More study needed on the risks of vaccines
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 30, 2019
To Froma Harrop’s Jan. 22 column about safety of vaccines, there are legitimate concerns (“Anti-vax crowd spreading a plague of ignorance”). The thimerosal that is used as a preservative in vaccines is an ethylmercury-based preservative.
There are vaccines available without it and no one should have that injected into their body, especially babies and young children.
Ten days after receiving a tetanus vaccine, my father collapsed, unable to walk. He was diagnosis with Guillain Barre syndrome. He spent six weeks in a hospital, paralyzed from the thighs to his feet. After learning how to walk again, he returned to his home to continue further therapy. Doctors insisted that the tetanus vaccine did not cause Guillain Barre, however, my six weeks of constant research via the internet and the public library medical section, revealed it was most probably caused by the tetanus vaccine. Today, many vaccines, including tetanus and the flu vaccine now carry a warning that it may cause Guillain Barre syndrome. My point being, perhaps, we are not being told the entire truth by the pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines. My research also revealed information that points to autism caused by vaccines in some cases. Parents of autistic children are not being listened to when they explain what changed in their child after a vaccine.
More research needs to be done and the least amount of added chemicals and preservatives should be added to vaccines. Yes, they truly are a miracle in how they have saved many from disease, however to those that develop Guillain Barre syndrome, life will change permanently.
Dawn Malkowski
Edmonds
Editor’s note: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that thimerosal, which is used to prevent the growth of bacteria in vaccines, is a naturally occurring element that is quickly eliminated from the body and has been shown to be safe when used in vaccines. In childhood vaccinations, it is used only for flu vaccine. Regarding Guillain Barre, there is a risk following flu vaccination, but the CDC puts that risk of contracting the disease at one or two cases per 1 million flu vaccinations. Finally, the CDC has determined, citing multiple studies, that there is no link between autism and vaccines or their ingredients.
