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United Kingdom – Parents are being urged to get their children vaccinated following an outbreak of measles.
There have been 11 suspected cases of the disease this month and all are centred around the Higher Broughton area.
The infection first came to light after three London children contracted measles after a visit to the area and there are fears, left unchecked, the problem could develop into an localised epidemic.
Health workers are concerned the disease is spreading quickly through the area because many members of the Orthodox Jewish community have not had their children vaccinated with the MMR jab which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
Rabbi Yehunda Brodie, registrar at Manchester Beth Din, does not believe it is a deliberate decision by Jewish parents not to have vaccinations.
He said: “There is no religious reason why a person who is an Orthodox Jew should not have the immunisation. On the contrary protection from disease is a religious duty.
“A lot of Jewish people are sheltered from the media, many homes do not have a TV or radio and people may not necessarily read the general press. It may well be that a more carefully targeted manner of encouraging people to take up vaccinations maybe more appropriate for that community.” [salford]
To anyone who knows a child who is autistic and believes it is from vaccine damage:
We have had excellent results in our family from the “Enzymes and Autism” program and G6PD deficiency (the worlds most common enzyme deficiency, very prevalent among Jews) as an underlying cause to the reaction.
I hope this will help someone and save another family the years of heartbreak that ours has suffered since the fateful day I signed the consent form in the doctors office that transformed my normal, healthy, wonderful child into a sick, autistic, chemically sensitive person. The change happened overnight and I blame myself 100% for not being better informed and merely “following orders”.
I was fully vaccinated as a child and then given boosters as a young woman. When I was in my 20’s I got a very serious case of the measles.
I would not assume that this young man was NOT fully “vaccinated”.
My fully vaccinated husband has also had both the measles and the mumps as an adult. My fully vaccinated adult sister caught whooping cough last year.
If the vaccines worked they might be worth the risk. But I feel sorry for people who think that injecting their children with pus, urine and blood products from infected animals will keep them healthy for life.
I also have a daughter who reacted to the MMR vaccine with a very high fever, neurological problems and a high pitched scream. She was diagnosed with autism a year later. A niece and nephew also had terrible reactions to the vaccines and had to go to the ER. My nephew is also autistic and my niece has “congenital” kidney damage.
Our doctors (my sister and I) told us not to vaccinate subsequent children. But this does nothing for the children in our family who are already damaged from vaccines.
To Anon 11:52. The reason vaccination rates fell in various African and Asian countries is because the Muslims there distrusted the vaccination programs and suspected that it was a guise for poisining Muslims.
Perhaps their fears were not so farfetched as several leading theories of the origin of the Aids Epidemic pont to Mass Polio vaccination programs in africa in the 70s either because of dirty reused needles or because of contaminated Polio Vaccine.
Another major reason for the rise in Polio cases in those countries is poor hygiene and poor nutrition, factors which are not present in the U.S.
It is not selfish to want to protect your child from something which may not be safe for every child.There are credible studies that have linked rising rates of Asthma and Diabetes to vaccination.
Also the epidemic you sited, I wonder how many had long term damage. You may be interested to know that many many more people are sickened and killed by Food Bourne illness in this country then any of the extremely rare illnesses you are so concerned about.
About the mercury from tuns;
most people do not feed tuna to young children. We followed an old world rule of no fish till the child speaks. Maybe there were reasond for these rules. We also did not eat Feta cheese during pregnancy due to some risks although I now realize that most feta cheese sold here is actually pasteurized.
Yes, the mercury was removed from most vaccines now-Do you think that was done just because of crazy accusations or perhaps there was some real concern by the drug companies?
To Mr Abstract printer- many of us could provide links to articles (peer reviewed) that disagree. I am willing to say that the eveidence is not clear yet, I and many others can blow holes right through any single quoted article.
A friend of mine who is an RN has a son who came down with Mumps and he had been immunized. So much for protection from vaccinations. The CDC was all over her and her family, doctor as well, no one could find why he alone contracted it. Guess what? He’s just fine anyway. No lasting effects from the disease.
11:52, the point you made about herd immunity is correct, as well as your statement about what is going on with polio. However, are you aware of what happened when those countries in Africa said the same thing?
About 10 years ago, polio was nearly eradicated from the world. There were only a few places left where it was seen. Several countries in Africa saw that they no longer had polio in their countries, and so stopped vaccinating. Within 2 years, their rates of polio were back up to pre-vaccine rates, and now we are years away from eradication again.
As far as herd immunity, yes, that is what increases the effectiveness of the vaccines to the levels we have. The other way of looking at this is that someone who chooses not to immunize is not only risking his own child but is endangering all those children for whom the vaccine was not effective.
For example, in the recent mumps outbreak in the US, 40% of children infected were vaccinated. The initial infection was in a child who was not vaccinated, he spread it around his community, and it reached a level where herd immunity was lost and over 3000 children contracted mumps. 40% of those children, or 1200 children were infected despite being vaccinated, as mumps vaccine is only 85% effective. This is incredibly selfish on the part of the parents who do not vaccinate–they are risking the lives of not only their chilren but other children as well.
