Lies, damned lies, and ... medical studies, in this instance.

[unixronin]

New reports from the UK indicate that Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who criticized the safety of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and claimed to have found a link between the vaccine and autism, falsified his data to make it appear to fit his conclusion.

Despite involving just a dozen children, the 1998 paper’s impact was extraordinary.  After its publication, rates of inoculation fell from 92% to below 80%.  Populations acquire “herd immunity” from measles when more than 95% of people have been vaccinated.

Last week official figures showed that 1,348 confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales were reported last year, compared with 56 in 1998.  Two children have died of the disease.

Now let me see, what was that oath?  Something about hypocrites?  No, wait, Hippocrates, that's it.  "First, do no harm."

Comments

[mrakg.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link - it may be useful.

I'm frequently confronted by a "SUPERmommie" (Yes, that should be read with a decided sneer) sort who clings to a lot of questionable practices, and preaches a frequent sermon on "Vaccines are A Conspiracy To Destroy Children!"...I recall that Wakefield's "study" is one she cites on an almost daily basis.

That being said, I must admit to some shock at how aggressive the current standard vaccine regime has become.

[In her defense, I do agree with some of her other positions...particularly in holding "Pageant Moms" in the utmost contempt :) ]

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I think it's probably a good thing that more and more vaccines are becoming available. We're particularly pleased about the recently-new HPV vaccine, and I had the new polysaccharide pneumonia vaccine last year. I'm looking forward to ten years without a bout of winter pneumonia.

(Smoke inhalation sucks.)

We seem to have had a miscommunication

[mrakg.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have no problem with the adult-focussed vaccines....by "how aggressive the current standard vaccine regime has become" I was referring to the sheer number given to a child under the age of 5 now. It's approaching the total number I've had in 45 years of life...and I've traveled internationally. Viewed through that lens, it is startling.

Re: We seem to have had a miscommunication

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what the current total under 5 is. I know Goose had the HPV series at 12.

The pneumonia vaccine is primarily adult-focused, true, but it's an exception.

Re: We seem to have had a miscommunication

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

MMR, DPT, Polio, Tetanus, chickenpox, Hb1 (hepatitis) and the chickenpox is no longer optional. It was for Goose. I declined it because really, why not just expose her to it now (age 2) so she's got better protection from it.