4 Vaccine Myths Debunked, Once And For All

3. Vaccines Are There So Big Pharma Profits

The theory here goes that Big Pharma (that is the invisible heads of the enormous pharmaceutical companies behind vaccines and pretty much all other medicines) want vaccines to be ineffective. In fact, they want them to be so ineffective that they cause more side effects than the protect from, thereby generating more revenue for the company. What’s interesting about this is that if Big Pharma really wanted to make a profit, they would be supporting the anti-vaxxer movement.

Let us explain. In 2013 vaccines accounted for 1.82% of the total expected revenues. Now, when you think about that amount the way we think about wealth, it’s still an enormous amount of money, around US$24billion dollars. But the total revenues of pharmaceuticals (not including devices) were estimated at US$1 trillion dollars, which really puts that into perspective.

The other thing that’s worth remembering is that within that US$24 billion, the pharmaceutical companies need to distribute the vaccines, market them, administrate the companies, do extensive research and development and pay their taxes, all of which takes off that US$24 billion number. That’s not much when you consider that if there were no vaccines, million of adults and children would be hospitalised every year and supplying Big Pharma with even more income treating the complications of the illnesses that we vaccinate for.

4. MMR Vaccine Causes Autism

This is probably one of the most prevalent beliefs that fuels the anti-vaccination community, despite the fact that the paper has been retracted, and the author called out for fraudulent behaviour and reporting. Despite this the idea continually surfaces, causing parents unnecessary fear that by vaccinating their children they’re actually putting them more at risk.

The issues began in 1998 when Dr. Andrew Wakefield published a research paper in the medical journal The Lancet. The paper claimed that autism spectrum disorders were linked to the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. What you might not know is that the study was conducted on just 12 children (11 boys and one girl). When further investigations were undertaken into the study, it was found that three of the nine children who were reported as having regressive autism had no autism diagnosis at all. It was also uncovered that, despite Wakefield’s claims that all 12 of the children were healthy prior to their MMR vaccination, five of them had documented pre-existing developmental concerns. There was also evidence that the families that participated in the study were recruited via anti-vaccination campaigners, and that a plan was in motion to sue the companies who created the vaccine.

Still, discrediting one study does not prove that the conclusions are false. That’s why further studies were undertaken in the years that followed. In 1999 a study of 500 children found no connection, by 2002 a study in Denmark of 537,000 children found no connection, and then in 2012 a review of a number of studies covering 14,700,000 children (that 14.7 million children) also found no connection at all to the idea that the MMR vaccine causes autism.

Vaccinating Makes Sense

At the end of the day, while it is your right as a parent to stop your children from getting vaccinations, it’s important to remember that your decision not to vaccinate is further reaching than you might believe. Vaccinations are based upon a simple concept: herd immunity. This is a situation in which a majority of vaccinated individuals protect the minority of individuals who have weakened immune systems, are too young to be vaccinated, or on whom vaccinations are not effective.

There will always be cases of adverse reactions to vaccinations, just as there are adverse reactions to penicillin or peanuts.

But the facts are that vaccination makes sense, not just for you and your child, but for your community.

If you become concerned about any symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention we have some hotlines and suggested websites for further information and advice https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/

SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information. All information provided is correct at time of publication.