The war on immunization

by Dr. Jerrol Thompson



Annmarie Ballantyne has mistakenly used the often quoted example of France and Hepatitis B. Yes!{{more}} In 1998 just after Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s revelation on Autism and just three year after the introduction of a mandatory Hepatitis B Vaccination. The French Minister of Health withdrew the compulsory vaccination after 15,000 persons spooked by the Wakefield claims filed suite against the Miniter, Government and drug companies over a new rumour that the Hepatitis B Vaccine caused Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Since then, numerous studies, in over 30 countries have never again seen any observation of Multiple Sclerosis associated with any vaccines. Nor has the antibacterial ingredient (aluminium hydroxide or Thiomersal) been shown to be a real problem. However, the deed was done. Many French people lost trust in vaccines, and immunization rates for other diseases also fell. (So far in 2011 France has recorded its largest Measles outbreak in decades; 4,937 cases). By 1998, over 24 Million of France’s 66 Million population had received the Hepatitis B vaccine, but it was observed that MS cases occurred with the same or slightly less incidence in persons immunized as those un-immunized, indicating that Vaccines were not the cause of MS. As Hepatitis Vaccine was being given to everyone, the few adults who developed MS were probably destined to develop MS and had other predisposing factors. There were never any cases in infants.

Ballantyne has failed to reveal that even though Hepatitis B was removed from the mandatory vaccine list for older children, it was still strongly recommended and today, especially as the anti-vaccine movement has waned, over 60% of the children in France chose to receive the Hep-B vaccine. Further in 2008 & 2009, the Court of Cassation and Paris Court of Appeal Courts dismissed the law suits, concluding that the data did not allow the vaccination to be considered as being the triggering factor of MS. (www.internationallawoffice.com)

SVG is a nation where freedom of speech and expression must be paramount and protected. Providing persons with information so they can make their own choice as to the truth and merit of the information is a laudable and acceptable approach. However, we must always balance this first with issues of libel and defamation, and also the search for truth or in this case the prevention of public alarm and spread of false, harmful information which can result in great injury and even death. The issue here is not simply one of freedom of speech and the ability to say what you want or what you have read somewhere on the Internet, it is one where persons are deliberately using old, outmoded, unproven innuendo and half truth for some devious purpose, when they know these statements have no real basis or may have been discredited. Some may say don’t bother with them. However, I raise these issues as a matter of duty and with the full expectation that there will be a flurry of recriminations suggesting that I want to prevent freedom of speech, but on the contrary I just want to save children’s lives.

It is well known that the deaths each year of 2 Million children worldwide can be avoided if they were fully immunised. However, it is also estimated that over 24 Million children both rich and poor do not receive or complete their full course of immunization annually.

Some critical barriers and reasons range from: (1). weakness in health care systems; (2). difficulty in delivering the vaccines to where they are needed with the required refrigeration to avoid spoilage; (3). funding; (4). a lack of understanding about the importance, benefits and impact of not receiving vaccines; (5). the threat posed by false and unsubstantiated conspiracy theories and propaganda about vaccine safety.

The last two phenomena have adversely affected many poor, rural, deeply religious or superstitious communities worldwide, resulting in the persistence and resurgence of deadly diseases.

In 1995, as an Infectious Disease Specialist physician, I was invited as a panellist on Immunization at the world famous Apollo Theatre New York. I was astounded by the level of hostility, deeply entrenched belief in conspiracy theories and false beliefs like the American Government had developed vaccines to sterilize black women.

In 1996 a controversial drug trial by Pfizer Pharmaceutical in Northern Nigeria created distrust and led to a refusal by Nigeria’s Muslim leaders to allow health authorities to administer the polio vaccine to children. They alleged the vaccine was laced with the AIDS virus and sterilising agents in a Western ploy to reduce the Muslim population. In 2003, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau banned Polio Immunization. However, within two years, a massive outbreak of polio killed 259 persons, and even spread to neighbouring countries. This forced the Governor to resume vaccination in 2006 after independent studies concluded the rumours were unfounded, and today where polio had once wreaked havoc, there has been only one case in 5 years. This dramatic impact of immunization eventually convinced long doubting Muslim religious leaders and nay-sayers to embrace and join the very campaign they once scorned and it broke the back of the rumour mill, scepticism and conspiracy theories. Similarly, here in SVG we have to be extremely careful of persons who have a bully pulpit or a penchant for commenting on matters poorly researched and parroting well intentioned opinions without understanding their devastating effects… or do they? No doubt they have freedom of speech, but you and I also have the freedom to express our opinion on what they have said and should have the courage to denounce the treachery and maliciousness of some of their comments and to reject it. What are the Thusian’s real motives?

SVG has an impressive 99% immunization rate, but there is still a small unimmunised pool which can serve as a nidus for an outbreak of disease. Unfortunately, many unsuspecting parents fall prey to the sceptics, developing sufficient doubt to delay crucial immunization with dire consequences. The Thusians campaign against Immunization is disgraceful and shameful and they should apologise! Further, why hasn’t the NDP denounced them?

The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety established 12 years ago has monitored vaccine advances and safety. Scientific breakthroughs in biotechnology have now removed most of the technical barriers and earlier problems seen in the 70s. New vaccines such as Herpes Pamplona Virus (HPV) now help prevent deadly Cervical Cancer. Instead of needles, aerosols (sprays) will soon be used to give vaccines and more heat stable vaccines which will no longer require any refrigeration will reduce spoilage. Vaccines have been developed for Dengue which is common in the Caribbean and more effective vaccines for Hepatitis A, Pneumococcal disease, etc are near their final development. Tremendous work has also been done on an anti-HIV Vaccine and innovative work at the Cleveland Clinic may result in a vaccine which can help prevent breast cancer.

In the near future, the critical issues will not be the effectiveness or side effects of a vaccine but rather, the lack of availability and global shortages of supply for poorer nations (as with the recent 22 Million H1N1 pandemic outbreak and the shortage of vaccine). In SVG the new Health Information System (HIS) will help in monitoring the side effects of all medications and vaccines, but citizens must become much more informed. There is absolutely no place for unfounded superstition or more so devious motives from people who should know better.