The following contains approximately 100 scientific studies that at the very least should indicate that the vaccine debate is far from settled.
This compilation of studies is geared towards those who are largely convinced that "the science is in" regarding the safety and efficacy of all vaccines.
This is also not intended to be a gish gallop. The subject of vaccination is extremely nuanced and complex, and absolutely deserves a detailed, in depth discussion.
I've tried to present this material in as concise a manner as possible. Those that dismiss this information without careful consideration are doing this entire topic, and themselves, a great disservice.
This material is not meant to dissuade people from receiving vaccines, nor is it meant to demonstrate that all vaccines are harmful and ineffective.
Rather, the goal is create an impetus for a renewed conversation on an extremely important topic that affects the lives and well-being of future generations.
Although this information was compiled from a variety of sources, two books in particular proved to be indispensable: Miller's Review of Critical Vaccine Studies by Neil Z. Miller, and Dissolving Illusions by Suzanne Humphries.
For part I, see the following:
The Skeptic's Guide to Vaccines - Part I: Poxes, Polio, Contamination and Coverup
Here are the different sections of Part II:
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Strain Replacement & Pathogen Evolution
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Influencing Influenza
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Pushing Pertussis
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Hyping HPV
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Selling Varicella
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Measles Mania
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axolotl__peyotl ago
Measles Mania
Measles is a contagious disease caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system, skin and eyes.
Complications from the disease are unlikely, and previously healthy children usually recover without incident. However, measles can be dangerous in populations newly exposed to the virus and in malnourished children living in undeveloped countries.
A measles vaccine was introduced in the 1960's, and it was combined with vaccines for mumps and rubella in a single MMR shot.
People who are vaccinated against measles can still get the disease, and measles can be transmitted from a fully vaccinated person to other fully vaccinated individuals.
Measles vaccine failures cause outbreaks of the disease, raising “important questions concerning the relative contributions of vaccine failure versus failure to vaccinate.”
Loss of immunity after receiving the MMR vaccine, combined with viral shedding, may spread disease and prevent herd immunity:
Fevers induced by measles vaccination are related to the replication and shedding of the live vaccine virus, “showing that subcutaneous injection of an attenuated measles strain can result in respiratory excretion of this virus.”
Only molecular genotyping can distinguish between wild-type and vaccine-related disease.
Emergency room visits are significantly more common in children who recently received the MMR vaccine:
Young children have an increased risk of requiring emergency care after MMR. This is especially true for girls, who “may have an increased reactogenicity to the MMR vaccine.”
Vaccine-related deaths have been associated with mumps as well, as a study has observed "devastating neurological complications associated with the detection of live-attenuated mumps virus in the brain of a child."
Contracting diseases like measles and mumps naturally in childhood may have lifelong health benefits, including a significant protection against heart attacks and strokes during adulthood:
The results of this study may be explained by the hygiene hypothesis, which proposes that infections suffered during childhood are necessary for normal development of the immune system.
Many autistic children have elevated levels of antibodies to the measles virus but not to other viruses. “An inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism.” As a result, a large number of autism cases may stem from neurological symptoms due to an atypical measles virus infections following MMR vaccination.