Vaccines and autoimmune disorders

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a student currently taking pre-nursing courses. I just read in my Physiology book about vaccines and autoimmune diseases such as MS. Further reading revealed that there is a concern that vaccinations such as Hepatitis B could lead to MS. What does the average nurse think about this?

Is there a concern among medical professions who receive vaccinations?

Do you know of a person who became ill witih an autoimmune disease after having a vaccination?

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I am a student currently taking pre-nursing courses. I just read in my Physiology book about vaccines and autoimmune diseases such as MS. Further reading revealed that there is a concern that vaccinations such as Hepatitis B could lead to MS. What does the average nurse think about this?

Is there a concern among medical professions who receive vaccinations?

No one is more paranoid about vaccines than am I. I wouldn't even let my son be vaccinated for four years. I read every book I could on the subject including one that was over 2000 pages long by Plotkin and Oreinstein. However consider that the risks from vaccines are unknown, mostly unproven, and usually long term. For example we now know that Polio vaccines up until the early 1960's were often contaminated with the SV-40 virus which is suspected as having caused many thousands of cases of cancer. However, the dangers of diseases like Hep B, are certain. An unvaccinated person has something like a 25% chance plus chance of becoming chronically infected with Hep B if exposed. Guess what as a nurse you are very likely to be so exposed. This risk is certain and deadly. Almost every serious study that has been conducted on vaccines has shown no provable link with any adverse health condition. I'm paranoid and think they might be harmful. However, I KNOW that diseases like Hep B, and C (for which there is currently no vaccine) are deadly.

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Note, that I also have an ethical problem with some vaccines that use cells obtained from aborted fetuses to develop the vaccine.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Which vaccines would that be?

I'm more concerned over the preservatives that are used in them. As for the MS link, Nutrasweet is more likely to give you MS symptoms. I don't think that we should be getting routine boosters of DT until they do titers on us.

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Which vaccines would that be?

I'm more concerned over the preservatives that are used in them. As for the MS link, Nutrasweet is more likely to give you MS symptoms. I don't think that we should be getting routine boosters of DT until they do titers on us.

I'll have to recheck but I am fairly certain that the Hib and Varicella vaccines use human foetus derived cells (although now that I think about it maybe the Varicella uses chicken embryos).

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

As most nurses (and the public) have received at least one vaccination in early childhood, and most autoimmune disorders develop in early to middle adulthood, cause and effect would be difficult to track. As well as people tend to not keep good track of what vaccines that they have had.

I have had numerous vaccines done (have been overseas and third world countries) and have never had any problems. I do have an autoimmune disorder, but it is coomon in my family, even among those with few vaccinations.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

from children's hospital of philadelphia: vaccine education

vaccines have literally transformed the landscape of medicine over the course of the 20th century.

before vaccines, parents in the united states could expect that every year:

  • polio would paralyze 10,000 children.
  • rubella (german measles) would cause birth defects and mental retardation in as many as 20,000 newborns.
  • measles would infect about 4 million children, killing 3,000.
  • diphtheria would be one of the most common causes of death in school-aged children.
  • a bacterium called haemophilus influenzae type b (hib) would cause meningitis in 15,000 children, leaving many with permanent brain damage.
  • pertussis (whooping cough) would kill thousands of infants.

vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations before. for most americans today, vaccines are a routine part of healthcare.

however, the disappearance of many childhood diseases has led some parents to question whether vaccines are still necessary. further, a growing number of parents are concerned that vaccines may actually be the cause of diseases such as autism, hyperactivity, developmental delay, attention deficit disorder, diabetes, multiple sclerosis (ms), and sudden infant death syndrome (sids) among others. these concerns have caused some parents to delay or withhold vaccines for their children. specific information on each of these concerns can be found in the vaccine safety section of the site.

the vaccine education center

to provide complete, up-to-date and reliable information about vaccines to parents and healthcare professionals, the children's hospital of philadelphia created the vaccine education center.

the vaccine education center, through its web site, videos, informational tear sheets icn_searchpdf.gif and speakers programs, provides information on every vaccine.

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Is there a concern among medical professions who receive vaccinations?

Do you know of a person who became ill witih an autoimmune disease after having a vaccination?

My son got juvenline diabetes, I, and a few of his doctors, believe as a direct result of his vaccines. He also stopped breathing from his first DPT shot when he was two months old, but I continued to vaccinate cause I was young and just did what I was told. However, after he got diabetes, I stopped vaccinating all my kids...and they've never been healthier.

I thought I would not be able to work in hospitals or my nursing school wouldn't let me do clinical without my hep shots, since they are required, however, I just had to sign a waiver....which is what I do for my kids also.

I also have religious problems with a few of hte vaccines. Anyway, in working at the hospitals, I know several nurses who are against vaccines (much to my surprise, I had kept my opinions to myself, figuring that I'd be way in the minority, but I've heard several different nurses state 1. they don't get vaccines or 2. they don't give themto their children).

I could go on forever with information on this, but, since I know my opinion on the subject is not probably well received in the medical world, I'll refrain :)

:) Cassi

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I could go on forever with information on this, but, since I know my opinion on the subject is not probably well received in the medical world, I'll refrain

I have not been vaccinated and I don't have my kids vaccinated!

As an adult I did get the Rubella, Hep, and flu shot once or twice in nursing school. Won't get flu shot anymore now that I am better educated on the risks.

I get a kick out of ppl that tell me my kids can't get in school w/o shots........um, yes they can!

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I am female 53 and received two vaccines at the same time. One for flu and one a booster for somethingLike typhoid. I was a veryFit runner and within three weeks I was a breathless wreck. Diagnosed as having Graves disease with eye problems. Keep getting Told must be hereditary autoimmune diseases in family. There are none we know of. My father was a vet and wouldNever vaccinAte two together as said it caused Problems in animals and was generally cautious withAll vaccines.

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Specializes in Emergency.
I am female 53 and received two vaccines at the same time. One for flu and one a booster for somethingLike typhoid. I was a veryFit runner and within three weeks I was a breathless wreck. Diagnosed as having Graves disease with eye problems. Keep getting Told must be hereditary autoimmune diseases in family. There are none we know of. My father was a vet and wouldNever vaccinAte two together as said it caused Problems in animals and was generally cautious withAll vaccines.

Shirley are you in the US? Typhoid vaccine is not regularly given and when given is usually offered in a pill form. (though it can be in a shot but that is not that effective).

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Specializes in Emergency.

Of course as an Infection Preventionist...I'm for vaccines.

We are seeing increases in things like Pertussis infection and outbreaks because people are not vaccinating their children.

That said, i was very cautious about the Flu vaccine. I became a lot less cautious after I met a few different people who work on the vaccines. Apparently they all chose to get vaccinated. It would be a really telling sign if those who know the most about the vaccine were choosing to opt out.

I'm very grateful to vaccines- they made my travel and work overseas a lot safer. No swamp fever for me!

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