None of us lives in a vaccuum, and yes, we have to take others into consideration as well. Do you send your kids to school with strep? These illnesses are far more serious than strep, and far more deadly, and yet for strep everyone says “stay away–think of the others”, but for fatal diseases we should think only of ourselves?
As far as diseases being eradicated, most of these cannot be eradicated bec. they exist outsife of human species as well. Measles, mumps and rubella will be with us forever, pertussis (whooping cough) is on the rise, tetanus is all around us, as well as others.
No doctor worth seeing will tell you that any vaccine has a zero risk, but the risk from the vaccines is far less than 1%, and far less than the risk of being exposed to these diseases, becoming infected, and having a bad outcome from that infection–and most can cause brain damage, severe permanent physical disability and death–were the vaccines to be stopped.
TO Anon 7:51 AM
YOu say Doctors and scientists overwhelmingly say that me must and should vaccinate.
So you are saying that in cases of disagreement in the medical scientific establishment the Torah requires us to go according to the majority. That is an interesting chidush. Would you apply your reasoning to the Metzitza Bepeh controversy? A majority of Doctors and Scientists will tell you that it is insanity to perform Metzitza Bepeh without a sanitary barrier such as a tube. In fact I would venture to say that a Majority of Mohelim will tell you the same thing. I am not sure a majority of Rabbonim will tell you that and that may be because many Rabbonim are (surprise surprise) not experts in the field of infectious disease and public health policy.
Yes Knowing shas does not mean you know everything.
You state that the benefits of immunization outweigh the risks. That may be true from a public health policy perspective in that we can overlook the 1 percent of severe side effects for the sake of the greater good of the community – the 99percent. However the person who was injured by a vaccine may not have been willing to make that sacrifice for the greater good. You obviously are quite ignorant of how vaccines really work. They can not guarantee effectiveness in each person who is immunized as the generally only have a 70 – 90 percent rate of inducing immunity. Rather, by achieving a 90 – 95 percent vaccination rate you have essentially established herd immunity. Polio has essentially been wiped out except for a few countries in Africa. It therefore is difficult to understand why this vaccination is still considered important in the developed world.
7:51. The Rambam says you should promote good health by practicing excellent eating habits, excercising daily, etc. By putting a foreign man made substance into a tiny baby and continue to do so well into childhood and young adulthood, therby trying to prevent a disease from occuring is not V’nishmartem Meod. That is what is stated in my religious exemption at my kids’ schools and the state accepts it. I’m sorry you don’t.
For those concerned about mercury, although there is good evidence that thimerosol has no connection with autism, it has been removed from all vaccines in the US except the flu vaccine. In addition, every time you eat a tuna sandwich you are exposed to significantly more mercury than you ever were in vaccines. Has anyone looked at the link between tuna and autism?
Anyone who claims a religious exemption for not vaccinating their child does not practice Judaism. The torah says that we must follow doctor’s opinions.
Doctors and scientists overwhelmingly say that me must and should vaccinate. Yes, there are risks involved but the benefits of vaccinations greatly outweigh the potential downsides. This has been shown in study after study after study.
The original theory suggesting the link between MMR & Autism which was published in LANCET has been withdrawn. There have been over 2 dozen large scale, double blinded studies which show no link between MMR & Autism. The fact that 2 things occur at the same time does not mean that one causes the other. Anyone who denies this is a liar or a fool, possibly both.
There is no religious reason not to vaccinate. In fact the opposite is true. Al Pi Torah we should vaccinate. A yeshiva who has a talmid who has not been vaccinated will face a $2,000 fine for each child.
If I knew that there were unvaccinated children in my kids yeshiva, I would seriously consider changing yeshivos.
Get up to date current information. 5:40 claims that these studies are flawed. In whose opinion are they flawed? Do you even know how to evaluate a study? Those who believe that this is all a conspiracy by the drug companies must have lots of wonderful theories to explain many different conspiracies. In fact there is a lamp post outside my house which would love to hear all of your theories.
A word of caution before you go and read any study make sure that you know how to understand them and the scientific methodology and terminology they use. Many people read studies and understand them in a totally light from what the authors intended.
The bottom line is go and ask the gedolei haposkim what to do. They are the arbiters of true da’as torah and halacha. I have yet to see 1 major poseik who syas not to vaccinate. Asking shailos from our chachomim is supposed to show us the way not “ish kol hayashar b’einav”
BTW I live in Brooklyn, where is my nearest medical library? The only ones that I know of are located in Medical Schools. Yes the very same medical schools that are in cahoots with the drug companies.
Abstract: Because of a temporal correlation between the first notable signs and symptoms of autism and the routine childhood vaccination schedule, many parents have become increasingly concerned regarding the possible etiologic role vaccines may play in the development of autism. In particular, some have suggested an association between the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine and autism. Our literature review found very few studies supporting this theory, with the overwhelming majority showing no causal association between the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine and autism. The vaccine preservative thimerosal has alternatively been hypothesized to have a possible causal role in autism. Again, no convincing evidence was found to support this claim, nor for the use of chelation therapy in autism. With decreasing uptake of immunizations in children and the inevitable occurrence of measles outbreaks, it is important that clinicians be aware of the literature concerning vaccinations and autism so that they may have informed discussions with parents and caregivers.
