Referring to the aforementioned definition, the widely accepted practice of routinely vaccinating our animals needs to be carefully reexamined.  In fact, most veterinarians believe in the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.  Many are so confident of the procedure that they offer low cost vaccination clinics. Animals are apt to be given the vaccine without previously being examined and the possibility of adverse reactions are not acknowledged. There are however a growing number of veterinarians and animal guardians who are beginning to question this cavalier approach. Many chronic health issues have been linked to vaccinations and there is increasing research to indicate vaccinations are dangerous and potentially lethal.  As consumers and advocates for our animals it is critical that we make conscious decisions about vaccinations based on sound information. 

Immunization and vaccination are often used interchangeably. They are however two different actions.  Immunity is the capacity of the body to distinguish foreign material from self, and to neutralize, eliminate, or metabolize that, which is foreign by the physiological mechanism of the immune response.  Immunization means to induce immunity.  Natural immunity occurs after one recovers from the actual disease.  As part of the process the microorganisms will pass through the body’s defense systems in the nose, throat, lungs, and digestive tract before reaching the bloodstream.  It is speculated that the microorganism triggers many biological events that are essential to achieve true immunity.  Vaccination in contrast is the action of injecting a vaccine into the bloodstream and exposing the animal to an organism that has been modified to create immunity without developing disease. Ultimately, bypassing the body’s defense systems to produce an artificial immunity.  Unfortunately, artificial immunity from vaccinations is frequently temporary resulting in an increased incidence of re-infection.  A significant number of animals will contract the disease for which they were vaccinated.    

In the late 1700’s Edward Jenner observed that exposure to cowpox provided protection against smallpox and thus the first vaccinations were developed.  In the late 1800’s Louis Pasture found he could render bacteria less harmful or attenuate bacteria and was able to produce vaccines in quantity.  These first vaccines were made from rotting, diseased samples of animal tissues from cows, sheep, humans, and horses.  The toxins, poisonous by-products from the microorganisms in these tissues, were neutralized by formaldehyde and aluminum.  The exact composition of today’s vaccines are a trade secret, but it has been documented that vaccines are generally cultured on monkey, dog, or cat brain and kidney, chicken embryos, and hamsters.  Other products found in vaccines include but are not limited to aluminum, mercury, formaldehyde, salts, and blood products.  These later items are referred to as adjuvants or helpers.  Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic liquid used for embalming.  Mercury is added as thimerosal, a preservative known to cause nerve damage, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.  Aluminum is a neurotoxin associated with Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.

Vaccines have been developed to become increasingly weaker in order to eliminate an immediate inflammatory response when administered.  The problem then becomes an altered virus or bacteria that can penetrate deeper into tissues than would naturally occur.  Remaining latent in the tissues until something triggers this dormant allergen to manifest in any system of the body resulting in a potentially life threaten dysfunction, degenerative disease, or ultimately death.  This creates an unpredictable time frame for vaccination reactions to occur and be accurately reported.  The most common health issues to occur within three months of a vaccination are, ataxia, nasal discharge, anorexia, tumor or growth at vaccination site, vomiting, encephalitis, seizures, colitis, diarrhea, liver failure, allergies, behavior problems such as aggression, autoimmune disease, pancreas, kidney, and heart damage, arthritis, and cancer. 

Vaccinosis, a morbid condition resulting from vaccination, is a condition identified by Compton Burnette, a British physician who practiced medicine in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.  Burnette was originally a supporter of smallpox vaccination until he realized that to prevent acute disease vaccines were creating chronic illness.  Acute diseases can be life threatening, but once puberty is reached most individuals live a long relatively disease free life.  With the implementation of vaccinations we are bypassing the acute phase and living with life long chronic conditions.  Chronic conditions related to Vaccinosis include but are not limited to, allergies, seizures, autoimmune disorders, aggression, irritable bowel syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, cancer, separation anxiety, deterioration of the spinal cord resulting in paralysis, and tumors.  The most well documented incidence of vaccine- induced tumor is fibrosarcoma, most commonly affecting cats.  The vaccines associated with these malignant tumors are rabies and feline leukemia virus (FLV).  Once these tumors develop the animal’s life expectancy is about three years and there is no successful treatment to date.  Routine vaccination practices for these vaccines are to administer the injection in a rear leg or tail to make amputation an option if the cancer develops.

