News
To vaccinate or not to – is it a question
TALI FEINBERG
“Vaccines have saved millions of lives since 1798 when the first human vaccines were introduced,” Schoub points out.
In fact, in Judaism there is a halachic obligation to actively take steps against preventable diseases, says Schoub. “The esteemed sage, the Tiferet Yisrael [Rabbi Israel Lifschitz 1783-1860] encouraged his community to be vaccinated during a smallpox outbreak, even though the vaccine of those days itself carried a risk, but obviously very much smaller than the disease itself.”
Schoub maintains that modern vaccines are extremely safe and effective and are necessary precautions to prevent damage to our children. He insists that the supposed connection between autism and vaccines is a “complete myth.”
“So called research about 20 years ago has been discredited,” says Schoub.
“Extensive subsequent research has conclusively demonstrated that there is no causal relationship – even though the onset of autism may occur coincidentally at more or less the same time that vaccines are administered.”
He says that the persistence of this “smear” has resulted in a substantial number of preventable cases of measles with, in some cases, severe permanent complications and some deaths.
Yet, the issue over vaccinations remains contentious, especially in a world where the Internet is filled with articles and anecdotes on the topic.
A Jewish mother from Johannesburg who asked to remain anonymous, said that she started to question vaccines when her son spent a year at a school for children with special needs. “Some mothers there were convinced that their kids got autism after the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.”
“The founder of the school was very anti-vaccinations and that started my questioning and research. I do selective vaccinations and I research them thoroughly.”
This mother allowed her children to have the BCG vaccine at birth, and the first three vaccines on the schedule, but started at eight weeks and not six. “I did not give the MMR at 18 months as it’s a three-in-one onslaught to a young child’s immune system.
“I did, however, give my son the MMR at 12 years old, as it is dangerous for a teenage boy to get mumps. I did not give the chicken pox vaccine. All three of my kids had chicken pox and they were fine. I also refuse to give the Gardasil (HPV) vaccine to my daughter as there’s a lot of controversy surrounding this vaccine.”
She says there is a group of mothers who communicate with each other around the vaccines. “I’ve noticed specifically the younger moms who are questioning and not vaccinating at all. My generation is still very sceptical. American anti-vaccinators use religious reasons to get out of vaccines, because schools refuse to accept kids if they aren’t up-to-date.
“We are lucky here in South Africa. I have never been asked to present my vaccine card to any school and if they ask me, I just say we are up-to-date.”
A medical doctor and a Yeshiva College mom, who didn’t want to be identified, says the “anti-vaccination” moms are irresponsible. “They have clearly never seen the consequences of complicated preventable childhood infections. They think that having chicken pox is a joke and organise pox parties so their kids can catch it, but they have never seen a sick kid with chicken pox pneumonia.”
She explains that many of these diseases are worse when adults get them and the risks to an unborn child, if a pregnant woman becomes infected, are very significant.
Many overseas paediatricians refuse to treat unvaccinated kids, she says.
Leanne Novac, a registered nurse from Durban who is anti-vaccinations, says that despite such requirements, she wants to remind people: “Everyone has the right to make an informed decision – vaccination is not mandatory in South Africa.”
Dr Lana Marcus from Johannesburg explains that diseases are kept at bay due to a phenomenon known as “herd immunity”. This means that if the majority of the population is immune to a disease (via vaccination), then those few individuals who cannot be vaccinated (because of allergy, immune diseases etc) are buffered and less likely to contract the illness. However, if the proportion of the unvaccinated group increases, that buffering effect is lost and outbreaks occur.
One person who relies on “herd immunity” is Allyson Ben-Israel. She has an immune deficiency called Hereditary Hypogammaglobulinemia, which means that she cannot produce her own antibodies.
“I cannot be vaccinated myself, so I rely on herd immunity to be safe. Having a limited immune system means I am at risk for developing severe infections,” she explains.
“By not vaccinating you are putting babies, the elderly, or the immune compromised at risk,” she said.
Sadie
May 26, 2017 at 6:28 am
‘Your article is highly biased. It would be helpful if you gave us ALL the answers that were given to you by Leanne Novac:
1. Please tell us if you are ‘pro’ or ‘anti’ vaccinations and why?I am anti vaccine! There are numerous concerns regarding the vaccine safety and efficacy studies and the flaws in vaccine “science”, it is impossible to cover it all in one discussion, I will address my main concerns.A- Vaccine “Safety” studies:Vaccination is the one medical procedure that does NOT require industry-standard, double-blind, placebo-controlled safety studies that use a true saline placebo. The control group is often given another vaccine or an injection containing all the ingredients and adjuvants.
