The Vaccine Dilemma

Ever since Elvis rolled up his sleeve for a vaccination, the idea of vaccinating our way to health has gained momentum.  Now there are not just numerous vaccines against illness, there are numerous companies manufacturing each one. Along the way vaccines have changed and illnesses that used to be confined to the deepest parts of Africa are now circling the globe in the bodies of visitors, workers and residents alike.

Especially since CoVid, patients are always asking whether they should or should not get a vaccination.  But even before that it would always be the topic of conversation when school was starting up again each fall.  Here in the US we have numerous vaccines required for students with more being added every few years.  This has led to many parents becoming worried and uncertain because they hear horror stories regarding vaccines and want to make the decision that is best for their children. 

So let me help by placing vaccinations into their proper context for you.  The largest objection to vaccines is the belief that they can cause life-threatening or damaging reactions.  But we already face this with every pharmaceutical drug and every surgery because our individual response is unpredictable and unique. 

The question that needs to be asked is whether the risk for any surgery, any drug or any vaccination is small enough that the benefits outweigh it.  This is the unpredictable and unique aspect in conventional medicine.  The treatments may be “conventional” because they are what is recommended in most cases.  The risk is not conventional because it is uniquely yours, so treatment for one person may differ from another only because of the individual themselves.  Every surgery contains risk, yet surgery can do miraculous things in repairing the damage that the body can sustain. Insulin is a life-saver for diabetics. Tetanus, diptheria and polio vaccines were miraculous in reducing the incidence and outcome of these illnesses.

This is where your review of your risk should begin.  Ask whether this vaccine is to prevent a serious or potentially fatal illness or is it simply reducing symptoms.  Many of our vaccinations are not necessarily to just reduce your risk, but to reduce the risk as a community for all members of the community.  A good example is the malaria vaccine which was just introduced in the last two years. If you live in sub-Saharan Africa, this can not only be life-saving but it can reduce the spread through a community where many people are malnourished with unresolving infections and polluted drinking resources, all of which can turn a serious disease into a fatal disease.  So a vaccine can be life-saving for individuals and for the community. 

Like malaria, insect-born illnesses have skyrocketed in recent years including Zika, West Nile (which is now the leading mosquito-born illness in the US) and Lyme.  If a Lyme vaccine was developed, would you want it? 

This brings us to the second part of your review of risk.  If you did want a Lyme vaccination, what would be the chances that you would develop debilitating and damaging symptoms shortly after having the vaccination and would it have been due to the vaccination itself?  The answer to that question is that the vaccine, just like any forced change, is a challenge for the body and in some cases it may be the straw that breaks your camel’s back. 

I am talking about your body’s burden. The burden that your body manages and carries daily is the sum total of your stressors, your unresolved illnesses, your dormant and active viruses, your toxic exposure and accumulation, your organ function, your nutritional resources and your physical injuries. When you look at all of this you realize how much burden your body is carrying on a daily basis. So if you were carrying a 6 ounce envelope around with you every day, you wouldn’t even notice that as a burden. A pound weight would be noticeable, but you could manage it, although standing in line at the bank with it might make you a bit impatient. A five pound weight would really begin to limit what you would do. You might choose to use the drive-through instead of walking into the bank. You might avoid the longer hikes you liked to do. You might not feel like a weekend get-away if you’re having to carry your burden in your lap the entire drive to get there. I actually get uncomfortable when my 8 pound cat sits on me for too long.

Now imagine that on top of your daily burden you get a flu or CoVid.  What if your weight burden is a fifty pound weight? It could strain your heart, affect your breathing, increase your blood pressure making it more likely that you would develop a more serious reaction.  Now add in the individual conponents of the vaccine you are receiving and calculate how much of a challenge that is to your body.  Many vaccinations contain aluminum salts as an adjuvant (an ingredient that increases the effectiveness of a vaccine) and if you already have a high heavy metal toxicity, this may be just enough to tip the scales towards real neurological issues.  Or you may have an undetected allergy or sensitivity which would make your reaction more severe. This, along with the underlying burden and unresolved illness your body is carrying, is what determines your reaction.

This means that part of your decision should be evaluating both the ingredients in a particular vaccine and noting your reaction to previous vaccines and/or medical ingredients.  The most common additives, known as excipients, are preservatives and adjuvants.   And these are not just in vaccines.  They have already been circulating in your bloodstream from anti-depressant medication, steroids, muscle relaxants and sedatives, just to name a few.  If you have had a negative reaction to a medication, knowing all the ingredients can help you in identifying potential issues with the same ingredients in a vaccine. 

If you want to avoid excipients, then consider these facts.  Most single dose vaccines do not contain preservatives, while a larger vial from which multiple doses is taken would have to contain preservatives to prevent bacterial transmission. Adjuvants, which can be heavy metals, oils, emulsifiers and surfactants, are necessary in most vaccines that are not live, such as Hepatitis B, pertussis and HPV vaccines, while live virus vaccines like the J&J CoVid vaccine, varicella and rotavirus vaccines do not contain adjuvants.  Overall the most common excipient used in vaccines is aluminum which is “conventionally” considered to be benign, but your body burden may cause your body to react very differently. 

The answer here is for you to evaluate your need, your risk and your reasons for receiving any vaccination, or for that matter, any medication.  And if you decide to get vaccinated, you have options.  For instance you don’t just have to take the standard vaccination that is offered to you. You can choose to avoid a combination vaccination such as CoVid/Flu or MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and get an individual vaccination instead. This way you can avoid a vaccination for something you have already have an immunity to or simply spread out the vaccinations. You can choose to have a vaccine with less preservatives/adjuvants such as a single dose vaccine (which may also make it more expensive).

Another important consideration is what the manufacturer’s information says about the particular vaccine you are going to receive. This can include contraindications, appropriate dosing times, clinical results, storage requirements, precautions after administration and a list of all excipients.

Whatever your decisions regarding vaccinations be sure to keep accurate records of your vaccinations and medications. Dates, purpose, manufacturer information and any reactions you have had. Be especially vigilant if you have had any serious allergic reactions to a medication or a vaccination, even to any single ingredient.  And don’t be afraid to ask to see the vial or to have them prepare the vaccination in front of you.

The more aware you are, the more informed and comfortable your decision will be.