Anti-vaccine idiots causing a resurgence of Measles

[bwv 1080]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004387288_measles02.html

CDC fears major measles outbreak
By Deborah L. Shelton

Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Federal health officials warned Thursday that the United States could be on the verge of a major outbreak of measles.

The official tally of measles cases between Jan. 1 and April 25 was 64, the highest in recent years, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

That count doesn't include Washington state, where eight cases were reported this week. Those cases stemmed from an international church conference in suburban Seattle in March, according to the state health department.

Most of the cases have been traced to outbreaks overseas and are mainly in children who were not vaccinated for religious or other reasons or were too young, according to the CDC. Since measles vaccinations began in the early 1960s, cases have dramatically declined in the U.S.

While the numbers seem small, two developments could set the stage for a major resurgence in this country: an increase in the numbers of people choosing not to get vaccinated and outbreaks of the disease in Israel and Europe, CDC officials said.
....

The worst year for measles was 1958, according to modern public-health records. More than 763,000 cases were reported that year, including 552 deaths. Outbreaks in the early 1990s led to a revision of vaccination guidelines to include children younger than school age.

The measles vaccine is 99 percent effective.





http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-mew-vaccineside2-2008may02,0,2807824.story
In the nation's last major measles outbreak, which struck in 1989-91, the virus was spread largely by unvaccinated, low-income children who lacked healthcare access.

Now, scientists are worried about outbreaks being fueled by clusters of people who are not vaccinated as a matter of choice, rather than access.



Rise in measles prompts concern
Choosing not to vaccinate
Many scientists pin the start of the controversy on a since-discredited 1998 report published in the British medical journal Lancet that linked the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine with autism.

Led by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a senior scientific investigator based in London, the study looked at 12 children who had a history of normal development followed by autism-like symptoms, including loss of language skills, as well as diarrhea and abdominal pain, after the MMR vaccination.

In eight of the children, the study said, "The onset of behavioral problems had been linked, either by the parents or by the child's physician, with measles, mumps and rubella vaccination."

The study later said, "Further investigations are needed to examine this syndrome and its possible relation to the vaccine."

The study's release provoked an uproar in English newspapers.

"Measles vaccinations may be triggering the onset of autism," the Evening Standard wrote.

"Alert over child jabs," was a headline in the Guardian.

Ten of the 12 original co-authors of the original Lancet study signed a retraction of the report's conclusions in 2004.

"We wish to make it clear that in this paper, no causal link was established between MMR vaccine and autism as the data were insufficient," the retraction said.

Indeed, a separate study published in Lancet in 1999 looked at autism cases in Britain before and after the MMR shot was introduced in that country in 1988: There was "no sudden 'step-up' . . . after the introduction of MMR vaccination," the report said.

Wakefield, who has defended his original conclusion, has since been accused of accepting money from representatives of people who believe they were harmed by the MMR vaccine, and has been undergoing a disciplinary hearing by the General Medical Council, which licenses medical doctors in Britain.

In hearings covered widely in the British media in March and April, Wakefield has denied any wrongdoing.

Despite mainstream scientific evidence showing no connection between the vaccine and autism, a vocal group of parents with autistic children remain committed to the premise.Rick Rollens, the parent of an autistic child in Granite Bay, Calif., said his son, now 17, was 7 months old when he received a series of vaccinations, and his behavior changed dramatically.

"He was never the same after that," said Rollens, whose son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 17 months.

Rollens dismisses epidemiological studies that public officials cite in making their case for vaccinations.

"They're done by people who have a vested interest in protecting the status quo," Rollens said. "Vaccine and immunization policy is a sacred cow of the public health community and Big Pharma," he said, referring to large pharmaceutical companies

[ChamberNut]

"They're done by people who have a vested interest in protecting the status quo," Rollens said. "Vaccine and immunization policy is a sacred cow of the public health community and Big Pharma," he said, referring to large pharmaceutical companies

I agree with this statement the most.

Although I fully support that some vaccines for certain diseases are necessary, some are just downright ridiculous (ie. HPV vaccination for 9 year old girls ).

[bwv 1080]

I agree with this statement the most.

Although I fully support that some vaccines for certain diseases are necessary, some are just downright ridiculous (ie. HPV vaccination for 9 year old girls ).

HPV does not meet the criteria of an easily communicable disease that would be a requirement for mandatory immunizations, but that not a mandatory vaccination anywhere that I am aware of.   

[ChamberNut]

HPV does not meet the criteria of an easily communicable disease that would be a requirement for mandatory immunizations, but that not a mandatory vaccination anywhere that I am aware of.   

I know it currently isn't mandatory, but they are considering making it mandatory for some schools in parts of Canada.  Not sure if this is the case also in the USA.

[Shrunk]

I know it currently isn't mandatory, but they are considering making it mandatory for some schools in parts of Canada.  Not sure if this is the case also in the USA.

It's being made universally available here in Ontario, but I haven't heard anything about making it mandatory.  I can't see why or how they would.  I suspect the religious nutjobs that abound in the US might limit its availability there (cf. the morning after pill).

Vaccination is a victim of its own success.  It is only because it has been so successful in eliminating disease that people can afford the complacency to spin conspiracy theories regarding it.  Let's hope we don't get reminded of this the hard way.

[head-case]

I agree with this statement the most.

