.

Vaccinations cause serious diseases: MYTH

Extensive epidemiological, clinical and laboratory studies have shown that there is no link between vaccines and many diseases.

● Insulin-dependent diabetes - no higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes has been demonstrated after vaccinations against smallpox, tuberculosis, tetanus, rubella, mumps and Haemophilus infulenzae type b (Hib).

● Multiple sclerosis - a dozen or so years of research that has excluded a relationship between the incidence of multiple sclerosis and vaccinations against hepatitis B (hepatitis B).

● Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) - A multicentre study found the risk of disease 10 times lower after influenza vaccination than after influenza-like infection.

● Atopic Diseases - Vaccination of children with whole cell pertussis and BCG vaccine does not contribute to the development of asthma in children and adolescents. There was also no association between vaccinations and atopic dermatitis, hypersensitivity to any of the food or inhaled antigens. The research was conducted on a group of 200 thousand. people.

It has also been proven in many studies that the he alth of people suffering from autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus or rheumatoid arthritis) does not worsen. On the contrary, due to increased susceptibility to disease, these people are recommended to have the flu, hepatitis B and pneumococcal vaccines.

Thiomersal, with mercury ethylene, used to preserve some childhood vaccines, has not been shown to cause optic atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or autism in children.

Studies in large populations in many countries have not found a link between measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines with autism. This combination vaccine is given on weeks 13-15. month of life. This is the time when the child's psychological test shows the first signs of autism.

Probably hence the associations. The WHO Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS), summarizing the studies, did not confirm the toxicity of thiomersal, but agreed with the proposal to produce mercury-free vaccines.

Vaccination causes "pretend" disease, teaching the body to fight the disease: FACT

The disease gives immunity but carries the risk of serious complications. Currently used vaccines contain negligible amountsdead or weakened microorganisms. They are not dangerous even for very young children.

The vaccine will not cause, for example, tuberculosis, smallpox or tetanus. If, on the other hand, the bacteria or virus causing the disease enters the body of a child who does not have a mature immune system from the environment, the risk will be high.

We should not count on the fact that the child's organism will become resistant to a given disease once it passes through it. Each disease is associated with the possibility of serious complications. Getting sick with "make-believe", and this is what the vaccine causes, does not carry such a threat. Post-vaccination and post-vaccination immunity are equally strong. So why risk complications?

Child vaccinations - contraindications

There are few contraindications to vaccinations. One of them is active tuberculosis, HIV infection, inherited immunity disorders. However, it often happens that even with such diseases, contraindications to vaccination may be temporary or only apply to certain types of vaccines.

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