– Immunizations and autism: a review of the literature. – Doja A – Can J Neurol Sci – 01-NOV-2006; 33(4): 341-6
10:43, do you know a child with autism? I do. Several. One whom I know very well was a normal, well-behaved child (family videos are the proof) and immediately following the MMR vaccine at age 2, he took a terrible turn for the worse and is severely autistic since that fateful day. Hardly coincidental.
Additionally, go get yourself the New York Times Bestseller “Evidence of Harm”. It’s a fantastic read, covering many bases, including the drug companies, the FDA, CDC, concerned parents, doctors, Congressmen and provides a real picture of how the drug companies basically carry the day and will spare no expense in researching and promoting the “harmless” vaccines they provide the world over.
I am a health professional and also the parent of a child with Autism. I am not a yenta, I do not go to a bungalow colony.
To all the know it alls out there (especially anon 5:10 PM); we parents are aware of the studies denying evidence of a connection between vaccines and autism. The reality is that the studies refuting the autism-vaccine connection are considered invalid. Statistics can be twisted and used in a misleading way. The most that can be said is that the matter has not been settled yet.
I can tell you that Dental anesthetics are dispensed in single dose vials, only a stupid system was set up to sell the MMR to Pediatricians in a 25 unit bottle to make the costs a bit lower. Since this bottle would repeatedly be stuck with a needle it was felt prudent to mix in some mercury, actually more than the safe dose. Some kids may have been more sesitive to brain damage after this mercury dose.
I understand both sides of this issue. My personal feeling, which is binding on my family only- is to give the vaccines a bit later than normal.
People just don’t remember when R”L kinderlach used to die or lose the ability to walk or have children from measels and pertussis and polio all those things we immunize for. Yes, there is some risk to vaccinanation, but it is far outweighed by the risk of the diseases they protect from. States that have make it easy for kids not to exemptions are seeing outbreaks and nebach deaths of diseases we have the technology to eliminate.
And I’m sorry, the autism=MMR link is a crock. Do some real research, not just read a page by people with an agenda and no science to back them up. Unfortunately, autism presents at the age most kids get the MMR, but the signs are almost always there long before. Yes, autism is on the rise, and the longer we keep looking at the MMR as the reason, the more time we waste finding the real cause and doing something about it.
After having a friend almost lose a newborn infant due to an unvaccinated school-age child who was carrying pertussis, I would not allow my child to attend a school that allows unvaccinated kids to attend.
Rabbi Brode should stick to religion and not health issues.
Response to Anon 5:10 by anon 4:09.
It is indeed true that several large scale “epedimiological” studies have determined that there is no link between MMR vaccine and Autism. However other studies indicated a link, specifically the infamous small scale study done by Dr Andrew Wakefield and published in Lancet. Even with the admitted flaws in his study no satisfactory explanation has ever been given by the Medical establishment to explain the presence of Measels DNA in the bowel biopsies of the Autistic children in that study. Furthermore the epedimiological studies have their own flaws including not accounting for potentialy different formulations of the MMR vaccine, and potential genetic factors that might play a role in making certain children more suseptible to a bad reaction.
The bottom line is that there has been a virtually undisputed rise in the number of Autism cases and the rise corresponds to the introduction of many of the newer vaccines. There has also been a rise in the number of children with learning disabilites corresponding to the same. While it is not proof, it certainly gives pause for concern.
5:10, go back to school and perhaps take a visit to your local medical library. Research the actual (flawed) studies on epidemiology and then make your decision. My children’s peditrician advises against immunizing and I am a lucky parent to have confidence in this open minded individual who does not cowtow to the establishment. My kids did not have vaccinations and I am lucky that the state of New York has a religious exemption which I can take advantage of. Democracy at its best. Also, my very good friend’s son became very ill following a routine vaccination at a very highly respected, local, Brooklyn, religious, pediatrician and he is nebach a severely autistic child today. That alone is enough to make anyone sick.
Spoken like a true ignoramus. There have been countless studies with tens of thousands of children that have shown there is NO link between the vaccines and chronic illnesses like autism. Any other suggestion at this time is pure speculation centered on distrust and ignorance. There is no scientific controversy regarding immunizations there is only controversy among the yentas in the bungalow colonies. They are the ones who are indoctrinated. Nonetheless, parents are the ones who decide what their children get not the physicians. If they want to rely on Redbook and People magazine for their information they have every right to.
There are people who do not immunize their children for good reasons including MDs. There is a lack of any long term studies on potential long term effects of immunization. There are schools of thought that feel that immunizations are unhealthy and shift the immune system into an unhealthy state of overdrive. there are documented cases of severe reactions to immunizations. There are lingering questions as to possible connections between vaccines and autism,diabetes,and asthma, as well as ADD and other learning disabilities.
Unfortunately most MDs are not aware of the scientific controversy surrounding vaccines and they are indoctrinated in Medical School to disparage alternate thinking on the matter.