Although I fully support that some vaccines for certain diseases are necessary, some are just downright ridiculous (ie. HPV vaccination for 9 year old girls ).

The vaccine is recommended for 11-12 year olds, although it is approved for patients as  young as 9.  The reason for early treatment is that the effectiveness of the vaccine is dramatically diminished if the patient has already been exposed to any of the HPV strains, which in a significant fraction of patients can occur soon after this age.  HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, and it is estimated that widespread use of this vaccine would reduce deaths by cervical cancer by 70%.  I don't find that at all ridiculous.

[ChamberNut]

The vaccine is recommended for 11-12 year olds, although it is approved for patients as  young as 9.  The reason for early treatment is that the effectiveness of the vaccine is dramatically diminished if the patient has already been exposed to any of the HPV strains, which in a significant fraction of patients can occur soon after this age.  HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, and it is estimated that widespread use of this vaccine would reduce deaths by cervical cancer by 70%.  I don't find that at all ridiculous.

Cervical cancer is one of the most highly treatable cancers out there.

[head-case]

Cervical cancer is one of the most highly treatable cancers out there.

And you think that is an argument against saving the lives of those who do die of cervical cancer (which kills 30% of the patients who are diagnosed)?

[Daverz]

Cervical cancer is one of the most highly treatable cancers out there.

I would much rather that any child of mine not have to face treatment for any kind of cancer.  Also, what health complications does the treatment cause?

[PSmith08]

Vaccination is a victim of its own success.  It is only because it has been so successful in eliminating disease that people can afford the complacency to spin conspiracy theories regarding it.  Let's hope we don't get reminded of this the hard way.

Well said.

Typical buck-passing that snowballed into an idiotic aversion to routine vaccinations that revolutionized the developing world - starting with smallpox - when the answer to autism is that it's complicated, but has a strong genetic component and the response to vaccines should be "Please, give me what you can."

I've had several vaccines of my own free will, and I am most happy that I did. Meningitis and hepatitis can be nasty bugs, and I'd rather not catch either - just like I'd rather not catch polio.

[head-case]

Well said.

Typical buck-passing that snowballed into an idiotic aversion to routine vaccinations that revolutionized the developing world - starting with smallpox - when the answer to autism is that it's complicated, but has a strong genetic component and the response to vaccines should be "Please, give me what you can."

I've had several vaccines of my own free will, and I am most happy that I did. Meningitis and hepatitis can be nasty bugs, and I'd rather not catch either - just like I'd rather not catch polio.

The supposed link to autism is emblematic of the superstition that underlies the anti-vaccine movement.  The age of onset of autism matches the age when vaccines are administered, so of course a large fraction of autism cases will be diagnosed after a vaccine is administered.  That is not evidence that there is a causal link.

[Anne]

Has anyone mentioned the shot for shingles that is available now?  Do a little search on Google and make sure you see good pictures of shingles.  They happen to people who have had Chicken Pox.  The older the person becomes, the greater likelihood of having shingles which are VERY painful.  The new shot is expensive ($200).  I read that insurance companies are covering the cost now.

[PSmith08]

The supposed link to autism is emblematic of the superstition that underlies the anti-vaccine movement.  The age of onset of autism matches the age when vaccines are administered, so of course a large fraction of autism cases will be diagnosed after a vaccine is administered.  That is not evidence that there is a causal link.

I agree 100%, it's another case of concerned-parent pop science that devolves - quickly, I might add - into post hoc, ergo propter hoc gibberish. It's only in an age where anyone with Google fancies themselves a serious medical researcher that such nonsense can persist, even in the face of a clear societal good, like - say - vaccines.

All I can say to these neurotic parents is that measles is a small price to pay to avoid a disorder that little Johnny or Janey would not have gotten from the vaccine designed to keep him/her from getting measles, right? It has to be.

Silly, silly people.

[bwv 1080]

Moreover, in the US many parents are avoiding the MMR vaccine because they think it contains mercury - which it never did.  They cannot get their story straight - either thimerisol (the mercury preservative used in other vaccines prior to 2001) causes autism or the live-virus MMR vaccine.  But the anti-vax crowd cannot decide which.  In the US mercury is blamed largely thanks to RFK jr., Don Imus & the Huffington Post.  But they are all backtreading since autism prevalence has not dropped since thimerisol was removed from vaccines 7 years ago.  As the article above states, medical fraud by Andrew Wakefield which was published in the Lancet blamed the MMR vaccine and focused on the Rubella virus based on the real fact that pregnant women who contracted Rubella often had children whose neurological symptoms resembled autism.

[knight66]

Lots of good points have been made. It did indeed cause a huge controversy in the UK. The Gov did not handle it at all well, frankly, so many people no longer trust the government.

They brought in very tough targets for NHS practitioners where they lost quite a bit of income if they did not manage to immunise about 98% of the children of the right age within their practice.

Quote; "Rise in measles prompts concern. Many scientists pin the start of the controversy on a since-discredited 1998 report published in the British medical journal Lancet that linked the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine with autism."

I was working closely with a colleague who's small child had an entirely normal progression. Within a month or so of the joint vaccination, there were deep problems emerging. Autismbecame the diagnosis. No matter how seemingly convincing the subsequent evidence, that mother has an unshakable belief that the vaccination was the cause of the problem.

Mike