Here is an example where no placebo is used with the Hepatitis B vaccine , Engerix B. Their placebo used is “plasma-derived vaccines.” (NOT saline) and subjects were only monitored for 4 days post vaccination ! (1)B- Vaccine \”efficacy\” studies are flawed.
Vaccine efficacy studies are based on the flawed premise the production of antibodies means immunity was conferred. CORRELATION IS NOT CAUSATION.
After vaccinating test subjects they do NOT expose them to the disease to test vaccine efficacy, they just test antibody levels. The fact that vaccine induced antibodies are found just means exposure occurred , it does not mean immunity was conferred. Immunity is a far more complex process. This is why we see vaccine failure over and over again, vaccination is NOT immunization. Vaccination cannot replicate the immunity that is conferred following natural exposure to the wild strains of the disease.
Here researchers look at Mice that were infected with VSV virus can suffer fatal invasion of the central nervous system even when they have a high concentration of anti-VSV antibodies in their system.
They conclude, “Our findings contradict the current view that antibodies are absolutely required to survive infection.” (2) In another article researchers investigate three cases of severe tetanus in vaccinated patients who had high serum levels of anti-tetanus antibodies. (3)
Here, children with agammaglobulinaemia, (a condition where one is unable to make antibodies) contracted measles were subsequently immune even though no measles anti-bodies were detectable in their serum. (4)
A full expanation can be read in The anti body deception (5)’
Sadie
May 26, 2017 at 9:52 am
‘Your article is highly biased. It would be helpful if you gave us ALL the answers that were given to you by Leanne Novac:
1. Please tell us if you are ‘pro’ or ‘anti’ vaccinations and why?I am anti vaccine! There are numerous concerns regarding the vaccine safety and efficacy studies and the flaws in vaccine “science”, it is impossible to cover it all in one discussion, I will address my main concerns.A- Vaccine “Safety” studies:Vaccination is the one medical procedure that does NOT require industry-standard, double-blind, placebo-controlled safety studies that use a true saline placebo. The control group is often given another vaccine or an injection containing all the ingredients and adjuvants.
Here is an example where no placebo is used with the Hepatitis B vaccine , Engerix B. Their placebo used is “plasma-derived vaccines.” (NOT saline) and subjects were only monitored for 4 days post vaccination ! (1)B- Vaccine \”efficacy\” studies are flawed.
Vaccine efficacy studies are based on the flawed premise the production of antibodies means immunity was conferred. CORRELATION IS NOT CAUSATION.
After vaccinating test subjects they do NOT expose them to the disease to test vaccine efficacy, they just test antibody levels. The fact that vaccine induced antibodies are found just means exposure occurred , it does not mean immunity was conferred. Immunity is a far more complex process. This is why we see vaccine failure over and over again, vaccination is NOT immunization. Vaccination cannot replicate the immunity that is conferred following natural exposure to the wild strains of the disease.
Here researchers look at Mice that were infected with VSV virus can suffer fatal invasion of the central nervous system even when they have a high concentration of anti-VSV antibodies in their system.
They conclude, “Our findings contradict the current view that antibodies are absolutely required to survive infection.” (2) In another article researchers investigate three cases of severe tetanus in vaccinated patients who had high serum levels of anti-tetanus antibodies. (3)
Here, children with agammaglobulinaemia, (a condition where one is unable to make antibodies) contracted measles were subsequently immune even though no measles anti-bodies were detectable in their serum. (4)
A full expanation can be read in The anti body deception (5)’
jimmy franklin
September 7, 2017 at 12:53 am
‘I was diagnosed with HepB 3 months ago and was devastated by the news. I have been ill and sore for over 10 years, with no one being able to figure out what was wrong with me. It was always written off as a virus or infection. Then 2 years ago the severe muscle cramps started. I had them from scalp to toes, and it was when they ran the full spectrum of tests to figure the cramps out, that they discovered the HepB along with severe Vitamin D deficiency, which I link to the HepB. I was so tired and nauseous and in constant pain. I am just sick and tired of feeling sick and tired!!nothing was really working to help my condition.I went off the Sebivo (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started on hepatitis B herbal formula i ordered from Natural Herbs Center, my symptoms totally declined over a 5 weeks use of the hepatitis B virus natural herbal formula the disease is totally reversed!! Visit there website or email perfecthealthnaturalherbs@gmail.com https://perfecthealthherbs.wixsite.com/perfecthealthherbs‘