Top 10 Anti-Vaccine Movement Facts - WMNews Ep. 14

Inoculation or variolation, a procedure used to prevent smallpox by exposing people to material from smallpox pustules in order to build immunity, has been used in Europe since the early 1700s and had been practiced in parts of Asia for centuries prior. In 1796, British scientist Edward Jenner realized a similar principle was at work among milkmaids exposed to the cowpox virus who were not affected by smallpox. Cowpox was a much less deadly form of the disease and Jenner injected several patients with pus from cowpox sores, successfully immunizing them against smallpox. He coined the term vaccine from the Latin word “vacca” meaning cow. In the 1880s, scientist Louis Pasteur furthered vaccine science. Whereas Jenner’s procedure involved vaccinating people with a less deadly form of a disease, Pasteur’s method took agents of the primary disease and treated them so they lost the ability to infect, but still provided immunity.

Since Louis Pasteur’s work in the late-19th century, many new and important techniques for the production of vaccines have been created, leading to lower dosages with higher effectiveness rates. Moreover, it has become commonplace in the 20th century for governments to run vaccination campaigns as part of their overall public health strategy. The adoption of vaccination as a routine part of healthcare has lead to the eradication of smallpox, the last case of which was reported in Somalia in 1977, and the control of diseases such as measles, polio and tetanus. Since vaccination for children has become a common procedure in the United States, there has been a 99% decrease in incidences of diseases that are vaccinated against. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines annually prevent 6 million deaths worldwide.

In 2014, the United-States was hit with its highest measles infection rate since the CDC declared it eradicated in 2000, with over 600 cases reported. The outbreak began at the Disneyland theme park in California. Places like amusement parks, where large numbers of people are concentrated in a relatively small space, are ideal scenarios for the spread of infectious diseases. Moreover, the fact that people travel from all over North America to visit Disneyland has lead to an especially geographically dispersed infection pattern. It has since spread to 17 states, as well as Mexico, and a handful of measles cases in Quebec, Canada were also linked to the Disneyland outbreak.

Measles is a highly contagious disease which is preventable with the MMR – or measles, mumps and rubella – vaccine, which is typically given to young children in two dosages. The MMR vaccine is considered 95% effective if both dosages are administered and is said to be one of the most effective vaccines in the world. That being said, in order for a population to be safe from viruses and bacteria, herd immunization is required. This occurs when a significant portion of the population is immunized, the theory being that those protected by the vaccine can then protect the weaker members of society by acting as a buffer between those infected and those without immunity. In recent times, there has been a breakdown of herd immunity as inoculation rates have decreased, leading to pockets of outbreaks in various countries.

There have been anti-vaccination movements since the first government vaccination campaigns in the early 1800s. Edward Jenner himself was publically ridiculed, as many thought it disgusting to inject oneself with material from a sick animal. The modern Anti-Vaxxer movement in the United States has gained momentum overly roughly the last ten years and traces its genesis to a 1998 medical journal article that linked vaccines to cases of autism. Supporters of this movement are wary of additives in vaccines like mercury, aluminum and bovine serum, which they describe as toxins harmful to their children. The movement has been bolstered by endorsements from celebrities like Jenny McCarthy, who publicly claimed that vaccination caused her son’s autism. Her child’s pediatrician, Dr. Jay Gordon – who has become something of a celebrity himself – made media appearances in support of McCarthy’s anti-vaccine campaign.

In 1998, Andrew Wakefield a former British gastroenterologist, published a study in the renowned medical journal the “Lancet” which linked the measles vaccination with the rise of autism. In his paper, he stated that it would be safer to provide the vaccine in three separate doses as opposed to one single dose. Wakefield was later discredited as it came to light that he had received financial contributions from a ligation case that involved parents against vaccine manufacturers. The study has since been retracted from the “Lancet,” Wakefield was stripped of his medical license and the conclusions of the study were heavily discredited as fraudulent and manipulated.

There is no foolproof vaccine in existence, although immunity after receiving a vaccine ranges upwards of 90%. There are several reasons as to why vaccines might fail, as immunity might not develop in time, the antibodies produced might not disable the pathogen entirely or the specific vaccine does not target all strains of the virus. Furthermore, as with most medical treatments, there are risks involved with vaccines, such as severe allergic reactions. However, despite not being 100% effective, the potential negative outcomes of not being vaccinated far outweigh the potential negative outcomes of being vaccinated.

The pro-vaccine movement comprises the scientific community of doctors, scientists and pharmacists as well as many parents. As previously mentioned, herd immunization is required in order to stop the spread of diseases and many parents worry that their children will inadvertently become exposed to sick children who are not immunized. In order to combat this, doctors have begun treating infected patients outside of their offices and sick children have been told to stay home while they recuperate. Even Dr. Jay Gordon stated unambiguously that the MMR vaccine was quote “not a dangerous vaccine.”

Depending on a person’s country, state, province or city, there are various laws in place regarding a child’s immunization requirements. In Canada, immunization is not mandatory, whereas in the United States it is required for children. There are medical exemptions to this rule for those with autoimmune deficiencies, as well as personal exemptions for religious or personal beliefs. Furthermore, in order to take part in these exemptions, most states will require you to see a doctor to review the statistics and facts regarding vaccinations.

The Disneyland measles outbreak, which began in December 2014, has turned the medical discussion surrounding this topic into a political one, as the contentious debate on vaccination spreads throughout the world. As leaders from different parties take a stand, either anti- or pro-vaccination, new cases of the potentially deadly disease are surfacing every day. In this dispute, it’s critically important to become informed on the topic, whatever your opinion. Of course, as in most health related situations, it is always wise to seek the advice of a trained medical profession rather than rely on sensational media reports or the anecdotal evidence of people without medical training. Medical experts agree that the only true way to protect the majority of people at risk from measles infection is to maintain herd immunity among the population, and that requires most people to be vaccinated against the disease.

Did these facts surprise you? To vote for which news story is covered next, head over to WatchMojo.com/suggest, and be sure to hit that subscribe button for more newsworthy top 10s published every week.