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Over the last few years,
parents of young children have been in turmoil over the MMR
vaccination issue.
Whether or not they
should allow their child to have
the combined jab against mumps, measles and rubella has
been the question which many parents have been
agonising over.
Here Melissa Corkhill
gives her viewpoint on the debate,
and looks at some alternative options.
It is not surprising that some of us have
doubts on what to believe about the research into the effects
of the combined MMR jab, especially as some studies have linked
it to autism and bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease.
Despite these findings, the Health Authority
and most GPs seem only concerned with the fact that we should
all have our children vaccinated. They appear unwilling to
address any of the fears which are troubling parents and dismissing
concerns due to (what they call) 'lack of scientific evidence'.
Whilst parents are calling for more tests to be done, the
Department of Health keeps issuing blunt statements that the
vaccination is safe and that we should all take our kids to
be inoculated. With all the media hype in the last year, to
vaccinate or not is becoming an even tougher decision to make.
When the MMR vaccination was introduced
in October 1988, there was an uptake rate of around 90%, until
a report published in The Lancet in 1997 linked the triple
jab with autism. At the time of writing the number of parents
taking their children to have the jab in Brighton and Hove
has fallen to 71%, considerably lower than the national average
of 84%.
The uptake rate in East Sussex is around
the national average, whilst West Sussex sees a slight increase
on the average, to 87%. With figures so low in Brighton and
Hove we are being warned of a possible measles epidemic. Indeed
the World Health Organisation advises that in order to avoid
an epidemic there should be a vaccination rate of 95% or above.
The main reason why the majority of parents
are unwilling for their child to have the jab is the Department
of Health's refusal to make single vaccinations available
on the NHS. Vaccinating against the three diseases individually
would mean that our children's immune systems would not have
to deal with a triple dose containing the mumps, measles and
rubella viruses.
Their bodies would have time to cope with
each disease separately, thus building up an immunity more
gradually. However, doctors fear that children will be at
risk of any of the three diseases between vaccinations and
because, unless all children have all three injections, they
will not be properly immunised.
However, much to the relief of many parents,
some doctors have courted controversy and offered MMR in three
single vaccinations, on a private basis. These doctors can
experience difficulty obtaining the single vaccines, and often
advise parents to take children abroad to have the individual
jabs.
Boosting
Your Child's Immune System Naturally
There is no doubt that parents always face real dilemmas when
it comes to protecting their children's health. All parents
want to do what is right by their children and ensure their
health and wellbeing. That is a parent's responsibility. The
MMR vaccination is a subject which requires a great deal of
research and consideration before reaching a final decision.
If you have decided not to have your children
vaccinated you can help to build their immune system naturally.
Even if your kids have had their inoculations, these guidelines
are useful for avoiding colds and flu and
other grotty illnesses and generally boosting their immune
systems:
1) Try and breastfeed your child for as
long as possible. If you can, breastfeed exclusively for the
first six months of your baby's life and eat a good diet yourself
full of nutrients and preferably organic.
2) When weaning ensure that your baby's
diet is rich in Vitamins A, C and E, calcium, iron, magnesium,
potassium, selenium and zinc. Beta carotene is also important
to enable their young bodies to break down Vitamin A.
3) Avoid processed or refined foods as
much as possible. Use wholemeal bread and pasta and brown
rice and grains which contain more nutrients.
4) During the winter when children are
prone to infectious diseases, use echinacea tincture daily.
Reports that this should not be used for long periods have
recently been disproved.
5) Only use antibiotics when absolutely
necessary and always give your child a course of probiotics
after use to regulate gut bacteria.
6) Fresh air and exercise help boost your
child's immune system.
If you would like more info on MMR, you
may find the following websites and phone numbers useful.
www.doh.gov.uk/mmr.htm
Department of Health's website dealing with parents concerns
about MMR vaccine.
www.immunisation.org.uk
NHS site with info on all children's immunisations.
www.bmj.com
British Medical Journal site with archive of past articles
for in-depth research.
The Informed Parent
0208 861 1022
www.van.org.uk
Vaccination Awareness Network is a charity service, offering
information on all sides of the debate (but mainly anti-MMR)
with details of single vaccine suppliers. Tel 0870 444 0894
www.whale.to/vaccines.html
Huge amounts of information from all sources on this reference
site.
www.jabs.org.uk
NOTE
Our purpose in publishing this information on the MMR debate
is not intended to influence your decision to vaccinate your
child or not, but to help you exercise your right to choose,
by giving you information from both sides, therefore enabling
you to make an informed choice.
What is the MMR Vaccination?
The Mumps, Measles, and Rubella vaccination is an active immunising
agent used to prevent infection by the measles, mumps, and
rubella viruses. It works by causing the body to produce its
own protection (antibodies) against the virus.
Mumps is an infection that can cause serious
problems, such as encephalitis and meningitis, which affect
the brain. In addition, adolescent boys and men are very susceptible
to a condition called orchitis, which causes pain and swelling
in the testicles and scrotum and, in rare cases, sterility.
Also, mumps infection can cause spontaneous abortion in women
during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Measles is an infection that is easily
spread from one person to another. Infection with measles
can cause serious problems, such as stomach problems, pneumonia,
ear infections, sinus problems, convulsions (seizures), brain
damage, and possibly death. The risk of serious complications
and death is greater for adults and infants than for children
and teenagers.
Rubella (also known as German measles)
is a serious infection that causes miscarriages, stillbirths,
or birth defects in unborn babies when pregnant women get
the disease. It is not so serious for young children who catch
German measles and there are rarely any long term side effects.
WHAT DOCTORS
DON'T TELL YOU
this campaigning medical newsletter has published a special
report What The Government Isn't Telling You About The MMR
Vaccine.
This publication contains in-depth medical explanations of
the diseases, vaccines and side-effects, plus lots of information
on
how to find single vaccine suppliers, homoeopathic and alternative
health advice and legal information.
A copy of the report is available for
£4.99 (including P&P)
Order line 0800 146054
Please mention ABC Magazine when ordering.
IMMUNISATION DISCUSSION
EVENINGS AT THE BRIGHTON
STEINER SCHOOL
Thursday 21st March 2002
Brighton Steiner School
7:30pm - 9:30pm
VACCINATION
THE MEDICAL ASSAULT ON THE
IMMUNE SYSTEM
by DR VIERA SCHEIBNER PhD
Dr. Viera Scheibner is a retired research
scientist
who has been looking into the subject of
vaccination for more than 10 years.
Dr. Scheibner will be lecturing on the dangers
and ineffectiveness of vaccination, based on her
thorough research of over 50,000 orthodox medical papers.
She is also the author of books: "Vaccination - 100 years
of orthodox research shows that vaccines represent a
medical assault on the immune system" and
"Behavioural problems in childhood - link to vaccination."
Tickets: £6.00
Contact: Karel Ironside Active Birth Teacher
(01273) 277309
Thursday April 25th and
Thursday June 20th 2002
7:30pm - 9:30pm
CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND ILLNESS
COMPARING NATURAL IMMUNITY
WITH IMMUNISATION
What determines whether my child gets ill?
How can I effectively prevent illness?
Is my child more or less likely to be unwell
with or without vaccines?
What are the alternatives to vaccines,
antibiotics and steroids?
Greater confidence and security when
dealing with your child's health
With Trevor Gunn BSc (Hons) LCH RSHom
Medical Biochemistry Graduate
Practising Homeopath and Author of
"Mass Immunisation A Point In Question"
Tickets: £5.00
Contact: Karel Ironside Active Birth Teacher
(01273) 277309
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