(Sorry, this forwarded article, did not include the link-Dr. Mercola
newsletter?)
Chickenpox Vaccine Increases Risk for Shingles 5/29/02
Chickenpox Vaccine Increases Risk for Shingles
Vaccinating children against chickenpox (varicella) could increase the
risk that adults would develop shingles, a painful blistering rash that is
potentially dangerous in the elderly.
Researchers from Britain's Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS),
said that thousands of elderly people could also die from the complications
of shingles.
They called for a re-evaluation of the policy of mass chickenpox
vaccination that has been introduced already in the United States and is
imminent in many other countries. In 1995, the chickenpox vaccine was
approved for use in children over 1 year of age in the US and is now
required for school entry.
After a bout of naturally-occuring chickenpox, the varicella zoster
virus remains dormant in the body and may reactivate decades later to cause
shingles, a painful rash that typically strikes chickenpox veterans after
the age of 60.
The researchers showed that adults living with children have more
exposure to the virus that causes chickenpox and enjoy high levels of
protection against shingles.
Being close to children means that adults are exposed to the virus,
which acts like a booster vaccine against shingles, they believe. But if all
children were vaccinated, adults who have had chickenpox would no longer be
protected against developing shingles.
The researchers worked out a mathematical model that predicts that
eliminating chickenpox in a country the size of the United States would
prevent 186 million cases of the disease and 5,000 deaths over 50 years.
However they said it could also result in 21 million more cases of shingles
and 5,000 deaths.
The PHLS said in a statement it was working out what the impact might
be of introducing a chickenpox vaccine in Britain. "As more evidence becomes
available, it will be shared with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and
Immunization, which advises the Department of Health on the immunization
schedule.
JAMA May 1, 2002;287(17):2211:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMENT by DR. SHERRI TENPENNY:
By attempting to eliminate an essentially harmless childhood disease,
we are going to create a disaster of epidemic proportions. This is the
"first glimpse" of things to come: vaccines to treat problems caused by
vaccines.
Chickenpox is a mild infection of childhood caused by the varicella
zoster virus. A self-limiting disease characterized by fever, malaise and an
itchy, vesicular rash that covers the entire body. Chickenpox usually
resolves within 4-5 days, leaving the child with lifetime immunity. With
vaccination, the duration of protection from varicella infection by VarivaxZ
is unknown.
Shingles is thought to be caused by the reactivation of the same
chickenpox-causing virus, varicella-zoster. It is generally a disease of the
elderly but can also develop in insulin-dependent diabetics and those who
have immunodeficient diseases such as AIDS and leukemia. A shingles outbreak
can be triggered by the stress-emotional or physical-or by certain
medications, including steroids [ex: prednisone], chemotherapy and
radiation.
Unlike chickenpox, a shingles outbreak is anything but benign. The
first sign is usually one sided tingling, itching, or stabbing pain on the
skin. After a few days, a red, blistering rash appears that is severely
painful rash that can last for weeks. At its peak, symptoms range from a
mild itch to intense pain.
When the outbreak resolves, it can leave numbness, skin discoloration
and permanent scars. Serious complications, including facial paralysis,
hearing loss, or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) can occur, and if
the infection includes the eye, the result can be glaucoma, cataracts or
even permanent blindness.
There are a few medications available to treat shingles such as
antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents. The severity and
duration of an attack of shingles can be somewhat reduced if treated early
with the antiviral drugs acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex) or
famcyclovir (Famvir). However, none of these medications "cure" shingles.
Frequently type specific homeopathics can be quite helpful though.
Approximately 20% of shingles cases can result in post-herpetic
neuralgia. This condition manifests as unrelenting pain that can persist for
years after the initial rash has healed. There is no conventional treatment
for post-herpetic neuralgia and even the strongest pain medications are
rarely helpful.