Regardless of the potential side effects implementation of vaccination programs has been justified by the argument that vaccinations have eliminated epidemics such as smallpox and polio.  However, in February of 1992, the Federal Centers for Disease Control admitted that the live-virus vaccine has become the dominant cause of polio in the United States today. According to CDC figures, the vaccine caused 87% of all cases of polio between 1973 and 1983. From 1980 through 1989, the vaccine caused every case of polio in the U.S.   There is research to indicate vaccination programs have prolonged epidemics by keeping viruses in the environment.  For example Modified Live Vaccines reproduce in the animals' gut in order to provide immunity.  Newly vaccinated animals shed viruses in the environment, through the stool, for approximately 45 days post vaccination. This is why some immunologists will suggest, the best way to vaccinate your dogs is to have your neighbor vaccinate his animals.”  Through exposure to these viruses, in the environment, our animals are able to develop a more naturally acquired immunity because the body’s natural defense systems have not been bypassed.  Unfortunately, these viruses are creating environmental pollution.

I was unable to find any studies or data to indicate or support a need for annual vaccinations.  However, the following quote from the Current Veterinary Therapy XI, by Tom Phillips, DVM, and Ron Schultz, Ph.D., is revealing:

A practice that was started years ago and that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccinations.  Almost without exception there is no immunologic requirement for revaccination.  Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal.

Annual revaccination has become not only the essence of preventative health care for our animals, but an unsubstantiated practice many veterinarians are reluctant to stop in spite of the growing body of evidence to indicate it is creating chronic illness in our animals. Over use of vaccinations, resulting in sensitization rather than immunization weakens the immune system and increases vulnerability to disease. Veterinarians rarely acknowledge the connection between chronic illness and vaccinations. Who, then benefits from this practice? Unfortunately, annual vaccinations provide a lucrative income for many veterinarian practices and pharmaceutical companies.

Vaccination discussions are often emotional and stimulate lively debates. The decision to vaccinate is generally based on the fear of contracting an acute illness.  The intent of this article, however, is to create awareness not fear about the health issues surrounding current vaccination practices. Healthy intact functioning immune systems are our best defense against acute or chronic illness.  Feeding a fresh food diet is a primary means of supporting balanced intact immune systems.  For those who decide to continue with vaccination protocols, certain precautions can be implemented to decrease the risk of vaccine reactions.

·        Education, become familiar with the issues and discuss them at length with your veterinarian prior to vaccinating.

·        Support veterinarian practices that recognize and report adverse vaccination reactions. 

·        Recognition of acute reactions to vaccinations.  These include but are not limited to, facial swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, trembling, weakness, seizures, paralysis, and behavior changes.

·        Request single antigen vaccines rather than the polyvalent or combination vaccinations, such as the DHLP-P vaccination, which have become routine. 

·        Limit vaccines to those diseases prevalent in your area.   This is generally a single parvovirus followed two to three weeks later by a single distemper.  This will decrease the assault on your animal’s immune system.

The decision to vaccinate is a personal choice.  As consumers, we have the power to effect change and become conscious aware advocates for the animals in our lives.  Through education and knowledge we can move toward improved health for ourselves, and our animal companions. 

References:

Books

Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs, Small Doses for Small Animals, Don Hamilton, DVM

What Vets Don’t Tell You About Vaccines, Catherine O’Driscoll, available through  Dog Wise at www.dogwise.com.

Web Sites

www.yourpurebredpuppy.com Vaccinations...Needed or Not?

www.whale.to Vaccine Website

www.healthy.net International Vaccination Newsletter

www.mercola.com Begin Your Journey to Independent Health