Measles Hysteria: Why It’s Important to Understand the Anti-Vaccine Argument

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Measles Hysteria and the Anti-Vaccination MovementThe measles hysteria across America has simply gotten out of hand. But before you choose one side over another, I feel it’s important that you understand the anti-vaccination side of the debate and how building your immunity naturally, even if it’s in tandem with vaccinations, is vital to your overall health.

A Brief History of the MMR Vaccination

Measles was once a condition that parents knew how to safely treat, and within a week, their child was free from infection.

In fact, according to a report published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases in 2004, researchers found there were 542,000 annual measles cases from 1956 to 1960, resulting in an average of 450 related deaths, compared to 5,300 from 1912 to 1916.

The deadly disease killed less than 0.001% of those it infected. This is even before the introduction of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. That means people recovered successfully from the measles. Nutrition and healthcare improvements are thought to be the reasons for the drop.

The War Against People Who Don’t Vaccinate

Fast-forward to present day, and schools are threatening to kick out students who are not vaccinated. Pediatricians are flooding social media with threats against parents who decide not to vaccinate. A U.S.A. Today column even suggested that parents who do not vaccinate their children should be jailed.

Whoa…let’s take a minute to breathe here. How can we escape the pitchforks and tyranny against those who believe it is safer not to vaccinate their children or themselves?

I wanted to get away from all this anger and hatred, and I didn’t want any vaccination discussions, just a few laughs on Jimmy Kimmel Live. But Jimmy Kimmel, trying to provide laughs and vaccination discussion, said, “You probably aren’t gonna take medical advice from a talk show host…but I would expect you to take medical advice from almost every doctor in the world.”

Kimmel then made a public service announcement with a group of doctors who support vaccinations titled “A Message for the Anti-Vaccine Movement.” It was a comedic and foul-mouthed support for vaccinations, telling viewers, “the potential downsides of vaccinations are almost nonexistent” and “get your [expletive] kids vaccinated.”

I think everyone would agree that measles is a serious condition and it should be prevented and treated as best possible; however, the forceful and fear-based approach of the media and social media should also be eradicated.

Many Anti-Vaccination Parents Were Once Pro-Vaccination

It is not fair to speak wrongly of those who decline vaccinations. The truth is that anti-vaccination parents were once on the pro-vaccination side. That is until their former healthy child suffered an MMR-related injury, which includes eczema, bowel disorders, or diabetes. Other MMR reactions may include a mild rash, arthritis, headaches, fainting, dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, irritability, blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis), pancreas inflammation, skin nodule inflammation (panniculitis), loss of shoulder motion, and the autoimmune reaction thrombocytopenia. People may even get the measles virus from which they thought they were protected.

Understand the Other Side of the Story

Overall, the MMR vaccine has the most serious and longest list of reported reactions to vaccinations. In a study published in Pediatrics in 1998, researchers observed that there were 48 reported cases of the brain disease encephalopathy within 15 days after the MMR vaccine or a measles vaccine between 1970 and 1993. Eight of the children had died; in the remaining other cases, participants experienced mental regression and retardation, movement disorders, sensory and motor deficits, and chronic seizures.

Over the past decade, not one person has died from the measles; however, according to the Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System (VAERS), there are 108 MMR-related deaths. VAERS also reports that MMR and many other vaccines are linked to anaphylaxis shock, which can lead to sudden death. The U.S. government has paid more than $3.0 billion toward vaccine-injured families since the U.S. Vaccine Court was established in 1986.

Do Everything You Can to Build Your Immunity Naturally

I was vaccinated as a child. As an adult, I do everything I can to be healthy and support my immune system. Even if you do vaccinate your child, I suggest building your child’s immunity naturally, as well. Evidence shows that vitamin A supplements can help prevent measles-related complications. Other antioxidants are also important for strong immunity, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium. Immune-supportive herbs can also help, including echinacea, goldenseal, astragalus root, Siberian ginseng, yarrow, garlic, and medicinal mushrooms, like shiitake or reishi.

It can also help to consume a variety of nutrient-dense and organic fruits and vegetables, including cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, celery, and leafy green vegetables. Homeopathic remedies can also help prevent the measles, including belladonna, euphrasia, gelsemium, pulsatilla, sulphur, and aconitum napellus.

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Sources for Today’s Article:
Sears, R., The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (New York: Hachette Book Group, 2011), 79–95.
Bologna, C., “Jimmy Kimmel Gathers Doctors For A Must-Hear Vaccination PSA,” Huffington Post web site, March 2, 2015; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/02/jimmy-kimmel-vaccinations_n_6784234.html.
“Alternatives and Antidotes to Infectious Diseases,” Vaccine Choice Canada web site; http://vaccinechoicecanada.com/alternatives/alternatives-and-antidotes-to-infectious-diseases/, last accessed March 10, 2015.
Devon, L.J., “Measles hysteria leads daycare directors to order parents to subject children to invasive blood draws,” Natural News web site; March 2, 2015; http://www.naturalnews.com/048832_invasive_blood_draws_measles_daycare.html.
“Complications of Measles,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site; http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/complications.html, last accessed March 10, 2015.
Orenstein, W., et al., “Measles Elimination in the United States,” The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2004; 189 (Suppl 1): S1–S3, doi: 10.1086/377693.
“Measles,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site; http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html, last accessed March 10, 2015.