As the article points out, vaccinating children with the chickenpox
vaccine will cause the pool of wild virus will die out. Adults who had
chickenpox as a child need to be re-exposed to the wild virus to keep any
residual dormant virus in check.
It is estimated that currently as many as 2 in every 10 persons may be
affected by shingles in their lifetime. Without this exposure, the number of
people who will contract shingles is anticipated to increase substantially.
The solution appears to be the development of another vaccine.
Not to miss an opportunity, a large study is underway for the
development of the shingles vaccine. The National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is currently testing a shingles vaccine in
clinical trials in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health (NIH.)
The Shingles Prevention Study is part of a nationwide collaborative
effort between the NIAID, Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA), and
Merck. It should be noted that Merck is also the manufacturer of VarivaxZ,
the chickenpox vaccine.
This double-blind study will test a vaccine similar to VarivaxZ;
however, the experimental vaccine contains a larger amount of the weakened
varicella virus. If a participant was given the placebo during the trial and
the vaccine is later found to be "successful," the person will be offered
the shingles vaccine at no charge at the conclusion of the study. A nice
perk for participating as a human test subject.
None of this makes sense. Wouldn't the logical solution be to STOP the
chickenpox vaccination and allow this mild virus to do its job?
However, there seems to be little logic when it comes to the
development of new vaccines. The vaccine industry believes that the
widespread use of vaccines to prevent infectious diseases is "one of the
greatest public health achievements of this century" and plans are in place
to create a vaccine to treat every type of conceivable ailment. One of the
goals set forth in the NIAID Strategic Plan it to:
"Explore opportunities for vaccine development in less traditional
areas, including therapeutic vaccines for the management of chronic
diseases; vaccines for the control of autoimmune diseases; and vaccines for
special circumstances of public health concern, such as bioterrorism."
So, a shingles vaccine to treat a problem caused by the chickenpox
vaccine is only the beginning. Here are three examples of dozens coming:
1) The Allergy Vaccine: for cypress pollen and food allergies. Seven
product candidates are in clinical trials with two more at the preclinical
stage.
2) The M.S. Vaccine: A USC-invented vaccine for multiple sclerosis
(MS)
3) The Rheumatoid Arthritis vaccine: RAVAXZ is thought to inhibit the
disease-associated T cells that cause rheumatoid arthritis, and prevent
further damage in patients suffering from the disease.
Even the most cursory review of vaccine package inserts and the medical
literature will show ample evidence that the side effects of vaccines can
cause allergies. The hepatitis B vaccine has been implicated in the
development of both MS and rheumatoid arthritis. The list goes on and on.
However, with NIAID's proposed budget of $4 billion for fiscal year
2003 , it is likely we will see more and more "designer vaccines" to treat a
myriad of diseases-in fact, there are more than 200 vaccines currently in
the pipeline. It remains to be seen what additional medical disasters will
created by this massive immunological experimentation.
Related Articles:
Chicken Pox: Why Do Children Die?
Children Who Had Chickenpox Vaccine Contract Disease
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
1. The Physician's Desk Reference. Varivax, p. 2202.
2. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/shinglestudy.htm
3. NIAID Strategic Plan Executive Summary.
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/strategicplan2000/vaccine.htm
4. http://www.bioportfolio.com/erbi/Peptide_2.htm
5. http://www.usc.edu/hsc/info/pr/1vol5/526/ms.html
6. Immune Response Corporation press release;
http://www.dnavaccine.com/new.html?aid=125
7. NIAID Strategic Plan Executive Summary.
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/strategicplan2000/vaccine.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return to Table of Contents #328
Home Page Health Articles Nutrition Help Newsletter
iCopyright 1997-2002 by Joseph M. Mercola, DO. All Rights Reserved.
This content may be copied in full, with copyright; contact; creation; and
information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a
not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing
from Dr. Mercola is required.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer - Newsletters are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola.
They are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified
health care professional and they are not intended as medical advice. They
are intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and
experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to
make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in
partnership with a qualified health care professional.
